Yes it can, and here are reasons why.
I will try to be respectful in responding to each of these, but damn, you make it sound like we will go 19-0 and score 900 points.
- Bill Belichick and Tom Brady are still the two best in the game and are calling the shots along with Josh McDaniels.
We had that last year, so that really isn't part of the better or worse discussion, although Brady being a year older means the chance of decline is there.
- The offensive line is stellar and Sebastian Vollmer is re-signed.
If Vollmer and Mankins stay healthy, the OL should be as good, maybe better. If not we could have worries.
- Wes Welker dependability has been the most predictable thing last year. With Lloyd not giving ANYBODY a reason to respect his presence or our outside game last year, teams would flood the middle and beat us because they knew our offense. The quick no huddle runs and inside passes to Wes Welker. You CANNOT operate a superbowl offense like that. This year, we have more variety and versatility that can add a bigger arsenal with more blend and options in our attack. You don't just have guys who can run in slot now, but receivers that can do it all.
We were a top 5 alltime scoring offense. Its totally backward to say the best part of the team that went to the SB the year before and the AFCCG last year is not QB quality.
- Danny Amendola was looking good with Sam Bradford, who is a MUCH lesser QB then Tom Brady so just imagine if Danny stays healthy how he is going to look here. Chemistry between him and Tom has already started to develop. He is bigger, faster, stronger, quicker, more athletic and runs crisp routes and has great hands. He has also been proven to be clutch as well. He is younger than Wes Welker, and more accomplished and proven coming into NE then Wes Welker was coming into NE back in 2007. Not only that, but Amendola can also give us another dimension to his game in that he can go long for the deep ball. Wes Welker didn't give us that option. Simply put, Tom can make Amendola as superstar if everything goes as planned.
Being excited about Amendola's ability is reasonable. Expecting him to be better than Welker was here is blind hope.
- The rookies maybe rookies, but they are extremely talented, diverse in their game, versatile and can be moved around at different positions on the offense. They have a high ceiling, and upside and have been doing a great job during camp. All in all, they don't even fall under the same category as rookie receivers in the past for NE. And I think that Brian Daboll is doing a wonderful job with this group like he did from 01 to 06, getting the most out of their abilities. I like Kenbrell and Aaron over Brandon Lloyd in a long shot. They seem to WANT IT more, and a lot of times, youth at the receiver position wins. Plus, with Gronk being out, they had time to develop chemistry with Tom and so far so great.
"Extremely talented" WRs go in the top half of round 1.
Lloyd produced in this offense. You have no idea what the rookies can do, and using 'they want it' kind of illustrates that.
- With Julian Edelman coming back healthy, that was a weapon that we lost last year that was getting hot and really could have used him against BAL in the post season last year. He was coming into his own, and unfortunately went down. He also showed the ability to line up and beat coverage outside, not just inside as shown against the Jets more than once. One of those long balls went for a TD, I believe was 56 yards. As long as he stays on the field, this guy can be something special.
If we are calling Edelman as a WR 'something special' the bar is definitely low. Calvin Johnson is 'something special'. Virtually every team in the league has at least 3 WRs who have shown more as an NFL WR than Edelman.
I'm not sure where he showed you the ability to line up and beat outside coverage. He caught 12 passes all season, and a total of 18 in 3 years that were thrown beyond the los. The one you mention is his only catch on a 20+ yard pass in his career. He has caught 9 passes in his entire career more than 10 yards downfield.
As far as getting hot before he was hurt, he was on a tear of 11 catches in 6 games.
Not sure what he showed more than once vs the Jets as he had 3 other catches for 2,5 and 8 yards.
If Edelman is the 'special player' that will be a key to our offense, we are not improving.
- Shane Vereen with a bigger role in the offense from the get go this year, will be a welcomed addition in both the run and passing game. And unlike Danny Woodhead or Kevin Faulk, this guy is a vertical threat in the passing game. He has that dynamic rare skillset that could set defenses a blaze against the right match ups.
I like Vereen, but the question is if he is such an upgrade over Woodhead, why was Woodhead playing instead of him last year
- Zach Sudfeld has some speed, and hands and Daniel Fells is solid. Lets not forget that the world's best Tightend will eventually be back, and could be a lot sooner than many expect.
Not sure I see a lot of hope of TE being better than last year outside of hoping we have more Gronk.
- Either LeGarrette Blount or Brandon Bolden back healthy will help the running game even more, as its already one of the game's elite, and Leon Washington will give us great field position. And that's along with Julian Edelman. Leon Washington can also be a third down specialist, and an effective one has he has done in the past for guys like Curtis Martin, LaDainain Tomlinson and Marshawn Lynch. He is still extremely quick, elusive and very shifty. Screens would be perfect for him.
If we are relying on Leon Washington the RB position will be worse than last year.
So you see, we have some very interesting pieces that from a talent standpoint, far exceed the 2004 to 2006 teams offensively.
Wasn't the question will we be better than last year?
I mean come on guys ... Reche Caldwell, Jabar Gaffney, Doug Gabriel? I know those guys were effective but from a raw talent stand point, and you look at what we have now. The fact that we have at least 3 receivers that can get deep and absolutely NONE last year alone speaks volumes.
Not sure where you see 'at least 3 receivers that can get deep'?
I think you are overly optimistic about the talent level of these guys that is not remarkable compared to what every other team has.