I'm not sure if there is any quality starting talent left in unrestricted free agency to make an impact on the defense.
The aforementioned exercise was to seriously address the deficiencies in the New England Patriots defense. Hopefully, the New England Patriots will target these areas in the 2012 NFL Draft.
Tom Brady and the pass offense carried the team most of the year.
Three impact starters at the 3-4 defensive end position, the 3-4 outside linebacker position, and at the safety position.
Other NFL teams did not field a historically poor pass defense (aside from the Green Bay Packers) as was the case with the New England Patriots during the 2011-12 NFL Season.
If the Houston Texans can turn around a poor pass defense in one season, why can't the New England Patriots?
I don't think there's ever any shortage to the amount of players from FA and other teams that can contribute, Tip. Especially savvy vets. There will be many team cuts that occur later in the summer too, there always are. In the meantime, I am giving BB the benefit of the doubt that he can find a few guys on the line that are out there.
While I certainly agree that Brady and the offense carried the team last yr, if you didn't see the defense improve throughout the season (which is often a typical Belichick M.O.) then you were watching another team. They allowed less than 23 points in 18 of 19 games right? The only exception was vs BUF when Brady threw 4 INT's. In that instance, he certainly was not carrying the team. Averaged giving up about 18 at home too, IIRC.
When they gave up ONE touchdown to Manning, the 'big 3' WR's/TE's, and Bradshaw + Jacobs through the first 59:01 in the Super Bowl, yet Brady only managed to put up 17 points (and actually may have outright cost us the game with the safety and the ridiculous INT), he was certainly not carrying the team then either.
I get what you're saying. The secondary was piss poor. That needs to be addressed. I think it was when the safety position was shored up and the schemes changed a bit, that they looked a lot better. Injuries were also a concern. If worst comes to worst with the safeties again, I would expect Belichick to do the same exact thing that we've seen 1,000x before---make do with what we have. Hopefully those options are improved and we don't have to be a lousy secondary anymore, hopefully they can be more middle tier.
I never claimed one time that the NEP can't turn around their secondary, as a matter of fact I have said the complete opposite about 100x now in various threads. My point was to look at the Steelers (2011, I revised the post). They had the #1 pass defense last yr + one of the top few overall defenses, yet you don't think they have some holes this year? Just like any other team.
My main point was that the defense wasn't in as bad of shape as some posters are making it out to be. I personally don't see a "ton of holes" like some say. I see a team that has the main core from last year that needs to improve in the secondary. I also see 5 picks in the top 100 choices.
Most importantly, I see March 20 on the calander. There's plenty of time to address the vet additons that need to be made on the D-line. There's also plenty of time to address some of the needs via the draft. At the end of the day, I still don't see more than 4-5 spots that need upgraded. That's my opinion, and I could be very wrong. Maybe the defense will set new NFL lows in pts allowed and be the laughingstock of the league, but in this case I am seeing reason for optimism. Much like you, I am also 'cautiously optimistic' too, so it's not like I am a big homer.
We'll have to see how it shakes out.
