The secondary is simply not going to be a highly effective unit......not next week and not by January. The jump from its reality as conspicuously soft (6 weeks in) to being a solid, effective unit is simply too big of a jump to be statistically likely to happen (that is entirely my judgement -- not based on compiled statistics).
The Patriots road map to victory factors a soft secondary (I am sure that is not a point of happiness - just a point of grim reality). A road map that says: (A) superior offense that jumps on the opposition's defense and forces the opposition's offense to feel/have to be near perfect and (B) a Patriot defense that can stop the opposition a sufficient amount of times for the Patriots to have a greater point total at the end of the game (a combination of our defense making a third down stop here and there, and the ability of the opposition's offense to shoot itself in the foot). This is what it was last year and this is what it is this year. And while it can be painful to watch (just as it was last year), this year, so far, has had a particularly grueling reality! giving up too many big pass plays. Even for an ability limited secondary such as ours, this is the one thing that must be fixed. Fortunately, imho, this is something that can/should be fixed. Giving up this many long passes falls on coaching. Sure, to fix it means the opposition will get what seems like a grating and unending string of underneath passes.....but in those circumstances I like our chances when the outcome of the game rests on which offense can string together more long drives.
The irony is the run D looks markedly better than it did last year (based solely on my own observation and recollection). Simply having the irritatingly soft secondary of last year should equal better results this year. :bricks:
