In Light of Pats Depression - An Injection of Optimism!

[Smokeeye123]

Really long read guys, but it should give Patriots fans a feeling of optimism!

Obviously a lot of new englanders are all mopey and down in the dumps over the superbowl that just fell out of the pats hands to the Giants last Sunday, however I thought I'd take a positive spin on it and look to the future.

First off, just the fact that we made it to the superbowl and were 5 minutes away is unbelievable. Typically, teams with mediocre defenses don't make it far at all, despite how good their offense is. This is not the case with the Patriots who had seemingly no names filling in in the backfield. Some people, (Robert Parker of ESPN NY... )have said that this is the Patriots last chance at another Superbowl under Brady and Bellicheck. I beg to differ.
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- For one, Brady posted career numbers this year, throwing for over 5,200 yrds, and isn't slowing down anytime soon. He almost single-handedly carried a mediocre defense to a superbowl championship. While he will be 35 next year, his play style decreases his risk for injury, (unlike Mike Vick for instance. As long as he is in the pocket hucking the ball, I can see him being on a near equal level as the '11-'12 season for another 3 seasons.

Secondly, the Patriots have set themselves up greatly in the draft and in cap room. The Patriots have 2 late first round picks and an additional 2 second round picks. While Bellicheck usually trades down, I wouldn't put it past him to trade a 2nd/1st rounder up for a player who could really help our team. (DE,LB, etc.) In addition, the Pats are poised to be 22 MILLION DOLLARS under the cap this offseason, meaning the Patriots have plenty of room to sign a few big name free agents and give Welker the contract he deserves. If they let players like Ocho, Branch and BJGE go, they will have even more. In comparison, teams like the Steelers are 21 Million OVER the cap this offseason.

Thirdly, the Patriots don't need much to fix their problems. A deep threat WR like Brandon Lloyd would provide a perfect deep threat for the Pats and wouldn't break the bank. (He has already said he wants to play w/ Josh McDaniels who is now the Pat's OC).  If not Lloyd, their are heaps of big name WRs available, Vincent Jackson, Desean Jackson, Dwayne Bowe, Mario Manningham, Stevie Johnson, are just a small sampling size. With players like Brian Waters, Shaun Ellis, and Andre Carter getting up in age, the Pats could also use a solid DE/OL man, in the draft. personally, I expect the Pats to sign Lloyd and an experienced Corner to anchor the backfield (Fingers crossed for Carlos Rodgers from the 49ers).

Fourthly, the field is pathetically weak, especially in the AFC. Realistically, who will beat the Pats in the playoffs? The Ravens, Steelers, and Texans are the only teams I think could do it. With the Steelers needing to reshape the team by being over the cap, and the Ravens just being plain over the hill, I think the Texans pose the biggest threat and I'll take those odds any day. In addition, their schedule is a cake walk...again. Not as easy as this years was...(That was laughably easy) but here are the teams they are versing...
HOME: 49ers, Bills, Cardinals, Colts, Dolphins, Jets, Texans, Broncos. AWAY: Bills, Dolphins, Jaguars, Jets, Rams, Seahawks, Titans, Ravens. I bolded the five games I think they have a chance to lose to. Any other losses would be inexcusable, (barring one of those teams shakes things up majorly...like if the Dolphins got Manning).

Lastly, this team is young, has experience, and IT'S THE F-ING PATRIOTS MAN! They perennially go 12-4 or 14-2 and always seem to have first round byes. Will the Pats get a chance to ease the pain with a Superbowl win next year. It's waaay early, but right now I say...HELL YEAH!!

[cman88]

those are pretty much my thoughts as well...if we can fix up our 2 main weakness' this year I think we are right up there for best in the AFC..imagine this team with a legit #2 WR and fielding an actual defense...the AFC is a pretty weak field compared to the NFC


Bill needs to focus on defense this draft IMO,I would like a pass rushing DL and focus on the secondary...no more of this UDFA junk...we need playmakers.

then sign a vet WR like Lloyd or vincent jackson.(wouldnt mind branch returning as a #3 WR)...thats all this offense needs to be complete IMO

strangely, i wasnt that depressed about the loss this year...maybe because I never even expected this team to go this far with that defense and without a deep threat/man WR

[Smokeeye123]

those are pretty much my thoughts as well...if we can fix up our 2 main weakness' this year I think we are right up there for best in the AFC..imagine this team with a legit #2 WR and fielding an actual defense...the AFC is a pretty weak field compared to the NFC


Bill needs to focus on defense this draft IMO,I would like a pass rushing DL and focus on the secondary...no more of this UDFA junk...we need playmakers.

then sign a vet WR like Lloyd or vincent jackson.(wouldnt mind branch returning as a #3 WR)...thats all this offense needs to be complete IMO

strangely, i wasnt that depressed about the loss this year...maybe because I never even expected this team to go this far with that defense and without a deep threat/man WR

Vincent Jackson, Welker, Branch, Hernandez, Gronkowski, Brady...How would you even cover that...lol

I really want a great corner though...I'd honestly rather have an elite corner than an elite WR. BTW, we have Ras-I-Dowling back for next year who didn't play at all due to injury. He could turn out pretty good.

[Cman]

OP, in general, I agree with your line of thinking, but disagree with parts of it.

(1) IF the Pats find a taker, they will trade one of their 1st rounders for a 2nd this year, and a 1st in a future year -- bank on it [this is just good business, and I agree with it wholeheartedly]
(2) IF the Pats find a taker, they will trade one of their 2nd rounders for a 3rd or mix of lower picks and a 2nd next year -- bank on it [again, good biz]
(3) The top 3 needs for the Pats:  D Line, O Line, WR that can double at PR guy (not necessarily in that order).

I disagree that secondary is that much of a concern because (a) I think McCourty was playing injured most of the year and (b) we have a rookie CB/S who should be pretty good who was injured most of the year this year and (c) one reason the secondary looked poor this year is that Chung hardly played.

WR who can double as punt returner -- I have no doubt the Pats can sign a vet WR (Lloyd, Wayne) but I think a PR weapon is actually more important. Change this aspect of the game, and you reduce a set of first downs that are needed for the Pats to hit the red zone. The speedster WRs are not necessary in the red zone (instead the BJGEs and Gronks are value here).

OLine: Light will retire soon, we need to protect the team's biggest asset (Brady). Need I say more?

DLine: We need help here; a first round talent would be a game changer. I'm not talking "someone picked in the first round", I'm talking "someone who is good enough to go in the first round", so maybe this happens via trade for a vet player. 

[PosImpos]

The Pats are still a pretty young team with a very good coach and an elite QB, and they should have 4-5 more opportunities to get to the title game while Brady is on the team.  You never know if they'll get that close again with Brady and Bill, but they have a good chance if they keep making smart moves in the draft and free agency.

Plenty to be optimistic about . . . but still, so much has to go right just to get to the Super Bowl, it hurts real bad when you don't come away with a championship.

[Q_FBE]

Assuming most of the players come back and Belichick finds reinforcements elsewhere, this team is in good shape. I still think the defense will continue to improve and so will their running game. Brady will be Brady and there will be more opportunities to win the Super Bowl.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the Celtics have won five straight and look like a decent veteran team that can get to at least the second round of the playoffs. Perhaps if they continue to improve, they can go to the third round. 

[Donoghus]

Bruins repeating will take away some of the sting from this. 

A very strong possibility.

[clover]

Saw the title and thought this was going to be a 'bring on Ryan Mallett' thread.