The New England Patriots have wrapped up their preseason, and while they are scrambling to cut their roster down to 53 players by Sunday 6 p.m. ET, their defensive depth is a total disaster right before they turn their full attention to our Seahawks.
Vrabel’s Squad Is Looking Rough
You thought our coaching changes were gonna bring drama? Head coach Mike Vrabel over there is already throwing serious shade at his own squad, saying straight up, “I do not think we have a very deep team.” And man, did it show big time when they wrapped up their preseason Thursday night in Cleveland. They looked rough, giving up 37 points to Dillon Gabriel and Cleveland’s backups in a 37-13 loss to the Browns. Vrabel himself called it “Not good enough,” admitting they “couldn’t match the speed of the quarterback in the zone read.” This isn’t just a minor blip, it’s a huge problem right before Week 1.
Where the Defense Is Bleeding
So where’s the real headache for them? It’s all over that defense, and it’s ugly. Their reserve defensive line, thought by many to be a deeper group, got absolutely gashed against the run throughout the entire preseason. They’re probably scrambling, on the hunt for more size at nose tackle behind Cory Durden, which tells you everything about their run defense struggles.
Then there’s the edge rush, and this might be the shakiest spot. Mike Vrabel left the door open for veteran Harold Landry to be activated off the PUP list before Week 1, but what he has left in the tank is totally TBD. Rookie Gabe Jacas isn’t ready for a significant role, and no other depth option has pushed for a consistent role. Even with free-agent addition Dre’Mont Jones and Year 2 improvement from Elijah Ponder, the edge group still remains the weakest overall on their entire roster. That’s a massive red flag.
And don’t even get me started on linebackers. They have a strong duo in Robert Spillane and Christian Elliss, sure, but depth behind them remains a massive concern. Rookie Khalil Jacobs was trending upward before an injury, a bummer for them, while fellow rookie Namdi Obiazor is likely on the team for his special teams value, not everyday defense. Veteran Chad Muma then had “significant issues” in his preseason action. Yikes, right? They’ve gotta cut 91 guys down to 53 and then hit the waiver wire hard for upgrades. Good luck with that by Sunday evening, especially with us on their mind.
This situation out of New England is wild, since the Patriots’ next big move after practice squad formation is turning their “attention fully to Seattle.” Our Seahawks, with Sam Darnold and Jaxon Smith-Njigba ready, just played to a tough 9-9 tie against the Kansas City Chiefs. That’s a grind-it-out game, showing our resilience and readiness. If the Patriots roll into Week 1 with a defense looking this shaky, our boys could absolutely feast on them. Get ready, 12s, it’s almost time for real football, and this early look at New England’s struggles makes our Week 1 matchup even more exciting!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pats Pulpit.
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