AzPatsFan
Veteran Starter w/Big Long Term Deal
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- Sep 15, 2004
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Everyone talks about rebuilding the LB corps.
But a major effort facing Belichick last off season was ALSO rebuilding the Special Teams from top to bottom. Only the long snapper had any upside. Both specialist kickers were getting very long in the tooth. Coverage teams stunk.
The coverage teams were slowing down, as the top ST tacklers declined. Cherry is gone, Davis and especially Izzo were visibly slowing down. A couple of good ST players walked (Adam Vinatieri, Matt Chatham) and others got promoted to regular playing status, TBC, Wright etc limiting their availability. The returners were aging, Dwight wasn't anywhere near his youthful self, Troy Brown had lost some PR quickness. Pass was injured and BJ was traded.
After fourteen games we can inspect the rebuilding effort.
The ST coverage units are now in the top half dozen of the League.
The KO returners have a TD and lead the AFC and most of League next to the incomparable Devin Hester of the Bears. Kevin Faulk has had a rebirth as a PR which with his elusiveness is where he should have been all along. Gostkowski has been worth the 4th round pick as a kicker with a booming KO ability (3rd in the league) and solid FG ability and 80% conversion rate including 50+ yard ability.
Mel Mitchell and Tebuckey Jones & Barry Gardner were brought in as established ST players to take Davis and Izzo's jobs.. The all ended up on IR but the groundwork for 2007 is already established, and a generation younger.
Only Punter had not been addressed. Miller was rolling along and then started to lose it. On to IR and Walther returns only to go on IR, after losing the Miami game for field position emphatically. Now we are auditioning two rookie punters, both Ray Guy semifinalists. Maybe they will have found their future Punter, maybe they will have to to look elsewhere, or use a 5th -7th pick to get one in the 2007 draft. But...
The Special Teams have been rebuilt from top to bottom into a championship caliber ST outfit, with but a piece or two to yet fit into the puzzle.
Comments anyone?
But a major effort facing Belichick last off season was ALSO rebuilding the Special Teams from top to bottom. Only the long snapper had any upside. Both specialist kickers were getting very long in the tooth. Coverage teams stunk.
The coverage teams were slowing down, as the top ST tacklers declined. Cherry is gone, Davis and especially Izzo were visibly slowing down. A couple of good ST players walked (Adam Vinatieri, Matt Chatham) and others got promoted to regular playing status, TBC, Wright etc limiting their availability. The returners were aging, Dwight wasn't anywhere near his youthful self, Troy Brown had lost some PR quickness. Pass was injured and BJ was traded.
After fourteen games we can inspect the rebuilding effort.
The ST coverage units are now in the top half dozen of the League.
The KO returners have a TD and lead the AFC and most of League next to the incomparable Devin Hester of the Bears. Kevin Faulk has had a rebirth as a PR which with his elusiveness is where he should have been all along. Gostkowski has been worth the 4th round pick as a kicker with a booming KO ability (3rd in the league) and solid FG ability and 80% conversion rate including 50+ yard ability.
Mel Mitchell and Tebuckey Jones & Barry Gardner were brought in as established ST players to take Davis and Izzo's jobs.. The all ended up on IR but the groundwork for 2007 is already established, and a generation younger.
Only Punter had not been addressed. Miller was rolling along and then started to lose it. On to IR and Walther returns only to go on IR, after losing the Miami game for field position emphatically. Now we are auditioning two rookie punters, both Ray Guy semifinalists. Maybe they will have found their future Punter, maybe they will have to to look elsewhere, or use a 5th -7th pick to get one in the 2007 draft. But...
The Special Teams have been rebuilt from top to bottom into a championship caliber ST outfit, with but a piece or two to yet fit into the puzzle.
Comments anyone?