FOXBORO, Mass. — Vince Wilfork displayed his versatility in 2009 when he spent some reps dominating at defensive end, but the Patriots nose tackle has a new position in his crosshairs.
The big fella wants to play inside linebacker next.
Wilfork's defensive line coach is Pepper Johnson, who was quite the linebacker during his heyday with the New York Giants, so Wilfork has heard plenty about the position over the last six years. In a recent practice, Wilfork lined up at inside linebacker on the show team, and he's starting to lobby — kind of tongue-in-cheek, kind of not — for a rep in a live game.
"Pepper was a middle linebacker," Wilfork said. "I'm a nose tackle, so he knows my reads, and I know a middle linebacker's reads. I was just joking around the other day with [Jerod] Mayo, telling him in meetings that I can be a linebacker. I actually came out and did a little show team and did pretty good. That’s one thing that we do around here. We don’t have one guy just playing one thing. Bill [Belichick] does a really good job of mixing us around and trying us in different positions, so we know what each other is doing out there."
Wilfork said he spends a lot of time watching film with Mayo, who is responsible for the defensive play calls. Wilfork is also responsible for lining up the defensive linemen, so the two have to work well together to make sure the front-seven can work together in harmony. Because of that chemistry, the two have gotten a chance to know each other's position pretty well.
Wilfork was asked about the intriguing possibility of lining up at inside linebacker next week against the Saints because it would most certainly rattle former teammate and good friend, fullback Heath Evans, who could wind up responsible blocking Wilfork on that play.
"I wish I would get a rep out at middle linebacker," Wilfork said.
