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Comparing units of 2007 vs past Pats team, particularly champions kind of illustrates what the expectations should be this year.
QB. I'd say we are better in 2007 than ever, only because its fair to say Brady improves at least a bit each year.
WR
2007 Moss, Stallworth, Welker, Caldwell, Jackson, Gaffney, Brown
Best to date
Probably 2004 with Branch, Givens, Patten, Brown
Clearly this is the best group we have ever had
OL
2007 Light, Mankins, Koppen, Neal, OCallahan/Kaczur
Best to date
2004 Light, Andruzzi, Koppen, Neal, Gorin/Ashworth
Clearly this is the best group yet, with younger guys a year better than last year.
LB
2007 Thomas, Bruschi, Colvin, Vrabel, Seau
Best to date
2004 mcGinest, Bruschi, Colvin, Vrabel, Ted Johnson
Better IMO, if only because the best 4 will be on the field almost all the time, as opposed to a 3man rotation outside with TJ inside
DB
2007 Samuel, Hobbs, Scott/James/Gay, Harrison, Wilson, Meriweather
Best to date
2003 Law, Poole, Samuel, Harrison, Wilson, Harris
No Law here, and Poole was great in 2003. Depth is probably better at corner. Safety is better if Rodney is what he was and worse if he declines.
Overall, not as good as 2003, but not that far behind
DL
2007 Warren, Wilfork, Seymour, Green, Wright
Best to date
2003 Hamilton, Washington, Seymour, Warren, Green
I think we are better now. Wilfork if playing a full season is better than Washington playing half of one, Warren is a big upgrade to Hamilton.
TE
2007 Watson, Brady, Thomas
Best to date
2006 Watson, Graham, Thomas
As much as Graham was injured and as little as he was used in the passing game, Watson taking the next step and improving as he probably should in his 2nd full season would make this unit better than 2006. If Watson is the same in 07 as 06, then there is a dropoff.
RB
2007 Maroney, Faulk, Morris
Best to date
2004 Dillon, Faulk, Pass
Dillon was excellent that year. Maroney has a chance to be just as good this year. Faulk is Faulk, Morris is an upgrade. Maroney can have a tremendous year and still not be as good as Dillon was in 04. We are not as good this year as that year as of now, but we aren't a long way behind, depending on Maroney's development. (It will probably be more different than better or worse, since I don't see us, with this current offensive roster, being a sheavily run oriented as in 2004. I think we will rely less on the running game, but probably end up with more big plays from it. If the passing game is what I expect, the running game will look less than in 2004, but may be just as productive for the chosen role)
When I step back and look at this, I see a long term project of BB trying to consistently improve this team. Without question there are bumps in the road, mostly due to salary cap issues (when you are the best team, you have the best players, and keeping them all isn't an option under the cap, so you must in some cases replace excellent players with cheaper ones in order to keep the key guys) but it would be very hard to convince me that this isnt the best team BB has fielded, and that the trend isnt that he continues to make the team better and better, with some ups and downs along the way.
Being the best team doesn't mean we win the SB because winning the SB means you are the best team for 60 minutes on 19 different Sundays, and coaching, reacting to pressure situations, making plays when it matters most, outweighs having the best talent, but I tend to believe that these things are qualities possessed by coaches and players (some have it sonme dont) and that our core is proven to have it.
I'm probably not the first to say it, but moreson than any season to date, including 2004, I would be very disappointed with anything short of a SB Championship. That should be the standard of success for this team.
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I remember Kraft saying years ago he wanted to build what the 49ers had ( 1981 thru 1998). We are getting close. the key to that though was the transistion they made from Montana to Young. The Patriots have it built where they can take it as far with Brady as Montana did with the 49ers, but to get from 12 years to 18, that will take Cassell or somebody else becoming great.
I remember Kraft saying years ago he wanted to build what the 49ers had ( 1981 thru 1998). We are getting close. the key to that though was the transistion they made from Montana to Young. The Patriots have it built where they can take it as far with Brady as Montana did with the 49ers, but to get from 12 years to 18, that will take Cassell or somebody else becoming great.
Especially after the Schaub debacle, I doubt the stashing of future HOFers is possible. NFL success revolves around the QB and defense. QB is becoming increasingly elite. Even stashing solid technicians will become difficult.
Nice assessment and there is little disagreement, the only concern I have is RB, while it seems that Maroney can be a very good if not great back, he hasn't had one season of experience. There is no reason to believe he cannot hold up under the rigors and pounding of the NFL, I wish we had more to base it on. Our much improved receiving corps will not allow opposing D to stuff the box as much, will enhance the running game. As much as I wanted to believe this, last receiving corps were not all that good or threatening.
On paper this is the best team we have ever fielded and this could be an incredible year... but this is June 1 and there is a long way to go. The stability and maturation of the coaching staff is also very significant. Josh and Dean have had a year to review what they did, others did and both have significant new weapons. Not sure if my expectations were ever higher then they are right now.
__________________ "Being the best doesn't mean you always win. It just means you win more than anyone else".. tweet from Kurt Warner to Tom Brady.
... I'm probably not the first to say it, but moreson than any season to date, including 2004, I would be very disappointed with anything short of a SB Championship. That should be the standard of success for this team.
I agree with your sentiments, but let's remember as we make unit by unit comparisons that what we are talking about for 2007 is POTENTIAL. We can say, for example, that the 2007 WR corps is POTENTIALLY the best we've ever had. But until they play the games, we don't really know how good they are going to be.
__________________ It's so simple, even a Jets fan could do it.ä To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
I agree with your sentiments, but let's remember as we make unit by unit comparisons that what we are talking about for 2007 is POTENTIAL. We can say, for example, that the 2007 WR corps is POTENTIALLY the best we've ever had. But until they play the games, we don't really know how good they are going to be.
Of course, but thats all we have to go on.
It will be easy to assess the 2007 season in March of 2008.
In June of 2007 all we can do is assess what we expect.
Of course, but thats all we have to go on.
It will be easy to assess the 2007 season in March of 2008.
In June of 2007 all we can do is assess what we expect.
The team looks like the best team Belichick has ever had. If Brady remains healthy and Maroney stays on the field all year yhey look very good.
Comparing units of 2007 vs past Pats team, particularly champions kind of illustrates what the expectations should be this year.
QB. I'd say we are better in 2007 than ever, only because its fair to say Brady improves at least a bit each year.
I think Brady regressed slightly last year. Yes, he had a patchwork receiving corp which is largely to blame for his struggles, but I recall Brady missing open receivers far more frequently than in previous years. Surprisingly to me, looking at the numbers, it seems his completion percentage for last year was in line with previous seasons.
I agree with your sentiments, but let's remember as we make unit by unit comparisons that what we are talking about for 2007 is POTENTIAL. We can say, for example, that the 2007 WR corps is POTENTIALLY the best we've ever had. But until they play the games, we don't really know how good they are going to be.
On the WRs I think we can go a little farther than that. Obviously, last year's WR corps was thin on talent. But more than that, it was thin on reps and timing. The passing game looked far more functional by week 16. Now here we go again with a whole new set of starting receivers. On sheer talent, as Andy said, "Clearly this is the best group we have ever had." But taking into accout the learning curve I expect them to be well behind the 2004 group for the full season. I just want them to get where they're going by playoff time!
2007 vs.....
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