In their first meeting, the Wildcat ran wild. Miami's star running back and New England's head coach tackle the unorthodox formation. Plus, news and notes from Wednesday's practice.
The Patriots head into Sunday's game at Miami tied with the Dolphins for second place in a highly competitive AFC East. The winner of the contest will answer a few questions heading down the stretch toward the postseason. For all the other questions surrounding the Patriots we bring another wide-ranging edition of Ask PFW.
After seeing the Dolphins' Wildcat formation rip it to shreds in Week 3, New England is doing everything it can to prevent a repeat performance this weekend.
Joey Porter's running his mouth again. Read all about that and the other news and notes leading up to this weekend's Patriots-Dolphins game in today's Patriots.com News Blitz.
75 Vince Wilfork DL
Height: 6-2 Weight: 325 Year: 4 Yrs/Pat: 4 Acquired: D1-04 (21st overall) School: Miami (Fla.) Major: Liberal Arts Born: Nov 4, 1981 Boynton Beach Fla.
Personal
Vincent Lamar Wilfork was born the son of the late Barbara and David Wilfork on Nov. 4, 1981 ... A gifted athlete who also excelled on the Miami Hurricanes' track team, performing in the shot put ... Attended Santaluces (Lantana, Fla.) High ... Regarded as one of Florida's top three defensive linemen after the 1999 season ... USA Today second-team All-American, adding Super Prep first-team All-American honors, as he was rated the No. 10 defensive lineman nationally by that publication ... Also lettered in track, finishing second in the state in the Class 6A shot put and discus ... Holds the Florida state high school record in the shot put with a 68-foot throw ... Majored in liberal arts at Miami ... Vince and his wife Bianca have two children.
Career Transactions
Vince Wilfork was drafted by the New England Patriots in the first round (21st overall) of the 2004 NFL Draft ... Signed by the Patriots (07/19/04).
Career Highlights
Career GP/GS (Playoffs): 45/35 (8/6)
Wilfork has played in all 45 games with 35 starts since joining the Patriots and has recorded 229 tackles (123 solo), 3.5 sacks, five passes defensed and four fumble recoveries.
In 2005, Wilfork led all Patriots defensive linemen and ranked second on the team with a career-high 91 tackles (42 solo).
Wilfork was part of a defensive front that allowed an average of just 31.3 rushing yards per game in the month of December, 2005.
In 2004, Wilfork led all Patriots rookies with 57 tackles (35 solo) as the Patriots defense ranked sixth in the NFL against the run.
2006 Season
2006 (13/13/0/3): Despite missing the final three contests, finished fourth on the team with 81 tackles (46 solo) ... Tied for the team lead in sacks once in 2006 (at NYJ) ... Tied for team lead in quarterback hits once in 2006 (at MIN).
Buffalo (9/10): Made the start at nose tackle and notched five tackles (3 solo) in the Patriots' 19-17 victory over the Bills. at N.Y. Jets (9/17): Started at defensive tackle ... Registered seven tackles (5 solo), a sack and a quarterback hit in the Patriots' 24-17 win over the N.Y. Jets ... Sacked Chad Pennington for a 3- yard loss in the third quarter. Denver (9/24): Made the start at nose tackle and finished tied for second on the team with 10 tackles (7 solo) ... Registered a quarterback hit ... Combined with Junior Seau to stuff Tatum Bell for no gain on a rush off left guard in the final stanza. at Cincinnati (10/1): Started at defensive tackle and collected three tackles in the Patriots' commanding 38-13 victory over the Bengals. vs. Miami (10/8): Started at nose tackle ... Tallied seven tackles (4 solo) in the Patriots' 20-10 win over the Dolphins ... Combined with Tedy Bruschi to stop Ronnie Brown for no gain on a rush off left end in the third quarter. at Buffalo (10/22): Started at nose tackle ... Notched six tackles (5 solo), a fumble recovery and a pass defensed in the Patriots' 28-6 road victory over the Bills ... Recovered a fumble that was caused when Mike Vrabel strip-sacked JP Losman in the second quarter ... Batted down a pass at the line of scrimmage that was intended for Lee Evans in the third quarter. at Minnesota (10/30): Made the start at nose tackle and collected five tackles (2 solo), two quarterback hits in the Patriots' commanding 31-7 road win against the Vikings ... Stuffed Mewelde Moore for no gain on a rush up the middle in the fourth quarter. Indianapolis (11/5): Started at nose tackle and notched seven tackles (3 solo) ... Teamed with Ty Warren to stuff Joseph Addai for no gain on a rush off right guard in the fourth quarter ... Combined with Junior Seau to stop Addai for no gain on a third-and-five rush in the fourth quarter. vs. N.Y. Jets (11/12): Made the start at nose tackle and recorded five tackles (3 solo). at Green Bay (11/19): Started at nose tackle and notched five tackles (1 solo) in the Patriots' 35-0 road victory over the Packers. vs. Chicago (11/26): Started at nose tackle ... Registered eight tackles (4 solo) in the Patriots' 17-13 victory over the Bears ... Teamed with Jarvis Green to limit Thomas Jones to a 1-yard gain on third-and-two in the third quarter. vs. Detroit (12/3): Made the start at nose tackle and registered seven tackles (5 solo) in the Patriots' 28-21 comeback victory over the Lions ... Combined with Mike Vrabel to stop Jon Kitna for no gain on a rush up the middle in the fourth quarter. at Miami (12/10): Started at defensive tackle as the team opened the game in a 4-3 alignment ... Registered six tackles (4 solo). vs. Houston (12/17): Inactive. at Jacksonville (12/24): Inactive. at Tennessee (12/31): Inactive.
2006 Postseason (3/3/0/0): vs. N.Y. Jets (1/7): Started at nose tackle in his return to the lineup ... Notched three tackles (2 solo), a fumble recovery and a quarterback hit in the Patriots' 37-16 AFC Wild Card victory over the N.Y. Jets ... Stuffed Leon Washington for no gain on a rush up the middle in the first quarter ... Teamed with Tedy Bruschi to stuff Cedric Houston for no gain on a rush off right tackle in the third quarter ... Scooped up a Chad Pennington lateral that was batted down by Rosevelt Colvin and rumbled 31 yards to the Jets' 15-yard line in the third quarter. at San Diego (1/14): Made the start at nose tackle ... Posted three solo tackles in the Patriots' 24-21 AFC Divisional playoff victory over the Chargers. at Indianapolis (1/21): Started at nose tackle ... Tied for second on the team with seven tackles (6 solo) ... Teammed with Mike Vrabel to stonewall Dominic Rhodes for a 2-yard loss on a rush up the middle in the seco quarter.
2005 Season
2005 (16/16/0/0): Notched a career-high 12 tackles (8 solo) in the 21-16 victory over Buffalo (10/30/05) ... Led all Patriots defensive linemen with a careerhigh 91 tackles. Oakland (9/8): Started at nose tackle ... Tallied two tackles (1 solo) and a fumble recovery in the Patriots' 30-20 victory over the Raiders on opening night ... Recovered a Kerry Collins fumble that was caused by a Jarvis Green sack in the third quarter. at Carolina (9/18): Finished with seven tackles (4 solo), including a split sack ... Teamed with Rosevelt Colvin to drop Jake Delhomme for an 8-yard sack in the second quarter ... Stonewalled Stephen Davis for a 1-yard loss on a rush up the middle in the fourth quarter. at Pittsburgh (9/25): Notched three tackles in the Patriots' 23-20 victory over the Steelers. San Diego (10/2): Collected seven tackles (5 solo). at Atlanta (10/9): Registered six tackles in the Patriots' 31-28 win over the Falcons. at Denver (10/16): Tallied five tackles ( 3 solo). Buffalo (10/30): Finished second on the team with a career-high 12 tackles (8 solo) in the Patriots' 21-16 victory over the Bills on Sunday Night Football ... Teamed with Mike Vrabel to stonewall Roscoe Parrish for a 6-yard loss on a reverse in the first quarter ... Combined with Ty Warren to stop Willis McGahee for no gain on a rush up the middle in the fourth quarter. Indianapolis (11/7): Notched eight tackles (3 solo). at Miami (11/13): Tied for the team lead with nine tackles (5 solo) in the Patriots' 23-16 road victory over the Dolphins. New Orleans (11/20): Registered three tackles and a pass defensed in the Patriots' 24-17 win over the Saints ... Combined with Richard Seymour to stuff Aaron Stecker for no gain on a rush up the middle in the third quarter ... Knocked down a pass intended for Stecker in the fourth quarter. at Kansas City (11/27): Tied for the team lead with eight tackles (2 solo) ... Teamed with Mike Vrabel to stuff Larry Johnson for a 2-yard loss on a rush up the middle in the first quarter. N.Y. Jets (12/4): Recorded six tackles (4 solo) in the Patriots' 16-3 victory over the Jets. at Buffalo (12/11): Collected three tackles (2 solo) in the Patriots' commanding 35-7 road victory over the Bills. Tampa Bay (12/17): Finished second on the team with eight tackles (3 solo) in the Patriots' 28-0 shutout victory over the Buccaneers. at N.Y. Jets (12/26): Collected a tackle in the Patriots' 31-21 victory over the Jets. Miami (1/1): Saw limited action at nose tackle and registered three tackles (2 solo).
2005 Postseason (2/2/0/0): Jacksonville (1/7): Registered five tackles (3 solo) in the Patriots' 28-3 AFC Wild Card victory over the Jaguars ... Teamed with Rosevelt Colvin to stuff Fred Taylor for a 1-yard loss on a screen pass in the second quarter. at Denver (1/14): Notched eight tackles (3 solo) ... Teamed with Richard Seymour to stuff Tatum Bell for no gain on a rush off left guard in the fourth quarter.
2004 season
2004 (16/6, 3/1): Played in all 16 games as a rookie with six starts at nose tackle … Led all Patriots rookies with 57 tackles (35 solo) including two sacks … Registered his fi rst career NFL start in his first professional game (9/9) … … Collected his first career sack (10/3) … Earned the start at nose tackle in Super Bowl XXXIX … His presence on the line helped the Patriots defense rank sixth in the NFL against the run. Indianapolis (9/9): Started at nose tackle and recorded seven tackles (4 solo) in the Patriots' 27-24 victory over the Colts ... Preserved the Patriots lead by recovering a fumble caused by Eugene Wilson at the Patriots 1-yard line with 3:43 remaining in the fourth quarter. at Arizona (9/19): Played in a reserve role on the defensive line and collected two solo tackles in the Patriots' 23-12 victory over the Cardinals ... Stopped Emmitt Smith for no gain on a rush up the middle in the second quarter ... Stonewalled Smith for no gain on a rush up the middle in the third quarter. at Buffalo (10/3): Started at nose tackle and registered five tackles (2 solo) and a sack in the Patriots' 31-17 victory over the Bills ... Collected his first career sack when he dropped Drew Bledsoe for a 1-yard loss in the fourth quarter. Miami (10/10): Finished second on the team with 10 tackles (7 solo), including a sack and a pass defensed in the Patriots' 24-10 victory over the Dolphins ... Batted down a pass intended for Marty Booker in the first quarter ... Sacked Jay Fiedler for a 10-yard loss in the first quarter. Seattle (10/17): Started at nose tackle in the Patriots' 30-20 victory over the Seahawks. N.Y. Jets (10/24): Collected two solo tackles in the Patriots' 13-7 win over the Jets. at Pittsburgh (10/31): Notched two tackles against the Steelers. at St. Louis (11/7): Played in a reserve role on the defensive line and registered two tackles in the Patriots' 40-22 road win against the Rams. Buffalo (11/14): Played in a reserve role and tallied a solo tackle in the Patriots' commanding 29-6 victory over the Bills. at Kansas City (11/22): Collected six tackles (3 solo) in the Patriots' 27-19 Monday Night victory over the Chiefs. Baltimore (11/28): Notched five tackles (4 solo) and two passes defensed in the Patriots' 24-3 victory over the Ravens ... Stonewalled Chester Taylor for no gain on a rush off left guard in the second quarter ... Batted down a Kyle Boller pass at the line of scrimmage intended for Travis Taylor ... Knocked down another Boller pass intended for Taylor in the third quarter. at Cleveland (12/5): Tallied one solo tackle in the Patriots' 42-15 victory over the Browns. Cincinnati (12/12): Registered two tackles in the Patriots' AFC East clinching 35-28 victory over the Bengals. at Miami (12/20): Collected three tackles and a fumble recoveryTeamed with Ted Johnson to stuff Travis Minor for a 1-yard loss on a rush off left guard in the second quarter ... Recovered a Chris Chambers fumble on a botched reverse attempt in the third quarter. at N.Y. Jets (12/26): Recorded three solo tackles in the Patriots' 23-7 victory over the Jets. San Francisco (1/2): Registered six tackles (3 solo) in the Patriots' 21-7 victory over the 49ers.
2004 Postseason (3/1/0/0): Indianapolis (1/16): Registered two solo tackles in the Patriots' 20-3 victory over the Colts. at Pittsburgh (1/23): Collected a tackle in the Patriots' 41-27 AFC Championship victory over the Steelers ... Teamed with Willie McGinest to stuff Jerome Bettis for a 1-yard loss on a rush off right tackle in the third quarter. Philadelphia (2/6): Started at nose tackle in the Patriots' 24-21 victory over the Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX.
College
Recorded 148 tackles (73 solos) with 14 sacks for losses of 60 yards and 37.5 stops for losses of 110 yards during his career … Also credited with 42 quarterback pressures, five forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries in 36 games at Miami. 2003 (Junior): All-American Dream Team selection and rated the best defensive tackle in the country by The NFL Draft Report, adding second-team national honors from College Football News … Unanimous All-Big East Conference first-team choice … Started all year at strong-side defensive tackle … Finished fourth on the team with 64 tackles (31 solos), tied for the squad lead with six sacks for losses of 29 yards and ranked second with 11.5 stops for losses … Led the Hurricanes with 20 quarterback pressures, including six that resulted in interceptions … Recorded a forced fumble and a fumble recovery … Sacked Luke McCown for a nine-yard loss and posted three tackles in the season opener against Louisiana Tech … Assisted in a six-yard sack and posted eight tackles against Florida. … Assisted on a three-yard sack against East Carolina, causing a fumble on the play that was recovered for a touchdown and later pressured the quarterback into throwing an interception, adding six tackles … Was relentless in the backfield against Florida State with six pressures, four of them resulting in third-down incompletions while the other two pressures forced interceptions … Against Virginia Tech, tackled tailback Kevin Jones twice behind the line of scrimmage and was in on nine stops … All three of his pressures against Pittsburgh led to interceptions … Closed out his career with seven tackles (5 solos) against Florida State in the Orange Bowl. 2002 (Sophomore): Played in 11 games … Finished with 43 tackles (19 solos), ranked second on the team with seven sacks and placed fourth with 15 stops for losses … Deflected a pass and made eight quarterback pressures … Also forced a fumble … Posted seven tackles (5 solos) against Florida A&M with two sacks for 16 yards and four stops behind the line of scrimmage … Caused a fumble on a four-yard sack against Connecticut, and also had a pair of stops for losses and four tackles (3 solos) … Registered a career-high nine tackles against Florida State … Credited with four tackles (three solos), a four-yard sack and three stops for losses against Rutgers … Stopped Ohio State tailback Maurice Clarett for a seven-yard loss in the Fiesta Bowl. 2001 (Freshman): Played in every game as a reserve defensive tackle … Recorded 41 tackles (23 solos) with a three-yard sack and ranked third on the team with 11 stops for losses … Finished sixth on the squad with 14 quarterback pressures … Forced three fumbles and recovered two more … Caused a fumble and recovered the ball against Rutgers … Registered five tackles against Florida State and sacked quarterback Chris Rix for a three-yard loss … Posted five solo tackles against West Virginia with a pair of stops for losses … Made seven tackles (5 solos) against Washington and stopped tailback Rich Alexis for a six-yard loss, forcing a fumble on the play.
High School
Attended Santaluces (Lantana, Fla.) High Â… Regarded as one of Florida's top three defensive linemen after the 1999 season Â… USA Today second-team All-American, adding SuperPrep first-team All-American honors, as he was rated the No. 10 defensive lineman nationally by that publication and the No. 10 defensive lineman in the Southeast Region by PrepStar Â… Listed as the No. 7 overall prospect in Florida by SuperPrep Â… Atlanta Journal-Constitution Super Southern 100, Dallas Morning News National Top 100, listed as one of the South's top players by recruiting analyst Bill Buchalter of the Orlando Sentinel Â… Named the No. 2 defensive tackle in Florida on the Florida Times-Union Super 75 list and listed as a National Blue Chip All-American nose tackle by recruiting analyst Max Emfinger Â… Made 88 tackles as a junior, while being double-teamed Â… Finished his senior season with 72 tackles, with 11 sacks Â… Also lettered in track, finishing second in the state in the Class 6A shot put and discus.
Extra Points
Vince and his wife Bianca host an annual draft day fundraiser to support diabetes research.
Vince is an active member of the Mass Mentoring Partnership, a group dedicated to supporting mentoring in Massachusetts.
Patriots pay respects to Hill An on-scene account of the New England Patriots paying their respects to Marquise Hill at his wake in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Patriots re-sign CB Antwain SpannThe New England Patriots re-signed exclusive rights free agent cornerback Antwain Spann today. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
