ESPN AFC East: Patriots will dominate 2014-2016
I’m as biased as they come but I think even a non-biased point of view could successfully argue the Pats are set up better than any of the other AFC East teams for the next 5 years.
The obvious point is made by Williamson:
The Patriots are set up for the long haul better than any team in the division – or maybe better than any team in the entire league. They have an extremely impressive very young core of talent at most positions. And no team stores away draft picks for a rainy day like New England.
Even if Belichick leaves (Hoodie forbid!!) the young talent on both sides of the ball should only get better as they get more experience, especially when you factor in what kind of dedication those players have. After all the drafts of the mid-to-late 90s played an enormous part of the success in the early 00s, especially on the defensive side of the ball.
My expectations are high for 2011, but I don’t think we’ll truly see this young defense begin to peak until 2012/2013 when I expect them to ascend to a defense that can win games on their own. A defense that can shut down a star quarterback on the biggest stages like the dynasty defense was capable of.
Until then BB will just continue to add high character, high round draft picks.