New England Patriots: Rob Ninkovich Making Fulltime Position Change?
Rob Ninkovich has been practicing at linebacker for the New England Patriots. Will this be a full-time move?
Rob Ninkovich has been a starting defensive end for the New England Patriots for the past five seasons, showing a fantastic ability to set the edge against the run and rush the passer from the outside. Ninkovich was not a terrorizing edge rusher, but his 37 sacks through those five years are an impressive total.
Related Story: Five Players Who Must Step Up for 2016 Patriots
Now, in practices so far this off season, Ninkovich has been working with the Patriots’ inside linebackers. In fact, according to Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald, Ninkovich has been working exclusively at inside linebacker throughout minicamp.
Dont’a Hightower and Jamie Collins are the inside linebackers in the Patriots’ defense, and they make up the arguably the best duo at the position in the entire NFL. That being said, after the retirement of Jerod Mayo this off season, the Patriots could be left a bit light on the inside.
Personally, I thought that Shea McClellin was brought in to be the Patriots’ third linebacker, but Mike Reiss of ESPN reports that McClellin has only been working at defensive end.
With the Patriots trading away Chandler Jones this off season, you would think that they would be counting on their stable veteran Ninkovich to help hold down the fort at defensive end. That being said, the Patriots are theoretically deep at the position, with Jabaal Sheard stepping in for Jones and veteran Chris Long being brought in as well.
Sheard could start at right defensive end and Long at left defensive end if the Patriots decide to make Ninkovich a full-time linebacker, with guys like McClellin, Trey Flowers, Geneo Grissom and Rufus Johnson filling in as depth.
That being said, I think this is more of a move to just give the Patriots more options. Ninkovich could practice all off season and through training camp trying to learn the linebacker position, and still step in and start at left defensive end for the regular season opener.
More from NFL Spin Zone
- Dallas Cowboys made the trade everyone else should have made
- Pittsburgh Steelers rookie sleeper everyone should be talking about
- Anthony Richardson putting jaw-dropping talent on display immediately
- Denver Broncos’ stud wide receiver might be out for a while
- Washington Commanders: Three takeaways from win over Ravens
He is a smart and instinctive veteran player who could easily step back in to his normal role whenever the Patriots need him to. With that in mind, it does not hurt anything to try to see if he can take on an expanded role.
The Patriots base defense has been a 4-2-5 alignment. If Collins and Hightower are healthy, the Patriots do not have a need for another linebacker in their base defense. At those times, Ninkovich can easily play his left defensive end position.
However, if he takes to the linebacker position well, Ninkovich can fill in as the third linebacker when the Patriots go to a 4-3 or 3-3 set, with Long or one of the other guys filling in for him at defensive end.
If Ninkovich can handle this kind of dual-role, then the Patriots would be able to short themselves a bit at the linebacker position, opening up an opportunity to add depth to an actual position of need.
must read: Creating the NFL All-Under-25 Team
It will be interesting to see if this change of position stick for Ninkovich. He is a talented player who we know can dominate as a full-time defensive end, but if he can add playing a solid linebacker to his resume, Ninkovich is going to be among the most important players on the Patriots’ roster.