We know about their issues drafting, although I do feel that did improve this year. On Brady, I honestly think he felt Brady wouldn't leave, otherwise, he probably would have been a little better prepared. On Stidham, I feel like something happened or was said that blew that opportunity for him. Otherwise, there was no reason not to play him down the stretch. Although, again, if they don't finish 7-9, we don't have Mac.
I think the Hightower situation was tough because he probably felt that with Hightower and Van Noy, they'd have two guys who were fairly athletic. Instead, that hasn't been the case and the drop off with Hightower has been a little surprising, so they'll definitely need to get younger. That's obviously an area of weakness that will need to improve, but even as bad as it's been, they've been in every game and we all know their record could be different save for a few plays.
On Belichick, I will also say this - we're only three seasons removed from a championship. If they address those issues and Mac takes a step forward, unlike most coaches who lose their starting QB, to have a season or two of misery and then end up right back contending, that's pretty unheard of. And he's earned enough clout that I still believe he deserves some benefit of the doubt before we really go there.
People can say what they want, but he knows how to both get back there and win, and that's an intangible that I think is going to be very, very hard to replace.