2015 Patriots Player Preview Series – DE Rob Ninkovich
As we begin the final stretch before training camp, here’s a daily look at some Patriots on the roster where we’ll individually preview them heading into the 2015 season. In this edition, Patriots defensive end Rob Ninkovich.
Ninkovich has risen from a guy on the bubble who was a long-snapper to make the roster to one of the most productive, dependable players on a defense that won the Super Bowl in 2014.
Ninkovich and QB Tom Brady are the only respective members of the defense and offense with 10 years or more of NFL experience. Ninkovich at 31, isn’t slowing down but rather is hitting his stride. Of course his first three seasons with the Saints, he barely saw the field, so there is not a lot of wear of his treads.
2014 RECAP:
Ninkovich had another stellar campaign in 2014, the 6’2, 260 veteran appeared in all 16 games and led the Patriots in sacks with eight and notched 62 tackles and one interception. Perhaps his biggest sack of the season came in the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl.
With the Patriots down by 10, Ninkovich’s third down sack of Seahawks QB Russell Wilson stalled a Seattle drive and forced them to punt. That set the stage for the epic comeback by Tom Brady resulting in two late touchdowns that won the Super Bowl for New England.
Ninkovich played in a remarkable 93 percent of the defensive snaps in 2014 which is down from 94 percent of the snaps in 2013. He and Chandler Jones have been two of the hardest working defensive ends that have logged the most snaps the past few seasons.
When rookie Zach Moore forced a fumble against the Bears in October, Ninkovich scooped up the ball and returned it 15 yards for a touchdown, his second career touchdown as a member of the Patriots.
DID YOU KNOW?
Ninkovich in 2013 became the first Patriots player since Willie McGinest (1995-96), to produce back-to-back seasons with at least eight sacks. Ninkovich made it three seasons in a row with eight more in 2014.
Ninkovich has missed only one game since 2009, he leads all NFL DEs with consecutive games played at 86 and started at 65. He also leads all active NFL DEs with fumble recoveries with 13.
2015 OUTLOOK:
It is interesting that Ninkovich’s record of consecutive season of eight sacks or more was the first since McGinest. Both of these players are known as “money” players who perform best when the game is on the line.
Tom E. Curran from CSNNE in his countdown for the Best 50 Players of the Belichick era had this to say about the comparisons between McGinest and Ninkovich:
“Willie McGinest had 38.5 sacks, 5 forced fumbles, 6 fumble recoveries, 3 interceptions and 317 tackles from 2000 through 2005. From 2009 through 2014, Ninkovich had 35.5 sacks, 9 forced fumbles, 13 fumble recoveries, 5 interceptions and 385 tackles.”
Ninkovich was being overworked the past two seasons and playing far too many snaps, so the Patriots signed the talented Jabaal Sheard to help in the rotation with both Ninkovich and Jones. And in during the 2015 NFL Draft, they drafted edge rushers Geneo Grissom and Trey Flowers.
Rather than watching his production go down with less playing time, look for it to go up. Playing with fresher legs will benefit everyone involved and the Patriots can afford to be more aggressive in getting after the quarterback.
Ninkovich isn’t the most talented, or the most athletically gifted player on the Patriots roster. But he’s arguably the most productive and with some help in the wings for 2015, the Patriots edge rushers are in very good shape as they will try to become the first team since the 2003-2004 Patriots to repeat as Super Bowl champions. And the best of the bunch is Ninkovich, he’s the team’s money defensive player.
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