PatsWickedPissah

That awful game in February, the draft, FA signings and preseason have all raised interesting questions that we're about to see start geting answered...

1. Was Feb's and pre-season's OL performance an anomaly or a portent of things to come?
.....I'd guess that the OL was not as good as hyped by all the Pro-Bowl selections nor as bad as shown lately with the revolving (unfortunately literally) cast of characters.

2. Is the Pats vaunted D a ghost of the past with its aged stars?
.....Can the rooks re-invigorate the D and will it improve towards late season as all the better BB defenses did? I think that the development of the rooks will facilitate the latter.

3. Is the 2008 draft class/UDFAs as good as it looked to many in pre-season?
.....I'm optimistic but the kids are now facing NFL starters, not wannabees

4. Is Brady's current health and mobility an issue?
..... I'm taking this week's non-listing on the injury report as near factual

5. Can the defensive backfield be effective having lost 2 significant players?
.....THE bigest question in my mind. Bryant's failure and the last minute signing of O'Neil whose last couple seasons have not been notable hardly inspires confidence. I expect Pees, Capers and BB to scheme heavily the 1st 4 games to ease pressure off the corners.

6. Will the 2008 FA crop Lamont Jordan, Lewis Sanders, Deltha O'Neill et. al. contribute?
.....Big names Hobson & Bryant already cut. Most of the UFA linepersons are cut, IRed or PUPed. ..... Lamont should have an opportunity to answer HIS question Sunday

I don't think that game one barring unexpected disaster will answer much. KC should not be a challenge to even a weak defensive backfield. I would expect we'd have a good line on this team's growth and vulnerabilities by week 9, mid season.

__________________
Throughout history, poverty is the normal condition of man. Advances which permit this norm to be exceeded — here and there, now and then — are the work of an extremely small minority, frequently despised, often condemned, and almost always opposed by all right-thinking people. Whenever this tiny minority is kept from creating, or (as sometimes happens) is driven out of a society, the people then slip back into abject poverty.
This is known as "bad luck." RAH

JoePats

I'll take a shot...

1) Agree with your answer. The Super Bowl was just an awful day at a terrible time. The preseason, without Light, I'm willing to say aberration until proven otherwise, which won't happen this week, as the Chiefs don't pose a significant pass rushing threat without J Allen.

2) Perhaps some early growing pains, but fortunately the early schedule is weaker.

3) Who knows, but I don't think you can count on an UDFA to do much of anything. Mayo and Wheatley are in some ways the keys to the season.

4) Highly doubt it.

5) I don't think Gay is a significant player. But Samuel certainly is. I'd say that it's probable the corners will not be as good but with growth from Meriweather and improvement at LB and DL the defense should be better.

6) One of the corners needs to perform, but we should be fine elsewhere. LaMont could be a nice surprise, but I don't think it's required.

dhamz

I think the question on the line is health.

If healthy, I would agree with your assesment - not as good as they were hyped but not as bad as SB Sunday.

This has never been a great offensive line. It has been solid, is well coached, and has a QB who leaads the world in pocket presence which makes them look better. If they are healthy I don't expect the OL to be a problem.

BionicPatriot

1. who knows? Outside of Neal, everyone is back. I don't think many Patriot fans thought the line was half as good as other said it was during the season. It's a solid line, but the Pats have never fielded an elite unit. I think they'll be solid.

2. I'm getting tired of this question. The past? Last season they were ranked #4, far from bad. This season they lose one signifigant starter, Samuel. They're improved at OLB, and they have questions in the secondary and how well Mayo will play. I don't see the D getting much worse, if at all.

3. Only time can answer this, I HOPE the answer is yes:]

4. Would he be practiciing? I doubt it.

5. They lost one. Gay was a nickel back, he never started except on a few occasions when the back field was depleted. Was this secondary elite with Gay? No. Was he a playmaker? No. Hell, he was barely visible. I don't understand all the hype on him. It's not just for the first game, all season long they'll need to be able to generate pressure.

6. We'll know how valuable Jordan is come December when it's snowing. No matter how good your passing game is, in the north east you want as many healthy backs as possible. It could really help the offense. I'm not sure of O'Neal, but I have a feeling Sanders will easily replace Gay for the nickel back spot.

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Defense, defense, defense

MrBigglesWorth

I want to see how committed they are to the run when the weather is not good to go all out passing.

__________________
"There are two categories of superbowl participants that nobody remembers:

The team that lost the game and the team that only won one." Dwight White- Steelers

mgteich

1. No, I do expect that we continue to have such exotensive injuries on the OL. The top seven are 7 of last year's top 8. Vets may be added in a few days. Neal and Ross will be available at mid-season. Last year's line was pretty good. We're fine.

2. The defense is fine. The aging of Vrabel, Harrison and Bruschi is balanced by the improved experience of Sanders, Meriweather and Woods.

3. Probably not, but then they don't need to be. There will be significant contributions by rookies this year, as was the case every year except last year.

4. No.

5. You're a Wilson fan? We lost one significant defensive back. We added several. The defensive backfield figures to be stronger at nickel, at dime, at least as strong at safety, and weaker at corner. I exect/hope for one of Wheatley and Wilhite to develop for 2009. I expect that Wheatley will be inconsistent this year. If not, we'll draft another and/or bring in more free agents.

6. I believe that Jordan is a major pickup and I expect him to contribute. O'Neal and Lewis Sanders should be at nickel and dime back.

7. I strongly agree. What we may understand better is our possible need to shore up our run defense. I expect us to be in fine shape after the bye, certainly by Game 9.

PatsWickedPissah

Big Wilson fan, as that's my name on his jersey.

Last question that I fergot as I was rushing off to fertilize the bushes before the "We're All Gonna DIE!!!" Tropical Storm.

8. Do the Pats have a viable backup QB?
.... With all respect to BB who made the best choice available at the time, I say that this is a question that "Man Was Not Meant To Know". May we NEVER know the answer.

__________________
Throughout history, poverty is the normal condition of man. Advances which permit this norm to be exceeded — here and there, now and then — are the work of an extremely small minority, frequently despised, often condemned, and almost always opposed by all right-thinking people. Whenever this tiny minority is kept from creating, or (as sometimes happens) is driven out of a society, the people then slip back into abject poverty.
This is known as "bad luck." RAH

mgteich

May we never find out!

I would sign a veteran to replace Cassell in a heartbeat. Now, I suppose we will after the season. Why wait?

TommyD4207

It was the one truly piss-poor game they played in 19 games. They had some "not great" games at points, but nothing to that degree. I put ZERO stock in Preseason Performances by starters. It was an anomaly. They had a bad game.

No. In fact the defense got younger, and Mayo is the Truth. The front seven will be better than last year, hand down. The secondary remains to be seen; but the Patriots have started Playoff Games with Earthwind Moreland and Hank Poteat.

Looks like the linebackers are anyway. Beats the hell out of last year's draft class.

Nope, the shoulder's finally healed it looks like.

2? One relatively significant, and someone who hasn't really tried in 3 years? The Patriots aren't going to miss Samuel; but he will miss the Patriots. They'll cobble together a secondary like they always do. Remember, when Samuel and Wilson were here, we were STILL worried about the secondary.

Jordan should. O'Neal might, I think he might actually contribute in the return game more than anything. Sam Aikens should be a big deal on special teams.

Big?

Meh. He might get 10 carries, he might get 2. We won't really know until later on in the season I don't think.

I don't think the secondary is as weak as everyone is making it out to be, but you're right - we'll know by week 9.

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PatsWickedPissah

I agree with what you said but have two comments.

First, I really liked our 2nd and 4th round draft picks last year.
Yes, the 5th was a waste.

As to Lamont THIS Sunday, he should catch a few passes as this week's Kevin Faulk, plus he adds the power up the middle dimension sorely needed.

__________________
Throughout history, poverty is the normal condition of man. Advances which permit this norm to be exceeded — here and there, now and then — are the work of an extremely small minority, frequently despised, often condemned, and almost always opposed by all right-thinking people. Whenever this tiny minority is kept from creating, or (as sometimes happens) is driven out of a society, the people then slip back into abject poverty.
This is known as "bad luck." RAH