Reflecting back, it is amazing how BB has rebuilt the somewhat shaky parts of the Pats roster. LS is upgraded. Safeties are solidified. Third down backs look more than satisfied. Talent has been secured for the Offensive line and now only awaits some experience to be massive, talented, and pretty good from TE1 to TE2. Now he has turned his attention to improving the KO returner, the last ST specialist position where the Pats do not excel. he wants more certainty and depth than merely Amendola's single long KO return from last season.
Every one of those positions seem to have talent down to the last performer there, e.g. CBs 6 deep, Safeties 6 deep, RBs 5 deep; 3rd down backs 3 deep.
The constant drumbeat of criticism and doom forecasts was/is the CB situation. BB purposely tore it apart after Revis left to score a fantastic guaranteed contract with the myopic Jets. (and ruin their CAP). BB purposely let Browner, Arrington and Alozo go, as he undertook an almost total rebuild. He replaced them with former highly regarded starters from other teams, who had poor years; and a couple of young candidates. It appears he is succeeding.
Everyone seems to want to beat down Logan Ryan as hopeless. It is true that when he gambles and fails its a spectacular miss, as he doesn't possess great recovery speed. But opposition passers have only completed 4 of 11 passes over him, which is a mere 36% completion rate. He is the so-called "weak link". Those are not bad statistics for someone facing Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees among his opposition QBs. And he is regarded as the 5th or 6th CB on the depth charts. His alternate5/6 is a somewhat undersized slot CB who nonetheless was a starter for the Falcons before falling into disfavor. How bad can he be? Neither is a hopeless end of roster UDFA, as is frequent on most end of rosters.
Meanwhile the strong ends of the position squads only seem to get better. The DL looks awesome as does the the linebackers. BB has obtained Malcom Brown, Trey Flowers and Jabaal Sheard for the DL and gets back Dom Easley a #1 pick. At LB he gets back Jerod Mayo and adds Geno Grissom and Morris to the depth, while freeing Ninko for some snaps at at OLB too.
At QB, It appears Polo, the Italian Stallion, is a keeper as a backup QB; and with another years experience he may be the Aaron Rodgers to Bret Favre equivalent to our Tom Brady.
WR is another subject of criticism but with Edelmen, Amendola, LaFell and Dobson/Fletcher how deep can you go?
Despite the Deflategate uncertainty at QB, this 2015 edition is shaping up to be one of Belechick's strongest and deepest Teams. NFL Beware!
