I agree with you. There will be major changes, though I have no idea exactly what they will be. But I think practically anything could happen.
Though the season isn't over yet, the regular season is 75% complete, and this is the first team in 10 years under BB to significantly underperform relative to its talent level and expectations, and also the first team under BB not to clearly get better as the season progressed:
2000 - 1st year under BB, low talent level, low expectations
2001 - low expectations, overperformed and won the SB
2002 - didn't meet expectations, but had serious personnel issues vs. the run and performed much better by the end of the season; just missed the playoffs, but was playing well at the end
2003 - 14-2 and SB champions with a dominant defense
2004 - 14-2 and SB champions with a great power running game
2005 - expectations sabotaged by uncertainty at the LB position (retirement of Ted Johnson and Tedy's stroke). "Brown and Beisel" didn't cut it. Team finished 10-6 but still won the AFCE, played well at the end, and almost made a serious run in the playoffs.
2006 - team sabotaged by Deion Branch's holdout and lack of playmakers at WR, but still finished 12-4, upset San Diego, and just missed the SB.
2007 - 17-0. Even losing the SB doesn't detract from what an accomplishment that was.
2008 - 11-5 without Tom Brady and with a horrible secondary and aging LBs. Team played very well at the end, and would probably have been a force in the playoffs if they hadn't missed out on tiebreaking rules.
This is the first team that has been up and down and inconsistent this late in the season. I doubt BB will tolerate that level of inconsistency, as well as numerous other things:
- Randy Moss (a team captain) showing less than ideal effort and being late for a meeting.
- Adalius Thomas being a healthy scratch and openly critical of BB, while underperforming at a major level.
- Reports of players in the locker room being relatively nonchalant after a crushing loss to Miami.
Perhaps we've brought in one too many players from Oakland, but there certainly does not seem to be the same team culture as in years past, or the same attitude that losing is unacceptable. For Tedy Bruschi to publicly questions the "heart" of the team would have been unthinkable at the beginning of the season.
I think BB will be very focused on what kind of players he targets in the offseason, and will re-make this team with a different chemistry. High motor high-character guys will be targeted as much as talent in specific areas.
I think there have been issues with the coaching staff and the game plans and play calling, as well as with the talent in certain areas (most notably the pass rush). There may be some turnover in that area as well. But for an organization famous for being more than the sum of its parts, this team has been conspicuously less than the sum of its parts so far this season. I don't see that being tolerated.
Heads will roll.
