I've had this very discussion with people, and they always point to 2008. First and foremost, that was 4 seasons ago. Second, that team was coming off a 16-0 regular season, and a last minute loss in the SB. Roster for roster, the 2008 team > 2011 team. That defense was top 10 in both points and yards. This defense is middle of the pack in points, and dead last in yards. This team can't survive without Brady. The 2008 team could. That's cuz the 2008 team, outside of Brady, was better than this team is today. IMO anyway. Plus, I don't think that 2008 team beat anyone with a winning record, or maybe any of the playoff teams they played that year.
It would depend on the player lost, the team, and their style of play. I look at Houston for example, and while they've lost some key players to injury, they continue to win. Pitt won when Roth was suspended too. That being said, generally speaking the answer is yes. When a team loses a key player, the expected result would be more losses.
As for the thread topic, the Patriots drafts have been disappointing imo. While they've hit on players like Gronk and Hernandez, they've missed a ton on high picks. So much so, that they've used "first day" picks on the same positions for years now. Not only that, but the replacement picks have sucked too. Look at the misses:
1st thru 3rd rounder misses 2006-2011:
Cunningham, Price, Brace, Butler, Tate, McKenzie, Wheatley, Crable, O'Connell, Meriweather, Maroney, Jackson, Thomas etc.
These guys are busts in my opinion. That's 13 high picks in 6 years. Ouch. Then there's a number of other players (Spikes, Dowling, Chung for example) who are contributors to some degree, or show promise, but either can't stay on the field if they're decent, or aren't anything special if they can.
Then there's philosophy. You'd think that instead of drafting DB's year after year in the first and second round, they'd instead consider drafting a pass rusher of some kind, that might help make the cover guys they've drafted, better by default. :confused2: I'm not trying to be overly negative. I'm just trying to be honest about what I see.