Yes, really. I've seen it. I've read it. I've heard it. The Patriots secondary is Devin McCourty and a bunch of players who are either unknowns or garbage. Take off your homer glasses for once and actually look at what's there, for crying out loud. It's alright to be rational, and to hope for the best while understanding what the past has shown about what you've got.
Still playing the "homer card" I see, DI. Well you MIGHT be right, but Bill Belechick (at this point) thinks you might be wrong. Here is a list of reasons why.
1. As fans we are all about "names" and individual accomplishments. It's just who we are. We often forget that one of the reasons we love the game is that it's NOT basketball, where individual talent is king. Football is a game where the SUM can be much better than the individual parts.
As Pats fans we should really be more in tune with this concept, since we have so often won games WITHOUT having the best "individual talent". Our OL last season was very productive despite having the entire interior line being made up of individual players who no one heard of and wouldn't raise a ripple if another team signed them (though Stork might get there in a year or two) You can say the same for the WR corps. We have good players who play better as a group, in this system.
2. Every time a pass gets completed we all want to blame someone in the secondary, yet the Mendoza line for QB's in the NFL is now 60% and rising.. So the majority of the time EVERY NFL back 7/8 is getting beaten.
3. Loosing Revis is an obvious loss that isn't going to be made up for.....by any individual player. But with a full off season off season of preparation, I wouldn't be shocked to see the Pats pass defense numbers this season by only marginally worse....if that.
4. It's easy to rag on Fletcher, but until we see how he works out in THIS defensive scheme, under these coaches, it is way too soon to make absolute judgments (but that IS what you do best, DI.
) I understand that part of Fletcher's problems in Philly came from the fact that far too often he was left on an island with WR's who simply were better. My feeling is that he's here to be a physical presence on the corner much like Browner was, and a lot of his success came from the fact he was rare "left on an island"
5 NONE of us has any idea how the perceived improvement along the front 7 will affect the secondary. If it is gong to be as active and aggressive as we hope, it could effect the back end very positively.
6. Every year some player emerges that no one saw coming. We have no idea who this year's Malcom Butler or Patrick Chung is going to be. All we do know is that it's very likely that there will be one.
7. Between injuries, trades, FA signings, and other team's releases, history tells us there are 2- 3 players who will turn out to be important players on this team, who aren't on the roster yet.
8. Finally, how quickly we forget the 2011 secondary, who right up until the last game of the regular season, was the historically WORST secondary in yardage given up. It was a secondary playing with players who were viewed as a LOT worse that what we have coming to camp., and had to use a WR to fill in. It was a secondary made up Devon McCourty (how did you so inelegantly put it) "made up of unknowns or garbage". They too made it to a superbowl,
In the end, you might very well be right in your opinion on our secondary. On the surface, it certainly isn't a secondary filled with big names. It definitely should be #1 on any list of concerns for the 2015 team. BUT that doesn't mean you can glibly dismiss them like you have so often, especially this early, OR is it necessary to label, anyone who says anything positive, a mindless uncritical homer.