Talent this January vs. last January

[Fencer]

I've drunk the Kool-Aid to the effect that this team is mentally tougher than last year's. But how does the raw talent stack up? My initial thoughts are:

QB -- same

TEs and WRs -- Up. Gronk/Welker/Hernandez are better and/or healthier, which is huge, and outweighs any considerations further down the depth chart.

RB -- overall down, I think, but it's tough to compare. BJGE and Woodhead each seem to be worse than last year, but Ridley is a nice asset.

OL -- comparable or up, I think, but I've forgotten the year-ago injury situation somewhat. The left side of the line is the same. Solder is perhaps a bit down from last year's Vollmer, but not a lot. Waters over Koppen? I think so. Connolly more out of position? Oh well.

K/P/LS/returners -- pretty comparable. The KO rule change is obscuring things a bit.

CB -- down. McCourty's regression trumps Arrington's improvement, and the rest of the depth chart has shown little.

S -- down.

ILB -- up if Spikes is really back.

OLB/rush DE -- up because of Anderson.

NT/DT/3-4 DE -- was Pryor still healthy at this point last year? If not, I'd say we're clearly in better shape. If so, I'd call it more of a push.

 

[loloooooooooooo]

I've drunk the Kool-Aid to the effect that this team is mentally tougher than last year's. But how does the raw talent stack up? My initial thoughts are:

QB -- same

TEs and WRs -- Up. Gronk/Welker/Hernandez are better and/or healthier, which is huge, and outweighs any considerations further down the depth chart.

RB -- overall down, I think, but it's tough to compare. BJGE and Woodhead each seem to be worse than last year, but Ridley is a nice asset.

OL -- comparable or up, I think, but I've forgotten the year-ago injury situation somewhat. The left side of the line is the same. Solder is perhaps a bit down from last year's Vollmer, but not a lot. Waters over Koppen? I think so. Connolly more out of position? Oh well.

K/P/LS/returners -- pretty comparable. The KO rule change is obscuring things a bit.

CB -- down. McCourty's regression trumps Arrington's improvement, and the rest of the depth chart has shown little.

S -- down.

ILB -- up if Spikes is really back.

OLB/rush DE -- up because of Anderson.

NT/DT/3-4 DE -- was Pryor still healthy at this point last year? If not, I'd say we're clearly in better shape. If so, I'd call it more of a push.

Defense as a whole, I believe has been better. This year the Pats can get to the QB, and at least get some stops which have been their problem last year. Getting Turnovers is the biggest asset for any team and the pats have been good at it this year too.

The team overall I also think it's better, the Pass offense is much better, and red zone offense is also improved. 2011 Pats over 2010 Pats anyday

 

[Patriots Nation NY]

In my heart of hearts I still believe that Crumpler bunny drop changed everything .. We would went up on them, and they would of panicked from an offensive standpoint .. I believe last year came down to execution, same for this game coming up, whoever executes better wins .. :beatingcoming:

 

[Dutchmaster617]

We have gained talent with the likes of Ocho, but have lost the brains of guys like Sanders.

 

[loloooooooooooo]

We have gained talent with the likes of Ocho, but have lost the brains of guys like Sanders.

we also lost the (lack of) brains from meriweather.