I think it is significant that they posit the possible "Absolute" record as 16-0. So do I.
With a decided Homer view, I confidently predict that this Defensive edition will be significantly better than the 2008 edition, for several reasons.
Meriwether, Mayo, Guyton, Woods, Redd, Crabel, Wheatley, Willhite, and Richardson, are no longer rookies or first year starters. BB has often stated the obvious that the biggest jump a player makes is between his rookie and sophomore years, or his first starting and second starting years. For no other reason, this Defense WILL be better than the 2008 edition.
But there are other considerations, as well.
The secondary should be better with the addition of veterans Springs, Bodden, Williams, and McGowan. The secondary should also be better by the addition of high draft picks Chung and Butler. The secondary should be better in that Wheatly and Willhite are no longer rookies.
The Line-backing should be better. Mayo and Guyton are no longer rookies. Paris Lenon, a previous starting ILB veteran, adds good depth. Woods won the SOLB job from Mike Vrabel last year, so he will have more experience to build upon. It is unlikely that the OLB crew will be hit as heavily with injuries. IR for Adalius and Woods, and a hurting Vrabel contributed to the loss of nine sacks last year, the difference from a "good" pass rush and the "mediocre" but respectable one that they fielded.
This Defense is much faster than the "experienced" Defenses the Pats have heretofore fielded. Speed Kills, and this Defense has young, fast experience everywhere. Thomas, Mayo, Guyton, and Crabel all run inthe 4.5s, rare speed in big linebackers, and exceptional speed even for tiny ones.
The Defensive line now has has a legitimate reserve NT, to allow Wilfork to get a breather on occasion. Playing NT and receiving constant double team blocking, is an exhausting job. Keeping Wilfork fresh will materially help in the Defense against the run; that run Defense was not that bad at all, last year.
The 2008 Patriots Defense had lots of problems stopping the short pass over the middle. Experience for Mayo, Guyton, and Meriwether, together with new comers, Williams, Chung and McGowan should help address this former weakness. If the run defense is slightly improved, by keeping Wilfork fresh, and/or Warren healthy, the average opponent's third down is going to be an obvious passing down, as opposed to the frequent run-or-pass equal probability situations that the 2008 Defense faced.
An awesome, best in the League, Offense returns. This will result in the Defense often playing with a comfortable lead, and eventually making opponents predictable. Opponents will be passing all the time, trying to catch up. That is a recipe for lots of sacks and turnovers, an opportunity that the 2008 edition did not have.
In the urge to find fault with the 2008 Defense, people forget that despite the injuries, and the unsteady play of Cassel for his first few games, putting extra pressure on the defenders, the Defense was the Top Tenth in Yards Allowed; and Top Eighth in Points Allowed. It had a high percentage of red one touchdowns allowed, but it was against one of the lowest number of red zone appearances allowed, in the League. So in reality, the Patriots 2008 bend-but-don't-break Defense stopped most teams BEFORE they penetrated to the red zone.
