Not fine and stinks are not the same thing.
You don't seem to understand what primary means even though I have explained it many times.
The Patriots pass rush was not good. The most important facets of the pass rush are the DEs. Jones was effective, if we had 2 of him(healthy), we would not have had a bad pass rush. Ninkovich was not a good pass rusher. He wasn't pathetic, but he wasn't good enough. He was better than Wilfork,Love or Deaderick but he plays a critical pass rushing role, meaning his role failing is a bigger issue, therefore the primary issue with the pass rush was LDE.
Whether he got 8 sacks or 6 or 10 if all of the other plays were the same (ie the big lack of pass rush pressure overall) he would have been the same problem. (As an analogy if a DT makes 10 tackles for loss, but allows 5 ypc in his area, and another has 4 TFL but only allows 3.5ypc, there is no doubt who was a better run defender and the 'showy' stat misrepresents that)
I would give Ninkovich a C- as a pass rusher. He gets plusses for effort and motor, and not giving up on a play. He is good at making plays when the QB is flushed toward him. His one on one skills in beating a blocker to rush the QB probably rate a D or D-. (These grades are on a scale of starting NFL DE)
I like Ninkovich. He brings good things to the table, including effort, versatility and experience. As a starting LDE he is a C- (maybe a D because he is way to small to play the run vs a RT). As a starting 43 OLB he is a C. As a starting 34 OLB he is a C- in a scheme where he is designated rusher, and C in a scheme where he rushes not so much.
As a bench player who is first LB off the bench, as well as in the mix to play DE as a reserve he is a B+.
Fixing the pass rush is critical IMO. The pass defense problems we have had are as much due to rush as coverage.
Any pass rush can be negated by getting the ball out quickly. But doing that means you make the secondary's job 10x easier. The threat of a pass rush automatically forces the offense into quick developing short passes, and the secondary has less field to cover.
Our scheme has historically dared offenses to throw the ball down the field on slower developing plays on early downs, particularly 1st and 10. Playing 2 gap with VW, Love and Ninkovich as 3 of your rushers gives the offense absolutely no concern running slow developing plays, and the secondary must cover the entire field. Today, with the passing game rules, there isn't a secondary in the league that can cover under those conditions. We need to have a pass rush that can force teams to limit 1st and 10 passing to shorter, quicker hits, and allow the secondary to play tighter. If you took the AFC probowl secondary and asked them to cover the way ours had to on 1st down, they would get picked apart.
We need a strong pass rusher across from Jones. Someone who affects the way the offense operates. IMO, it is the #1 way that this team could be improved.
Secondly, we need 4 guys on the DL in sub packages who are capable of beating blockers in pass rush on a consistent basis. We have 1. We may have another in Armstead from the DT spot, and another in Cunningham from the DT spot. If both of them can fill that role, we are good there, but I'd like to add another to be sure. We can find that guy in many places.
My #1 priority would be to add the 'bookend' to Jones to transform the defense.
That can come in Free Agency, we could attempt to do it in the draft.
We still have other needs to fill, particularly S/CB and WR, but 'adequate' at those spots and excellent at pass rushing DE makes us a better team than adequate at pass rushing DE and spending heavily at those spots.
That is the way I see it.
Fair enough. Thanks for the clarification.
As for your thoughts on improving the pass rush, I think you make some good points. Do you have any particular players in mind they should go after, either in the draft or free agency?
