It is good many of you think your team could make the playoffs and unseat the Three time SB champion Patriots.
It is good to have faith in your team. All of the Teams in the AFC East have made some moves. It is mainly why some think things like the Patriots run to be over. But just stop and take a real look at what the Patriots have this season.
OC and DC The Offense under Weis was set up and run by as many as 4 coaches. This has not changed People who know the players and who the players know are still running the O.
But what has changed is....
O-Line additions Logan Mankins, Nick Kazur and Brian Anderson add size, power, speed, and youth to an already good line.
The one loss from the line is Andruzzi Who was not the strongest link for that line.
Mankins and Kazur are faster,stronger, and more moble than Andruzzi ever was.
The return of Tom Ashworth will greatly improve the Rt spot.
WRs--- David Terrel, and Tim Dwight easily make up for Patten. Even if both of them where bust there is Bethel Johnson, PK Sam, Michael McGrew, and Cedric James ready to step in. That is behind David Givens, Deion Branch, and Troy Brown.
TEs---We all know how good Dan Graham has become. He is a very good Receiver and an outstanding blocker. Add to that Ben Watson a 6'4" 255 TE with great hands, good blocking skills and 4.3/40 speed. Christian Fauria continues to be a solid player.
RBs--- Corey Dillon 1600+ yards behind a weaked beaten up O-Line. Kevin Faulk is still a real solid threat to rip a big run from the outside or after catching a quick screen. Cedric Cobbs finaly healthy after fighting a hamstring injury that was misstreated at Arkansas. His power speed and style is much the same as Dillons.
DC--- Eric Mangini is the new DC and has been with Belichick for 10 years and the Patriots for as long as Belichick and Crennel have been. There is no drop off at all with this move.
D-Line--- Talk about depth Traylor was let go because he was not good enough to hang with these guys. Vince Wilfork became a beast quickly enough to claim the starting DT job as a rookie. The Starting DEs Seymoure and Warren have both been DTs for this team. As has the #1 backup DE Jarvis Green. Ethan Kelly a very powerfull DT who came from a very bad program (Baylor) needed time to develop the pro skills. BB feels he has done that now and is ready to be Wilforks main backup. Then there are DEs Marquise Hill, and Rodney Bailey solid DEs who will prove great help as backups.
LBs--- Yes the possible loss of Teddy Bruschi made many fans worry. But you have got to hand it to Belichick and Pioli they went out and made the LB spot stronger. Adding Ryan Claridge a very good Inside/outside LB in the Draft.
Monty Beisel ILB, and Chad Brown ILB/OLB, in FA plus the real nice development of Tully Banta-Cain OLB, Eric Alexander ILB, and ongoing work of Dan Klecko ILB. This along with the vets Ted Johnson, Willie McGinest, Mike Vrabel, and Rosevelt Colvin the LBs have never been deeper or more talented.
DBs--- Law played only 6 full games last season. So he is hardly a loss.
The additions of Safetys James Sanders, Antuan Edwards, and Raymond Ventrone, along with the return of Guss Scott and the (IMO) move to safety of Chad Scott lets the Patriots move Eugene Wilson back to CB where he really should be.
With the Additions of CBs Ellis Hobbs, and Duane Starks. The oportunity for Hank Poteat to go to TC and learn the system,( Hey for a guy who was pulled out of a college classroom to play right away, He did an outstanding job.) The depth is great.
Patriots have Eugene Wilson, Asante Samuel, Rodney Harrison, Don Davis, and Randall Gay all with starting experiance. I expect Ty Poole and Dexter Reid to be cut. No one has done enough to end the run as of yet. Good luck keep trying.
