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(Nostalgic comment more so than an ask) I’ve been a pats fan my whole life, but 2010 is when I became absolutely infatuated. I remember McCourty being a rookie and watching the great season he had. So it was awesome when the Pats signed him to (a deserved) extension to keep him around for the foreseeable future.

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My moment was the 2005 AFCDG loss to the Broncos. Like you, I was a Pats fan my whole life, going back to the first Super Bowl loss, then the horribleness of the late-80′s and early-90′s. But when they lost that game in Denver I realized BB/TB had a finite shelf life and they were going to have to build a whole new defense in the process. That’s when I allowed myself to fully invest not only in understanding the personnel and schemes of the team, but to being a fan and allowing myself to actually feel something based on every win and loss.

I think the reasons the Chiefs game stands out are 1) the previous 3 games didn’t look that great, 2) they were systematically dismantled in all phases of the game, 3) they appeared to completely lack the ability to block or tackle, and 4) I can’t recall another game where Brady was removed because of poor performance. Other games you mentioned were disappointing showings but significantly more competitive. Only similar game I remember was the ’03 opener against the Bills.

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Fair point on Brady, but same thing happened in 2009 vs. the Saints. I get it, Pats don’t often get smoked and this was one of those rare occurrences and that’s why it sticks out. But overall, the team playing flat, not blocking/tackling well is the stuff we saw not only in the weeks before, but in seasons before during September.

I’d point to the 2011 Steelers game as another blowout, although the score made it look close. Pats were thoroughly dominated. That’s kind of the hallmark of the Patriots, even when they get killed in a game, they don’t even lose by that many points. The KC game was one where they got killed on the field and on the scoreboard.

Do you think the secondary can be successfull with the players already on the roster? Thanks. (Sidney Torres – Brazil)

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Depends on how you define success. I’ve pointed out a couple times the parallels to the 2010 secondary who was lit up by the passing game unlike any Patriots defense before or after, and even the 2011 one who wasn’t much better. Those teams both had the best record in the AFC. We know how both those seasons ended. Were they successful? On some levels, certainly. But neither won the Super Bowl, and that’s what it’s all about.

Think about all the single plays that could’ve gone the other way in this playoff run that would’ve ended the Patriots’ season just like those 2010 and 2011 teams. If that happens, are we still infatuated with having press man corners like Revis/Browner? Maybe not.

But ultimately, can this be a Super Bowl winning defense as currently constituted? Sure, and there will certainly be more moves coming. What if a rookie corner comes in and has a great season like McCourty did? That certainly changes things a bit.

I think the talent up front has to continue to elevate to help these corners moreso than they did last year. I don’t think anyone would’ve called the Pats’ pass rush “lethal” last year. Yes, Collins and Hightower blitzing up the middle was a nice twist, but they’re going to have to get more consistent rush out of the two Jones’, Ninkovich, Easley and Sheard, along with a hopefully healthy Mayo and his fellow linebackers. If Mayo comes back it will open up the door for more Hightower edge play and he could put up 7 or sacks if he can do that all season.

Belichick is a conservative defensive coach and he’s played far more seasons with a more zone-based, pattern reading philosophy than he has had playing Cover 1 press man the majority of the time.

So yes, I think they’ll be fine, especially if the front seven elevates to the next level and stays healthy.

the amount of money we paid Cannon’s contract seems a little suspicious. It ain’t backup money. I think they might be commited to him transitioning into a startingguard, unlike last year where they “explored” the possibility transition.

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I agree that his contract extension, in the midst of his worst season, was very surprising. But I just don’t see him ending up at guard. It’s really been the great debate through the early parts of his career – Does Cannon fit at guard? 

He was never getting a better chance to do it than he was this year, when the door at RG was WIDE open, and he stunk. He even regressed a bit as a swing tackle, after what I thought was his best season filling in at RT for Vollmer in 2013.

My only explanation is that with Vollmer’s age and injury history they could see a future for him at that position and wanted to make sure they were protected after Solder also had a down year.

Some even think Cannon’s deal gives them some leverage over Solder heading into this contract year. I am not sure about that since I don’t think Cannon is a long-term solution to LT, though he could fill in there in a pinch.

The presence of Cameron Fleming adds a twist on it as well, since I see him as a similar player to Cannon.

It will be interesting to see who’s lining up where this summer.