I will put it too you this way, I will be the first one to eat my words if the Pats defense is actually good this year. I have a feeling that this defense is going to be a repeat of the 2000, 2002 and 2005 defense. However, young guys like Mayo, Crable, Wheatley, Slater and Guyton will be the bright spots. Hopefully, Merriweather will be in the equation as well.
Do you even remember what those defenses looked like and the circumstances that got them there?
To say that 2000,2002 or 2005 are similar in any way is to say you don't understand the game.
2000 - New coach. A lot over-priced, under-talented players.
2002 - Implementation of the 3-4 defense, except that the team didn't have a NT. Steve Martin talked his way out of town before the season ended.
2005 - Bruschi's stroke. Ted Johnson's retirement right before training camp. Roman Phifer not recovered from his injury.
How you can say this defense is going to be like any of those is beyond me. Hell, in 2005, the Pats still won the division and played two in the play-offs.
Who are the over-priced, under-talented veterans on this team? What is the new defense the Patriots are implementing? What series of injuries and unexpected events has depleted the ILBers to the point that they don't have a real one?
Last I looked, the top 5 players for the D-line are healthy. Including Seymour who can be a monster when healthy. And this defense starts with the D-line. The LBers, there is a question about Thomas' health. I think that Woods and Crable will be adequate as a replacement, but they may also surprise us. Mayo, while a rookie, has not looked lost out there. Not to mention that he has 3 players around him in Harrison, Bruschi, and Vrabel who have numerous years in the system and are very effective leaders to the point of almost being like coaches on the field.
In the secondary, the question is Wheatley. The kid has the talent and the skills. BB clearly felt that he outplayed Bryant otherwise Bryant would still be here. The Patriots have depth in their safeties like they've not had before with Harrison, J. Sanders, Lynch and Meriweather. Not to mention Slater, Ventrone and L. Sanders. Harrison is a leader. Lynch almost looks like he's played in the system for years. Sanders HAS played in the system. Meriweather was responsible for Wilson's departure.
That's not kool aid. That's what I see.
If you want to say the defense is going to be bad, say so. Give some concrete reasons. Don't just use generalities or attempt to compare them to defenses that had huge personnel issues or were implementing a brand new defense.