2010: A bridge year?

[Run DMC]

Seems like we will be echoing the sentiment of Theo Epstein this year. Let us not forget that 2011 will give us two #1 draft picks, and possibly 3 if we can find a sucker tomorrow to trade a 2010 #2 for a 2011 #1. Let's face it, you need to be in the top 10 to get elite pass rushing talent and do you think it is a coincidence we will be loaded with #1 picks in a capped rookie salary year? The pass rush issue(aka, Seymour's replacement) will be addressed in next years draft. Meanwhile, we fortify other needs this year. 2010 most likely will not be pretty, but it will be necessary in building the next Pats dynasty.

 

[ralphoutloud]

My sentiments exactly. I believe people like Holt and Lewis and Crumpler were brought in to help us to the next era. I believe we can win the Superbowl with a lot of luck and smarts but I'm not expecting it. The team is getting VERY young and 2011 will continue that. I'm willing to sacrifice 2010 and maybe 2011 for another decade of dominance by this young nucleus we're building upon. People said the dominance is over but they don't realize we're restocking earlier than all the other dynasties have. So while the dominance may have ended for a year or two, they best believe the Patriots will be back on top. The future is very bright if the picks are used correctly.

 

[SoonerPatriot]

Seems like we will be echoing the sentiment of Theo Epstein this year. Let us not forget that 2011 will give us two #1 draft picks, and possibly 3 if we can find a sucker tomorrow to trade a 2010 #2 for a 2011 #1. Let's face it, you need to be in the top 10 to get elite pass rushing talent and do you think it is a coincidence we will be loaded with #1 picks in a capped rookie salary year? The pass rush issue(aka, Seymour's replacement) will be addressed in next years draft. Meanwhile, we fortify other needs this year. 2010 most likely will not be pretty, but it will be necessary in building the next Pats dynasty.

Not to disagree with your post, because I don't. But the flip side to "building the next dynasty" mantra is you're burning multiple prime years of Brady's career in the process. QBs like that don't come around very often and he isn't getting any younger.

Other than that, I got no issue with what you're saying.

 

[aabtec]

Seems like we will be echoing the sentiment of Theo Epstein this year. Let us not forget that 2011 will give us two #1 draft picks, and possibly 3 if we can find a sucker tomorrow to trade a 2010 #2 for a 2011 #1. Let's face it, you need to be in the top 10 to get elite pass rushing talent and do you think it is a coincidence we will be loaded with #1 picks in a capped rookie salary year? The pass rush issue(aka, Seymour's replacement) will be addressed in next years draft. Meanwhile, we fortify other needs this year. 2010 most likely will not be pretty, but it will be necessary in building the next Pats dynasty.

The risk of implementing that thought process is that you are going to have an empty stadium. $40 to park, $125/ticket adds up fast. Plus the Corp suites could go empty. There are 5-7 corporate suites in the garden that are not rented.

There is a risk.

 

[moosekill]

Seems like we will be echoing the sentiment of Theo Epstein this year. Let us not forget that 2011 will give us two #1 draft picks, and possibly 3 if we can find a sucker tomorrow to trade a 2010 #2 for a 2011 #1. Let's face it, you need to be in the top 10 to get elite pass rushing talent and do you think it is a coincidence we will be loaded with #1 picks in a capped rookie salary year? The pass rush issue(aka, Seymour's replacement) will be addressed in next years draft. Meanwhile, we fortify other needs this year. 2010 most likely will not be pretty, but it will be necessary in building the next Pats dynasty.

Umm we have 3-2's 1-3 today, don't you think just maybe we might look at the pass rush today? Plus we still have months to sign free agents and make trades before training camp opens up. Perhaps it is a wee bit early to call next year a bridge year.

 

[nantucketguy]

This is dumb. Why are we building for the future when we have Brady NOW! Not to mention moss, who is a HOF wr.....yeah lets bridge for 2011-2012 when Brady is 35, maybe gets injured again and decides he loves everything else in his life better than playing football anymore, and retires.

 

[furry]

There's no reason for 2010 to be considered a bridge, you look at how we performed I believe with a pass rush, a replacement for Seymour and another offensive target for Brady we'd be right in the mix

If for example we'd gone, Hughes, Dunlap, Williams would we be looking at 2010 as a bridge?

 

[tanked_as_usual]

yep.......2nd bridge year in a row

I think a more likely scenario is that BB is waiting for OLB's to come begging, because he will never draft one

 

[Phat Albert]

I'm not worried about this being a bridge year yet. There is plenty of draft left, not to mention the post-draft free agents that may become available. It's still too early to determine who will be on the roster in the fall. If BB had chosen Brandon Graham or Tyson Alualu would you still have considered it a bridge year? I'm ok with the draft so far.

 

[fluoropolymer]

There's no reason for 2010 to be considered a bridge, you look at how we performed I believe with a pass rush, a replacement for Seymour and another offensive target for Brady we'd be right in the mix

If for example we'd gone, Hughes, Dunlap, Williams would we be looking at 2010 as a bridge?

The Kraft's (with their Chief Operating Officer, BB) run the NE Patriots like a business. They have a long term strategic plan that keeps them near the top now, and will keep them near the top long term. Give their success in the 21st century I'd say their plan is a good one. Like any business, sometimes their year to year tactical plan works well; other times not so well. But do any of us really question whether the Patriots will be a good football team? And no matter how great a team, winning the Super Bowl requires as much luck as skill. All teams are just one injury away from losing any talent advantage.

I was surprised by the team's choice of Devin Mccourty, but I am certain that the Patriots front office knows more than I do. I suspect the team will make some great choices tonight and tomorrow everyone will be singing praises for BB and the front office. The Pats will be one of the NFL's best teams this year. They will be locked and loaded for next year's draft w/capped rookie salaries; and they will be one of the best for years to come.

And by the way - who is more successful in their careers and professions: Bob Kraft and Bill Belechick, or Felger, Breer, et al. So I'm going to chill out, have a few beers, and enjoy the wheeling and dealing that I am sure will happen this evening.

 

[furry]

The Kraft's (with their Chief Operating Officer, BB) run the NE Patriots like a business. They have a long term strategic plan that keeps them near the top now, and will keep them near the top long term. Give their success in the 21st century I'd say their plan is a good one. Like any business, sometimes their year to year tactical plan works well; other times not so well. But do any of us really question whether the Patriots will be a good football team? And no matter how great a team, winning the Super Bowl requires as much luck as skill. All teams are just one injury away from losing any talent advantage.

I was surprised by the team's choice of Devin Mccourty, but I am certain that the Patriots front office knows more than I do. I suspect the team will make some great choices tonight and tomorrow everyone will be singing praises for BB and the front office. The Pats will be one of the NFL's best teams this year. They will be locked and loaded for next year's draft w/capped rookie salaries; and they will be one of the best for years to come.

And by the way - who is more successful in their careers and professions: Bob Kraft and Bill Belechick, or Felger, Breer, et al. So I'm going to chill out, have a few beers, and enjoy the wheeling and dealing that I am sure will happen this evening.

I agree with pretty much everything you've said but don't see how it applies to my belief that as we stand rosterwise now their is no reason why we should not be able to stack up with 3 or 4 picks that will make us contenders.

With the draft we have in front of us, with the depth, we don't need to break the bank to improve on Mike Wright as starting DE, or Ninkovich as OLB.

This draft we should be able to achieve both success AND business plan. I completely disagree with any notion that we should see this as a bridge year. We're one pick in so I can't judge yet but if we're all feeling the same this time tomorrow I'll be pretty angry

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

I have no doubts that this is in part of a rebuilding year in many ways...there is alot of areas that need to be plugged and plugged by rookies who will take time to develop into thier role on this team.

If we are to have a competitive team in this next decade,sometimes as in life you have to take a step backwards before you go forwards.

If the team has a decent season in 2010 like 10-6 AND they get a #6 seed,then you should all be very happy...a playoff berth is a successful season if you are a realistic fan......the Super Bowl is very hard to get to,ask the Jets.

For this team who is young in many areas to get to the SB this year you would need not only extremely great luck,but would have to hope for misfortune to the main rivals as in injuries and malcontent from within those top teams, and I don't wish that on any opponent.

Believe it or not last year,despite the horrible game vs Baltimore,the season was very successful when you realize Brady was less than a year removed from severe knee issues and we lost the solid corps of veterans on defense.

 

[Badger]

Seems like we will be echoing the sentiment of Theo Epstein this year. Let us not forget that 2011 will give us two #1 draft picks, and possibly 3 if we can find a sucker tomorrow to trade a 2010 #2 for a 2011 #1. Let's face it, you need to be in the top 10 to get elite pass rushing talent and do you think it is a coincidence we will be loaded with #1 picks in a capped rookie salary year? The pass rush issue(aka, Seymour's replacement) will be addressed in next years draft. Meanwhile, we fortify other needs this year. 2010 most likely will not be pretty, but it will be necessary in building the next Pats dynasty.

The problem with this is Belichick is not going to draft players with both #1 spots. He can not help himself in trying to be a little Bill Parcells by trading all over the place. You are being foolish if you think that the Pats are going to buck their recent trend and stay where they are next year and use both picks. They will break your heart again next year and we will be saying on the day after the 1st round next year, what the heck? Just like we are today.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

People are forgetting how close this team was to being 14-2 last season. We have a flawed team but in this day it is a team that is good enough to contend. It just needs an improved pass rush to take that next step IMO.

BB's done a great job setting this team up for the future and for now... still have a ton of picks left and while we have concerns they're not really as dire as people make them out to be aside from OLB/DE. WR and TE I think will be fine I love the Holt/Crumpler signings and like I said plenty of picks left.

 

[Badger]

People are forgetting how close this team was to being 14-2 last season. We have a flawed team but in this day it is a team that is good enough to contend. It just needs an improved pass rush to take that next step IMO.

BB's done a great job setting this team up for the future and for now... still have a ton of picks left and while we have concerns they're not really as dire as people make them out to be aside from OLB/DE. WR and TE I think will be fine I love the Holt/Crumpler signings and like I said plenty of picks left.

14-2?? Are you kidding me? We started the season by barely beating the lowly Bills in a home game on Monday night football in Tom Brady's return and finished the season absolutely getting our butts handed to us in a humilating blowout loss in a home playoff game. In between, was hardly stellar football. This team needs more than just a little improved passrush. This team has lost its best WR likely for the year, has no stud running back, no Tight Ends at all, no pash rusher, no OLB to replace Thomas, and you think we are ready to compete with the Colts, Jets, Ravens, Cowboys, Vikings, Saints etc? We are further away than you think and a nickleback corner who is a good special teams corner is not going to get us over the hump. Our top pick last year was a nickle back safety who was supposed to be a great special teams player and what did he do to help this team last year and what do you expect that he will do this year? He likely won't even be a starter. This team needs playmakers now! There are no Seymours, Vrabels, Bruschis, Laws, Harrisons, Samuels etc on this team. Only solid up the middle guys on defense like Wilfork and Mayo and an absolute boatload of mediocre defensive backs.

 

[tanked_as_usual]

People are forgetting how close this team was to being 14-2 last season. We have a flawed team but in this day it is a team that is good enough to contend. It just needs an improved pass rush to take that next step IMO.

BB's done a great job setting this team up for the future and for now... still have a ton of picks left and while we have concerns they're not really as dire as people make them out to be aside from OLB/DE. WR and TE I think will be fine I love the Holt/Crumpler signings and like I said plenty of picks left.

they were much closer to 8-8

 

[PatsFanSince74]

Seems like we will be echoing the sentiment of Theo Epstein this year. Let us not forget that 2011 will give us two #1 draft picks, and possibly 3 if we can find a sucker tomorrow to trade a 2010 #2 for a 2011 #1. Let's face it, you need to be in the top 10 to get elite pass rushing talent and do you think it is a coincidence we will be loaded with #1 picks in a capped rookie salary year? The pass rush issue(aka, Seymour's replacement) will be addressed in next years draft. Meanwhile, we fortify other needs this year. 2010 most likely will not be pretty, but it will be necessary in building the next Pats dynasty.

Interesting analysis. I think "bridge" is the wrong analogy; it implies connecting two separate entities across a wide gulf. I think what the Pats are doing is building and retooling over a two or three year period, which began last year. So, it's more like crossing a land bridge or isthmus; the transition is part of where we were and where we're going.

That said, I look at 2000--2007 as an era (2008 was supposed to be another year in the era--and almost was, but for Tommy's injury); five trips to the AFCCG, four trips to the SB, three trophies.

Last year, BB started transitioning to a new phase and seems to be doing it in a way that assumes that Brady has three or four more seasons left in him at the top of his game, which is why it would be particularly bad for the Pats to lose next year to a strike or lockout.

The Pats will be competitive throughout this transition, by virtue of the weapons they have.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

People are forgetting how close this team was to being 14-2 last season. We have a flawed team but in this day it is a team that is good enough to contend. It just needs an improved pass rush to take that next step IMO.

BB's done a great job setting this team up for the future and for now... still have a ton of picks left and while we have concerns they're not really as dire as people make them out to be aside from OLB/DE. WR and TE I think will be fine I love the Holt/Crumpler signings and like I said plenty of picks left.

Come on. Do you not remember the Buffalo game, the (first) Ravens game? We won the former because of a big time ST error by the Bills and the second because of a dropped pass on the numbers in the fourth quarter. If we're honest, they were at least (!) as close to 8--8.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

14-2?? Are you kidding me? We started the season by barely beating the lowly Bills in a home game on Monday night football in Tom Brady's return and finished the season absolutely getting our butts handed to us in a humilating blowout loss in a home playoff game. In between, was hardly stellar football. This team needs more than just a little improved passrush. This team has lost its best WR likely for the year, has no stud running back, no Tight Ends at all, no pash rusher, no OLB to replace Thomas, and you think we are ready to compete with the Colts, Jets, Ravens, Cowboys, Vikings, Saints etc? We are further away than you think and a nickleback corner who is a good special teams corner is not going to get us over the hump. Our top pick last year was a nickle back safety who was supposed to be a great special teams player and what did he do to help this team last year and what do you expect that he will do this year? He likely won't even be a starter. This team needs playmakers now! There are no Seymours, Vrabels, Bruschis, Laws, Harrisons, Samuels etc on this team. Only solid up the middle guys on defense like Wilfork and Mayo and an absolute boatload of mediocre defensive backs.

14-2?

Come on now,thats stupid to even think...yes,they were closer to 8-8 than 14-2...take off them glasses so you could see better

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

14-2?? Are you kidding me? We started the season by barely beating the lowly Bills in a home game on Monday night football in Tom Brady's return and finished the season absolutely getting our butts handed to us in a humilating blowout loss in a home playoff game. In between, was hardly stellar football. This team needs more than just a little improved passrush. This team has lost its best WR likely for the year, has no stud running back, no Tight Ends at all, no pash rusher, no OLB to replace Thomas, and you think we are ready to compete with the Colts, Jets, Ravens, Cowboys, Vikings, Saints etc? We are further away than you think and a nickleback corner who is a good special teams corner is not going to get us over the hump. Our top pick last year was a nickle back safety who was supposed to be a great special teams player and what did he do to help this team last year and what do you expect that he will do this year? He likely won't even be a starter. This team needs playmakers now! There are no Seymours, Vrabels, Bruschis, Laws, Harrisons, Samuels etc on this team. Only solid up the middle guys on defense like Wilfork and Mayo and an absolute boatload of mediocre defensive backs.

Yes, they were very close to 14-2 with the only losses to Jets and Saints. If you want to bring up the Bills game which is fair then you can say 13-3, but that's still good enough for 2 seed in AFC. The Ravens debacle happened because we were already thin at WR and when Welker went down it absolutely crippled our offense. The FO has already added Torry Holt to address that and there is a long way to go in the offseason, and still double digit amount of draft picks. Edelman has a year under his belt, Tate will hopefully recover, and Welker may not be finished as you assume. Brady has a year under his belt post-injury. As for TE/RB, I think you're forgetting what the situation was at those positions while winning our first 2 titles. Those positions are not going to cripple us and I'm sure TE won't be entirely neglected the rest of this offseason either. The other needs we have can be addressed there is plenty time/draft picks.

I'm sure many Saints fans had your sentiments about their team at this time last year. Same with the Steelers in '08, Giants in '07... list goes on. There are needs but it's not going to take a massive overhaul to get this team to the point where it can contend, not in today's league.