Assertion: this team has more upside potential than any in recent history. Discuss.

[cstjohn17]

Re: Assertion: this team has more upside potential than any in recent history. Discu

...except that the 2007 patriots D gave up the fewest yards/points of any patriots team in history. the 2007 D was good, it just wasn't physical.

It was a very good defense on an undefeated team, if not for the Manning - David Tyree fluke play of all time or Samuel's drop of a sure pick or Merriweather screwing up a tackle on Steve Smith.. if, if, if...

 

[PushnPencils]

Re: Assertion: this team has more upside potential than any in recent history. Discu

...except that the 2007 patriots D gave up the fewest yards/points of any patriots team in history. the 2007 D was good, it just wasn't physical.

Agreed....

 

[PushnPencils]

Re: Assertion: this team has more upside potential than any in recent history. Discu

It was a very good defense on an undefeated team, if not for the Manning - David Tyree fluke play of all time or Samuel's drop of a sure pick or Merriweather screwing up a tackle on Steve Smith.. if, if, if...

That close to the endzone......IF EHIII had gotten safety help on Burress...That mismatch in that part of the field seemed so obvious.

 

[HomerSchooled]

Re: Assertion: this team has more upside potential than any in recent history. Discu

...except that the 2007 patriots D gave up the fewest yards/points of any patriots team in history. the 2007 D was good, it just wasn't physical.

Maybe I'm not quite understanding what you mean, but the 01, 03, 04, and 06 teams all allowed fewer points than the 07 team.

Your point stands, though. They allowed the fourth fewest points in the league that year, so they weren't a bad unit. Just not exactly one to be relied upon.

 

[PushnPencils]

Re: Assertion: this team has more upside potential than any in recent history. Discu

Maybe I'm not quite understanding what you mean, but the 01, 03, 04, and 06 teams all allowed fewer points than the 07 team.

Your point stands, though. They allowed the fourth fewest points in the league that year, so they weren't a bad unit. Just not exactly one to be relied upon.

That goes back to my point. Teams playing from behind against us all the time made them one dimensional offensively. When games were tighter...the opposition more physical...We were far from dominant. LIKE LAST YEAR!

 

[Patjew]

Re: Assertion: this team has more upside potential than any in recent history. Discu

It's not just about the personnel, but also about everyone doing their jobs. We had a lot of blown coverages last year, especially in zone. I am not going to get excited until I see what a real game does to our ability to drop back in coverage, especially on 3rd and long and when coverages are passed upfield, from one AOR (Area of Responsbility) to another. In TC this year, zone coverage seemed to be much tighter, but there's no telling until the stress of a real game is experienced.

I wait for this guy's post in every thread. He can talk about football like I can talk about solder.

 

[PushnPencils]

Re: Assertion: this team has more upside potential than any in recent history. Discu

I wait for this guy's post in every thread. He can talk about football like I can talk about solder.

Nate Solder?

 

[Patspsycho]

Re: Assertion: this team has more upside potential than any in recent history. Discu

I wait for this guy's post in every thread. He can talk about football like I can talk about solder.

Patjew, you flatter me. I wish I knew a lot about football, but there are a few other posters (Unoriginal, Jays52, Pats1, etc) who run circles around me when it comes to knowing the game. But I'm still learning, each and every day.

 

[Joker]

Re: Assertion: this team has more upside potential than any in recent history. Discu

no silly...Sara Solder

Sara Solder hammock to Henry Hamster of Hampton Roads and used the money to open a Tents-R-Us over in Tehuacan Valley, Mexico..to itinerant peyote peddlers....:wha:

 

[Mogamedogz]

Re: Assertion: this team has more upside potential than any in recent history. Discu

the 2007 team was the best ive ever seen.

 

[Patjew]

Re: Assertion: this team has more upside potential than any in recent history. Discu

Patjew, you flatter me. I wish I knew a lot about football, but there are a few other posters (Unoriginal, Jays52, Pats1, etc) who run circles around me when it comes to knowing the game. But I'm still learning, each and every day.

No flattery. It's the truth. Those others that you mentioned are fantastic, too, plus some others.

It takes a very learned person to explain something complicated to a football simpleton like me.

 

[The Brandon Five]

Re: Assertion: this team has more upside potential than any in recent history. Discu

That close to the endzone......IF EHIII had gotten safety help on Burress...That mismatch in that part of the field seemed so obvious.

Someone kill me.

 

[PATSNUTme]

Re: Assertion: this team has more upside potential than any in recent history. Discu

It's not just about the personnel, but also about everyone doing their jobs. We had a lot of blown coverages last year, especially in zone. I am not going to get excited until I see what a real game does to our ability to drop back in coverage, especially on 3rd and long and when coverages are passed upfield, from one AOR (Area of Responsbility) to another. In TC this year, zone coverage seemed to be much tighter, but there's no telling until the stress of a real game is experienced.

You nailed it. Not just everyone doing their jobs but doing their jobs as a team.

This could be a very good team on paper. But the games are played on the field and not on paper or Madden.

 

[PatsFan37]

Re: Assertion: this team has more upside potential than any in recent history. Discu

I'm as excited about this season as I've ever been about a Patriots team in the summer. If not for the other 30 teams, I'd be dead certain of a Pats/Eagles repeat.

 

[JoeSixPat]

Re: Assertion: this team has more upside potential than any in recent history. Discu

I look at it very simply.

This team is returning a significant number of experienced players from a 14-2 team which, regardless of its record, had some significant flaws.

The Patriots have made efforts to address those flaws, while other teams are starting from much further behind the curve than New England.

Although last year's team record belied the status of the defense and limitations of the offense, they still finished with the best record in the league. Don't expect that record again, but I think it is reasonable to expect they will be a stronger team.

 

[PushnPencils]

Re: Assertion: this team has more upside potential than any in recent history. Discu

I look at it very simply.

This team is returning a significant number of experienced players from a 14-2 team which, regardless of its record, had some significant flaws.

The Patriots have made efforts to address those flaws, while other teams are starting from much further behind the curve than New England.

Although last year's team record belied the status of the defense and limitations of the offense, they still finished with the best record in the league. Don't expect that record again, but I think it is reasonable to expect they will be a stronger team.

IMO the achilles heal this yea will be the LBs...especially if the injury bug hits the position.

With cap room available, maybe bring in Roth.

 

[The Brandon Five]

Re: Assertion: this team has more upside potential than any in recent history. Discu

Someone kill me.

HD-

I'm not sure if you like the post or are hoping for my demise.

 

[Patriot Missile]

Re: Assertion: this team has more upside potential than any in recent history. Discu

IMO the achilles heal this yea will be the LBs...especially if the injury bug hits the position.

With cap room available, maybe bring in Roth.

Heroes and Villians are born every season. From some accounts we may see less of our LB's in certain situations than in years past. I'm not going to downgrade on Vrabel and Bruschi and the other Patriot LB's lucky enough to play behind a Seymour,Wilfork,Warren line because they were really good players as we all know. But it certainly is a luxury when you have that type of star power in the trenches not to mention all pro safety like Harrison as well as a shutdown corner like Law or Samuel lining up with you. Those were probably one of the most cohesive units ever to wear a teams uniform. They lived by everyone do your job.

I'm going to keep an open mind on these LB's this year. Mayo the magnificent. Spikes the MLB who may continue on a rampage this season. Nikovich and Guyton etc.. who we now have the advantage of getting creative with all the new collection of talent up front.
This is where the upside potential of the added defensive line will have to mesh in order for this defense to be a success. I think they will anser the challenge because Belichick is now in a position to utilize all the players strengths.

 

[PlainOldEd]

Re: Assertion: this team has more upside potential than any in recent history. Discu

IMO the achilles heal this yea will be the LBs...especially if the injury bug hits the position.

With cap room available, maybe bring in Roth.

I believe Roth signed with Jax.

 

[HomerSchooled]

Re: Assertion: this team has more upside potential than any in recent history. Discu

Potential is the key word here. Let's do a comparison.

In 2007 we were coming off a 12-4 season and an AFC championship appearance that we were darn close to winning. With the addition of All-Pro Adalius Thomas to a group that allowed the second fewest points in the league (and fewest all time for a Patriots team), our defense had the potential to be our best unit yet. At top health, we had arguably the best DL in football (Seymour, Wilfork, Warren, Green, etc.), but Seymour was on PUP. Rodney Harrison was also serving a 4-game suspension. We had some young players in Assante Samuel, Logan Mankins, Ben Watson and Laurence Maroney who were showing a lot of promise (Only Mankins really bettered himself). Our offense drastically overperformed the previous season given our personnel (7th in the league in points scored), and if any of Moss, Welker, and Stallworth panned out, we had the potential for a much improved unit (how'd that work out again? ).

In 2011, we're coming off a 14-2 season and an embarrassing loss in the divisional round of the play offs. We're returning all starters to an offense that was one of the all-time greats, leading the league in points while giving away an all-time low in TOs. To this group, we're also adding a top prospect who could maybe improve the LT position by the end of the season, as well as Chad Ochocinco, who could very well end up being our best receiver. Our defense was a mediocre one that allowed fewer points than expected (8th overall), but was less than reliable in most facets. To this group, we've added Albert Haynesworth, Shaun Ellis, and a few veterans with moderate potential. We have a huge amount of youth that could see some development (McCourty, Mayo, Spikes, Cunningham, Chung on D, and Gronk, Hernandez, Tate, Price, Edelman, etc. on O)

In 2011, I think we almost have the reverse of the 2007 offseason. In 2007, we had a proven D and an offense with great potential, and now we have a proven O and a D with great potential. Ochocinco is the offense's Adalius Thomas, and Haynesworth is our Defense's Moss. Ellis and Carter/Anderson are the Defense's Stallworth and Welker. Ironically, I think A.Thomas was likely perceived as having higher potential for a massive impact than Ochocinco is, but the 2007 team didn't have as much youth as this 2011 group. I think it comes down to who you think the better team was: the 2006 Patriots, or the 2010 Patriots.