A regular look at 30 people who will affect the 2007 NFL season.
When talking about the New England Patriots, Tom Brady usually is the first player to come to mind. And then, in random order, it's probably Randy Moss, Mike Vrabel, Tedy Bruschi, Richard Seymour and Laurence Maroney.
But arguably team's most valuable player on the team's most valuable unit, is nose tackle Vince Wilfork. New England is primarily a 3-4 defense, and everything runs through the defensive line. If the three fat guys up front aren't doing their jobs, the whole thing falls apart. That's where Wilfork, the team's 2004 first-round pick, comes in.
And head coach Bill Belichick thinks so much of Wilfork that he calls him "the most complete guy that I have coached at that position." That's pretty lofty praise from the Unabomber.
Wilfork has had to make an adjustment from his University of Miami days, when he was a "penetrating, 4-3" d-lineman. In New England, it's all about gap control, which means Wilfork's job isn't to get to the quarterback, it's to take up space. Belichick calls him "an excellent two-gapper", which allows the linebackers behind him to get to the ball.
Bottom line: The Patriots have weapons at nearly every position, and are as deep as any team in the league, but as long as Wilfork is healthy, opponents will have to game plan around him. Which means that guys like Adalius Thomas and Rodney Harrison will be free to wreak havoc.
30 to Watch: See them all
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
8-18-2007 @ 5:44PM
Saturday said...
I don't really think he's that good. I mean, he got owned badly by elite centers like Jeff Saturday and Nick Mangold last year.
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8-18-2007 @ 6:17PM
Brendan B said...
Beyond players, two analysts that will be interesting to watch this year is Playboy and Sports Illustrated, with respect to their preseason predictions. Did you know that Playboy predictions were better than SI's last year. Read this article at
http://www.newsfromnosebleeds.blogspot.com
to find out how bad the bunnies beat the 'best'?
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8-18-2007 @ 7:17PM
rick said...
well saturday in order for vince to get owned by anybody he would not be doing his job as a two gap lineman so i guess he wasnt owned he was doing his job tying up you and mangold and allowing lb to run free, do your homework
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8-18-2007 @ 7:39PM
Dan said...
Vince Wilfork is easily the second best nose tackle in the league behind San Diegos Jamal Williams and he is closing in fast on Williams.
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8-18-2007 @ 11:37PM
anon said...
casey hampton is the best 3-4 NT in the game. williams is a close 2nd and wilfork is 3rd and those 3 are pretty close in ability. wifork did get pwned vs the colts but look at how he, and seymour and ty warren (very underrated), just dominated the jets in the playoffs and then stood their ground well against the chargers. one play abarrition, bad timing tho. that whole line is what makes the defense tick.
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8-19-2007 @ 7:13PM
manonironhorse said...
wilfork is a great player he is young & still growning but has done a great job in new england i truley belive he is more valubile than seymour ,seymore gets the sacks cuz wilfork is in the middle tieing guys up , wilford is not only a great player on the field but does a lot for charity off as well he is the kind of player all teams wish they had the pats definatly got the best player avaible when the drafted him , vince keep up the good work
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8-19-2007 @ 6:57PM
Konsumers said...
Vince is a force in the middle and payback is a biotch as he manhandled Mangold in a more meaningful game
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8-24-2007 @ 9:04AM
frank said...
#2 brendon b .... cmon man ,,,,get w the program ,,,,,,,if u think any , i mean ANY other magazine is gonna do a better job than the infamous Playboy ( check-out-miss-January) your barkin up the wrong tree dude !even when there' wrong there RIGHT
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8-24-2007 @ 9:09AM
frank said...
#6 consumma .... EXCUSE MEEE ! ,,,manhandled Mangold? i dont think so . w/ all respect to NE , i watch every Jet game and never saw Nick manhandled , let alone beat more than ummmm , twice in 1 game .... apoligies are accecpted . ty and have a pleasant tommorrow
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8-24-2007 @ 10:08PM
frank said...
Ryan , i gotta dissagree 1 more time , your good though . when i think bout the Pats , 1st thing is Belchicks' D and how the hell r the Jets gonna beat them ! enuff said
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