We’re taking it back this year to Year 1 BBB (Before Bill Belichick). The reason that this team is an interesting one is because of all the Patriots legends that were on the team, yet they still went 8-8. This is a reminder that championship teams, and especially defenses, are forged over time. I hope that 2009 and 2010 will be building blocks toward another dynasty just like the late 90’s teams were the foundation for the first one.
Today in things Patriots fans can feel good about…
It’s hard to know for sure if Vollmer’s future will eventually be on the left side, but regardless of where he ends up he’s a beast of a tackle that will be a great piece to build around as the OL turnover begins.
Here’s the second team all pro catching a punt in practice. Can you say athletic freak?
Well this certainly never gets old, does it?
Early mock drafts have Patriots looking at DE, OLB, and OL
It’s pretty easy to bag on mock drafts. I know because I’ll be doing it a lot over the next two months. But the true value of a mock draft is not as a predictor of what will unfold, it’s getting a general consensus from a lot of sources as to who fits at the spot your picking.
I suggest you check out NEPatriotsDraft.com as well as this mock draft database and start familiarizing yourself with the potential Pats.
Here are some early names that are popping up as Pats picks in a lot of mock drafts.
1. JJ Watt – DL, Wisconsin
- Watt would project as a 3-4 defensive end. He has the size (6’ 6").
2. Ryan Kerrigan – DE/OLB, Purdue
- Kerrigan seems to possess a lot of what the Pats need, namely size and the ability to get after the quarterback. The question will be how well he can drop in coverage. We’ll see at the Combine.
3. Cameron Jordan – DE, Cal
- Jordan is 6’ 4" and close to 300 pounds which is good for a Pats style DE, but what makes him even more enticing are his huge hands and long arms… critical factors for controlling tackles.
4. Gabe Carimi – OT, Wisconsin
- Carimi is a huge beast and would be an excellent bookend of the future opposite Vollmer.
5. Mikel Lashoure – RB, Illinois
- This might be a little high for a running back, but if the Pats have a shot at Lashoure or Mark Ingram I think they might pounce. A break away back to go with Woody and Benny would provide an even more diverse ground attack.
Others mentioned:
- Aldon Smith – DE/OLB, Missouri
- Adrian Clayborn – DL, Iowa
- Justin Houston – DE/OLB, Georgia
Championship weekend proves Patriots are building the right way
Super Bowl 45 is set and for the third year in a row the Patriots will not be playing in it. It’s a little easier to swallow this year when you consider we’re in the process of building something that both the Steelers and the Packers have… an elite defense.
The ultimate truth is that the Patriots have not won a Super Bowl since the last incarnation of their defense peaked in the mid-2000s. They had some very good years in the late 2000s, especially in 2006 and 2007, but by then their defense had aged enough that it just could not close playoff games out when they had to. They had lost their speed, and the veteran experience factor was not enough to take them to the promised land.
When you look at the defenses of the final four NFL teams they were a good blend of veterans and talented youth. Clearly Pittsburgh’s defense especially is a great model to aspire to. They built through the draft and now have a dominating D that is battle test enough to get four straight stops on their two yard line in the AFC championship game. That is what dominant defense is all about.
Some might argue that the Patriots owe it to Brady to go out and stock up on free agent defenders, but free agents are better used as hole-fillers. The foundation has to come through the draft, and the Patriots have one of the strongest young defensive foundations in the NFL.
If anything, this season has reinforced for me that the Patriots are going about their defensive re-build in the entirely right way. You need to continue to throw talented players into the mix via draft, and allow them all to play together as much as possible.
As hard as the Ravens and Jets playoff losses have been to handle the last two seasons, the young Patriots have acquired a boatload of great experience.
In 2010 they learned a lot about what it will take to be truly great. The first step is learning how to win consistently in the regular season. To not have letdowns after big wins, to remain consistent in your preparations, and how to battle in any environment or conditions, on any stage.
The final step now is to make a playoff run, and then this defense will ascend to that elite level. Are there still players and positions to be addressed? Of course. But it will be far better to add a young, talented player who can be molded to the Pats style, and play a part in the next 5-10 seasons, than to add an early 30-something who must unlearn what he already knew, then translate the new knowledge into prime performance (see Adali-ooops).
So I’m feeling pretty good today, and not just because the Jets lost. I think the Patriots defense will be much improved in 2011, but in 2012 they should really hit their stride, with a number of talented veterans all hitting their peak at the same time.
Today in things Patriots fans can feel good about…
Jermaine Cunningham kinda fizzled at the end of the season due to a nagging calf injury, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that a rookie OLB got significant time in a multitude of different roles in a BB defense. Expect a big jump from Cunningham in 2011, he just might be a three-down player.
