Getting the best out of healthy again interior game-wrecker Christian Barmore will be key to the success of a new-look defense for the New England Patriots in 2025, so now’s the time for head coach Mike Vrabel to unveil his “fascinating” new plan for the defensive tackle.
It’s a plan based upon moving Barmore across the front more freely, something Chad Graff of The Athletic will be watching out for at training camp. Graff believes there are “fascinating dynamics” about the four-man fronts Vrabel and new defensive coordinator Terrell Williams plan to use more often.
Those dynamics will be most evident in the way the Pats deploy Barmore. As Graff pointed out, “Vrabel has shown a willingness to move Barmore around. He’s going to try him on the outside in passing situations, and line him up in a variety of spots during camp to see what works.”
This is an exciting plan for arguably the most gifted pass-rusher at Vrabel’s disposal.
Patriots Have Something New for Returning Christian Barmore
Vrabel began the process of coming up with something new for Barmore during OTAs and minicamp. The coach liked what he saw, per Graff, with Vrabel praising Barmore for his “versatility, he’s rushed inside, he’s lined up outside. He’s worked extremely hard. You’ve seen him chase and play with great effort down the field.”
That’s another reference to Barmore shifting to the edge to put heat on the pocket. It’s an interesting idea and something Barmore showed an aptitude for with this sack of Tua Tagovailoa against the Miami Dolphins in 2023, highlighted by The QB List’s Ben Brown.
Barmore became “dominant” rushing the passer two years ago, but the Patriots have since been denied the chance to add to the former Alabama stud’s repertoire.
Dealing with blood clots prevented Barmore from building on his breakout campaign of sorts last season. He was limited to just four games by the recurring health scare, but Barmore is emphatic about his readiness to be at full strength and boss games this season.
That’s good news for what Vrabel has in store for perhaps the best D-lineman on the roster. Barmore has some competition to merit that label this year, but he can take advantage of how Vrabel and Williams have used a flexible defensive tackle in the past.
Christian Barmore Can Study the Best for ‘Fascinating’ Patriots Role
The Patriots will still be counting on Barmore primarily for interior pressure, particularly following the arrival of $104-million man Milton Williams. Putting the narrative-changing signing next to Barmore will create a nightmare for opponents who “aren’t going to be able to double-team both,” according to Graff.
He believes this double act can make up for the lack of an elite edge-rusher, but shifting Barmore outside more often can do the same. Especially when he’s studying “big, athletic DL like Jeff Simmons, Chris Jones, DeForest Buckner, and Cam Hayward to prepare for this season,” per Taylor Kyles of Patriots on CLNS Media.
Those names are significant because they’ve all spent time at defensive end in certain passing situations. Doing so was part of the roving brief that helped Jeffery Simmons mature into a Pro-Bowl force on the watch of Vrabel and Williams with the Tennessee Titans in 2021 and ’22.
Vrabel has already made clear his intention to mix 3-4 and 4-3 looks up front this season, so he’ll have no trouble changing Barmore’s role in each look. Keeping Barmore on the move will be another way to confuse blockers and unnerve quarterbacks with a more attacking scheme than the Patriots have played in recent years.
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