Most anticipated season since Moss?

What do you think? When you take a step back and look at it, you could say just the addition of the best corner in the game is enough to get you excited but when you consider how good that defense can potentially be coupled with a guaranteed Brady bounce back year (by his standard) and the Gronk return factor not fully knowing what we're going to see, I think you could say anticipation will be tantalising come opening day.

I think it's safe to say that if the Pats got to the big dance again you won't be seeing Revis burned by a scrub receiver with minutes to go and Pats in the lead.

More excited defensively ? Yes, Offensively, I wish we had a Randy Moss. Still, overall talent, and IF we can stay relatively healthy, this should be a Super Bowl caliber team.

Defensively? Yes, absolutely.

Offensively? Not even close. We really, truly need a legitimate wideout. I love Dobson and Edelman as much as the next guy, but we need a "go-to" in case Gronk goes down.

Yes, at least for me, there's similar anticipation.

For ONCE in a long time I'm very confident about us having a legit Defense that can close out games with a lead and "IF" healthy in a Superbowl makin game ending drive to seal it.
As for Offense, jury is still out. Lots of ??? Gronk's health, If not him then who at TE, usual suspects WRs plus LaFell. If Gronk can't go are we good with Brady and this lineup moving and scoring points and good enough to be efficient in Red Zone?

yes, I said it in another thread. I have huge expecatations with this team. the only diff (compared to the 07 and 04 teams) is the team has more question marks -- if people stay healthy (gronk), regain 90% form (wilfork, mayo, what amendola showed in preseason), and the rest of the young players make small strides, I wouldn't be surprised if this team went 15-1 or even 16-0.
But its also possible our WR core sucks (if no one improves and they regress), and we can't rush the passer (if Wilfork is done, if Mayo takes a step back, and no one improves) and we end up same as last year

Definitely the most anticipated season since 2013.

Yeah, with Revis/Browner shoring up the traditional achilles heel of this team, the expected 2nd year leap from the young receivers, and all the starters coming back from season-ending injuries last year, it's hard not to be pretty excited.

Then again, it's the NFL, so you never know if it will all come together until it actually does.

For me, it is a lot like the Moss pick-up. Can't wait to see them in KC.

PrairiePat said:

Yeah, with Revis/Browner shoring up the traditional achilles heel of this team, the expected 2nd year leap from the young receivers, and all the starters coming back from season-ending injuries last year, it's hard not to be pretty excited.

Then again, it's the NFL, so you never know if it will all come together until it actually does.

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This and injuries are all that concerns me for this season.

voluntarysaftey said:

yes, I said it in another thread. I have huge expecatations with this team. the only diff (compared to the 07 and 04 teams) is the team has more question marks -- if people stay healthy (gronk), regain 90% form (wilfork, mayo, what amendola showed in preseason), and the rest of the young players make small strides, I wouldn't be surprised if this team went 15-1 or even 16-0.
But its also possible our WR core sucks (if no one improves and they regress), and we can't rush the passer (if Wilfork is done, if Mayo takes a step back, and no one improves) and we end up same as last year

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Which was despite all the injuries and without the signings, still in the Top 10 in Points Allowed.

I anticipate every season a lot, I think every year we have a good shot at a good season. But looking at our defense I'm very excited.

I am like a HS girl going to prom....very excited for this year

Why do so many people continue to downplay the addition of LaFell? He may not be a sexy name but I'm willing to bet his numbers in New England improve compared to his Carolina career. The O is going to be forced to improve their game out of sheer pride. They're not going to want to have their arses handed to them by the Patriots D week in week out.

I'm hopeful this season will lead to something special but as always, health will remain the key.

I used to "anticipate" seasons when the best we could hope for was going 0.500, not being embarrassed during a rare "National Tee Vee" appearance and maybe upsetting one of the "elite" teams, so, yeah, I guess I'm "anticipating" this season.

As for my anticipation about 2014, for the first time in a while I feel pretty darn good about the D, but share the concerns voiced by others about the Offense. Brady got blood from a stone last year and I worry we're pushing our luck.

PatsFanSince74 said:

I used to "anticipate" seasons when the best we could hope for was going 0.500, not being embarrassed during a rare "National Tee Vee" appearance and maybe upsetting one of the "elite" teams, so, yeah, I guess I'm "anticipating" this season.

As for my anticipation about 2014, for the first time in a while I feel pretty darn good about the D, but share the concerns voiced by others about the Offense. Brady got blood from a stone last year and I worry we're pushing our luck.

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But this off season, BB gave the stone a blood transfusion.

I am really excited about it.I think this team is top 5 scoring offense and top 5 scoring defense, and that makes them the most balanced team in football and a force to be reckoned with come play-off time. there is more depth to add and competition to build for camp but overall this is as good a situation as they have been in for some time.

Despite the claims that any season that falls short of a championship is a failure i don't see it that way at all. You build the best possible team you can for each season and put yourself in a position to try and win it on the field in January and February, but winning it all requires a great team, good health, big plays, lucky breaks and an absence of bad calls, and having that all come together is fortune and not something as scripted as many would like to believe. Belichick, Brady, and the Patriots meet that criteria every year, and while they won their share they have actually reached a point where they are due, and imo that time is coming sooner not later, and it will be because of everything that Bill Belichick has done to keep this a great team that is always in contention.

I'm like a little kid at Christmas, every season is highly anticipated.... difficult to guage more or less.

I think you mean more excited than usual. Because after the season ends, I'm always looking forward to the next season.

Football has the best rhythm out of any sport on the planet:

1. You start with free agency to see what is added to your team
2. Next, you get the draft to see what potential is being picked and what the coach might be thinking about the team (though that doesn't really apply to Patriots).
3. Start to learn about the team and the players through OTAs
4. Training camp, where every team & player is on equal footing and you start to see who's in and who's out
5. That first preseason game when you finally get to see "your" guys in live action. Even if it's just for a quarter and you stick around for the whole thing because you want to learn more about the bubble players
6. Even the 4th preseason game is great because this is a potential last chance to make the 53 or the Practice squad. you sit there hoping your binky proves himself.
7. Finally the first game of the season where you see it come together. It's better than that cold tasty beer on a hot summer day.
8. Then the ritual of getting football every week. For most of us, this is a near-religious experience.

See, now I'm hoping for a quick end to summer.

PrairiePat said:

Yeah, with Revis/Browner shoring up the traditional achilles heel of this team, the expected 2nd year leap from the young receivers, and all the starters coming back from season-ending injuries last year, it's hard not to be pretty excited.

Then again, it's the NFL, so you never know if it will all come together until it actually does.

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The problem last year wasn't our defense. We only put up 16 against the Broncos. Maybe our D will be SOO good our offense won't matter as much.