So I want to raise a couple questions for the board and I'll be interested in opinions because I see them as important for the Patriots going forward, especially thematically.
The Pats have displayed over the last thirteen years a level of excellence that, I would argue, is unparalleled in modern professional sports. I think they have been able to accomplish this through a combination of superior coaching, superior asset management, and some very good fortune in drafting and player selection. A big key to their success, clearly, has been a transcendent quarterback who has consistently provided superior play at perhaps the most important position in all of sports. Most recently, they have also benefited from the play of a tight end who is among, when healthy, the greatest offensive weapons to ever play the game. Together they have comprised the most important component of the best offense in football over the last five years. When either has been unavailable the team has clearly struggled and, when they have been present, they "hide a million sins", allowing them to compete yearly for a championship despite subpar play at other positions. This has allowed the Pats to consistently draft later than any other team in football yet still compete. I would argue that the greatness of Brady, and most recently Gronk, has both fostered and continued this greatness for such a period that we, their fans, are among the most fortunate ever.
And it's all coming to an end.
As you know, only three quarterbacks have ever won Super Bowls over the age of 35. None (Unitas, Plunkett, and Elway twice) played on teams that relied on their quarterback to flat out win games when they went to the Superbowl. Unitas was injured in the first half of his Superbowl and Morrill actually won the game, Plunkett was Plunkett, and Elway had a great team around him and wasn't called upon to win it. I don't think this has been an accident (although this could be changing with modern training methods). Regardless, Brady is unlikely to buck this trend, but if he does he'll likely be brought along by his team to a championship rather than lead the way.
Over the last several years the Pats have fallen short in their title run primarily, in my opinion, due to deficiencies two areas. First, the team has been overly reliant on Brady and when he has played poorly (or even average) in the post-season, they have had little chance to overcome it. Second, when called upon, the defense has not had the ability to come up with a big stop or game-changing play. Overly reliant on turnovers to cover up their weakness, when the defense has played teams that make few mistakes and when Brady has been less than perfect, they lose. So the Pats need a team that can carry Brady to the Superbowl rather than lead them to it (as they did earlier in his career). He might be called upon to make some magic happen in the last two minutes be he can't be perfect all game. Furthermore, when his time is over, or if Gronk is injured again, forget about it. The team has been so reliant on these two magnificent players that without them there is little chance.
So how do we replace them? Obviously we can't count on obtaining one in the draft again either at the 200th or 42nd overall pick. That may happen but can't be expected. We can continue to try and "salvage" greatness in the form of formerly great players and hope they work out, of shoot for "damaged goods" (Moss, Dillon, Hainesworth, Rodney Harrison, others). So how do we obtain these cornerstone players that a great couch like BB can build around?
Brady is likely past his ability to outright win games consistently enough to bring a championship. He is a couple years from being gone altogether unless he is able to defy history. So what's next? Jimmy G? I hope so but it's so very unlikely that he'll be that special qb who can outright drag a team to a championship.
I think we have to morph into a different kind of team. I think that team has to be less reliant on Brady, understand that with his style of play that Gronk may not be consistently available, yet still compete at the highest level. And I think this starts with the defense. I think we have to look to replace the foundational players that we have on offense with similar players on defense. We already have one (for now) in Revis and I think we should do whatever it takes to keep him. Personally I think others, aside from McCourty, are easily replaceable and I think our general manager is better at filling in holes elsewhere than any other in the game. And I'd like us to aggressively pursue another elite defensive player, regardless of who it might be, to become a dominant team on the defensive side of the ball (not just very good, but great). After this year, if Garropollo shows progress, I'd even consider trading Brady to make this happen. We are close to being a great defensive team and I think we need to become one to lead this team into the next generation of excellence. The Brady era is coming to an end. It may already be over and we might not know it. Let's begin to prepare for what comes next.
