PatsWickedPissah

Pats fans have been blessed by several SuperBowl winning teams and a cast of excellent players and smart coaching this decade. Yet, since the 2004 season the NE Patriots have come up short time and again when the game and the season was on the line. What are some of the key features of the trophy machine pre-2005 squads ?

1. A large core of playmakers on defense. How many games were either won or late game leads preserved against comeback drives by key, clutch plays by a core of players? Law, Bruschi, Harrison, OTIS, Vrable. Victories snatched from defeat as opponents' ending drives were stifled by a D playmaker. You never knew which one would step forward but you knew that one of them would get it done.

2. A group of unspectacular but reliable playmakers on offense. Brady has been the constant but the trophy seasons featured key 3rd down conversions by Faulk, Troy Brown, David (1st down on 3rd down) Givens and yes, by the excerable Twig. These unspectacular players were not weekly ESPN highlight roll feature players but they were always reliable in extending a drive when it absolutely had to be extended. They made their appearance known when it really counted.

3. A go to ground game. Antowain Smith wasn't much but he did give us a ground game that got 2-3 yds when it absolutely HAD to get done. Time after time, the Pats also were able to piss away the clock on long ground based though unspectacular drives. Those two different aspects of the run game were key to holding back the enemy. All this before the 2004 Dillon SB team.

4. Experienced coordinators who made the right calls at the right time. Even the SB winning teams had coordinators who had their constant detractors and like all humans they made mistakes, but when the right call had to be made, it got made.

5. Special Teams that made a difference. Whether it was a Troy Brown punt return, a kick return for a TD or STs causing a fumble, the SB years were replete with big ST contributions that put points on the board enabling an unspectular offense to outscore the opponents.

6. Good fortune. Fans forget that several bounces of the ball and fortuitous events occured during those seasons at key times. Remember the 'unconscious' reception vs the Bills? As can be seen during the post 2005 painfull big loses, games often pivot on a key play where good fortune favors the opponent.

It's amazing in retrospect to see all the different but essential ingredients combined in the trophy winning machine.

I like the youth movement in the 2009 Pats D, but the jury is out on whether the crew contains big game playmakers, difference makers who alter the outcome.

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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

scott99

I agree 100%. I think the biggest difference is twofold, and unfortunately all falls on BB's shoulders. I love BB, and will always cherish the Pats Dynasty he helped create, he deserves a huge amount of credit, but also deserves the blame for it's demise. It's a case of poor management since 2005. Bad drafts, bad free agent signings, bad coaching (4th and 2 will go down in the history of football as one of the worst calls of all time).

When the Pats were on top of the world, a lot of their success came from Free Agent signings mixed in with good drafting. This holds true on both sides of the ball, especially our defense. McGinnest, Law, Bruschi, Pat's draftees mixed in with Vrabel & Harrison, Free Agents, was an incredible mix, that was always clutch from 2001-2004. Guys signed later like Colvin and Adalius Thomas never became the stars they were on their previous teams, and despite some small signs of brilliance, they are quite frankly busts in the Pats system.

Add to that, a mixed bag of Free Agents and draftees in the secondary, and our defense is not as clutch or frankly, as good as in the championship years. No killer instict, no playmakers, no pass rush. On offense, our chance for a championship in 2006 was squashed by poor management again, them thinking the clutch Branch and Givens could be replaced by terrible low level free agent WR's.

Who would have thought, that in our three losses, the OTHER teams coaches would be making the 2nd half adjustments we always made to win games, instead of the mad scientist/genious BB. All three losses we had a halftime lead, and gave up 47 points while only scoring a grand total of 10 points.

I think the difference between the Pats now, and the Pats during the championship years, is poor management (coaching calls, drafts, free agents) and a bad pass rush, hence the twofold I mention. And I blame BB for both. Obviously the draft and free agency in the offseason, a pass rush is the main priority. It will make our secondary better (we do have some talent there), and it will cause turnovers and confusion. They also must improve in selecting free agents and draft choices. There have been some terrible drafts the last few years (2006 especially), and the Pats have missed the boat on several players that obviously would have made them better.

I am proud of this team, for staying competetive basically for the whole decade, that's quite an achievement. 3 SB championships & 5 AFC Championship games, is quite an accomplishment, and BB and Pioli and the rest, should be very proud. But to keep the franchise going forward, things must change and fast.

fair catch fryar

The playmakers on defense from the SB years were the difference. They're gone and still waiting for the new ones to step up. I believe their there, they just need to gain confidence. I'm hoping the fact that BB went for it on 4th and 2 instilled a fire in these guys so they begin to stand up and make the key plays at the key moments.

I wouldn't close the book on this team yet, I think they have the potential to win 2 more Super Bowls.

PATSYLICIOUS

This league is built towards parity. FA, salary cap, coaching staffs getting raided. It's very very hard to maintain what you have especially when you consider the age factor. I think we're still doing great considering the task. Timing has also been an issue. In the '06 and '07 elimination games, if Brady had just 1 more minute or so the outcomes could have been different. In the SB years we had the same defensive breakdowns late but there was always enough time for Brady.

And you can only beat a great QB like Manning so many times before he figures you out. Maybe pretty soon we will be seeing the same from Big Ben and Rivers.

man2reg87

Oh how the table has tuned. the Patriots* always said Belichick was in Peyton's head. After the bone head call 4th and 2 on the 28 up by six 2 minutes.....looks like Peyton is in Belichicks head now. Old Belichick KNOWS who is the greatest qb of all time. With the tables turned and NO video cameras..........just sayin'

BlitzFritz

great thread. i've pondered this too.

another factor linked to the lack of defensive playmakers.....is the rule changes favoring receivers that were instituted. much harder to game plan against a Peyton Manning now.

but i like your points too.

either something is missing now. or we were extraordinarily lucky back then.

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"If you counted out the Patriots, you just don't get it." Adam Schein, September 2008

“We are building a big, strong, fast, smart, tough and disciplined football team that. consistently competes for championships.” Guess who.

BadMoFo

Well, it was nice knowing you.

robertweathers

Since 2005, the team has gone 55-18, made the playoffs 3 of 4 years going 5-3 and a SB appearance.

Yes, the sucess does not match 2001-2004., but it's pretty damn good.

This team is not done.

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“I'm not really concerned about the other 31 teams,” - Bill Belichick

"If a player has talent and doesn't succeed, that means that they either don't want to be successful or I have failed as a coach." - Bill Belichick

Disco Volante

I think it really comes down to luck.

We've been in the position to win a SB w/ Brady each year since...

2005: Brady throws a rare red zone INT @ Denver. Colts also eliminated that round, meaning the Pats would have hosted the AFC Championship game vs. Steelers.
2006: 21-3 AFC Championship Game lead blown.
2007: 18-1.
2008: Brady injured, don't count

This season is still in progress and I expect us to be in position to win it all once again, it will come down to one or two plays as usual. I just hope it's another team that is pondering over the "What could of been..." instead of us this time around.

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HEY BRO! WHAT UP?

Aside from a lack of talent on defense, it's the assistant coaches/coordinators that are costing the Pats the game. For example, their red zone offense is extremely irritating. Why do they constantly have to pass first on 1st and goal? In goal situations, they run maybe once per trip. Unless they're at the 1-2 yard line, they'll run the football. I really miss McDaniels and Weiss right now.

Since the rule change, the Pats are 1-5 against the Colts (including playoffs).