I don’t ever want to hear that sound again. I hear it every single time someone brings up Super Bowl XLII. Plaxico Burress smoked Ellis Hobbs to catch the game winning touchdown against the Patriots and that’s when I heard it. Every single Giants fan at the University of Phoenix Stadium went ape shit as I buried my head in my hands. But it was this one scream from a lady in the stands that caught my ears and made every other sound inaudible. It was the “holy shit, is this really happening, we’re going to beat the Patriots, what the fuck do I do?” scream. It was probably the same scream every single person watching the Super Bowl outside of New England let out. I hate that scream.
(For the record I am yet to watch the re-play or any highlights from that game. I would rather lock myself in a room and watch clips from the 9/11 attacks - at right - over and over than watch that game again.)
Going into the 2008 season there is really no reason to believe that the Pats will fall victim to the “Super Bowl hangover.” If you’re trying to tell me that they are not a playoff team then you are lying to yourself. In fact, after going undefeated last year in the regular season (the Patriots have one of the NFL’s easiest schedules this year) it is tough to even point out a game they could lose this year. However I do know that going undefeated two years in a row is extremely unlikely. Just like going 18-0 was…fuck! Here’s how I see things shaking out this year:
DEFENSE
Major losses: CB Asante Samuel, CB Randall Gay, LB Rosevelt Colvin, S Eugene Wilson
Major additions: LB Victor Hobson, CB Fernando Bryant, CB Jason Webster, S Tank Williams, * CB Terrence Wheatley, *CB Jonathon Wilhite, *LB Jerod Mayo, *LB Shawn Crable, *LB Bo Ruud, Defensive Guru Dom Capers
*=rookie
Gone is ball-hawking cornerback Asante Samuel who sought greener pastures (green as in $$) in Philadelphia. Losing Asante will be huge because there a few shutdown corners in the NFL today and I consider him one of them. Ellis Hobbs, who will be holding down one starting position, is not terrible but he isn’t exactly a Pro Bowl caliber corner. While he is fast and athletic, he often bites on play fakes and is always eager to make the big play. The Pats also lost nickel back Randall Gay who filled nicely into the role player position. To help counter these losses, the Pats brought in veteran Fernando Bryant from the Lions. Bryant does not bring the same type of playmaking abilities that Asante Samuel possessed but is the type of guy who will thrive in Belichick’s complex defensive scheme because of his experience. Rookies Terrence Wheatley and Jonathan Wilhite bring athleticism and youth to the table but neither one of them had spectacular numbers playing at the collegiate level. Coupled with Jason Webster, these three corners figure to rotate in and out of the backfield filling in nicely for departed Randall Gay. I see Hobbs and Bryant as the starters come game time.
With the NFL’s “dirtiest player” Rodney Harrison returning, the safety position seems to be the strong point of the secondary. While he has lost a step and has never been a good coverage man, just his presence is still intimidating for receivers coming across the middle. Second year man Brandon Meriweather should have a better season than last now that he has had time to settle into the playbook. He beat out long time starter Eugene Wilson last year and rotated in with James Sanders. While Sanders has significantly improved his game both in coverage and tackling, I expect Meriweather to take over a majority of the FS duties. That is if they do not shift Meriweather over to CB which is a possibility. Expect Tank Williams to switch in and out with Harrison. Williams is a punishing player and at 6’2, 223 figures to provide even more toughness to the position. At camp he has been playing up close to the line and even playing some linebacker. He is versatile and Belichick is going to get everything he can out of him.
The Patriots have a defensive line that features All-World’s Vince Wilfork, Ty Warren,
and Richard Seymour, and is one of the best units in the league. Wilfork (right) is an absolute beast up front playing nose and Warren is athletic and versatile. Richard Seymour is healthy at camp for the first time in awhile. If he can avoid the injury bug this year he always figures to create a problem for opposing teams. His speed and strength are phenomenal and if need be, Jarvis Green fills in well, except when he’s trying to tackle Eli Manning on third-and-5 in the Super Bowl. This unit is the least of the Patriots worries.
If there is a position on the team that received an “extreme makeover”, it is the linebackers. Rosevelt Colvin could not overcome the injury he suffered last year and was released. While I did like Colvin’s speed and ability to rush the QB, he is replaceable. Taking his spot outside will be the physical freak of nature Adalius Thomas. Playing ILB last year was a change for him and learning a new defense really showed at times. Now that he is switching back to the outside, I think we will see why we signed him for big bucks last year from Baltimore. At the other end is Mike Vrabel, a veteran leader. While not the quickest of the bunch he still has it in him to make smart decisions. Both Vrabel and Thomas can play inside if need be. On the inside Te
dy Bruschi returns for another title run. While Bruschi (right) is only a mere shadow of what he used to be before suffering a stroke, he like Vrabel has the smarts and instincts to be a playmaker. I do see his role diminishing a little bit more this year as rookie Jerod Mayo patiently waits in the shadows. At 6’1 and 242lbs, Mayo is athletic, fast, and provides the youthfulness this LB corps has lacked for so long. While it may take a couple of games for him to “get it,” I see Mayo turning out to be a good player for the Pats for a long time. Victor Hobson came from the Jets and provides the experience and toughness needed to play inside. Expect to see rookie Shawn Crable and 3rd year man Pierre Woods get shuffled into the mix from time to time in an already deep linebacking squad. Junior Seau is yet to make a decision on his return to the team but like Bruschi provides veteran leadership and flexibility.
Perhaps the most overlooked aspect of the defense this year is the teams signing of defensive guru and secondary coach Dom Capers. Capers is a long time friend of Belichick and is a known master when it comes to the secondary. He will prove to be a very important piece to a coaching staff that has lacked a defensive mind since the departure of Eric Mangini. With Capers on board, it will also allow Belichick to be more flexible and focus on other aspects of the team.
Overall:
On paper it seems like the Pats have taken a step back this year on the defensive side of the ball. In the past two seasons, the Patriots secondary has let up game winning drives when it counted the most: the 2007 AFC Championship in Indy and SB XLII. Watching this unit will be interesting moving forward. But if Bill Belichick has taught us fans anything it is his ability to deal with losing playmakers and finding the right role players to fill the void (see Ty Law). I do think the Pats have a more improved group of linebackers than last year and the defensive line still remains solid. The biggest questions will be how the cast of Samuel’s “replacements” will perform and can the defense win a game on the line when it matters most.
OFFENSE
Major losses: TE Kyle Brady, WR Troy Brown, WR Donte Stallworth
Major additions: WR Sam Aiken, RB LaMont Jordan, *QB Kevin O’Connell, *WR Matt Slater
What the Patriots offense achieved last year was magical. The record-breaking offense was impressive to watch and there is nothing to suggest it will be any different this year (unless Tom Brady gets injured which will result in the immediate suicide of myself). Tom Brady put up historic numbers and had one of the best single season performances by an NFL quarterback – ever. He passed for almost 5,000 yards and threw 50 touchdowns on the season! In the divisional playoff game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Brady had a mind-numbing game. He set the NFL record for completion percentage in a single game (92.9%) with 26 of 28 completions for 263 yards and 3 touchdowns. Let those numbers just sit in your head for a minute. That’s the type of season this guy had. At one point during a commercial break I remember just staring down into my beer trying to figure out what the hell was going on. Seriously, a completion percentage of 92.9%? What…the…fuck! If you get ambitious, go to Wikipedia and look up Tom Brady. At the bottom is a little paragraph about all of his records and achievements, simply amazing. The day this guy hangs them up is going to be the day I sob like a little girl. However, it sucks for the rest of the NFL because he is not retiring anytime soon. Barring injury, Tom Brady should have another banner year. The real question here is who is going to come in from Brady if he goes down? Matt Cassel is now going into his fifth NFL season and unless he shows he can perform and be a serviceable NFL QB, I think we may see a changing of the guard. 2nd year man Matt Guttierez will see lots of playing time this pre-season after showing some promise last year. He had a limited playbook last year and now it is his time to show us he can hang with the big boys. Do I think he will beat out Cassel? Ultimately no, but it will be interesting. Rookie QB
Kevin O’Connell (pictured at right, who is probably even more handsome than Brady! Now that I think about it, the Patriots may have the most handsome QB squad in the entire league) was brought in to babysit the number three spot and learn the playbook. In other words, if Brady goes down you might as well throw the towel in and make my funeral arrangements.
Randy Moss. That’s all I really need to say. Last year he showed us why he is the best receiver in the league and why he will continue to be. While I don’t expect him to catch 23 TD’s again, I do not expect him to slack off or become a non-factor. As long as he is on the field, the Patriots have a chance of winning. Wes Welker had a phenomenal year last year and figures to give teams headaches again this year. He is quick, elusive, and has some of the best hands I’ve ever seen. The biggest question at the WR position is who will take over the number three spot? Jabar Gaffney is a younger version of Troy Brown and has the ability to make the bi
g play while defenses are focused in on Welker and Moss. Right behind him his special teams ace Kelley Washington who also figures to be in the mix. The biggest factor in this squad is the role of Chad Jackson. Drafted two years ago in the second round, Jackson is naturally gifted with blazing speed and agility. He has been injured the past two seasons and it is do or die for him this year. He needs to prove he can be another deep threat for Brady if Moss (at right) is not available. All eyes are on him to step up and show us he knows how to utilize the gifts he was given. Free-agent Sam Aiken has had a monster camp and is also vying for a role in an already loaded receiving corp. As a side note, Troy Brown’s career is still up in the air. He was released earlier in the year and has been seeking a contract from someone. Whether the Patriots re-sign him or bring him in as a coach, it will be sad not to see number 80 running around on the field.
Keeping the tight ends healthy seems to be the theme every year for the Patriots. Ben Watson has great hands and can really open up the middle of the field. He is quick, strong, and gives linebackers fits. While his blocking is not as solid as some of the other tight ends, when he is healthy he is a major threat. David Thomas has also had his share of injuries after showing promising signs in the 2006 playoffs. He also has great hands and if healthy should contribute immediately to the team.
This year I believe you will see a rushing attack that will be utilized more often than last year. Laurence “Kool-Aid” Maroney will be in his third year and should be well adjusted for his starter’s role. Many people criticized him last year for not being tough enough and for dancing rather than running east/west. For his first year being the featured back I think he handled it well. He did not put up stellar numbers (835yds, 6 TD) but you also need to take into account that the Patriots were primarily a passing team. He played extremely well down the stretch when teams were starting to key in on Moss and the passing game and had a great performance in the playoffs. He is healthy in camp this year and is no longer plagued by the shoulder injury he suffered last year. Expect big numbers from Maroney this year. Adding to the rushing attack is veteran Kevin Faulk. Dubbed by me as Mr. Reliable, Faulk still has juice in the tank to be a major threat out of the backfield. As a third down back he always does something special to get that extra yard and has bailed the Patriots out of many games throughout his career. To backup Maroney is bruiser Sammy Morris and recently acquired LaMont Jordan. Before suffering a chest injury in the middle of the season, Morris was having a banner year and proved to be an efficient back in tough yardage situations. LaMont Jordan was brought in from Oakland as an insurance policy and may or may not make the final roster. However, do not be surprised if the Pats keep all three backs and rotate all of them in throughout games in specific situations. Rounding out the backfield are FB’s Heath Evans and Kyle Eckel who provide the Pats with an option for those tough yards. Both of them figure to see limited action during the year.
The offensive line will be the biggest question mark for the offense going into 2008. Line coach Dante Scarnecchia is a genius and often gets more out of his players, especially ones that are not your prototypical linemen size. Anchoring the left side of the line are Pro Bowlers LT Matt Light, LG Logan Mankins, and C Dan Koppen. While Matt Light is an experienced veteran and is an above average tackle, he is extremely inconsistent in play and does not fare well against speed rushers (see SB 42). Logan Mankins is a beast and is panning out to be one of the best guards in the league. At 6’4
, 310lbs, he sets the tempo for the line and continually frustrates his opponents with his toughness. Center Dan Koppen has been solid at his position for 6 years now and the BC alum figures to be just as steady this year. The right side of line is where there are the most questions. On the right returns RG Stephen Neal and RT Nick Kaczur. Stephen Neal has proved to be a serviceable NFL guard. The former wrestler is average at best but with no depth at the position, he seems to be the favorite for the position this season. RT is going to be a problem for the Pats this year. Nick Kaczur has been mediocre at best. When he’s not missing assignments, you can find him taking OxyContin (pictured at left) in the parking lot in his car. In all seriousness Kaczur may lose his starting job this year to big man Ryan O’Callaghan. He is a monstrous figure at 6’7, 330lbs and for his size, is very athletic. He has had a pretty decent camp, too.
To round out the offensive side of the ball is the special teams unit. 3rd year kicker Stephen Gostkowski returns to handle the duty of field goal kicker. Last year he was 21-24 in FG attempts and shows tremendous leg strength, especially during kickoffs. Many people questioned Belichick’s faith in Gostkowski when the Patriots decided to go for it on 4th and 13 in the Super Bowl instead of kicking a 48 yard field goal. I, too, questioned the decision and made me wonder if Belichick had faith in his accuracy. However, upon thinking about this more, can anyone really blame Belichick for wanting to go for it? When you have one of the most explosive offenses in NFL history, why would you settle for 3 points when you could get 7? Belichick plays to win games not lose them.
Overall:
Barring a catastrophic injury to Tom Brady (right with head coach Bill Belichick), the Patriots offense seems to be in for another big year. With few significant losses and the emergence of a deep receiving corp coupl
ed with a potent running attack, there is little reason to believe this group will take a step back. Having the NFL’s easiest schedule can’t hurt the Patriots either. Perhaps the biggest question for the entire year is how will the Patriots respond to their devastating Super Bowl loss? Can they repeat the offensive brilliance they had last year or have the Giants provided the blueprint to stop Brady and company? Last year, Foxboro was a media circus – questions about Randy Moss and his character, coupled with spygate allegations and going undefeated really took a toll on the psyche of the team. With the media finally focusing on another NFL team and stories (Brett Favre anyone?), it has been a relatively quiet pre-season in Foxboro for the first time in a couple of years. Personally, my gut tells me it will be a special year. I’ll end this preview with a quote from one Patriot’s fans thoughts on this upcoming season:
“People who think the Pats were good last year haven't seen anything yet. Now we're pissed! Didn't anybody learn anything from that old Jim Croce song? "You don't tug on Superman's cape, you don't spit into the wind, you don't pull the mask off that ole' Lone Ranger and you don't mess around with Belichick" The Giants fucked it up for everybody next year. We probably would have taken it easy on people if we won the Superbowl. But now 18-0 will be a major disappointment. We not only have to be undefeated but people need to die on the field while we are playing them. Literally die.”
My prediction: 13-3
I’m not predicting how they’ll finish. I just don’t do that.
(Ed’s note: When pressed, he did offer this: “They’re going to finish third in the AFC East”)
The Patriots open their 2008 campaign in Thursday's opening preseason game at Gillette Stadium against the Baltimore Ravens.
mber that shit happens and when all is said and done, the Patriots are 0-0 going into 2008…and will forever be 18-1 … God I’m such a pessimist! 
No comments:
Post a Comment