The 4.4 ypc average was a warning. In tighter games the team could have been or will be vulnerable.
But no one has discussed the effect of the Safeties.
Harrison sat for four games. Sanders was a full time starter for his first season. Mel wasn't much, and a First round rookie, only started to catch on at the end of the season. Harrison was slowing and couldn't pace himself. Too many snaps for both him and Bruschi.
Contrast that with now. Tank looks like a genuine SS rotation with Rodney. Rodney can pace himself, now. Sanders is more secure and experienced. The prize rookie Brandon Meriwhether has now acclimated, to the NFL and the Pats. the safwety situationand the rundefesne will be much better in the box.
The ILBs will look bad the first half, as Hobson and Mayo break in, and Bruschi plays too much. But I expect the run defense to get better all year. Bruschi snaps will tail off, and he like Rodney, will be able to pace himself, more.
Where I see a change, is with the Capers philosophy. We will play more man coverage. The Pats have loaded up on man-cover corners. The issue with that is possibly tighter coverage, lower completions rates, but... the possibilities of more long completions. It will take a while to adjust, even though Hobbs is a established Pats vet, and Fernando is a new addition, wel versed and but used to the Caper's style. Wheatley looks good, but won't come on until the end of the season. I supect Webster is the third CB at least early. TWheat gradually takes the reps, as the year goes on. Wheatley looks quick enough to be a genuine improvement as a slot corner, covering the jitterbug slot WRs.
I suspect that the Pats will surrender long TDs, but as the season goes on, the Defense will stiffen and it will be awesome by playoff time.
The schedule is much easier, it is so easy that the Patriots could produce a better record than SD or Indy. They may have to do so, since they will be underdogs playing both on the road. They could lose both those games. The implications for the the playoffs would be that the Patriots would have to play on the road, unless they have a better record.
But by season end, they could even be up for that, and waltz through the playoffs. By season's end this could be the best Team edition, the Pats have ever fielded. And that says a mouthful.