Moving Wilfork gives defense a different look

FOXBORO — When the Patriots lined up on defense against the Dolphins, something looked a bit off about the defensive line, and not just because Jarvis Green wasn’t on the field.

Pro Bowl nose tackle Vince Wilfork was at right end. Mike Wright was in the middle of the line at nose.

After the game, Bill Belichick said the move gave New England a better matchup.

“We just felt like overall with Vince and Ty (Warren) outside, Mike inside (and rookie Myron Pryor as well), that that would give us the best matchup on Miami’s personnel and what they were doing,” Belichick said. “Vince…is a pretty versatile player. He’s very flexible. He did a good job. He embraced the move all week.”

Miami left tackle Jake Long is 6-foot-7, 330 pounds, and though Wilfork is several inches shorter than Long, he outweighs the former number-one draft pick. Wright, who would have been starting at end normally, would have been giving up about 30 pounds to Long.

Wilfork finished the game with three tackles, but his numbers weren’t important because he was able to sufficiently occupy Long while his linebacker teammates focused on getting to quarterback Chad Henne.

“When I got the memo I was like, ‘cool,’ ” Wilfork said. “I’m not looking at (center Jake) Grove, I’m looking at Long now and (left guard Justin) Smiley. I didn’t mind it because I knew I could play it. I knew it was going to be a little strange, a little different, but in practice I got those different looks (and) they threw a lot of stuff at me. Sometimes I was like, ‘Man, what the heck am I doing?’ but it paid off. They prepared me very well for the game and looking at film, I think I did pretty good. Of course I could get better out there, but I have something to improve on.”

Warren, who played some nose early on in his career, said things happen more quickly at the interior spot, and that he and Wilfork spoke often in the days leading to the game, with Warren giving his friend tips on how best to play the position.



(projo.com)