‘D’ line dancing</p> <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'></p> <span class="articleBegin">F</span>OXBORO - As most football observers know, the strength of the Patriots defense lies up front.</p> The trio of nose tackle Vince Wilfork and ends Ty Warren and Richard Seymour forms one of the league’s best defensive lines. Add in backup Jarvis Green, another end who would start on most teams, and it’s hard to find a unit that’s much better.</p> The loss of Mike Wright doesn’t appear too damaging on the surface given those four main cogs remain in place. But he did serve valuable roles, spelling Wilfork at the nose and providing flexibility to play end if needed.</p> With Wright placed on season-ending injured reserve with a foot injury on Thursday, two scenarios must now take place. One, Wilfork, who is having a Pro Bowl-caliber season, will have to play more snaps. Or two, second-year player Le Kevin Smith will have to step into Wright’s role.</p> Increasing the playing time of a dominating force like Wilfork might sound appealing, but the 325-pound lineman is at more of a risk to wear down and be less effective over the long haul. Same with Seymour and Warren.</p> That’s the big-picture scenario.</p> And although it might not be the Pats’ biggest concern heading into tomorrow’s grudge match against the rival Jets, down the road, it may become an issue.</p> “Obviously, we’ll miss Mike, just like Rosie (Colvin),” Pats defensive coordinator Dean Pees said. “You’re always going to miss a player. He’s a versatile player for us and has held some different spots for us. He was getting better all the time, so obviously we’re going to miss him.</p> “It’s kind of like what we’ve always said and how we’ve always kind of been here - and how you’ve really got to be everywhere. It opens up the door for someone else, whether that is Le Kevin (Smith) or whoever it might be. We’ve got to adjust and somebody else has got to step up and take his spot.”</p> Against Pittsburgh in particular, the Pats rotated linemen more than usual as they tried to rest Wilfork, Warren and Seymour as much as possible. The moves even seemed to elevate their play, particularly that of Wilfork, who was a force in the middle.</p> Is it even possible to have a rotation with only five defensive linemen currently on the roster?</p> “It just depends. It depends, again, on Le Kevin and the versatility because he’s been working hard and he’s got some versatility, too, so we’ll just have to see how the rotation goes,” Pees said. “I can’t guarantee. I can’t really tell you one way or the other that they’ll play more because Le Kevin won’t or Le Kevin will play more. It just kind of depends on how well he plays and comes along. (That) will give us that flexibility.”</p> Unless the Pats add another defensive lineman, they seemingly won’t be able to play the 4-3 as much, given their lack of depth.</p> Pees, however, wouldn’t concede the point.</p> “Whether we play 4-3 or 3-4, we’ve always kind of traveled with the same number of defensive linemen, so generally that doesn’t make a lot of difference what form we play,” he said.</p> Smith, a sixth-round draft pick out of Nebraska in 2006, indicated yesterday he was prepared to pick up the slack.</p> “I’m ready for it,” he said. “It’s a sad situation to come in and have an opportunity (like this). But that’s what we’re practicing for. It’s something to step up into. More playing time.”</p> Although primarily a defensive tackle in college, Smith was moved to nose tackle at the start of training camp this season.</p> Smith believes he’s better equipped to play now than he was during his rookie year.</p> “I’m more ready for football in general compared to last year,” he said. “Just being in the league and being able to develop in general and being around these guys, being able to bond, makes me feel more comfortable when I go out there.”</p> The Pats defensive line is one of the team’s greatest strengths. It’s one of the reasons the club sits at 13-0.</p> Will Smith be enough to fill the void? Or will the Pats have to look elsewhere to keep Wilfork & Co. fresh?</p> </div></p>
