Break it down -- defensive line

It all starts with the Big Man. Vince Wilfork. I can't remember a professional athlete playing better after signing a huge contract than Wilfork has the past few years. He deserves a lot of credit for not kicking back and being satisfied. A lot of well-paid athletes have done just that after hitting the contract jackpot.

Not Vince. And that makes him the perfect veteran to teach newcomer Chandler Jones exactly how to play the NFL game. It's been a few years since Wilfork was the anchor of a D line with Richard Seymour and Ty Warren. There's been a rotating cast of characters from Gerard Warren (still with the team) to Albert Haynesworth (soon to be arrested). Some of them have worked out, some not so much. Thus the trading up in the first round of the draft to grab Jones.

STARTERS
Let's pretend the Pats will play more 3-4 than 4-3 this year. But with Belichick, who the hell knows. In a three-man front it should be Wilfork, Jones, and third-year man Kyle Love. When the defense goes with a four-man front the other end will rotate between guys like Ninko, Jermaine Cunningham, Trevor Scott, and Brandon Deaderick.

BACK-UPS
The already mentioned Scott, Cunningham, and Deaderick are solid depth guys. As is Gerard Warren. Ron Brace was drafted as the next big guy in the middle but he hasn't been able to stay on the field enough to show what he can really do. Maybe this year? I would say I have high hopes for free agent pick-up Jonathan Fanene but every time I say that the guy either gets cut or retires the next day.

IN THE MIX
Fourth-year lineman Myron Pryor lost most of last year to injury so this may be the end for him. Rookie Jake Bequette comes out of Arkansas with a rep as a good pass rusher. The other rookies trying to make the team are Justin Francis (another Rutgers guy) and Marcus Forston. Marcus Harrison and Aaron Lavarias probably won't be around come September.

The Pats have been in search of a pass rush for a few years now. Chandler Jones will change that.