AndyJohnson

Defense.
I see only more of the same plus imporvement from the SECOND HALF of last year, and we were one of the best defenses in the NFL then.

DL. Better. The starting 3 remains the same solid, excellent group. Sullivan is an UPGRADE to depth. He has tools and after watching the Washington game, Isee a guy hustling and working hard on the field, contrary to what we have heard showed up in NO. Green returns, Wright will be improved in his second year. We have the best starting DL in the NFL, and we may also have the best depth.

LB.
It looks like we will go from:to

ILB Bruschi all the snaps, plus Vrable half the snaps: Bruschi all the snaps, Seau half the snaps

OLB Colvin most of the snaps, McGinest most of the snaps, Vrabel the rest: Colvin most of the snaps, Vrabel most of the snaps, TBC the rest (with the rest being fewer than Vrabel played)

I dont see any significant difference in the depth behind these guys or much opportunity for them last year or this.

CB: Improved. Samuel has taken some criticism on this board. I dont know why. I guess when you play in a secondary along with weak players like Starks and Stone and Freeman, you get lumped in. Samuel has looked excellent in pre-season, but that is the same way he has looked to me since coming here. Hobbs was a capable starter in the second half of last year and remains the same. We are much, much deeper if we stay healthy, but also have better reserve depth if we see injuries again.

SAFETY: MUCH better. Rodney is back. Sanders is better a year later. From #4 safety through however many make the squad we are better also.


Offense:

QB: Brady is Brady, but he appears even more focussed than normal, which is remarkable.

RB: We are better with Dillon healthy. We are better with Maroney if Dillon isnt healthy. Faulk is Faulk. Maroney looks to me like the typical NFL RB that puts up 1500 yards a season, given the opportunity. Whether its 1500 or 400, he adds a lot to this offense.

WR/TE: Watson has arrived. We are replacing Givens with players WE don't have the comfort level with, but the coaching staff appears to. We MAY BE doing the same with Branch. IMO, we are going to find out this year that the production of our WRs has more to do with Brady than with them. However, this is an area that appears to have seen decline. Brady must compensate and make them better than they seem as of today.

OL: MUCH improved. Trading Gorin says BB feels the next starter in line is better. Whether than is OCallahan or Kaczur, we appear to have improved there. Koppen and Light back at full strength is a major upgrade.

Special teams:
K. Vinatieri didn't have clutch kicks to make last year. Absent of clutch kicking, I see no difference in this position with Gostkowski in his place. Given the need for clutch kicking, we will see. This would be a downgrade from Vinatieri in 2001-2003, but Vinaitieri of 2005-06 is not Vinaitieri of 01-03.

P. Same

Return game. Whether its Bethel and Dwight, or Maroney and Andrews, or Faulk, or whoever, we had and have capable returnmen and the production in the return game will hinge on blocking. Compared to the second half of last season, I think our blocking on return units will be imporved because we will be adding faster, younger and stronger players to the back end of the roster than we had after scouring the waiver wire for injury replacements.

Overall, I think it is virtually certain this team is better than the 2005 version. Thats all good and well, but the reality is how they will compare to 03-04, because success will be defined by a SB Championship or not. My gut says offensively we are going to be better than those 2 years, and defensively we have the potential to be, but also the potential of not being that good.

richpats

Pretty much agree with your points (though AV had to kick 2 game-winners against Pitt and ATL, and also missed a clutch kick in Denver).

What I'm noticing overall is a more aggressive squad on both sides of the ball. There's noticably more energy and attitude on the field (last year I got the 'going through the motions' feel quite a few times). We're imposing our will on the other team. I know its only preseason, but the Redskins were a playoff team last year with lofty expectations this season and had something to prove last night....and we pushed them around all night long. I see more of a 'cutthroat' mentality on the team and I like it

dbabbitt

The Pats lack depth and quality at the WR position...their kickoff coverage is still suspect. It does seem like they are better going into this season at every other facet of the game than they were going into last season, however I think that some people are overlooking the WR position way too much.

When coaches start game planning against the Pats and if they're only reliable wide receiver is Troy Brown, than Watson, Dillon, Maroney et al are going to see some serious double and more coverage; eight in the box and all that.

teamplay

nice post...thanks...if the Pats ever put the confusing, multi-option O and D on the field at the same time, watch out!! Barring injuries, this could be an awesome year.

patsox23

thanks, aj. comprehensive, backed up, intelligent. Well played.

zippo59

I don't care who the WR's are, teams are NOT going to put eight in the box against Brady.

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"What Tom Brady just did gives me goose bumps."-John Madden after final drive in SB 36


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Unofficial Kevin Faulk supporter.

Murphys95

Good post.

Our pass defense ranked 31st last seaon. I agree, it apprears this squad has improved (hard not to really). As for Samuel, I've never bashed him. He is one of my favorite players to watch. However, he still has a ways to go. He actually reminds me of a young Otis Smith - high risk, high reward. Asante still has troubles wrapping up on tackles though. Last night he made a spectacular diving block-tackle on Betts, preventing him from getting a first down. Later in the game Samuel tried the same technique on Betts, but this time Betts bounced off of him and continued forward for extra yards. I guarantee Samuel will get an earful about this during film-session this week.

Not trying to be a downer here, but Samuel also got burned by the Falcons' Michael Jenkins for a touchdown in the first preseason game. He trailed his man the entire play.

Still, I'm with you, Asante is having a "very good" preseason. This kid has serious potential. I think the secondary has improved along with him, but there are still some kinks to work out.

JackBauer

I couldn't disagree more.

Samuel was right there with him the entire time, it was just an excellent throw by Schaub to Jenkins, who also has a huge height advantage over Samuel.

All_Around_Brown

Not from what I saw last night, its not! There were five or six blue jerseys around the ball carrier by the time he reached the 20, and more right behind them. There were huge decleaters on K coverage. Maybe thats the product of a weak opponent, we'll see.

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Murphys95

I see it differently. I DVR'd the game. Samuel trailed Jenkins the entire time, and was behind Jenkins when he caught the touchdown. Close only counts in horseshoes and hand-grenades. Height or no height, Samuel needs to break up a standard pass play like that.

I still give Asante the nod for a good performance against Atlanta. Not knocking the kid, just pointing out that he has areas that he needs to improve upon.