Alright boys.
2 teams left.
Congratulations to the Packers and Steelers. Great year for both teams.
That said.
How did YOUR team do?
Let's open up some discussion:
Patriots.
What a year...sort of.
In the beginning of the year, I said they'd go 9-7, and I felt like I was being very generous. Needless to say, they surprised most talking heads, and realistically, most of New England.
Big wins at Pitt, vs. GB, NYJ, Indy, at Chi. They had their breaks, just like everyone else (SD, GB). They lost their crappy game (Cle).
Ultimately, they had a good year. Better than expected, and Belichick did a good job coaching a team that traded Moss mid year, and dealt with some injuries and holdouts (Warren, Mankins).
So, is this an upward arrow or downward arrow direction Patriots team? Tough to say. Certainly they are not amongst the elite. They don't have the defense to hang yet. Furthermore, their defense doesn't really have an "identity." Even the 2003/2004 teams, as dominant as they were, wanted you to THINK they were the underdog. 2004 it was just lip service, since that team was a wagon really. But honestly on defense, I don't see any "leaders." I see a lot of young talent (McCourty, Mayo, Chung, Spikes) but no one has stood out and taken the lead. Even Vince Wilfork is kind of the gentle giant. The 03/04 Pats had swagger, and the Bruschis, Harrisons, guys who would put you through a locker if you fucked up.
I think Bill is getting the team back, so to speak. He's gotten rid of most of the bad apples. Still think Meriweather needs to go. Guy made the pro bowl and is the 3rd best safety on the team. Either way, he's on his own island. Great talent, ten cent brain.
Still, the defense lacks a pass rush. Tully Banta-Cain is not the answer. Jermaine Cunningham showed some promise that he could hold the edge, but they really lack someone who can get in there. Ty Warren missing the year didn't help at all, but they'll need an insurance policy on the line, if nothing else.
Defense backs...McCourty will be a mainstay for a while. Even if he takes a step back next year, he seems to have what it takes to be a big time CB. Kyle Arrington, who played most of the year, is servicable. Bodden may be back but is another year older, and hopefully can stay healthy. Chung and Meriweather are the 2 safeties, but I'd just assume have James Sanders out there, even though he tends to take bad angles once in a while.
Spikes and Mayo look like they'll be very productive moving forward, but they are most effective against the run. They still need a pass rush, and we'll see what happens around draft time.
Offensively, I think they have 2 more years out of Brady. Do they let Matt Light walk, and shift Sebastian Vollmer? The latter is talented enough to do so. Also, what happens to Mankins? Break the bank? He certainly helped them in their stretch run.
RB: Tough to say. Do you keep BenJarvus Green-Ellis as your feature back in a pass happy scheme, or do you go for a Mark Ingraham, who is similar, and quicker...Danny Woodhead probably stays, but what happens to Kevin Faulk? He's one of those guys who gets the Bruschi treatment: You're welcome here until you want to retire.
WR: Tate came along, is fast as hell, but has terrible hands. Still think he needs to get a better grasp of the offense. A major threat though. Welker stays, Branch I say 50/50.
TE: Gronkowski and Hernandez look to have staying power long term. Does Crumpler come back as a 3rd TE/captain? BB likes him, and I think they try to keep him around.
Coaching: When is BB going to name an OC or DC? Does he care? Also, when is BB the GM going to help BB the coach, and get some talent on defense? That's what got him there, and made his teams so dominant in the past.
Time will tell.
Would love to hear what you guys have on your respective clubs.
2 teams left.
Congratulations to the Packers and Steelers. Great year for both teams.
That said.
How did YOUR team do?
Let's open up some discussion:
Patriots.
What a year...sort of.
In the beginning of the year, I said they'd go 9-7, and I felt like I was being very generous. Needless to say, they surprised most talking heads, and realistically, most of New England.
Big wins at Pitt, vs. GB, NYJ, Indy, at Chi. They had their breaks, just like everyone else (SD, GB). They lost their crappy game (Cle).
Ultimately, they had a good year. Better than expected, and Belichick did a good job coaching a team that traded Moss mid year, and dealt with some injuries and holdouts (Warren, Mankins).
So, is this an upward arrow or downward arrow direction Patriots team? Tough to say. Certainly they are not amongst the elite. They don't have the defense to hang yet. Furthermore, their defense doesn't really have an "identity." Even the 2003/2004 teams, as dominant as they were, wanted you to THINK they were the underdog. 2004 it was just lip service, since that team was a wagon really. But honestly on defense, I don't see any "leaders." I see a lot of young talent (McCourty, Mayo, Chung, Spikes) but no one has stood out and taken the lead. Even Vince Wilfork is kind of the gentle giant. The 03/04 Pats had swagger, and the Bruschis, Harrisons, guys who would put you through a locker if you fucked up.
I think Bill is getting the team back, so to speak. He's gotten rid of most of the bad apples. Still think Meriweather needs to go. Guy made the pro bowl and is the 3rd best safety on the team. Either way, he's on his own island. Great talent, ten cent brain.
Still, the defense lacks a pass rush. Tully Banta-Cain is not the answer. Jermaine Cunningham showed some promise that he could hold the edge, but they really lack someone who can get in there. Ty Warren missing the year didn't help at all, but they'll need an insurance policy on the line, if nothing else.
Defense backs...McCourty will be a mainstay for a while. Even if he takes a step back next year, he seems to have what it takes to be a big time CB. Kyle Arrington, who played most of the year, is servicable. Bodden may be back but is another year older, and hopefully can stay healthy. Chung and Meriweather are the 2 safeties, but I'd just assume have James Sanders out there, even though he tends to take bad angles once in a while.
Spikes and Mayo look like they'll be very productive moving forward, but they are most effective against the run. They still need a pass rush, and we'll see what happens around draft time.
Offensively, I think they have 2 more years out of Brady. Do they let Matt Light walk, and shift Sebastian Vollmer? The latter is talented enough to do so. Also, what happens to Mankins? Break the bank? He certainly helped them in their stretch run.
RB: Tough to say. Do you keep BenJarvus Green-Ellis as your feature back in a pass happy scheme, or do you go for a Mark Ingraham, who is similar, and quicker...Danny Woodhead probably stays, but what happens to Kevin Faulk? He's one of those guys who gets the Bruschi treatment: You're welcome here until you want to retire.
WR: Tate came along, is fast as hell, but has terrible hands. Still think he needs to get a better grasp of the offense. A major threat though. Welker stays, Branch I say 50/50.
TE: Gronkowski and Hernandez look to have staying power long term. Does Crumpler come back as a 3rd TE/captain? BB likes him, and I think they try to keep him around.
Coaching: When is BB going to name an OC or DC? Does he care? Also, when is BB the GM going to help BB the coach, and get some talent on defense? That's what got him there, and made his teams so dominant in the past.
Time will tell.
Would love to hear what you guys have on your respective clubs.
