Getting myself in the proper mental orientation to enjoy this team

[BTTA]

So the team has morphed from being staffed primarily with veterans and supplemented with athletic youth, to one that is staffed primarily with athletic youth and anchored by a few veterans.

It seems that the most useful attitude is to enjoy and celebrate our young, inexperienced team that will thrill us with athletic feats and cause much despair with youthful mistakes. It will be a roller coaster ride for a while. I've been trained under BB to enjoy steady and predictable. Undoubtedly he's working to get there again, but needs another year or so.

In the past, I would lament how slow the team was, or how we didn't have as many "game breakers" as other teams. With the exception of RB, we now have more speed and quickness than most teams in the "skill" positions.

To wit: the punt and KO return game, the TE's in the red zone, the DB's running down plays (often because they made a mistake that required it).

Next year's draft can bring more young talent on the two lines, OLB, and with a RB or two, and the puzzle pieces are in place. Just keep old man Brady healthy for a few years and let him ride it.

 

[upstater1]

I for one appreciate that you started this thread.

As long as the teams plays hard, I'm orienting myself for anything between 8-8 and 12-4, and anything in between there is acceptable.

The defense could have some bad growing pains in the front 7 (I think we have enough talent in the back 4 to be really good by mid-year). And if the front 7 can't stop the run well enough, or pass rush and pressure, or handle TEs, then we will have a middling year.

I'm fine with that.

I know that in the future we'll have Wilfork, Cunningham, Spikes, Guyton, Mayo, Brace and a bunch of solid backup contributors in Pryor, Deadrick, Wright, McKenzie to build on. This is a good problem to have, finding that much youth. With more experience, some of these guys can become our future Anthony Pleasants, Roman Phifers, Bobby Hamiltons, as Mayo, Spikes and Cunningham transform into Bruschi and Vrabel.

We need to draft the next McGinest and Seymour though. Easier said than done.

 

[fgssand]

The future is NOW..............I am going to really enjoy watching the young and talented "D" develop over the course of the season. By thanksgiving, I feel they will be one of the top defenses in the NFL.

The offense will be able to carry us early on and we should be in great position for a stretch run.

I can't wait for this season to start already..................anybody headed to Vegas, please let me know as I want to lay it in for over 9 wins.

 

[Pat the Pats Fan]

I for one appreciate that you started this thread.

As long as the teams plays hard, I'm orienting myself for anything between 8-8 and 12-4, and anything in between there is acceptable.

The defense could have some bad growing pains in the front 7 (I think we have enough talent in the back 4 to be really good by mid-year). And if the front 7 can't stop the run well enough, or pass rush and pressure, or handle TEs, then we will have a middling year.

I'm fine with that.

I know that in the future we'll have Wilfork, Cunningham, Spikes, Guyton, Mayo, Brace and a bunch of solid backup contributors in Pryor, Deadrick, Wright, McKenzie to build on. This is a good problem to have, finding that much youth. With more experience, some of these guys can become our future Anthony Pleasants, Roman Phifers, Bobby Hamiltons, as Mayo, Spikes and Cunningham transform into Bruschi and Vrabel.

We need to draft the next McGinest and Seymour though. Easier said than done.

with 2 #1's next year, maybe, but the talent could be watered down due to so many kids coming out this year.

 

[JR4]

I for one appreciate that you started this thread.

As long as the teams plays hard, I'm orienting myself for anything between 8-8 and 12-4, and anything in between there is acceptable.

........

Where do you see the losses?

I am looking at first 8 games and see 4 games against teams with a good
Defense AND a good Offense. Considering PATs' young defense these will
be the most likely loses in the first 8 games:
Bengals, Ravens, Vikes and Chargers(?)
(I'm hoping PATs will win at least one of these)

For the last 8 games I see PATs D being competitive so most
probable loses are Colts and Packers but PATs may surprise here if
the D is really improved by then.

Then there is the game they shouldn't have lost . Say one of those.
One loss in our division is always a good possibility.

I see 8 losses as a probability that is not highly unlikely.
But I think they win at least 10. It realy depends on how fast this
Defense comes together and no major injuries.

Some say the PATs offense is so good they will carry the team.
But for the offense to put up lots of points the D needs to get them
the ball. The time of possession will be an important stat to watch.

The D's of the past use to have an average of 17 points or less average
on points allowed. I do not see this D doing that at this point. My guess
is this team's points allowed average will be in the twenties this year.

 

[JoeSixPat]

I'm still sticking to my 10-6 prediction.

This is a killer schedule, travel, time and team opponent wise and I'm fully prepared for a handful of losses - usually there's a few I think they'll win that they lose and a few I think they'll lose that they win. Generally I've been pretty close with my predictions in the past.

This team could be better than the one we saw in 2007 and it would still finish with a worse schedule - I just want to see the team peaking in January... a few losses along the way don't bother me too much, but I do like to see a team playing hard at all times.

When they don't I'm critical even if they win - but when they play hard I stand by them even in a string of losses.

 

[fgssand]

Where do you see the losses?


The D's of the past use to have an average of 17 points or less average
on points allowed. I do not see this D doing that at this point. My guess
is this team's points allowed average will be in the twenties this year.

Last years defense allowed 17.8 points.................I think this years defense will be better, so I am not agreeing with your feeling they let in more than 20 at all.

This years "D" is an upgrade when you factor in spikes, a healthy mayo, Devin island, second year for butler & chung, high hopes for brace & gerrard warren (to at least somewhat soften the blow of the loss of Ty) and overall youth movement.

I think this "D" will surprise, especially in the 2nd half of season.

 

[mgteich]

OFFENSE
The offense is still "staffed primarily with veterans and supplemented with athletic youth".
Do you really think that we only have a few veterans we are counting on? We will count on Grankowski and Vollmer, but for the rest, it is primarily veterans. The core of our passing offense is Brady, Moss, Welker, Faulk, Light, Neal, Koppen, Vollmer and Grankowski.

And in the running game, we are counting on three players over 30 plus Maroney. I am not counting Maroney as a budding athletic youthful star.

The offense is the strong veteran offense it has always been. If Taylor has a strong year, this could be much, much better than last year. Absent that, this year shouls still better with a healthy Brady and the improvement at TE.
=================================

DEFENSE
Wilfork, Mayo, Bodden and the kids!

So the team has morphed from being staffed primarily with veterans and supplemented with athletic youth, to one that is staffed primarily with athletic youth and anchored by a few veterans.

It seems that the most useful attitude is to enjoy and celebrate our young, inexperienced team that will thrill us with athletic feats and cause much despair with youthful mistakes. It will be a roller coaster ride for a while. I've been trained under BB to enjoy steady and predictable. Undoubtedly he's working to get there again, but needs another year or so.

In the past, I would lament how slow the team was, or how we didn't have as many "game breakers" as other teams. With the exception of RB, we now have more speed and quickness than most teams in the "skill" positions.

To wit: the punt and KO return game, the TE's in the red zone, the DB's running down plays (often because they made a mistake that required it).

Next year's draft can bring more young talent on the two lines, OLB, and with a RB or two, and the puzzle pieces are in place. Just keep old man Brady healthy for a few years and let him ride it.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

No I do not fantasize about Tom Brady.

OK only sometimes... when I'm lonely

 

[FrreeeBird]

Without a pass rush this team is going to be infuriatingly painful to watch, well, on defense at least.

Offensively I can't wait to watch Gronk and Hernandez.

 

[convertedpatsfan]

I'm excited about this year's team. It's a young group that should only improve as the season goes on. It will be stressful, especially the first half of the season, but at least things should progress in the right direction. For years this defense has faded as the season wore on, as older guys wore down or age caught up with some of our favourites.

And next year should be even better than this year. So I'm hoping we start to see the beginning of another dynasty.

 

[BTTA]

with 2 #1's next year, maybe, but the talent could be watered down due to so many kids coming out this year.

I think someone did some research on 2010 draft to discover that more kids didn't come out this past year. Anybody remember this? It would be good to know if this is urban myth.

 

[BTTA]

OFFENSE Do you really think that we only have a few veterans we are counting on?

I think that more balls will be caught by rookies and 2nd years than by Moss and Welker. On most games, one of the two of those guys is likely to be at least nicked up. I don't want it to happen, but the Kool Aid doesn't blind me to the probabilities. Brady will be throwing mostly to first and second year players this year. And 70% of the total yardage will be gained in the air.

The RB's and OL are still pretty old, represent 2 of the 3 problem areas on the team, because they haven't transitioned yet, and are having typical issues with injuries and contracts.

 

[Brady2Welker]

We just better beat the Packers if I'm coming all the way to see that game.

 

[PatsBoy12]

Everyone keeps talking about our pass rush and maybe with good reason. However, I've watched a team that has gotten decent pressure on the QB in all three preseason games, albeit employing the blitz quite often. Brees and Ryan were hit, and Bradford was forced off the spot a number of different times. Based on that, one has to believe that there's been or will be a slight improvement in that area, no?

 

[BTTA]

Everyone keeps talking about our pass rush and maybe with good reason. However, I've watched a team that has gotten decent pressure on the QB in all three preseason games, albeit employing the blitz quite often. Brees and Ryan were hit, and Bradford was forced off the spot a number of different times. Based on that, one has to believe that there's been or will be a slight improvement in that area, no?

We do have the #5 NFL OLB sack leader from last year returning to this defense. We seem to forget.

 

[Deus Irae]

 

[stinkypete]

So the team has morphed from being staffed primarily with veterans and supplemented with athletic youth, to one that is staffed primarily with athletic youth and anchored by a few veterans.

It seems that the most useful attitude is to enjoy and celebrate our young, inexperienced team that will thrill us with athletic feats and cause much despair with youthful mistakes. It will be a roller coaster ride for a while. I've been trained under BB to enjoy steady and predictable. Undoubtedly he's working to get there again, but needs another year or so.

In the past, I would lament how slow the team was, or how we didn't have as many "game breakers" as other teams. With the exception of RB, we now have more speed and quickness than most teams in the "skill" positions.

To wit: the punt and KO return game, the TE's in the red zone, the DB's running down plays (often because they made a mistake that required it).

Next year's draft can bring more young talent on the two lines, OLB, and with a RB or two, and the puzzle pieces are in place. Just keep old man Brady healthy for a few years and let him ride it.

This is the best approach to the upcoming season that I heard. If we've seen anything, we've seen that the Patriots will dominate and frustrate at different times. Overall the playmaking potential is at it's highest since 2007. This team will produce some big-time plays but I expect some reason-defying losses early in the year.

The question really is, when does the defense come together? I think the 2010 team will be good enough for a playoff win, but it will take an actual free agent season and a solid 2011 draft before this team is ready to consistently compete with the elite again.

 

[patsfaninpa]

I think we're going to have to look at this team a little different than past years. We're not going to have an outstanding defense. We're not going to crush teams like 07. But, our offense might be good enough to win a lot of 31-27, 28-24 type games. Enjoy the wins. Don't see how we can win it without a pass rush. But, that's why you play the games.

And, there is free agency and the draft as a way to improve that pass rush. We all know BB just doesn't seem to like to draft olb's. Maybe, L.Woodley could be signed instead of spending that money on L.Mankins.

 

[AzPatsFan]

Everyone keeps talking about our pass rush and maybe with good reason. However, I've watched a team that has gotten decent pressure on the QB in all three preseason games, albeit employing the blitz quite often. Brees and Ryan were hit, and Bradford was forced off the spot a number of different times. Based on that, one has to believe that there's been or will be a slight improvement in that area, no?

I agree with you, but some posters are pre-determined to not see the pass rush improvement.

The Rams game was One-of-those-games. The "non-existent" pass rush got two sacks from the DLs, half of the entire total from the D-Line in 2009. The OLBs were flagged for two roughing calls. So they got there. Spinks forced a completion straight up in the air for minus a yard and an incompletion on two blitz pressures.

It just seemed every time the Defense stopped them, a flag would award a First Down. Collectively that was 8 times the QB was hit or pressured and two actual and a third sack which was wiped by penalty, would indicate a pretty damn good Pass Rush for such a terrible game.

Even more encouraging it came from the OLBs, the missing DL, and the missing ILB positions. I thought Chung had a pressure on a S blitz too.