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Vince Wilfork: Sometimes, Marshawn Lynch doesn’t even need blockers 10.11.12 at 1:54 pm ET
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Marshawn Lynch is the Seahawks leading rusher. (AP)

FOXBORO — Asked Thursday about the talents of Seattle running back Marshawn Lynch, Patriots defensive lineman Vince Wilfork scoffed.

“The guy can go anywhere — sometimes, he doesn’t even need a block,” Wilfork said before practice. “He breaks a lot, a lot of tackles. A lot of tackles. He’s been running hard ever since we were facing him at Buffalo. He’s just a tough, tough back. He’s strong. A physical runner. He’s quick. Shifty. He’s well put together.”

Lynch is the latest impressive back to go up against the New England run defense this season. The Patriots have managed to do a good job holding many elite backs in check, including Chris Johnson (11 rushes, 4 yards), C.J. Spiller (8 carries, 33 yards), Fred Jackson (13 carries, 29 yards) and Willis McGahee (14 carries, 51 yards). In all, New England has yielded an average of 82.2 yards per game, eighth-best in the league.

But Wilfork believes the 5-foot-11, 215-pound Lynch — who has 508 carries on 113 rushing attempts this season — doesn’t get the respect he deserves. The 26-year-old Lynch has rushed for at least 100 yards in eight of his last 14 games, and last season, he set a career-high with 13 total touchdowns.

“You talk about backs being an elite back, I don’t think he gets enough credit,” Wilfork said. “He’s probably one of the tougher backs in the league to defend — he can go anywhere. Like I said, sometimes, he doesn’t even need blocks. He can go out there and take on the defense himself. He’s a real good back.

“It’s going to be very very tough when it comes down to stopping the run. All year, we’ve faced some good runners, but this guy is probably, he’s at the top so we have our work cut out. It’ll be a good challenge for us up front. But you know what? We welcome the challenge. I feel good about the things we’re doing — I’m pretty sure they feel good about running the football. It’s going to be one of those games where it’s going to come down to can we stop Marshawn Lynch and this running attack.”

Wilfork, one of the centerpieces of a defense that is 22nd in the league (373.8 yards per game allowed), said the Seattle offense goes beyond the work of Lynch. He praised rookie quarterback Russell Wilson, saying the Patriots have to “bottle up” the 23-year-old rookie who can make plays with the feet as well as his arm.

“He makes a lot of plays,” Wilfork said. “He’s very athletic as a quarterback. Like I said, he can hurt you if you don’t bottle him up with 11 guys on defense or pursue him well or rush lanes, he’ll make you pay. So we have to do a real good job this week. We have these backs to deal with and then we have this quarterback, and when he does get the ball out to his wide receivers, they make plays for him.

“This is a well-coached group. They’re going to fight for 60 minutes. They’re going to always be in games. They play clutch football. It’s going to be tough for us — it’s going to be a big challenge for us.”

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  • Trevor071793

    agree

  • Fab4ever

    There were ZERO moves to make….like he said, the other GM’s weren’t offering anything other than players to help save cap space…and they’ll do that easily when these guys retire…maybe Dan has in his head that they won’t win this year and he’ll make some changes in the off season ….you don’t know more than him nor do any of these other yokels….

  • Pete

    The no-trade clause is a HUGE reason that deal didn’t go down; there was basically no trade that would have made KG want to leave town. Pierce was basically untradeable, no team in their right mind would mortgage their future for an aging forward who is getting paid $16M this year. Danny did not get the right deals to move those guys; he would be a complete idiot to trade them just for the sake of “blowing it up.”

    You say this team has no chance of winning a championship…so by trading for DeAndre Jordan they have a better chance? The best move this year was not making a move, they are better off making a deal in the offseason while trying to nab free agents

  • Billyt

    Not to sound negative but….Who plays the 5 on this team?!!!….i know Danny and Doc want to try and run people off the floor with this team, but you cant run unless you can rebound. This team gets killed on the boards…. Is Garnett and Fab Melo your only Centers on this team??? …..1st Round KO ahead. With Rondo out at least half the year next year, what the heck is Danny doing with this team? You cant win without your PG and without a Center. Blow the damn thing up and get some value while you still can. I just dont understand what direction this team is trying to go in. You cant patch a team together and hope for the best. This team needs youth! Danny will be in the same perdicament next year at the trade deadline….somoene please convince me im wrong here…

  • I miss the Whiner Line

    Wasn’t expecting Danny to make any major moves but would’ve liked to get a big. Still think it would be best if we traded Rondo only bc he has the most value but i’ll give Danny the benefit of the doubt.

  • Shawn2626

    Steve Stipanovich????

  • Mjc2370

    no they have a better future. This team is heading down the path of being lottery bound. Andwe all know how that worked out for them. Remember Danny Kevin McHale is going to trade you a 1st ballot HOF player for nothing again

  • Dano S

    Terrence Williams looked very good and I hope they sign forward White he will help greatly.

  • BB

    where are you people from? I thought people from Boston were loyal.  Pierce is a top 10 celtic, Garnet one of the best as well, you people want to win that bad more than loyalty, why don’t all you dheads fire your best employees to save money and try and make more so you can win, I’m getting disgusted with this country, winning means more than friendship, why don’t the patriots ditch belichek and brady while they have the chance.  At the same time don’t get me wrong I want these teams to win, but not over giving up people who mean so much.  Is it just talk radio or did people really want to blow up the heart and soul of this team.

  • Dano S

    Press has been hard on Danny Ainge but Williams,Crawford and maybe White he has done a very solid job.

  • Old Time Hockey

    You’re an idiot and all you’re doing is spouting the spew you’ve heard on the talk shows. get you’re own opinion. What part of I said deals like those weren’t on the table. you don’t just give away talent cause they are aging. you need something in return. Just because their are rumors out there doesn’t mean there is any truth to them. I talk to a source of a source of a source and he said that OKC was going to trade Westbrook and Durant for KG and Rondo. Danny how could you pass up that deal? Wake up!!

  • Ha

     no idea who these idiots are or where they came from.. or how long they have actually been watching the nba.. morons and their trade ideas, they act like this is a video game and you can just make any trade. they have no idea what they are talking about or how winning a championship works

  • evanander

    Trading KG to the Clippers where he can compete for a title alongside Chris Paul and Blake Griffin is not analogous to firing your most loyal employees.  Shut up you whiny crybaby,

  • Cfn

    I think most fans understand DA did the right thing.  But there are some including WEEI talk show hosts who do not have a clue.  Why were people even talking about a Garnet trade when he has a no trade clause as well as kept saying he bleeds green.  When are people going to realize that PP is going to retire as a Celtic and understand that this has more value in it for the future.  Also KG and PP are the heart and Soul of the team right now and I will not be surprised to see them playing the Heat again in the Eastern Conference.  They fuse the team together, can you imagine if we traded Pierce to Nets; Celtic nation including the whole team would spiral down for the rest of the year and don’t really see that as building blocks for a future. Probably PP and KG will both retire next year.  So why do we have to trade them, remember when 30 Mil comes off the books then we can rebuild why does everybody think we have to trade them away now when they are playing pretty good.  With now as well as next year we will still be going deep into the playoffs.  With a healthy Rondo and Sully and the way Green is playing we will be a good team next year.  We need to keep Terrence Williams and Crawford, and Lee, and Wilcox.  Get rid of Bass and Melo.

  • Mjc2370

    typical green teamer answer. So saving cap space in the future when they retire means lottery and zero free agents. Yeah thats the right move. Bottom of the barrel he we come again. He had what most GM ‘S dream of rebuilding on the fly and he missed his opportunity

  • KCinNH

    Wow, I can’t believe how much everyone is hating this team roster. We are winning games and the team chemistry seems to be great. With KG, Pierce and Green playing at a high level, plus a backcourt that is playing tough D with multiple scorers, I think this team will be fun to watch in the playoffs.
    - If Miami stays healthy, there was not a trade available to C’s (or any team), that would be capable to stop them from another trip to the finals.
    We do need a true center, and it will be Ainge’s task to fil positionl in off-season, but I’m thrilled to watch a team that seems to be “all in”.
    Just because many fans have set the success bar as the NBA champions, in reality only one team wins. Only one team has the best team. It can’t always be our team. A real sports fan has to appreciate this team with their neew Rondo-less identity.

  • Mjc2370

    loyalty what a joke, this is a business. I could give 2 crabs what players do in the past. These guys would bolt at the highest contract wake up. So loyalty just sent us to the lottery again.

  • Mjc2370

    I got my own opinion its morons like you that drink the cool aid and run around with therir pom poms. A typical green teamer sitting on your couch with your Celtic underoos saying yeah we kept our old quickly losing it talent

  • Uncle Buck

    Let me guess, you are about 23 yrs old ?  

  • Uncle Buck

    Agreed.

  • Uncle Buck

    They’re mostly kids with no perspective.  They can’t help themselves.

  • don’t forgot Reggie and Lewis

    no buddy…cap space when they retire means Danny can pick the free agents he wants instead of ending up with tools like jsmoove and humphries.

  • Mjc2370

    dummy free agents don’t go where there is no talent, hence when they were in the lottery before noone wanted to come here, even with Pierce. You can believe fraud Danny all of you Celtic Yahoo’s want, He said I won’t do what Red did and he did the exact same thing and says there was no deal out there to help. There wasnt a deal that would make them better this year it was for down the road the next few seasons. Whats here now has zero chance for a title with the exception of you few Bozo’s who drink the koolaid believe they do.

    Uncle no Im 43 and been down this road with this franchise and those of you who believe DA has done a great job are fools.

  • markfromlynn

    Exactly how does one “work around” a no-trade clause? Btw…have you seen DeAndre Jordan’s offensive game? He can’t put the ball in the ocean and is a lousy free throw shooter…he’s one knee injury away from being out of the league like most guys who rely solely on dunks and their athleticism. And in case you haven’t been paying attention? The Ray Allen acquisition had nothing to do with Kevin McHale. I’m so tired of you basketball genuises who criticize Ainge for not “doing something” but don’t have a clue as to how to do that.

  • Ha

     im dissapointed to learn your 43.. i too guessed you were between 13-23.. do you actually watch other nba games asside the Cs? I do every night and your rationale makes no sense. Watch DeAndre play for a few nights and see if you still feel the same way. He has airballed multiple freethrows in the last few games bideaway. Lets also not forget when DA drafted Rondo and Sully with late picks. This team has a future, just maybe without you following it, which would be best for all of us.

  • markfromlynn

    Youth huh? Lets’s see here…Bass is 27,Bradley 22,Crawford 24,Green 26,Lee 27,Melo 22,Rondo 27,Sullinger 20, and Terrence Williams is 25. Now tell me….what exactly is your plan for “blowing it up” . Tell me EXACTLY how you would reconstruct this team.

  • markfromlynn

    At this rate the Celtics will finish as high as 6th in the Eastern Conference, if not higher. They won’t see Miami til at least the second round.

  • Ha

     i would love to hear this. all of these people with their dumb trade ideas. please tell us EXACTLY who is on the team for the next few years

  • Anonymous

    I hope you are right markfromlynn.
    go C’s!!

  • The_Public_Sucks

    Mark from Lynn may have the best post.  If the C’s don’t sustain another monster injury they shouldn’t finish in 8th place.  Let’s face facts, we don’t know what all the trade offers were.  KG was not going to waive his no trade clause, therefore it didn’t make any sense for Ainge to trade Pierce for a bag of shoes.  Ainge has to trade contracts as well as people, but Mjc2370 dimwit of the year doesn’t get that.  I don’t expect superstar grammar on the board, but I can’t even follow his or her posts – just plain putrid writing from the basement of grandma.  Take a break from the bong Mjc2370, even for a couple of days you dope!

  • mike

     You are 43 and you cannot spell cool aid?   Seriously?  Cool aid? Your opinion is very important as you are clearly a man of great intellect and perspective.

  • http://www.facebook.com/derek.lee.82 Derek Lee

    Agreed.

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