The New England Patriots needed to upgrade their defensive presence after finishing the 2024 season as one of the worst units in the NFL and following a 2023 season where the defense ranked above the middle of the pack.
During his introductory press conference as head coach, Mike Vrabel emphasized the importance of impacting the opposing team’s quarterback to be a winning football team in the NFL, which the Patriots didn’t do well enough with last season, ranking 30th in DVOA and 22nd in scoring defense.
“When you look at statistically what wins in the NFL, our ability to affect the other team’s quarterback and our ability to provide for an efficient quarterback and passing game is a high contributor to success.”
Vrabel and defensive coordinator Terrell Williams worked together during Vrabel’s entire six-years in Tennessee as head coach. Together, they’re poised to provide a much more aggressive and attacking defense than we’ve seen with the Patriots, maybe ever.
Together in Tennessee, Vrabel and Williams ran a four-down defensive lineman front and likely will be using this style again in New England. The big part of the defensive front will be Christian Barmore and top free agent signing Milton Williams working in tandem this season.
In 2024, New England’s defense took a hit without Barmore, who missed the beginning of the season due to blood clots, and although he played in a few games near the end of the season from Weeks 11 to 15, he was pulled again for the same reasons for the rest of the season.
Barmore recently shared with the media that he’s cleared to play this season and he’s finally feeling like himself again after dealing with a big health scare last year.
“Feeling better, keep getting better, feeling good, more confidence in myself. Back with my breathing. So I’m just feeling really good. I’m talking my smack, yeah, all that.”
Barmore’s last full season was in 2023, totaling 64 tackles (13 for loss) and 8.5 sacks with 16 hits on the quarterback and had six pass deflections. He’s also one of the few players remaining on the team that was coached by Bill Belichick.
In 2021, Barmore was the first defensive tackle off the board in the NFL Draft, selected at 38th overall in the second round. Shortly after, the Philadelphia Eagles made Williams the third defensive tackle off the board, selected 73rd overall in the third round.
Patriots Have High Expectations for Christian Barmore and Milton Williams Working in Tandem Along the Defensive Line
After winning a Super Bowl last season, Williams was the top free agent this offseason, and the Pats added him to pair with Barmore in the middle of the defensive line. Now, the two top defensive tackles from the 2021 draft class will be working together in New England.
Williams addressed the media recently saying that he and Barmore have a competition with each other to see who can get to work first everyday. He didn’t share the current score, but you can tell from the interview that they’re already enjoying being on the same team and are ready to work together to lead the defense.
“It’s been good. Me and him, we’ve been competing everyday we’re coming in. We’ve been joking with each other trying to see who gonna beat each other in when we come in in the morning. Me and him, we’re having conversations about the defense is going to start and end with what we do up front and everyday we come in, we have to set the tone and everybody else gonna follow. But it’s up to me and him to set the table for the defense we’re gonna be this year and we’re going to have to carry us.”
Barmore (6’3”, 315 lbs) and Williams (6’3”, 290 lbs) are top athletes at their position, using their speed and power to get in the backfield. As Williams said, it all starts up front with him and Barmore attacking to get to the quarterback.
Watching some of the film on Williams, he uses his strength to overpower offensive linemen, using his arms fully extended to get into the backfield. Keep in mind, Williams weighs around 20 pounds less than most offensive linemen, so he needs to use more of his strength and athleticism to his advantage, which has worked well for him in his career.
On the other hand, Barmore has the weight behind him to match offensive linemen, so he uses more of his upper body strength and his shoulders to break through the line and get into the backfield. He has a unique combination of strength and speed for a guy his size and it works well for him.
The style of defense that Vrabel and Williams have run in the past opens more creativity built within the defensive system. The linebackers can drop back into pass coverage while a defensive back blitzes in his spot. We saw a lot of this from the Titans under Vrabel, but it’s also a style that Brian Flores’ defenses in Minnesota have used over the last few years as well.
Another concept this style of defense presents is a variety of sets and formations with the four down linemen, lining up in different spots to create more pressure to get to the quarterback.
Regardless of how the Patriots run the defense and the plays they use, it all rests on the ability to get to the backfield from the guys up front with Barmore and Williams.
Along with Barmore and Williams, the defensive line will include Keion White, Khyiris Tonga, Harold Landry, and rookie Joshua Farmer. There’s also Anfernee Jennings, K’Lavon Chaisson, and rookie Bradyn Swinson as outside linebackers and edge rushers that could also put their hands down on the line.
The pairing of Barmore and Williams could become the best defensive duo in the league.