Do the Patriots have a major issue at the edge rusher position with Harold Landry III still on the PUP list?
As we wait to see whether Christian Gonzalez will have a long-term deal with the New England Patriots going into this season, one area of the roster still feels like a major issue.
For starters, let's go back to head coach Mike Vrabel's comments about his team lacking depth, saying the Patriots don't have a "very deep team."
One position group that had to have been at the forefront of Vrabel's mind when he spoke about all of that was his edge rushers. He spoke more about how he feels on the matter on WEEI-FM’s Greg Hill Show on Monday.
“We’ll need more from everybody, not just one particular unit,” Vrabel said.
The Patriots already enter the regular season with a troublesome picture for the edge rushers taking the field. They take the field in a little over a week against the defending champ Seattle Seahawks on national television with no real proven edge defender, since Harold Landry III is still on the PUP list (Physically Unable to Perform).
Landry was put on the active PUP list at the beginning of training camp. With no sign of when he will be off it, the Patriots now risk getting beat on the outside by teams like the Seahawks, Steelers, Bills, and Jaguars in September alone.
This is not to discredit free agent Dre'Mont Jones. The first-year Patriot comes in with an impressive resume. Jones recorded seven sacks last season with both the Titans and Ravens, bringing his career total to 37.5. The former Seahawks may have to be joined by Elijah Ponder against the Seahawks next week on the team's banner night.
The reason is the doubt surrounding rookie Gabe Jacas, who showed a lot of problems overpursuing the ball in preseason, most specifically against the Cleveland Browns last Thursday night.
Jacas will most likely be on the 48-man active roster for game day due to the lack of depth. There isn't much else to hope for, though. Bradyn Swinson may return as a practice squad player and seventh-round draft pick from this spring; Quintayvious Hutchins may need a year of development while playing special teams.
It's shaky ground on the edge for the Patriots. They weren't astounding last year at that position, and this year, despite drafting a powerhouse rookie or two who haven’t become a proven starter on Sundays, they may be a lot worse off than last season.
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