We saw what a boost to the defense the return of Pat Chung and Spikes made. Think about the boost Dowling will make. Think about the boost having your best interior pass rusher Myron Pryor back will make. Think about the boost having Josh Barrett or whoever the Pats get in FA/draft to help the Safety position. Those are a LOT of boosts to a very young defense.
Think about how all those boosts could easily translate into the Pats defense from going from very bad to just merely average. If the Pats could have averaged just 2 points per game less last regular season, they would have been in the top 6 in scoring defense. I know the additions of Pryor, Dowling, and Barrett would have made that difference. How do I know?
I know because just by adding Spikes and Chung the Pats defense allowed just 17 points per game in the playoffs, which was 3rd best just behind the Giants and Houston. BTW they were 5th best in total defense as well
Now think about getting all those players back PLUS the bounty of 5 picks in the first 100, and the fruits of being well over $200MM under the cap. Think we might JUST be able to shave 2-3 points per game. Which, by the way would give our offense another 2-3 possessions a game to score even MORE points.
I would tend to agree with you on all accounts.
The defense did improve throughout the year, and they did play a lot better towards the end of the season when some of the key guys returned.
The LB core looks promising already with Spikes, Mayo, Fletcher, and Ninkovich. Tarpinian, Carter, and Cunningham can offer that "up and coming" LB in the next yr possibly. We are almost sure to also add an additional OLB/DE via the draft or free agency, if not both. There's still the 50/50 chance that White may develop into something more than what we've seen too. As a whole, I think that the LB core is on an upward trend, and in a much better situation than the past couple/few yrs.
The D-line looked better last yr too. Wilfork played his best ever. Pryor (underrated by many) is also returning from an unfortunate injury/two, and offers a lot as an interior pass rusher at DT. Love has improved, although we could use a boost in talent to make him more situational. Deaderick was on the 'bubble' of sorts last yr heading into TC b/c of his injury status and prior problem with a suspension; he proved himself worthy with a pretty decent showing. I don't think it's any coincidence that haynesworth was able to hit the road when Deaderick was back from PUP, and he played pretty well at times. Again...a bump up in talent there could also make him more situational at times, and that would just be a bonus. We even have a decent vet in G.Warren available on speed dial, for a late season push. When he did play, he certainly didn't look like an old, lost vet out there. He wasn't the best, but he added vet leadership and held stout vs the run at times.
We still need an additional player or two via FA and the draft. This would add some talent, youth, speed, and depth at the position. As a whole, I think they made an improvement. Both Carter and Anderson were in double-digit sacks. It's not a stretch to think that one will return.
The secondary was our biggest weakness, but like you said we saw improvement down the stretch and had players improve and step up. Sterling Moore could very well be a diamond in the rough again. He certainly offers better ball skills than Molden and Jones. We shouldn't have to resort to Edelman again in a time of emergency, but if so--he can step in and do alright.
It's totally possible that we see a CB core of Arrington, Moore, Dowling (who did look pretty good in a limited sample), and McCourty.
The safety situation will almost surely be improved (how could it not be?). Chung stepped up and had his best play when healthy. Ihedigbo offers a depth role as a spot starter in a pinch, and good ST presence. We obviously need some better talent as FS, and should look for that in FA and the draft.
FA/DRAFT NEEDS:
--That elusive front 7 player that we've been searching for. Could this be the year? If not, they should definitely make some decent moves with a DE/OLB. Another DT is needed.
--A good FS, whether that is through the free agency period (most likely IMO), or the draft..or both.
To bottom line it, I don't see as many holes here as the majority of fans. I think that the "core" players are there, and they are under contract and relatively young too.
WILFORK
MAYO
CHUNG
SPIKES
NINKOVICH
ARRINGTON
MCCOURTY
MOORE
Possible breakthroughs and continued progression in 2012:
DOWLING
DEADERICK
LOVE
FLETCHER
Possible "vets" that provide role playing and leadership/big play ability
CARTER
ANDERSON
IHEDIGBO
When you look at these players, you certainly see the bulk of a group of guys who are young (with the exception of Carter and Anderson who are both FA and may not even be here), have talent, and should only continue to improve.
