Guregian: Pressure is on for Trey Flowers and Patriots pass rushers

FOXBORO — The pass rush was considered suspect. And that was before Rob Ninkovich decided he was calling it a career.

But now that the outside linebacker formally has announced his retirement, the Patriots have to deal with the knowledge they’re flying a bit thin in the get-to-the-quarterback department.

Granted, Ninkovich was a little long in the tooth at age 33, but they’re going to miss his ability to deliver in the clutch. He always seemed to come up with a timely sack or forced fumble.

Someone needs to pick up the slack. Someone has to pressure the opposing quarterback, especially with Matt Ryan, Drew Brees, Cam Newton, Jameis Winston, Philip Rivers, Derek Carr and Ben Roethlisberger on the schedule.

The Patriots were able to get away with an iffy pass rush last year, given the slate of not-ready-for-primetime quarterbacks they faced. Their 34 sacks were a middle-of-the-pack total in the NFL, but that wasn’t a problem. If their numbers are like that this season, it might not bode as well.

“We got a lot of good guys on the defensive line ready to make plays,” said Trey Flowers, who blossomed last season. “We all know we gotta step up and be productive.”

The Pats already have said goodbye to Jabaal Sheard and Chris Long. Newcomer Kony Ealy, meanwhile, apparently got off on the wrong foot with coach Bill Belichick. So we’ll see if he can tow the line.

Beyond Ealy, Belichick added youth at defensive end in the draft with Derek Rivers and Deatrich Wise, who were selected in the third round and fourth round, respectively. Both have shown decent flashes during the padded practices, but it’s still early to make any kind of definitive assessment. We’ll know more once they get into games.

Then there’s third-year defensive lineman Geneo Grissom. Maybe this will be the year he finally blossoms.

All that being said and barring Belichick adding on, it looks like it’s on Flowers to carry the load. He’s knows that, and so does every team in the league. He’s going to be a marked man, which will make things a lot harder. Flowers, who had seven sacks last season, doesn’t seem bothered by the prospects of added attention, or double teams.

“It comes with success. People are going to key in on you. Teams are going to try to eliminate you,” said Flowers, who had a huge takedown of Ryan as the Patriots rallied to win Super Bowl LI. “It’s just my job to produce through whatever they throw at me, keep being productive, whether it’s getting to the quarterback or stopping the run. That’s just my job. I’m going to be prepared, and I’m going to be ready for it.”

Defensive line coach Brendan Daly, who was available to the media last week, says it’s not so much about sacking the quarterback, but rather, impacting or disturbing the opposing team’s signal caller.

“You’re always trying to get better in terms of the pass rush. It’s absolutely critical to the success of our defense,” he said. “But I think far more important than the sack numbers is our ability to affect the quarterback. I think a sack is a way that you do that, but I think there’s a myriad of ways you can accomplish that.”

The Patriots do have several linebackers in Dont’a Hightower, Shea McClellin and Kyle Van Noy who have experience rushing the passer as blitzers from the edge. So that will help.

Even more beneficial to their sagging pass rush, will be a great secondary that should buy the Pats time to get to the quarterback. With lockdown corners Stephon Gilmore and Malcolm Butler likely forcing quarterbacks to hold the ball longer, that might allow the rushers time to do damage.

“I think it always has to be a combination of coverage and pass rush . . . the biggest thing we do well is buy into whatever team concept we have, or guys doing their job,” said safety Devin McCourty. “A lot of people just want to see guys just running after the quarterback. That’s not how you have a good defense. I’m excited to see how we do on both ends, coverage and pass rush.”

Belichick, defensive coordinator Matt Patricia and Daly do have time to work it out. Ninkovich even indicated he would stick around and help with the younger guys getting them up to speed.

Said Flowers: “This is a league where there are a lot of great quarterbacks a lot of great receivers and a lot of great skill guys. We have to be able to get after the quarterback and affect them.”

And, for the Patriots, with one less clutch defensive end.

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