How bright is the future of the Patriots?

MoLewisrocks · Jan 26, 2011

PatsFanSince74 said:
For the next few years? It's as bright as the shoulder, knee and foot of Tom Brady are healthy. At 34, he'll be entering the "unknown territory" of a QB's career. Some are able to play at an elite level until they are 37 or 38, others begin to tail off. If he is able to sustain a top level of play, then I think there's no reason the Pats can't snare that elusive fourth trophy for the Krafts and fourth ring for Brady. By the playoffs this year, I thought we were going to do it in Dallas.

Otherwise, I'm torn between those who want to use our six picks in the first three rounds this year to load up and those who think that, sooner or later, Belichick's going to use them to trade up and grab Tommy's successor. Steve Young was in his seventh year in the league and had carried a clipboard for Joe for four seasons before he got his chance. So, nothing would surprise me.

Steve Young carried that clipboard before the advent of FA. Besides, top tier measurables QB's aren't the panacea most make them out to be. The bust rate is horrendous and the disappointment rate is about equal to the league average rate... Belichick will continue to look for that coachable, motivated diamond in the rough and eventually hang on to one when the time is right. I don't think that time will be for another 5+ seasons barring catestrophic injury. So no point drafting Tom's successor for at least 3 more years, and the best approach for the forseeable future is to use available resources to build the best team possible around Brady and maximize his value and hopefully minimize the chances you get him catestrophically injured... And insure you have a well constructed team to pass on to his successor in transition. Best way to do that is to not go chasing overhyped QB prospects.

I also have no clue what he ever thought he saw in KOC. Doesn't mean I wouldn't eventually expend another 3rd on a prospect but he needs to fit the profile here. But one thing fans here are going to have to come to terms with is whomever they replace Brady with isn't going to be another HOF'er. Those come to franchises once in a long, long while if their lucky. Some never find one. And some find one and still can't win it all.

Savor the journey while you can...

convertedpatsfan · Jan 26, 2011

Palm Beach Pats Fan said:
Doin' all right, makin' good grades...

the future's so bright, I've gotta wear shades.

Beat me to it. Post #5

andrewgarrr · Jan 26, 2011

karguy85 said:
I am in the camp that the Patriots should go all in for the next 4-5 years while Brady is still here and try to win it all. I think that includes moving up (as opposed to down, or into next year's draft) if a target stud player is available.

However, I am wondering if Belichick is also at the same time preparing for life without Brady with his actions. By stockpiling draft picks for each year, it seems that its only a matter of time until the Patriots draft a QB to hold the clipboard for a 2-3 years behind Brady until Brady is ready to retire. I don't think that time is now (especially in light of Brady's spectacular season) however I do realize that going all in for the next few years may mortgage years 5-10 from now.

I think a lot of this depends on what Belichick plans on doing when Brady retires. I think he could very well stay and prove that he success is more than just based on Brady (although he doesn't have to prove that to me). What are your thoughts on these two different approaches?

I don't like this idea.

I think part of the reason that Belichick has been stock-piling these draft picks and building the team back up with young players is so that when Brady does leave, the team will still have good players on both sides of the ball. By the time Brady leaves, all of these young guys, Gronk, Aaron, McCourty, Chung, Mayo, etc., will all be seasoned veterans and the new QB will have an easier time winning.

Also, I don't think this team is so far off that we need to go out and get Asomgha, Fitzgerald, or any high-priced free agent. They were playing well enough in the regular season to have gotten to the SB.

fair catch fryar · Jan 26, 2011

karguy85 said:
I am in the camp that the Patriots should go all in for the next 4-5 years while Brady is still here and try to win it all. I think that includes moving up (as opposed to down, or into next year's draft) if a target stud player is available.

However, I am wondering if Belichick is also at the same time preparing for life without Brady with his actions. By stockpiling draft picks for each year, it seems that its only a matter of time until the Patriots draft a QB to hold the clipboard for a 2-3 years behind Brady until Brady is ready to retire. I don't think that time is now (especially in light of Brady's spectacular season) however I do realize that going all in for the next few years may mortgage years 5-10 from now.

I think a lot of this depends on what Belichick plans on doing when Brady retires. I think he could very well stay and prove that he success is more than just based on Brady (although he doesn't have to prove that to me). What are your thoughts on these two different approaches?

That's a tough one. I tend to be in the camp that BB will follow Tom out the door when that unfortunate day comes. I don't think BB has anything to prove to any type of chatter that links his success to Brady because an idiot can figure out that the two go hand-in-hand like Walsh & Montana. If he must convince those aforementioned idiots by preserving his legacy as a great HC then he needs to shut down the likes of Rex Ryan and beat him when it counts so I am hoping and guessing that we see some sort of shift in BB's philosophy in which he will field a dynamo for the next few years to take advantage of TB12's peak right now and the next 3 years.

Brady_to_Moss · Jan 26, 2011

it's bright..but right now..i just want 1 playoff win

PatsFanSince74 · Jan 26, 2011

Brady_to_Moss said:
it's bright..but right now..i just want 1 playoff win

Yeah, it's almost impossible to say the words, "We haven't won a playoff game in three years."

BlueString94 · Jan 26, 2011

What I'm most afraid of is that BB will leave with Brady. Then, no matter how much talent there is, The New England Patriots will be in dire straits.

Ring 6 · Jan 26, 2011

Brady_to_Moss said:
it's bright..but right now..i just want 1 playoff win

I want 3.
0 1 or 2 are all the same thing to me.

PATRIOTSFANINPA · Jan 27, 2011

AndyJohnson said:
I want 3.
0 1 or 2 are all the same thing to me.

You better ask for 4 ....just in case we don't win the division or are a wild card entrant

AJY the Jets troll · Jan 27, 2011

Drafts have been better recently, last year's could be amazing BUT where is the acknowledgement that we are just another team without Tom Brady.

It's a strong supporting cast of characters BB has assembled but not even close to elite and I don't see them getting there before Tom's window closes.

He has another 3 seasons in him in my estimation, he's coming off one of the best, absolute BEST, regular season performances of all time and these young guys don't have the seasoning or enough grit to win when it counts.

We need to start grooming a QB of the future after this season because without Tom steering the ship the talent is not exceptional.

Compare our squad to the Steelers, Ravens, Packers, Jets (yes, the Jets), without Brady we are clearly not on level with these teams.

ivanvamp · Jan 27, 2011

Last 3 seasons:

2008: 11-5, +101 pt differential, missed playoffs
2009: 10-6, +142 pt differential, won division, lost in wild card round
2010: 14-2, +205 pt differential, won division, lost in divisional round

Add to that that:

- they have the youngest defense in the NFL

- they had 14 players on IR this year

- they have 3 of the first 33 picks, and 6 in the first 3 rounds

...and it's hard to draw any other conclusion besides that this is a team on the *rise*, not a team on the *decline*.

RobertWeathers · Jan 27, 2011

PATRIOTSFANINPA said:
You better ask for 4 ....just in case we don't win the division or are a wild card entrant

Yep. Still waiting on shipment of my "3 Games To Glory Vol. 4", but would settle for the "4 Games To Glory" version

FCB02062 · Jan 27, 2011

I would have much more faith in the future of this team had they shown up for their last two playoff games - much more. Basically, they had a pretty veteran-laden team (although the character of said veterans is open to debate) in 2009 and got crushed by Baltimore at home in their first playoff game. In 2010 they had a much younger team and got beaten in their first playoff game at home by what we all thought was an inferior division rival.
Sure, I can see how some people will be very optimistic, but at some point Miami and Buffalo will stop sucking and the Patriots annual winning at least 3/4 from those teams will cease. This team plays a first place schedule once again. 14-2 was just amazing considering the makeup of this team, and the way it ended just does not leave me confident at all.
I'm probably placing too much emphasis on the playoff game, but when your superstar quarterback looks totally confused in two of the three games you just played against your biggest division rival, I don't see much reason for optimism unless the NYJ crash out as some are predicting (not me - they'll be a 10 or 11 win team against next season).
Against the NYJ Brady looked like he used to look whenever he went up against Miami when they had Madison, Surtain, Thomas, Marion, Taylor, etc- befuddled and without answers...Hey, there might not even be a season in 2011, so this all could be moot...GO PATS!

ivanvamp · Jan 27, 2011

FCB02062 said:
Against the NYJ Brady looked like he used to look whenever he went up against Miami when they had Madison, Surtain, Thomas, Marion, Taylor, etc- befuddled and without answers...Hey, there might not even be a season in 2011, so this all could be moot...GO PATS!

Brady was very strong the first two drives, minus one *horrible* pass. He didn't do anything in the 2nd quarter, but in the 2nd half, he was excellent. He took the team on three scoring drives for 18 points, and went 19-27 (70.4%), 200 yds, 2 td, 0 int.

Whatever struggles he had in the 2nd quarter, he certainly figured it out by the 2nd half. Those are big-time numbers. The Jets played very well, and Brady did make some mistakes for sure. But Brady did get things squared away in the 2nd half.

Wasn't enough, however.

JoeSixPat · Jan 28, 2011

Keep in mind that the 6 picks in the first 3 rounds are HUGE

Belichick can decide to move around and grab EXACTLY the guys he wants - or he can take value with the picks he has

The key here is that agents are actively encouraging players to enter the draft before there's a lockout - so you've got a particularly deep draft.

And by some conincidence, Belichick's got a ton of picks.

serifyn · Jan 28, 2011

Dustin Keller Clown

ouch......

reflexblue · Jan 28, 2011

So bright they have to wear Sun Glasses at night

NEPatriot · Jan 28, 2011

patriotsdynasty12189 said:
I think ever since the Jets got eliminated from the playoffs the healing process for Patriot fans around the country can officially begin and we can honestly look at this team and thing, wow we have a great young core of potentially great players.

Lets just start here with our rookies from just this past season.

Devin McCourty- Wow what a great rookie campaign, in his first season Devin made the All-pro team and was 2nd in the league in INTs. He has shown great ability to be a shutdown corner AND a playmaker, something this team hasnt seen since Ty Law (sorry A$ante). He can tackle with the best of them and is a great TEAM player. He reminds me of Charles Woodson.

Rob Gronkowski- What else can I say, a 6'6 265 pound behemoth who is a work horse. He had 10 TDs in his rookie campaign and really made Brady's job easy in the redzone. He is a terrific young blocker and the sky is the limit for this kid. I'm very excited to see this kid get more involved in the offense and become a serious mismatch on linebackers.

Jermaine Cunningham- Is still very raw, became a starter about half-way through the season and probably would have started over TBC opening day if not for a hamstring injury. His stats dont show up enough but he gets pressure on the QB. I think he will only get better the question is if he can take that next step and be a very good nfl football player.

Brandon Spikes- A young leader, a young Ted Johnson is what people call him. I dont buy it. He is an absolute stud at stopping the run and despite his 4 game suspension, he is still a hard worker who will excel in this system next to Mayo and playing behind Wilfork. He may not be the most athletic player, but his instincts and football knowledge and toughness make up for it.

Aaron Hernandez- Dustin Keller clown, enough said. The youngest player in the league excelled this season with Brady at QB. He will only get better and just be a headache for opposing defensive coordinators.

That was just the rookies, with other budding stars such as Patrick Chung, Sebastian Volmer, and Jerod Mayo, the Patriots defense looks like its going to be solid down the road.

I didnt really have enough time to finish my thoughts but I just wanted to know what you guys all thought about our team.

I don't see things quite as rosey as some others do. Yes, we've got a lot of young talent and multiple draft picks. My issue is that for the last few years we don't seem to play well in the big playoff games. The team just doesn't seem to be as tough as they need to be. Just my 2 cents.

olschool · Jan 29, 2011

This team will be more of the same, until BB becomes a " Defensive Genius " again. And that will take a major talent upgrade on the defensive side of the ball. Hopefully, this draft will fill that need.

If Brady feels that he has to carry the team, and can't rely on his defense to close out a game against another great team, get used to more " Manning Face" from Brady, in the playoffs.

He's perfectly capable of winning another ring in the next five years, but he won't do it without a defense that can win a 10-7 game.

PatsFanStnfrd · Jan 29, 2011

Marqui said:
That's why the Pats need to get themselves an explosive franchise RB.

Last year, you could have had Garrett Blount of Oregon who went undrafted and is a stud for Tampa Bay.

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