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To be honest I think he only gets overly creative to compensate for a weakness. We saw it in 2009 when he busted out the one DL, five linebackers walking around and five DB package. That was to generate pressure.

The key this year is the front four winning the one-on-one matchups. They can’t simply man-up the receivers with McCourty over the top and Chung in the box and expect to have the extra second to get to the quarterback.

They’ll likely need two safeties in coverage and drop the linebackers to short zones more often than sending them on double A gap blitzes or the like.

So it’s not creativity I expect, though there’s always elements of disguise to their defensive scheme, it’s guys like Chandler, Easley, Ninkovich, Sheard and the other guys in the trenches beating their guys and getting to the quarterback.

Doing that is what will keep this defense at a high level and compensate for the loss of two good man corners.

I think the coaches know the system perfectly and have tailored it to Brady, so you have a perfect synergy with all the major elements. They’re also so experienced that they’re able to adjust when teams are taking something away.

It’s an extremely smart system because the receivers are asked to adjust post-snap. If everyone is on the same page and the immediate protection is good, it’s impossible to stop. Every defense has a weakness, when the receivers read the coverage and know just where to go to beat the defense they see, the defense can be powerless.

Of course we’ve seen it breakdown at times over the years. Either the defensive line is getting immediate pressure and/or confusing Brady, or the receivers just don’t seem on the same page with Brady. But outside of those instances, this offense has pretty much been a juggernaut since they hit their stride in 2004.

Not necessarily explosive, just methodical.

Rolando McClain would’ve been a good addition, and now I’m not sure there’s really anyone else out there who are “exciting”. It’s a tough spot because in theory both Mayo and Hightower could be ready to go week one. 

You still want more depth behind them and Collins, but at what cost? There does’t seem to be anyone on the roster who I can get excited about stepping into a fourth linebacker role, Darius Fleming is probably the closest.

I am curious to see healthy James Morris and Cameron Gordon as well, but I think they’ll add another veteran and they won’t be sexy. Honestly, bringing back Dane Fletcher might make the most sense to me.

I think he checks a lot of the boxes that McCourty did that made him worthy of a first round pick. Obviously his athleticism and leadership traits are off the charts and I’m sure he’d at least bring value to special teams immediately even if he didn’t start at corner right out of the game. I do think his game fits more what we expect from the defense this year as opposed to the press man heavy scheme of last year.

My questions arise with guys who might be ranked a little higher than Jones but can’t really play special teams. Those guys seem like fits, but I don’t think their value matches what the Pats are looking for in the first round.