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How New England Patriots Can Replace Jerod Mayo and Stevan Ridley

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By @petahrahgas

Jerod Mayo Stevan Ridley

Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

I thought we were done with this. I thought last year’s cascade of injuries was the football Gods’ way of saying, “Hey, after this year, we won’t injure another one of your players again.” Those darn football Gods — so tricky.

Just like last year, the New England Patriots are having to deal with major injuries to key people. Luckily, it hasn’t been to the same degree as last year (*finds the closet piece of wood and knocks the crud out of it*), but losing both Jerod Mayo and Stevan Ridley for the year is not much better.

The Patriots don’t have an obvious answer to replace either of these players — especially Mayo, who, other than Tom Brady, Vince Wilfork, and Rob Gronkowski, is the most important player on this team — so they will have to get creative to help fill the void left by these two.

Originally, I thought the Patriots’ defense would turn to more 4-3 looks, disguising the fact that they are weak at linebacker by having less of them on the field. But the more I’ve read and looked at this roster, running a 3-4 defense might make the most sense. A 3-4 defense would get the Pats’ best front seven on the field and marginalize playtime for those who can’t play — I’m looking at you Deontae Skinner, though you weren’t that bad on Sunday, so props.

Against the New York Jets on Thursday night, the Patriots could roll out Wilfork, Dominique Easley and Casey Walker — who has been pretty fantastic since joining this roster — as their starting three down linemen. That would move Chandler Jones and Rob Ninkovich off the line and to the outside linebacker spots, pushing Jamie Collins and Dont’a Hightower into the middle of the defense. That’s actually not a bad front seven.

Both Jones and Ninkovich are versatile enough to drop back into coverage and rush the passer. Hightower can play middle of the defense and, when healthy, has been really good this season. Collins is going to have to step up in a big way, but Mayo’s injury last year was what ultimately got Collins his early breakout, so maybe this injury will help force Collins to make the next step. Here’s to hoping.

Sub-defense wouldn’t have to change from when Mayo was at the helm, just instead of Mayo staying in the game, it would be Hightower. But I wouldn’t be surprised if Bill Belichick gets a little tricky here. 

While Hightower’s coverage has gotten a lot better this year, opposing offenses would most certainly target him as the weakness in the nickel and dime defenses. I wouldn’t be surprised if Belichick occasionally plays Brandon Browner inside to fill that “linebacker” role next to Collins in nickel packages. I mean, he’s bigger than most linebackers to begin with. Just imagine Browner covering tight ends with Darrelle Revis shutting down the opponent’s best receiver. Man, this defense would look good.

Who’s excited for the return of running back by committee? Oh totally not this guy, but sadly that’s what will most likely happen.

With Shane Vereen, James White, Brandon Bolden and Jonas Gray all on the roster, the Patriots aren’t in the market to go find another back. Instead, they will mix and match the four of these guys in infuriating fashion. Forget reliably starting a Patriots running back in fantasy football for the rest of the season.

Vereen, although the most talented of all these backs, isn’t built to run between the tackles and I’d expect him to be used how he’s been used all year. The decision will be who to turn to for the majority of carries. And to shock everyone, I think it might be Jonas Gray. Gray has the body to beat up a defense — standing at 5-foot-9 and weighing a whopping 230 pounds — and will be ultra physical against any defense, which is what the Patriots like out of their backs.

Obviously, the Patriots don’t have an immediate replacement for Mayo or Ridley, but they do have the pieces on their roster to help fill the utter nothingness left by these players. We’ll have to see how it ultimately works out. 

Peter Rogers is a New England Patriots writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @petahrahgas, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google

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