Without those 2 poor performances, we are 16-4, then 19-0 with back to back titles. Quite honestly we are 2 Ints that got held onto instead of dropped away from just that, which woud be by far the best 2 year run any team has ever had...
That very thought gnaws at my soul, and will do so for the rest of my life - unless the Pats win 3 of the next 4 SBs.
What BB may have finally realized is that while experience is valuable, those same players with all that experience - Harrison, Vrabel, Bruschi, Seau, Seymour - are 4 years older and 4 years slower than in their '03-'04 peaks. They were too slow (and in the case of Alexander, too incompetent) to defend the middle/seams against the dolts, and to sack ellie when one sack might have ended the jints' hopes.
That probable realization is why I am encouraged by the off-season transactions and by the intent of the draft, though I would have chosen different players after Mayo (and Wheatley, but not until the end of the 3rd round - Reggie Smith would have been a better pick at 62, and even at 94 I might have taken Tyvon Branch instead).
DL - no real changes here. Henry Smith will battle LeKevin Smith for backup NT; an upgrade there would be nice. So would another Jarvis Green at DE to pressure the QB. Is a healthy and older Seymour > an injured but younger Seymour? Probably. He's still not worth the $$, however.
ILB - even after talking about the need for speed , I still want Junior Seau back (or Takeo Spikes). In fact, I'd rather have Junior than Bruschi at this point in their careers. Hobson and Mayo should be the eventual starters, and that is a huge improvement over Bruschi and Seau, who would be excellent backups. And perhaps Gary Guyton will supplant Alexander and Izzo as the 5th ILB/STer. At least, I hope he can.
OLB - the FO ignored Cliff Avril to draft Chicken Legs Crable, who has some big shoes to fill, because whenever he was on the field, Rosie Colvin was our best pass-rusher. At least he'll be an improvement over Butterfingers Woods. I also hope that Big Vincent Redd can be an improvement over Woods. Adalius is now our best pass-rusher, which is why I think he stays at OLB. Vrabel looked too old, too slow, too heavy-legged and too tired in the SB. A possible sign of the (immediate) future? Don't be surprised.
CB - losing Samuel hurts, but there's no way that he's worth all that $$. Had the FO kept Hank the Man Poteat, and drafted Tarell Brown or David Irons last year, the CB situation would not be as grave. As it stands, there are questions but only possible answers. Ellis Hobbs will have no more excuses this season. He should be healthier and will play in a system more conductive to his talents. Fernando Bryant, if healthy, should provide steady, if unspectacular, performances. I would be surprised if both Sanders and Webster make the 53. I'm hoping for the bigger Sanders, but I'm expecting the smaller, injury-prone Webster. Speaking of smaller and injury-prone, the FO should have drafted better CBs than lil' Terry Wheatley and lil' Johnny Wilhite, at least not in the rounds in which they were taken. Spann + Richardson = untalented TC fodder.
S - another year, another lost step for Rodney. He is no longer a starting-caliber S for a SB contender. A backup/situational SS, yes. But I have little confidence that lil' Jimmy Sanders is equal to the task. Perhaps a healthy Tank Williams can be. A healthy Tank > a healthy Mel Mitchell, so at least depth has been improved. Stomper Meriweather is our starting FS, but as of now he might catch the ball better with his feet than with his hands, and that is unacceptable. Weed Willie Andrews is the backup, to be challenged by Ventrone and possibly Lewis Sanders, if he can't cut it at CB.
There are also still some interesting vet FA available, e.g.: Ty Law, who would improve our CB and our S depth (and who is bigger than our SS Jimmy Sanders); CBs Andre Dyson and Terry Cousin; Ss Mike Doss, Kenoy Kennedy, Deke Cooper and Lance Schulters; OLB Rosie Colvin (I would love a return at a reduced rate); ILBs Seau, Spikes, Trotter, Kendrell Bell, Brian Simmons and Rob Morris; DTs Ryan Sims and old friend Ethan Kelley; and DEs Renaldo Wynn and Orpheus Roye.
And let's not forget the positive influence that Dom Capers will have as a Defensive Assistant with actual NFL experience, as opposed to Mr. Peesbody (and Skippy). And let's hope that he brings with him a more aggressive style, for both the front 7 and the back 4. "Bend But Not Break" has broken. So, while there is reason for optimism, there is also room for improvement, and questions to be answered. Just my $.02
