Byrd430
06-06-2008, 09:55 AM
New England Patriots
Offense:
We know the Patriots dynasty started the moment Tom Brady stepped on the field. We also know that Brady has become, arguably, the best QB in all of football with receivers such as Troy Brown, Deion Branch, David Givens, and Reche Caldwell. So when the Patriots locked up Wes Welker, Donte Stallworth, and Randy Moss for the 2007 season, everybody knew Brady's numbers would skyrocket. And he delivered the best season in NFL history, tossing 50 TDs and 4,806 yards, while throwing just eight interceptions. Moss returned to the dominating form he showed in his early days with Minnesota, getting just shy of 1,500 yards and 23 TDs. He did disappear when the Patriots needed him the most, however, as he had just seven catches and 94 yards in three playoff games. Wes Welker also had a career year in 2007 and has become the best slot receiver in the league, period. He'll step up with Stallworth now gone to Cleveland. Third receiver Jabar Gaffney knows the offense and can produce quality numbers. Third-year receiver Chad Jackson will be given every opportunity to prove he's the playmaker this club drafted him to be. He showed flashes of brilliance in his first mini-camp, but has not been able to stay healthy enough to prove his worth on the field. Tight End Benjamin Watson provides another weapon on offense but has yet to stay healthy for a full sixteen games. He is coming off ankle surgery which will keep him out of mini-camps, so the team got Marcus Pollard as insurance.
New England's offensive line is a key part to keeping Brady on his feet and keeping the offense going. Allowing the rush to get to Brady causes bad things to happen as evidenced by the Super Bowl loss to the Giants. The unit comes back intact for another season as Brady's security. Matt Light and Nick Kaczur will return as the tackles. Kaczur got into off-the-field problems recently and has not been able to stay healthy for a full season. His backup, Ryan O'Callaghan, had high expectations but has failed to deliver. If the offensive line has a weak link, it is on the right side, where Stephen Neal will probably start at guard. Neal had numerous injuries in 2007 and is average at best. Backup Ross Hochstein is useful as he can play any three inside positions, and should likely take over if Neal is hurt again. Left guard Logan Mankins has become a Pro Bowler in his own right and maybe the best guard in the AFC. Dan Koppen comes back to center where he earned a reserve Pro Bowl spot in 2007. He is proving to be one of the brightest centers in the game today and is excellent at reading defenses.
Injuries took over the Patriots running game throughout the 2007 season. Maroney was limited almost all season long, but looked strong heading into the final three games of the regular season. In NE's final six games, Maroney had 504 yards in the four games against teams not named the Giants. Sammy Morris proved to be a good back in relief of Maroney, gaining over 100 yards against Cleveland and Cincinnati, before suffering a freak injury that ended his season prematurely. Kevin Faulk returns and will probably take over third-down duties. All in all, if the Patriots running game returns healthy, expect offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels to try to balance the offensive attack by running the ball more.
Defense:
The defensive line is one of the best in all of football. Vince Wilfork fit the bill as a top run-stuffer for the Pats in 2007. Defensive end Ty Warren also is praised for stopping the run, although he still gets to the quarterback from time to time. On the other side, Richard Seymour is coming off a down year, but will return to full health for 2008. Ends Jarvis Green and Mike Wright as well as tackle LeKevin Smith all provide depth to a strong unit.
The back seven of the defense became the team's number one priority in the offseason. It was no secret that the Patriots' linebacking corps was getting old, so they brought in new talent to infuse the squad with youth. Mike Vrabel (32), Junior Seau (39), Tedy Bruschi (34), and Adalius Thomas (30) provide great production as starters. However, it will be defensive coordinator Dean Pees' job to rotate in draft pick Shawn Crable on the outside and rookies Jerod Mayo and Bo Ruud on the inside. The team also picked up Victor Hobson from the Jets. He can play inside and has a chance to start from day one if Seau retires.
The secondary seemed to implode after losing top corner Asante Samuel and nickel back Randall ***. Ellis Hobbs, a player that opposing quarterbacks usually picked on, will have the chance to start as the team's number one corner, although he's only had one interception in three seasons. The team went out and signed Fernando Bryant, who did well with the Lions last season and will probably start alongside Hobbs. Lewis Sanders and Jason Webster are veterans who add depth. As if that wasn't enough, the team also drafted speedy corner Terrence Wheatley and Jonathan Wilhite. Wheatley may become the nickel back to replace ***. Strong safety Rodney Harrison returns, although he is declining at age 36 and has battled injuries for the past three seasons. The team signed Tank Williams to spell him at times. James Sanders posted a career year in 2007 and will more than likely continue to start at free safety. However, second-year player Brandon Meriweather will still be in the mix. Perhaps the key pickup to the secondary is new DB coach, Dom Capers.
Special teams:
The Patriots stress special teams play which makes this unit one of the best in the NFL. Return coverage is excellent. Meanwhile, kicker Stephen Gostkowski has been able to take Adam Viniateri's place as a solid kicker. The punter position has been a question mark with Chris Hanson, but veteran Scott Player and rookie Mike Dragosavich will compete for the job. Ellis Hobbs and Wes Welker are excellent return men.
Coaching:
Bill Belichick still remains one of the premier coaches in the NFL, despite the 'Spygate' scandal. He is excellent in game-planning and motivation. Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels was on some teams' hot list of head coaching candidates, but he declined to stay on Belichick's staff. Capers will help Pees be more aggressive with his 3-4 base defense.
Schedule:
The Patriots play only four playoff teams from 2007 (@ San Diego, @Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, @Seattle). They have the easiest schedule in the NFL and probably only face one 'tough' stretch of the season October 12 through November 2 (@ San Diego, Denver, St. Louis, @ Indianapolis). It wouldn't be a stretch to see this team go undefeated yet again, and improve their 19-game regular season winning streak to an outstanding 35 games. They have a chance to put a stamp on their division on November 23, wrapping up a three-game division stretch (Buffalo, New York, @Miami).
Offense:
We know the Patriots dynasty started the moment Tom Brady stepped on the field. We also know that Brady has become, arguably, the best QB in all of football with receivers such as Troy Brown, Deion Branch, David Givens, and Reche Caldwell. So when the Patriots locked up Wes Welker, Donte Stallworth, and Randy Moss for the 2007 season, everybody knew Brady's numbers would skyrocket. And he delivered the best season in NFL history, tossing 50 TDs and 4,806 yards, while throwing just eight interceptions. Moss returned to the dominating form he showed in his early days with Minnesota, getting just shy of 1,500 yards and 23 TDs. He did disappear when the Patriots needed him the most, however, as he had just seven catches and 94 yards in three playoff games. Wes Welker also had a career year in 2007 and has become the best slot receiver in the league, period. He'll step up with Stallworth now gone to Cleveland. Third receiver Jabar Gaffney knows the offense and can produce quality numbers. Third-year receiver Chad Jackson will be given every opportunity to prove he's the playmaker this club drafted him to be. He showed flashes of brilliance in his first mini-camp, but has not been able to stay healthy enough to prove his worth on the field. Tight End Benjamin Watson provides another weapon on offense but has yet to stay healthy for a full sixteen games. He is coming off ankle surgery which will keep him out of mini-camps, so the team got Marcus Pollard as insurance.
New England's offensive line is a key part to keeping Brady on his feet and keeping the offense going. Allowing the rush to get to Brady causes bad things to happen as evidenced by the Super Bowl loss to the Giants. The unit comes back intact for another season as Brady's security. Matt Light and Nick Kaczur will return as the tackles. Kaczur got into off-the-field problems recently and has not been able to stay healthy for a full season. His backup, Ryan O'Callaghan, had high expectations but has failed to deliver. If the offensive line has a weak link, it is on the right side, where Stephen Neal will probably start at guard. Neal had numerous injuries in 2007 and is average at best. Backup Ross Hochstein is useful as he can play any three inside positions, and should likely take over if Neal is hurt again. Left guard Logan Mankins has become a Pro Bowler in his own right and maybe the best guard in the AFC. Dan Koppen comes back to center where he earned a reserve Pro Bowl spot in 2007. He is proving to be one of the brightest centers in the game today and is excellent at reading defenses.
Injuries took over the Patriots running game throughout the 2007 season. Maroney was limited almost all season long, but looked strong heading into the final three games of the regular season. In NE's final six games, Maroney had 504 yards in the four games against teams not named the Giants. Sammy Morris proved to be a good back in relief of Maroney, gaining over 100 yards against Cleveland and Cincinnati, before suffering a freak injury that ended his season prematurely. Kevin Faulk returns and will probably take over third-down duties. All in all, if the Patriots running game returns healthy, expect offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels to try to balance the offensive attack by running the ball more.
Defense:
The defensive line is one of the best in all of football. Vince Wilfork fit the bill as a top run-stuffer for the Pats in 2007. Defensive end Ty Warren also is praised for stopping the run, although he still gets to the quarterback from time to time. On the other side, Richard Seymour is coming off a down year, but will return to full health for 2008. Ends Jarvis Green and Mike Wright as well as tackle LeKevin Smith all provide depth to a strong unit.
The back seven of the defense became the team's number one priority in the offseason. It was no secret that the Patriots' linebacking corps was getting old, so they brought in new talent to infuse the squad with youth. Mike Vrabel (32), Junior Seau (39), Tedy Bruschi (34), and Adalius Thomas (30) provide great production as starters. However, it will be defensive coordinator Dean Pees' job to rotate in draft pick Shawn Crable on the outside and rookies Jerod Mayo and Bo Ruud on the inside. The team also picked up Victor Hobson from the Jets. He can play inside and has a chance to start from day one if Seau retires.
The secondary seemed to implode after losing top corner Asante Samuel and nickel back Randall ***. Ellis Hobbs, a player that opposing quarterbacks usually picked on, will have the chance to start as the team's number one corner, although he's only had one interception in three seasons. The team went out and signed Fernando Bryant, who did well with the Lions last season and will probably start alongside Hobbs. Lewis Sanders and Jason Webster are veterans who add depth. As if that wasn't enough, the team also drafted speedy corner Terrence Wheatley and Jonathan Wilhite. Wheatley may become the nickel back to replace ***. Strong safety Rodney Harrison returns, although he is declining at age 36 and has battled injuries for the past three seasons. The team signed Tank Williams to spell him at times. James Sanders posted a career year in 2007 and will more than likely continue to start at free safety. However, second-year player Brandon Meriweather will still be in the mix. Perhaps the key pickup to the secondary is new DB coach, Dom Capers.
Special teams:
The Patriots stress special teams play which makes this unit one of the best in the NFL. Return coverage is excellent. Meanwhile, kicker Stephen Gostkowski has been able to take Adam Viniateri's place as a solid kicker. The punter position has been a question mark with Chris Hanson, but veteran Scott Player and rookie Mike Dragosavich will compete for the job. Ellis Hobbs and Wes Welker are excellent return men.
Coaching:
Bill Belichick still remains one of the premier coaches in the NFL, despite the 'Spygate' scandal. He is excellent in game-planning and motivation. Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels was on some teams' hot list of head coaching candidates, but he declined to stay on Belichick's staff. Capers will help Pees be more aggressive with his 3-4 base defense.
Schedule:
The Patriots play only four playoff teams from 2007 (@ San Diego, @Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, @Seattle). They have the easiest schedule in the NFL and probably only face one 'tough' stretch of the season October 12 through November 2 (@ San Diego, Denver, St. Louis, @ Indianapolis). It wouldn't be a stretch to see this team go undefeated yet again, and improve their 19-game regular season winning streak to an outstanding 35 games. They have a chance to put a stamp on their division on November 23, wrapping up a three-game division stretch (Buffalo, New York, @Miami).