Has BB decided to ease into the season, preserving vital personnel for the stretch run?
No question, I am grasping for reasons as to why this team looks so bad this preseason. So here are some excuses and implausible reasonings.
-Since 2001, the Patriots have played 17 playoff games...an extra season of games. Brady, Bruschi, Seymour, Light, Vrabel...all key players the last 8 years...have played alot of football.
-The Patriots peaked too early last year. With a chip on their shoulders, the Patriots launched an aerial assault on opponents that devastated and demoralized teams for 2 months. When the scheduled toughened up and winter approached, blowouts were few and far between, the Brady -Moss tandem was less successful, running the ball was an issue as was redzone defense. Although the wins were still piling up, the better teams were figuring out the Patriots...Indy, Philly, Baltimore, Giants.
-The Pressure of Perfection took its toll. Tough to argue this point, considering the Pats were seconds from a perfect season....but BB may not see a reason to supercharge this team for 16 games.
-Though many outside New England would disagree, the 2007 season validated the Patriots' championships of this decade. With Spygate in the rearview mirror, the 2008 Patriots will take a different approach to this season...building weekly and hopefully peaking in December.
-With all the injuries, the 3 west coast trips, an aging corp of key players, and rookies that will be counted on, I am convinced that BB will ease into the season.
