The Next Generation

[rookBoston]

I like the way this season is shaping up. 2-0 is good, but I'm actually thinking more about the upside this team has.

Right now the Pats are decent, but not great. The defense has questions in the secondary and at LB. The offense has the makings for something truly explosive, but losing Branch (while good for the future) leaves the O looking for it's identity.

Listening to Brady talk about the work that needs to go into training up an entirely new receiving corp-- the fatigue in his voice-- makes it clear to me that the team has no room to drift mentally. They will be working during the week to train up on fundamentals... with Jackson, with Thomas, with Seau, with Gabriel. And once those players start to show dividends, this team will be poised for something explosive.

The dynamic reminds me a little of 2001, when all the Terry Glenn stuff was so distracting. Bryan Cox playing the role of Junior Seau. The team was learning to play defense with their man-child rookie, Seymour, a rookie at LT, Light, and Brady just learning how the pro-game is played. There were all these Free Agents, who didn't know the scheme, or their roles. Vrabel, Edwards, Izzo, Antowain, Compton, Pleasant. The team knew the talent was there, but they started slow out of the gate. Over time, the team started playing better, but in the lockerroom there was no room for attention on anything except to win the next game. There was no tomorrow, no room for error. It was all just work.

Breaking in all that new talent is an important task for any team to overcome. But it gives the regular season some focus. If they can accomplish it, come playoffs they'll be galvenized into a complete team through the experience of improving together, and become something truly historic.

The next generation has arrived. Moroney, Jackson, Thomas, O'Callaghan, Gostkowski. It looks to me like they're for real. In fact, collectively, they look better than the great 2003 class. And it's only Week Two.

By Week Six our "re-building" phase should be mostly complete and I predict we'll see the most dominant Pats team of all time take the field.

 

[shakadave]

Well said.

On the defensive side, IF IF --- and I mean IF --- we have a year low on injuries, then BB will coach this defense up to a fever pitch by December. We will no longer be talking so much about the secondary and LB corps, except to praise them.

 

[DefenseRules]

I like the way this season is shaping up. 2-0 is good, but I'm actually thinking more about the upside this team has.

Right now the Pats are decent, but not great. The defense has questions in the secondary and at LB. The offense has the makings for something truly explosive, but losing Branch (while good for the future) leaves the O looking for it's identity.

Listening to Brady talk about the work that needs to go into training up an entirely new receiving corp-- the fatigue in his voice-- makes it clear to me that the team has no room to drift mentally. They will be working during the week to train up on fundamentals... with Jackson, with Thomas, with Seau, with Gabriel. And once those players start to show dividends, this team will be poised for something explosive.

The dynamic reminds me a little of 2001, when all the Terry Glenn stuff was so distracting. Bryan Cox playing the role of Junior Seau. The team was learning to play defense with their man-child rookie, Seymour, a rookie at LT, Light, and Brady just learning how the pro-game is played. There were all these Free Agents, who didn't know the scheme, or their roles. Vrabel, Edwards, Izzo, Antowain, Compton, Pleasant. The team knew the talent was there, but they started slow out of the gate. Over time, the team started playing better, but in the lockerroom there was no room for attention on anything except to win the next game. There was no tomorrow, no room for error. It was all just work.

Breaking in all that new talent is an important task for any team to overcome. But it gives the regular season some focus. If they can accomplish it, come playoffs they'll be galvenized into a complete team through the experience of improving together, and become something truly historic.

The next generation has arrived. Moroney, Jackson, Thomas, O'Callaghan, Gostkowski. It looks to me like they're for real. In fact, collectively, they look better than the great 2003 class. And it's only Week Two.

By Week Six our "re-building" phase should be mostly complete and I predict we'll see the most dominant Pats team of all time take the field.

OMG a legit football discussion! I can't believe it...extreme sarcasm

Seriously, that was a good post. I am really liking this draft class too. I am excited to see how it all comes together when this team finally gels. Especially the passing game. Chad Jackson's cameo performance on Sunday was intriguing. I'm hungry to see more. It really sucks that he missed all of training camp. Brady is going to have to work hard to get all of these new WRS up to speed, and we haven't seen Jonathan Smith yet either.

 

[PonyExpress]

Brilliantly put, and I agree completely. One lingering concern is the lack of a playmaker in the secondary. Rodney is a coach on the field and a commanding presence but not yet, if ever again, the most dominating safety in the league. Hobbs is not yet top notch, and although I am a big fan of the underrated Samuel, he doesn't strike enough fear into the opposition. The turnover +/- is of concern going forward.

 

[SamBam39]

I like the way this season is shaping up. 2-0 is good, but I'm actually thinking more about the upside this team has.

Right now the Pats are decent, but not great. The defense has questions in the secondary and at LB. The offense has the makings for something truly explosive, but losing Branch (while good for the future) leaves the O looking for it's identity.

Listening to Brady talk about the work that needs to go into training up an entirely new receiving corp-- the fatigue in his voice-- makes it clear to me that the team has no room to drift mentally. They will be working during the week to train up on fundamentals... with Jackson, with Thomas, with Seau, with Gabriel. And once those players start to show dividends, this team will be poised for something explosive.

The dynamic reminds me a little of 2001, when all the Terry Glenn stuff was so distracting. Bryan Cox playing the role of Junior Seau. The team was learning to play defense with their man-child rookie, Seymour, a rookie at LT, Light, and Brady just learning how the pro-game is played. There were all these Free Agents, who didn't know the scheme, or their roles. Vrabel, Edwards, Izzo, Antowain, Compton, Pleasant. The team knew the talent was there, but they started slow out of the gate. Over time, the team started playing better, but in the lockerroom there was no room for attention on anything except to win the next game. There was no tomorrow, no room for error. It was all just work.

Breaking in all that new talent is an important task for any team to overcome. But it gives the regular season some focus. If they can accomplish it, come playoffs they'll be galvenized into a complete team through the experience of improving together, and become something truly historic.

The next generation has arrived. Moroney, Jackson, Thomas, O'Callaghan, Gostkowski. It looks to me like they're for real. In fact, collectively, they look better than the great 2003 class. And it's only Week Two.

By Week Six our "re-building" phase should be mostly complete and I predict we'll see the most dominant Pats team of all time take the field.

I think the teams that win each year are the teams that stay healthy and continue to improve week to week. And obviously they nee dto have enough talent and good coaching.
My only concern with the pats this year is whether or not guys like gabriel, caldwell, and jackson can become in sync with brady well enough and fast enough to be counted on and to help us win games. I think we've already seem flashes with Caldwell and Jackson, and some missed chances with gabriel. my guess is, we'll all become excited as this area starts to improve.
I'm also loving already what I'm seeing from Seau - and oh, guess what? McGinest and Vinatieri are injured. I think people will also feel better when they see the ghosy nail a clutch kick too.
we just need to feel comfortable that we'll survive all these changes.

 

[ayjackson]

our d-line and o-line are young and strong and that's where games are won and lost....our cornerbacks are still developing and our linebackers have the potential to be good, but not there yet...we have stars in the backfield and potential stars at wideout

i can't help but thinking, that somehow during our "dynasty", we were rebuilding too....i think next year's team will be as good or better than any of the superbowl teams....i just hope "next year" comes in January!

 

[dante828]

I like the way this season is shaping up. 2-0 is good, but I'm actually thinking more about the upside this team has.

Right now the Pats are decent, but not great. The defense has questions in the secondary and at LB. The offense has the makings for something truly explosive, but losing Branch (while good for the future) leaves the O looking for it's identity.

Listening to Brady talk about the work that needs to go into training up an entirely new receiving corp-- the fatigue in his voice-- makes it clear to me that the team has no room to drift mentally. They will be working during the week to train up on fundamentals... with Jackson, with Thomas, with Seau, with Gabriel. And once those players start to show dividends, this team will be poised for something explosive.

The dynamic reminds me a little of 2001, when all the Terry Glenn stuff was so distracting. Bryan Cox playing the role of Junior Seau. The team was learning to play defense with their man-child rookie, Seymour, a rookie at LT, Light, and Brady just learning how the pro-game is played. There were all these Free Agents, who didn't know the scheme, or their roles. Vrabel, Edwards, Izzo, Antowain, Compton, Pleasant. The team knew the talent was there, but they started slow out of the gate. Over time, the team started playing better, but in the lockerroom there was no room for attention on anything except to win the next game. There was no tomorrow, no room for error. It was all just work.

Breaking in all that new talent is an important task for any team to overcome. But it gives the regular season some focus. If they can accomplish it, come playoffs they'll be galvenized into a complete team through the experience of improving together, and become something truly historic.

The next generation has arrived. Moroney, Jackson, Thomas, O'Callaghan, Gostkowski. It looks to me like they're for real. In fact, collectively, they look better than the great 2003 class. And it's only Week Two.

By Week Six our "re-building" phase should be mostly complete and I predict we'll see the most dominant Pats team of all time take the field.

Good post, but I am going to have to disagree with you as far as team comparison. This team reminds me much more of the 2003 team. You had the early inconsistent play (do people remember the questions that arose about Brady at the start of 2003), the loss of a popular player which brought the team down somewhat (though not as bad as 2003), everyone counting the team completely out, and yet the real analysts and fans knowing that this team can be very, very good. Also, as far as talent goes, this team is much more comparable to 2003 then 2001 (lots of young talent in key positions adjusting to roles as the year wore on).

I say we see somewhat of a repeat of the 2003-04 seasons the next two years. The Pats will win a lot of games this years, but never really dominate everyone (like 2003) then get everything on track next year and steam roll teams (like 2004). Whether they win it all this year is still a question mark (I vote they win it all, but I am a homer after all), but this is going to be a great team next year for sure.

 

[p8ryts]

Good observation, I agree, the team is in a perfect spot. Looking good, not great, young players with room and time to improve, clearly helped by not having to face top tier teams in first two weeks, but they were wins with flashes of excellence. We have a legit running game, receivers will be ok, tight ends are tops, QB yet to hit his stride. Defense stopping the run, something we haven't always done early in the year. I think this team has the potential to be our best team.

I'm looking for coming out of the bye 5-1 at worst and the team just starting to jell.

What was the issue with 2003, didn't we win the SB that year?

 

[bishbash]

OMG a legit football discussion! I can't believe it...extreme sarcasm

Agree! I've become so jaded by the wacky off football stuff around here lately, I was afraid this was gonna be a comparison of the Pats w/ Star Trek.

 

[mgteich]

Obviously, staying healthy is not a requirement for a winnning team, if sufficient depth and great coaching are there. We've certainly proven that.

I think the teams that win each year are the teams that stay healthy and continue to improve week to week. And obviously they nee dto have enough talent and good coaching.
My only concern with the pats this year is whether or not guys like gabriel, caldwell, and jackson can become in sync with brady well enough and fast enough to be counted on and to help us win games. I think we've already seem flashes with Caldwell and Jackson, and some missed chances with gabriel. my guess is, we'll all become excited as this area starts to improve.
I'm also loving already what I'm seeing from Seau - and oh, guess what? McGinest and Vinatieri are injured. I think people will also feel better when they see the ghosy nail a clutch kick too.
we just need to feel comfortable that we'll survive all these changes.

 

[Tunescribe]

Agree! I've become so jaded by the wacky off football stuff around here lately, I was afraid this was gonna be a comparison of the Pats w/ Star Trek.

It's a little-known fact that BB calls Brady "Number One" during games, and in staff meetings BB goes by "Captain." What's more, Willie McGinest was actually Worf getting transferred to another assignment in the Federation, and the Denver Broncos are Romulans (Shanahan got his ears bobbed to mask his identity as a Romulan military commander). I hope this clears some things up.

 

[TruthSeeker]

Good observation, I agree, the team is in a perfect spot. Looking good, not great, young players with room and time to improve, clearly helped by not having to face top tier teams in first two weeks, but they were wins with flashes of excellence. We have a legit running game, receivers will be ok, tight ends are tops, QB yet to hit his stride. Defense stopping the run, something we haven't always done early in the year. I think this team has the potential to be our best team.

I'm looking for coming out of the bye 5-1 at worst and the team just starting to jell.

What was the issue with 2003, didn't we win the SB that year?

And to add to the excitement of the great potential of this team, Two Number 1 draft choices in 2007, plus a ton of other picks. This team is very much like the 80's and 90's 49ers, they don't rebuild, they RELOAD !!! The Pats just do it right.