We didn't get to the SB. There are at last four explanations. It will forever be a matter of opinion. How could we have beaten Indy?
1) Take the darn flu shots!!!!
2) Improve on the lack of depth (after all we couldn't handle losing our starting safeties, ILB, and two ST safeties, a backup LB and our nickel back) Shame on us for not being able to overcome this against the Colts where the defense was on the field for 80 plays. The team was one of the very best in the league up until then. But shame on us, the problem was depth!!!!
3) Improve the team overall. We just weren't as good as the colts or san diego. More nonesense.
4) Improve the offense, especially at the wide receiver position, and just maybe the defense wouldn't have been on the field as long, and maybe with 3rd and 11, we might just passed twice instead of setting up for a field goal. We were a 1st down or two away. I also might note that our RUNNING BACKS were also dinged late in the game.
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My personal view is a strong vote for NUMBER FOUR. Confidence in the wide receivers (or WR ability) was the problem at the end of last year, not the defense.
I agree that we need to improve our defense by bringing in depth. We always do. We replaced Banta-Cain with Thomas, AS A STARTER. We now have four quality starters. I continue my brokern record. I would add 1-3 additional seasoned veterans to the mix at LB, as well as 2-3 draftees in the defensive backfield. But the draftees are for the future. We are better than last year right now, perhaps after we add a jag or two (even with just Seau and Gardner).
And if you really believe that the issue is defensive depth, then fill the bottom of the roster with old season vets instead of developmental hopefuls like Smith, Alexander, Mays, Woods, Spann and Baker. We can count on seasoned vets in crunch time! After all, we jsut need them for a half, or perhaps for a game or two. IMHO, mid-round and late round rookies are NOT usually depth. They are more often developmental players who are inactive every week, and have playing time only in emergencies. The exception is for interior OL's, where Day Two pick often do contribute, and are qualiuty backups (but this is no slam dunk; we CUT Steveson last year).
The offense needed help last year at WR. They made a valiant effort. In the end, Brady didn't even pass in crunch time, even when his running backs were hurt. Welker is a HUGE addition! Gaffney will be much better after some experience with Brady. Caldwell is Caldwell; he performed as expected, which was fine. Kyle Brady and Morris will make up for Graham and Dillon's late year and playoff production, and have potential for much more (as does Gaffney). Adding Stallworth or Moss would be the final piece missing to this offense.
If not, we will add a few more free agent hopefuls to see if one can fill a needed hole in the offense, and perhaps even draft a wide receiver or two to compete also.
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MY SUGGESTED LINEBACKERS
THE ROTATION: Colvin, Bruschi, Vrabel, Thomas, Hartwell, Seau
(only five get significant reps; I have six in case of injury and to provide some rest during games)
THE BACKUPS AND STers: Gardner, Woods, Alexander, Izzo
Personally, I think that this is a fine group. The STer are top Ster's.
If you all want to use a 1st and more for Willis or a 28 for Siler, that's fine. It wouldn't be my choice. I suspect that neither wouldn't add much to the 2007 production. But they could take Alexander's spot as a young hopeful. I just want my two DAY ONE defensive backs.
And BTW, I'd be fine with a DAY TWO NT to compete with Smith for the developmental NT position. However, I suspect that such a player would be a long-shot to make the team; ditto for a Day Two ILB.
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I think there's two defense (offense too) issues for next year.
One - Improve the starters for when we play teams that were better than us. I'm talking about SD mostly. Although we won that game and lost the Indy game, going into 2007, SD worries me more because that's the game we should have lost and the Indy game is the one we should have won. "Trading" TBC for Thomas is a start to this. Getting Harrison back and Hobbs being more experienced helps it. The last spot is FS - can Wilson play better than Hawkins ? If not we need a FA or draftee to upgrade the starting quality there.
Two - Improve the depth for when we have injuries. Again, we allowed 6 points to Indy in the first half. The second half was where we were killed by fatigue (flu, travel) and lots of inuries (remember Colvin and Hawkins missed most of the second half in addition to the other guys). We should be better here initially with the return of Harrison, Wilson, Gay. But we still need better quality backup LB unless they like Mays and Woods to improve heading into their second year. I also think Belichick wouldn't hesitate to draft a better quality backup NT.