Maybe Pats will ... maybe they won't
John Czarnecki / FOXSports.com
The New England Patriots are embarking on a goal, winning a third consecutive NFL championship, that hasn't been accomplished since the legendary Green Bay Packers of Vince Lombardi. Even novice fans must realize that this coach named Lombardi must have been damn good in the 1960s because the Super Bowl trophy is now named after him.
Behind every great team, there generally is a great coach and that's why the Patriots have won two consecutive titles to go with their great upset of the St. Louis Rams after the 2001 season. Bill Belichick is this era's great coach. And like Jimmy Johnson and Bill Walsh, his expertise at evaluating personnel has been equally as important as his overall strategies. It is a major ingredient to both his success and that of the Patriots.
With that in mind, here are five reasons why the Patriots can make it three straight:
1. Quarterback Tom Brady figures to improve. He is already the best quarterback at anticipating blitzes and knowing a defense's weakness. His main receivers, starting with Super Bowl MVP Deion Branch, are all young. Plus, he should have a new weapon underneath and deep down the seams in TE Ben Watson, who was injured last season.
2. The Patriots' special teams ranked only 21st overall last season, a very bad number for a championship team. But they should be better since personnel guru Scott Pioli signed two very good returners in Tim Dwight and Chad Morton. The Pats had their worst punt return average in 15 seasons (5.8 yards) a year ago. Plus, they improved their kick coverage teams by signing Wesly Mallard away from the New York Giants. They retain the game's best clutch kicker in Adam Vinatieri.
3. This may be hard to accept, but Brady and his offensive buddies may be better off with Belichick calling the plays and devising the offense than they were under former offensive coordinator Charlie Weis, who left for Notre Dame. Outsiders believe this is a huge gamble on Belichick's part, but he surely understands offenses because he's been devising defenses his entire career to stop them. He's smart enough, and inventive enough, to develop some intricate game plans. Plus, he has the guts to call a game. There are offensive coaches in this league who can install an offense, but can't call a game to save their jobs.
4. Both DT Richard Seymour and SS Rodney Harrison will be taken care of financially. Seymour is pleased with his one-year deal while both sides work toward an extension for the 25-year-old, four-time Pro Bowler. Harrison, who was dumped too early by the Chargers, is expected to receive a new contract as well. Harrison, with linebacker Tedy Bruschi out for the season, assumes much of the daily practice leadership role. Harrison has been more than even Belichick expected.
5. WR David Terrell, who had tons of personal issues with the Chicago Bears, could blossom in New England where the focus definitely won't be on him. He played at Michigan with Tom Brady and was a first-round draft choice. He has big-play ability, but his career suffered in Chicago because he became a distraction on and off the field. Of course, Terrell was stuck with some awful quarterbacks in Chicago, too. Don't forget that Belichick has had success with so-called bad boys. Corey Dillon was unloved in Cincinnati and all he did was rush for 1,635 yards and 12 touchdowns last season.
That being said, there's a reason why no one's won three championships in a row since Lombardi's Packers ... it's unbelievably hard to do.
So before you start thinking a three-peat in New England is inevitable, here are five reasons why the Patriots can't repeat:
1. With the losses of both defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel (now head coach of the Browns) and offensive coordinator Charlie Weis (now head coach at Notre Dame), Belichick has turned the defense over to young coordinator Eric Mangini. "Bill has been used to being involved in every facet of his team," said Jimmy Johnson, "but it looks like his focus will be offense. He's counting on Mangini to take care of the defense and that could be a lot to ask for a first-year coordinator."
2. Belichick has a plan for the offensive play-calling, but he's going to experiment with it in the preseason. He's counting on himself and new tight ends coach Pete Mangurian, who he knows from when both worked for the Giants. Quarterbacks coach Josh McDaniels will also be involved. Bottom line though, he's counting on the rapport he has with Tom Brady. But maybe his focus on the offense takes away from his customary work with the defense and special teams.
3. The Patriots are without both inside linebackers, Tedy Bruschi and Ted Johnson, from last season. Bruschi was a huge leader and a playmaker on defense. Johnson was rock solid against the run. But if the experiments of shifting Mike Vrabel inside or using newcomer Chad Brown, who hasn't started in a 3-4 since 1996, aren't the solutions, the defense could be a mess instead of a strength. Brown and ex-Chief Monty Beisel (since when do you find defensive stars in Kansas City?) will be given the first crack at the inside positions. Most believe, though, that Brown is better as a weak-side linebacker, considering his sacking potential. Brown has also missed 19 starts in the last three years.
4. The law of averages catches the Patriots. Everybody will be gunning for them. They have to play at Carolina, at Pittsburgh and at Atlanta in the first five games. Plus, their division competition may be the stiffest in the NFL with the arrival of Nick Saban in Miami. Yes, they have won three Super Bowls, but they've won them by the smallest of margins: three points each time. They are very good, but they haven't dominated anyone.
5. The offensive line has never been filled with Pro Bowlers. But they failed to sign leader Joe Andruzzi and it appears that rookie Logan Mankins is set to replace him. Dante Scarnecchia is one of the game's finest offensive line coaches, but what if Mankins doesn't develop as quickly as Scarnecchia needs him to? Remember, this isn't a stellar pass-blocking unit. Left tackle Matt Light has been beaten by speed rushers. If they get dominated, it could be a long season for Brady and Corey Dillon.
i have to say i am hoping that the first 5 outweigh the last 5...but i am at best cautiously optimistic. a season minus Bruschi does not leave me feeling confident defensively. i know that they have overcome the odds & won even with an injured team & minus key players but i don't know how much longer good fortune can smile on a beaten up team. let's hope the guys we have left stay healthy...
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