Patriots continue purge, cut defensive tackle Love

As Kyle Love saw his snap totals decrease towards the end of last season, he had to have taken it as a little writing on the proverbial wall.  So when the Patriots released the man who took his snaps a couple of days ago, he should have taken that as a sign to pack his bags...

Love was released by the team on Wednesday with a non-football injury designation, presumably in response to the 3rd year defensive tackle recently being diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes.

Brandon Deaderick, the main beneficiary of the coaching staff limiting Love's playing time late last season was cut by the team on Monday and landed on the Jacksonville Jaguars roster within a matter of hours.

The sometimes unfeeling business side of professional football aside, releasing the two defensive tackles leave the position very thin if the Patriots retain the 4-3 alignment as their base defense - and with options on the open market slim by this point in free agency, one has to assume that a change in base alignment to either a 3-4 or 3-3-5 may be in the works.

Vince Wilfork still anchors the bigs, with newcomers Armond Armstead of CFL fame and Tommy Kelly formerly of the Raiders in the mix as penetrators.  Marcus Forston and Jermaine Cunningham were also used as a penetrating tackles extensively last season, though Cunningham is listed as a defensive end.

With the secondary well stocked and the linebacking corps loaded, the stage is set for some big happenings with the defense - and it will be interesting to see how this defensive line evolves - whichever way it goes, the look is to be all about speed and lean versatility.