NESO'S TAKE ON SPORTS » Richard Seymour

Richard Seymour: While The Trade Hurts, It Was Necessary

agarwal — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 03:55:37 +0000

Forever in a Patriots’ fans mind, No. 93 will represent a football player with uncanny speed mixed with size, and a man who’s drive to win always preceded his own personal accomplishments.

Of Course, No. 93, Richard Seymour, achieved many great personal things as well.

Throughout his time with the Patriots, Seymour compiled 39 sacks, five pro-bowl appearances and of course, three Super Bowl Championships.

His run stuffing and pass rushing abilities instilled the taste of dirt and the look of browned grass into his opponents minds. He truly was an integral part of three Super Bowl winning teams.

Unfortunately, we know that all good things have to come to an end.

So is the case with Richard Seymour, who is no longer a New England Patriot, or No. 93.

He is now No. 92 and will don the silver and black of the Oakland Raiders’ uniform.

Does it hurt to see Seymour go? Absolutely, and the Raiders know they’re getting a hell of a player in Richard Seymour. In this case, the Pats did not really have a choice but to trade Richard.

Next season, Vince Wilfork and Richard Seymour would both be eligible for free agency, and would need to be re-signed by the team. In all likelihood, Wilfork will demand a major pay raise similar to that of Albert Haynesworth, as Wilfork is widely considered the best nose tackle in the game. The Pats would not only need to re-sign Seymour, but also retain some key offensive lineman, such as Stephen Neal and Logan Mankins

Wilfork is younger than Seymour, and is certainly in the prime of his career, whereas Seymour is now past his younger days. Richard is certainly a great player, but New England would not have been able to re-sign both Wilfork and Seymour next off-season. Due to age, rare ability at his position, and health factors, Wilfork would have been the logical choice.

Seymour did have great ability at the defensive end position, but the limited end talent in the NFL exceeds the amount of nose tackles with skill the league offers.

Thus, the Patriots had two options.

Receive Seymour’s services for another season and get a third round draft choice in 2011 (Just like what happened with Asante Samuel), if they didn’t re-sign him. Due to a probable Wilfork pay raise, the Pats would have had severe trouble re-signing Seymour and some other offensive lineman while remaining under the salary cap.
Miss out on Richard for this season and obtain a first round draft pick. Not only is it a first rounder, but it will probably be very high, be it the Oakland Raiders’ pick. Unless Oakland suddenly becomes a legitimate threat (no signs of doing so yet), the Pats will have the opportunity to draft someone to fill Seymour’s shoes, or maybe fill a future void.

The Patriots knew that they could get value on the market by trading Seymour, and they did just that. Hopefully, Bill Belichick & Co. will be able to draft a player of similar caliber to Seymour.

So, Patriots fans, goodbye No. 93, thank you for giving so much to our beloved organization, and just be thankful that you’ve won some Super Bowls with New England, because in Oakland, a winning season would be a godsend.

NFL Power Rankings For the 2009-2010 Season

agarwal — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 00:26:02 +0000

32. Oakland Raiders: This team was bad, but they have Jamarcus Russell, who isn’t a bust yet. They could have shored up their defensive line by drafting Brian Orackpow, or even strengthened their line backing unit by drafting Larry English, Clay Matthews, Brian Cushing or Rey Maualuga. Instead, they go ahead and draft wide receiver and speedster Darius Heyward-Bey. Not even the most talented in the draft, I might add. They went with pure speed over route running and catching ability, by passing on Jeremy Maclin and Michael Crabtree. The Raiders could have improved themselves, but failed miserably.
31. Detroit Lions: They are heading in the right direction. Matthew Stafford seems to be a QB who can make all the right decisions and the tough throws. Then again, so was Joey Harrington. The Lions should let Stafford sit out for at least some of the season, so he isn’t thrown into a horrible situation, where he will be lying on his back half the time thanks to a weak offensive line.
30. San Fransisco 49ers: They have Frank Gore, but that’s about it. Mike Singletary has yet to prove himself as a coach, while the niner defense is very unproven. Until San Fran finds a quarterback, they will not contend with most NFL teams.
29. Kansas City Chiefs: The Chiefs got Matt Cassell, and drafted Tyson Jackson out of LSU. The two will help the team win, but not enough. Cassell was made better last year because he was throwing to Randy Moss and Wes Welker. With the Chiefs, Matt has no wide receiver other than Dwayne Bowe, especially with the absence of Tony Gonzalez.
28. Cincinnati Bengals: This team is pretty bad. They have one of the, if not the worst defensive units in the league, and their running game is deteriorating as their backs age. Carson Palmer is a great quarterback, but will have trouble finding people to throw to. Chad Ochocinco is a great wide out, but he will be double covered by most teams, and the Bengals don’t have much of a #2 without TJ Houshmenzadeh. Laverneus Coles is a good wide receiver, but not great. The Bengals simply have too many questions on defense to win. Also, many of their players (including possible #3 WR Chris Henry) have been in trouble with the law.
27. Seattle Seahawks: Seattle has no running game to speak of, an okay (at best) defensive unit, a good QB, and okay wide receivers. T.J. Houshmenzadeh is obviously their biggest threat, but teams will realize that doubling Housh and maybe even shading him with a third defender will be a possibility, given that Seattle doesn’t really have a #2.
26. St. Louis Rams: If they can stay healthy, they’ll be an okay team. They are very weak defensively, and they still haven’t found someone who they know can replace Orlando Pace. Jason Smith could fill the void, and James Laurinitis will help defensively, but the Rams have more questions than answers. Steven Jackson is a great RB, and Marc Bulger is a good QB. Unfortunately, Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce are no longer options as wide receivers.
25. Denver Broncos: With a good draft, the Broncos should have been able to compete. Unfortunately, Jay Cutler left and the Broncos were left with Kyle Orton. Orton is an okay QB, but not nearly as good as Cutler. The Broncos had major defensive issues, but still went offensive in the draft as they took RB Knowshon Moreno. Moreno looks to have great upside, but the Broncos fell into the trap of drafting talent rather than need. The Broncos have a weak D, and I doubt if Josh McDaniels can coach the defensive into the postseason; he was an offensive coordinator.
24. Houston Texans: The team over achieved last year. Their best player far and away is wide receiver Andre Johnson. After him, they don’t have much of a unit. Matt Schuab is a decent quarterback and their defense is average. Brian Cushing was a good pick, and will help out big time. Steve Slaton was a great RB last season, but he had just over 260 carries. It is yet to be seen if his 5’9″ frame can hold up being an every down type of back, who normally averages over 310 carries in a season. If Mario Williams and Demeco Ryans put up big seasons for Houston, then they could be more of a threat, but until then, Houston will not be a good team.
23. Cleveland Browns: Eric Mangini played the draft very well, understanding his biggest need was center. He drafted Alex Mack, who played well in college. Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn have both played, and have both showed glimpses of talent. Braylon Edwards is a solid target, so they will have someone to throw to. With Eric Mangini coaching, the defense should be stronger. Overall, the Browns can be a good team.
22. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: This team has great upside, but if their quarterbacks can’t produce, they won’t go anywhere. Josh Freeman could be a long term answer at quarterback, but that is uncertain. The defense is quite good, with Will Allen and Gaines Adams (who still has time to make a name for himself) as well as Ronde Barber. Barber is well out of his prime, as is most of the Bucs’ defense. They can be good, but again, it depends on quarterback play.
21. Chicago Bears: They now have a quarterback. Jay Cutler will provide the Bears stability in a position which they have been searching for for years. Unfortunately, the Bears D isn’t nearly as strong as it used to be, and in overall defense failed to break the top 10 last season.
20. Dallas Cowboys: They no longer have a premier wide receiver, so Tony Romo will be hesitant when throwing. They don’t have a prime back, and their defense is average. The Cowboys were good for the last few years, but they will not be too big of a threat this year. However, if Felix Jones competes at an even higher level than he did last season, America’s team could definitely make the playoffs.
19. Jacksonville Jaguars: The Jags don’t really have a quarterback, and their defense is old. They are okay at stopping the run (Mike Peters still has some left in the tank). Their strength is at running back, where they have Maurice Jones-Drew. Fred Taylor left to go to New England, so Jones-Drew will be tested.
18. New York Jets: The Jets drafted Mark Sanchez out of USC, who has great potential and awesome leadership skills. Their defense is very strong, with Kerry Rhodes leading the unit. Their offensive line should be strong, held together by Alan Faneca. I am hesitant to put New York any higher because you can never be certain what you’ll get with rookie QB. Joey Harrington is a prime example.
17. Washington Redskins: Jason Campbell is not a great quarterback by any stretch of the imagination. Clinton Portis is well out of his prime, but can still get the job done. He will be helped by Ladell Betts, who is a great 2-back. Defensively, the Skins will be helped out by the pick of Brian Orakpow, who was the top defensive lineman in the draft.
16. Buffalo Bills: Trent Edwards is a young quarterback who should improve, and he will be helped by the addition of Terrell Owens. TO has had success throughout his career in his first season with a team. Throw Lee Evans into the equation and the Bills have a solid receiving tandem. They also have RB Marshawn Lynch, who if not in trouble with the law poses a threat to defenses. Aaron Schobel is one of the best defensive lineman in the game, and anchors a very consistent Bills D.
15. New Orleans Saints: The Saints have Drew Brees, who is obviously one of the best QB’s in the league. He has Marques Colston to throw at, and he is a great option. Reggie Bush can still prove himself to be a solid player, while Deuce Mcallister can still put up decent numbers. Unfortunately, the Saints defense is pretty weak. Jonathan Vilma is not nearly as good as he used to be, but can still make tackles.
14. Miami Dolphins: The Dolphins were a major surprise last year, but they were helped by the absence of Tom Brady when playing New England. Ronnie Brown is a sensational RB, and Chad Pennington proved he could still make precise throws he used to be known for. The Dolphins will be better than they were last year, but they will not have as good of a record, thanks to the strong AFC east division.
13. Minnesota Vikings: Adrian Peterson is now one of the best RB’s in the league. He is an amazing player and defenses will have a helluva lot of trouble bringing him down. Unfortunately, the Vikings haven’t quited worked out their quarterback situation, and they can’t hand the ball to Adrian every play. Defensively, the Vikings have a great line, led by sack master Jared Allen.
12. New York Giants: They have a very good running game in Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs, and if the running game can get going, Eli Manning will play well, because is very effective off the play action. Unfortunately, Manning does not have a true #1 receiver to throw to now that Plaxico Burress is gone, and he is not a good enough QB to mask that.
11. San Diego Chargers: Without Shawne Merriman last season, the Charger defense was very weak. This year he’ll be back, and the unit should be much better. Philip Rivers is a great quarterback, and he will be throwing to Chris Chambers and Vincent Jackson, who are two good receivers. However, LaDanian Tomlinson is not as good as he used to be, and seems to be running out of gas, and Darren Sproles hasn’t shown he can be an every down runner. Charger’s former FB Lorenzo Neal’s absence will continue to show its effect.
10. Baltimore Ravens: Led by rookie QB, the Ravens offense was surprisingly good. Willis McGahee led the ground attack, while Flacco put together a solid rookie campaign. Defensively, the Ravens are still one of the best, featuring Ed Reed and Ray Lewis.
9. Indianapolis Colts: The Colts no longer have Marvin Harrison or Tony Dungy, and Bob Sanders is one year older. Peyton Manning will be content throwing to Reggie Wayne, but a legitimate #2 WR has yet to reveal himself. Without Dungy, the Colts will not be as good as they were with him, and it will be obvious when they play. Joseph Addai is a pretty good running back, but the Colts’ defense is too weak to compete with powerful, smashmouth teams, especially without Bob Sanders.
8. Green Bay Packers: They drafted NT B.J. Raji out of Boston College. He is a monster inside, and will wreak havoc against most offensive lines. Aaron Rodgers proved he was worthy of playing in the NFL, and he has Greg Jennings to throw to. Overall, the Packers will be a very strong team, and they have key players at corner back who can make big plays; last year Charles Woodson and Nick Collins combined for 14 picks.
7. Tennessee Titans: Kerry Collins can still make the throws he needs to, and Chris Johnson is a dominating running back. The Titans will not be as good as they were last season, but they will still be a force, and I think make the playoffs because the Colts are without coach Tony Dungy.
6. Philadelphia Eagles: They have all the necessary tools to be a great team. A great QB, a strong running game and good wide outs. Brian Westbrook and Donovan McNabb are still good players, and Kevin Curtis is a pretty good wide receiver. Defensively, they have Asante Samuels, as well as Sheldon Brown. LeSean McCoy has a bright future as an NFL running back, and if he starts off on the right foot, the Eagles will go deep into the playoffs.
5. Arizona Cardinals: Kurt Warner will be back, and he has the best wide receiving tandem in the league at his disposal, in Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald. Tim Hightower is an okay running back, and the Cards have a very strong defense, led by safety Adrian Wilson.
4. Atlanta Falcons: Matt Ryan is a great QB, and will be better than last year, as will his targets including Roddy White. The Addition of Tony Gonzalez will only help the offense, and they have a very strong running game, thanks to Michael Turner.
3. Carolina Panthers: Great running game, great passing game and great defense. Julius Peppers can still make huge plays on D, while DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart produce a nasty running attack. Jake Delhomme is a very good QB, and when you have Steve Smith to throw to, you are helped out big time. If the Panthers can get on a roll going into the playoffs, they could go deep into the playoffs, and they are my pick to win the NFC.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers: Best defense in the league, and a great offense. Any time you win a super bowl, your team has to be pretty darn good, and the Steelers are just that. Big Ben leads an offense attack which can punch you in the nose with a run from Mewelde Moore, Rashard Mendenhall or Willie Parker, or air out a deep bomb to Hines Ward or Santonio Holmes. The Steelers defense is as powerful as the offense, shown by the defeat of one of the best passing attacks in the league lsat year in the Arizona Cardinals.
1. New England Patriots: Tom Brady is back, and he has Randy Moss and Wes Welker. Laurence Maroney, Fred Taylor, Sammy Morris and Kevin Faulk each posess certain skills which complement each other, giving New England an offense which can air it out as well as any team better than any team in the NFL, while still play smash mouth football. Defensively, New England has one of the best D lines in the league, thanks to Vince Wilfork, Richard Seymour and Ty Warren, while their secondary has been greatly improved in the draft. Darius Butler was widely considered a top CB, and Pat Chung is a smart, hard hitting safety. The Pats have a mixed linebacking unit. Jerod Mayo is a beast, as is Adalius Thomas (who still has gas left in his tank). Tedy Bruschi plays smart, and the other OLB position will be filled by Shawn Crable, who is spoken very highly of by the New England coaching staff. The Pats’ only real uncertainty is at LOLB (where Crable will most likely play). It was hard to decide between Pittsburgh and New England here, but I just felt that because the Pats have a top defensive unit and the best offense in the league, they could beat the Steelers. The Patriots are deep too, and barring an injury situation similar to last year, I expect the Pats to win the SB.

Patriots’ Day One Draft Analysis

agarwal — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 03:53:16 +0000

Most people believed that the Patriots would draft a linebacker, either inside our outside. Not surprisingly, Bill Belichick surprised us. He traded down two times, and on both of those occasions Rey Maualuga and Clay Matthews were available. Matthews and Maualuga were two of the five highest rated linebackers coming into the draft. When New England drafted Patrick Chung with their 34th pick, Maualuga was still available! This tells me one thing: The New England Patriots were not high on the linebacking class of 2009, otherwise they would not have passed up on Maualuga or Matthews, let alone both. Belichick did express that he thinks very highly of Shawn Crable, and that he has a lot of potential. Crable was injured last season, however the organization believes that he has a very high upside. So, should we worry that New England did not address what seemed to be their most pressing need in the offseason? No, because they did. I had previously said that the Pats needed to draft front seven players, because their linebacking core was aging, and Richard Seymour and Vince Wilfork were both entering contract seasons. The Pats drafted Ron Brace, a DT from Boston College who will terrorize offensive lines which have been exhausted by Vince Wilfork, while giving Wilfork the opportunity to rest. Jerod Mayo is a stud, and Adalius Thomas is a spectacular player and will be for the next couple of seasons. Tedy Bruschi is aging, and is not nearly as effective as he used to be, but he is a solid player and will be given chances to rush the passer with Wilfork and Brace opening holes for him. The only real question in terms of linebacker was who would fill Mike Vrabel’s vacancy. Clearly, if the Pats wanted Clay Matthews, they would have taken him, as they had the opportunity to draft him. I think that Shawn Crable will do a very good job filling in for Vrabel, and BB would not have passed up on Matthews if he did not think so highly of the young ‘backer. This shows the Pats need another linebacker in terms of depth, or somebody to fill in for Shawn Crable or Adalius Thomas, somebody to essentially complement Pierre Woods at this point. The Pats have compiled picks in the 3rd round, and will have plenty of opportunities to draft low cost players who can be effective at the next level. If you are skeptical about Ron Brace, remember how successful Bill has been selecting defensive linemen: Warren, Seymour and Wilfork. If you are skeptical about Sebastian Vollmer, look at how successful BB has been with his O Line picks: Logan Mankins, Matt Light, Stephen Neal and Nick Kaczur.

Here are my thoughts on each individual pick:

Pat Chung: Chung was a great player for Oregon, and is a hard hitting safety who was battle-tested and very durable throughout his college career. He will mots likely fill the role of Rodney Harrison. The Pats needed somebody to intimidate wide outs when they ventured across the middle of the field, and Chung can be that guy. Brandon Meriweather is more of a coverage safety, while James Sanders is a consistent player who makes the necessary plays, so Chung will give the position more intimidation and run stuffing abilities. I think this was a very solid pick for New England, because they needed somebody to set the tone on defense, and make New England’s physical presence shown early, something thta Chung can do.

Ron Brace: I think this was a great pick, because Brace is an extremely underrated player due to the shadow that B.J. Raji cast over him. Brace is someone who can give Wilfork a rest while still serving as a threat for defenses. Also, when the Pats throw out their 4-3 package to stop the run during 3rd and short situations, Brace will be much more of a factor than Mike Wright, who previously filled in for Wilfork. Ron is very adept at moving his massive frame, so he can also threaten the QB. Mike Wright will also be given the opportunity to be the back up to Richard Seymour, where he can me much more effective as a pass rusher coming off the edge of the line. Wright was never able to draw double teams when he played as the nose tackle, so Brace will turn what was a weakness of the defense, into a strength.

Darius Butler: To me, Butler was a steal this late in the second round. He was projected to be a first round pick, maybe early second round. He is not a big corner, but has a 43″ vertical leap, so you know he can cover the deep ball against bigger receivers, something that has been a problem for New England over the past 4 years, even with Asante Samuels. Butler played some receiver in college, so you know that if an opportunity strikes, he will be able to intercept the ball as opposed to drop the pick. I think that the combination of Butler and Chung turns the Pats’ secondary into a strength, after being a weakness the last two years. Now, they are deeper than they have been, and Wheatley and Wilhite are both players with great upsides and have solid skillsets to work with. Hobbs is an average corner, while Shawn Springs and Leigh Bodden are both great DB’s. Not only do they have the speed and coverage skills to keep up with the Ted Ginn Jr.’s, but they also have the ability to pound receivers and keep them off the middle of the field.

Sebastian Vollmer: Vollmer is a huge player who can open some holes for our running backs, and while he may not have been the best O lineman available, BB has had success drafting players who other people have hated, especially along the offensive line. Logan Mankins, one of the elite guards in the NFL, was very low among most mock drafts in the league, but Bill Belichick clearly knew what he was doing when he drafted him. Despite being big, Volmmer is also a player who can move his massive frame. By playing as a 3rd stringer, the older linemen on the team will have the chance to mentor Sebastian and turn him into a successful player.

Overall, the Patriots had a very successful draft, because they turned their secondary into a strength, made their defensive line an absolute terror to play against, and gave their O line some more depth and a more powerful run blocking line. Their offense is set for 2009 (barring any major injury issues similar to last year) and have made their defense more complete. I think Shawn Crable is a very good tackler, who plays instictively and smart, and will be very successful next year. By drafting the way they did, New England can now focus their 3rd round picks on shoring up the backup linebacking position or maybe even adding another defensive back. As recent years have showed, the Pats could never have too many DB’s thanks to major injury problems.

In Bill we Trust!

NFL Draft in 2

agarwal — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 17:17:08 +0000

With the draft coming up very quickly it’s crunch time for Patriots staff and scouting teams, as they need to decide which players are worth invaluable draft picks. By far, the most pivotal picks are their first four; all coming in the first two rounds. However, the Pats’ first two picks need to be spot on this year, especially if they (like they should) go defense. New England has an aging defensive core, like Tedy Bruschi who his well past his prime. Richard Seymour, another ‘ager’ has maybe 1-2 more seasons before he is considered ‘out of his prime.’ Tedy Bruschi was great and still is a great leader, but he needs to retire before he convinces himself he can make a huge difference for the team. Jerod Mayo was a brilliant pick last year, and if the Patriots can get a few picks who produce even close to what Mayo did, then in my esteemed opinion, they will have had a successful draft.

So, who do I think the Patriots should draft? Logically, it comes down to who’s left. If Wake Forest LB Aaron Curry is available at 23, then he’s obviously going to be selected. Clearly, this is an improbable situation thanks to Curry’s obvious talent. I think that at 23, the Patriots need to look defensively, especially because their offense has not had trouble putting up the numbers in the last two seasons. Brady, Moss, Welker and the Pats offensive line are still intact for at least one more year, and I still have faith in Ben Watson and Laurence Maroney. With Fred Taylor, the Pats have a trio of capable backs (Sammy Morris, Taylor and Maroney) along with their 3rd down back Kevin Faulk. Defensively, the Patriots have a strong line for the time being, in Richard Seymour, Vince Wilfork and Ty Warren, but realistically, only two of them will be with the team within the next 3 years. Their starting linebackers are on the wrong side of thirty, with the exception of Jerod Mayo, and even though Shawn Crable is highly spoken of by the organization, we still don’t know what he is capable of doing. In terms of defensive backs we made some progress with our ever depleted corner back position by signing Shawn Springs and Leigh Bodden. Personally, in terms of corner backs we’re fine, because Terrence Wheatley and Jonathan Wilhite both showed promise and Ellis Hobbs is a good, not great, a good corner. Springs and Bodden have both played well, and with proper coaching can put their careers back on the right track. Bill Belichick is the coach, so that shouldn’t be a problem. At safety, we have Brandon Meriweather and James Sanders. Meriweather I think can be a great safety in this league because of his athleticism, but he needs to fix his tackling, which so far has been improving very nicely. Sanders is a consistent safety who will continue to improve.

Clearly, it is the front 7 of the Patriots that needs help, as most of their linebackers are old, and their line might not be together in the near future. That is why I think we should draft Clay Matthews, because he not only has a great gene pool, but also because he has a massive upside. He improved all of last season despite not playing much in his first few years at USC, and he showed good instincts and sound fundamentals when he played, something that Coach Bill absolutely adores. Matthews should be available at 23, and will be a great fit in New England.

The 34th pick is a very intriguing pick, as it gives teams an opportunity to pick up ‘leftovers’ per say, from the first round at a bargain price. I think New England will go with either Larry English or James Laurinaitis if they’re available, again because they are both coachable players who have solid instincts and are fundamentally ready to play football in the NFL. Also, by drafting these defenders at this time, older linebackers in the system can serve as mentors, and hopefully these young ‘backers will benefit just like Jerod Mayo did. If neither are available, look for New England to draft a defensive lineman, somebody like Michael Johnson, Paul Kruger or Robert Ayers. All of these players have shown vast improvements throughout their college careers, which bodes well for their future talent. I think that Kruger would be the first two be selected from these three, because he is a solid pass rusher and run stuffer, unlike Ayers and Johnson who both are more pass defending linemen.

This is a very important draft for New England, because they can set some solid foundations of future team growth defensively, and can keep their 3-4 year window of winning more Super Bowls intact.

8 Real Reasons Why the Patriots Will Win the Super Bowl Next Year

agarwal — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 04:12:25 +0000

Last year, the Pats almost made the playoffs, despite half of their team on the IR. Two years ago, well 18-1. But still, 18 wins. That’s more than any other team in NFL history, and more than the Lions and Raiders combined over the last 3 seasons. If the Pats can play at the level of 18-1 again, and their defense continues to improve, then there will be no stopping them. So, why do I think that they’ll be better than last year, and maybe even as good, if not better than two years ago?

Tom Brady will be back. Matt Cassel played well. Extremely well, however he was not able to fully utilize the deep threat to Randy Moss. Cassel is a great accurate, dink-and-dunk quarterback, similar to Brady when Tom was younger, however Tom can make the short throw AND the long throw. Cassel was great, but Brady is better.
Our Running Backs will be healthy. Okay, last year was crazy. Three out of our four running backs were injured, and all for significant periods of time! No way that happens again. Even if one, or two go down, we have a lot of depth there. Sammy Morris is a great runner for 4-5 yard carries, consistently, as he is fairly quick and packs a punch when he runs into a defender. He also is very good at hitting the holes. Lamont Jordan is a great guy for those tough, 2-3 yard situations, just because of his size and because he’s so hard to bring down. Laurence Maroney is good for 5 yards a carry, if he achieves his potential. He can run over defenders, juke them out, and has a powerful stiff arm move. If BB can utilize these three running backs so that Jordan gets 4 carries a game, Morris gets 10, and Maroney gets 10, meaning they split the load, then they will stay healthy and fresh. Plus, Kevin Faulk can always be thrown into the mix. If any of the backs get tired? No problem, there ar at least two more capable starters. And yes, I believe that Maroney will stay healthy this year, as will Morris, as both are learning to keep their bodies healthy, specifically Maroney, who is learning that it’s better to get tackled than to get injured.
Our cornerbacks are good. Ellis Hobbs is a solid corner, and can cover pretty much all the #2 wideouts in the league, and can occasionally shut down a #1 guy. He is a little bit slow on the deep ball, however with Brandon Meriweather’s ball hawking skills and recovery speed, that should be less of a problem. Also, Jonathan Wilhite showed promise at the end of last season. He was able to intercept the ball, and make some big defensive plays. He is a great option to cover the #3 receiver, and occasionally the #2 wideout. Now, not he showed his rapid improvement towards the end of last season, and if he continues to improve, he can become a very, very good corner in this league, because of his instinct. Lastly, Terrence Wheatley was getting better before he injured his wrist. He is very similar to Wilhite, except that he is a little bit more of a speed corner as opposed to a wrap-up tackler. He is a good tackler, and if improves at the pace he was before he got injured (He shut down Reggie Wayne while playing the Colts before he went down), then he will be a great corner in this league, even a shut-down one. Just because he wasn’t a first rounder, doesn’t mean he can’t be good. Even Jonathan Wilhite. Remember, Asante Samuel was a 3rd rounder.
The safeties will be better. James Sanders is improving, and Brandon Meriweather led the team in picks (4) despite only starting 10 games. Sanders is a good, consistent tackler, and Meriweather is a great ball hawk, who is quick and has developed a real knack for the ball. He is working on his tackling, and once he becomes a better wrap-up tackler, his occasional big hit will be glorified. Also, Tank Williams, who was overlooked to to his pre-season injury, is a great safety. He also can play linebacker if need be, and he is a very, very consistent tackler, who posesses enough speed to flow with tight ends and most wide receivers.
The line is good. Both lines. The offensive line last year was great after getting used to Cassel’s style, and with Brady back, (or even with Cassel if Brady can’t go) then they will dominate, similar to the ’07-’08 season. Last year, we saw what the Pats defensive line could do with the three men healthy. Warren did go down towards the end of the year, however when they are healthy (which they were for 14 games last year, and will do the same next year) they are dominant. Richard Seymour. Need I say more? Quick, powerful, great at batting down passes and rushing the passer. Vince Wilfork is just a mountain in the middle, and Ty Warren is an underrated run stuffer, who has the ability to get to the QB.
Ben Watson will be better. He will be used more offense, as he has become a better blocking tight end, and his route running has improved. He is a great run after the catch tight end, and like Antonio Gates, is very athletic and very fast.
Our linebackers will be better. Jerod Mayo will improve, Adalius Thomas won’t be injured, and Mike Vrabel will at least be consistent. Also, Pierre Woods will be a stronger back-up, and a more useful option after his experience last year. Also, Gary Guyton showed promise according to Bill Belichick before getting injured, so he will provide some depth. If Bruschi can come back after his injury, great, he is not great anymore, but he is good, and knows how to play. Also, the Pats will probably address their linebacker issues in the draft, even with Rosevelt Colvin and Junior Seau.
The defense will be deeper next year. Similar to last year, the Pats will probably go all out defense during the draft, to address depth issues at linebacker and safety, as well as grab a #3-#4 cornerback. The Pats will either go safety or linebacker in the first round, and whichever way they don’t go, they will probably choose in the second. I think they will choose a linebacker in the first round, especially after how well Jerod Mayo played last year. Then, in the 3rd, they’ll probably go for a corner, and in the 4th and 5th round they’ll look for secondary players in general. Because they have Tank Williams, who can play linebacker, they don’t need to draft 3-4 backers this year, rather only 2-3. That’s why I think they’ll draft a backer in the 6th round, and then leave the 7th round up to possibly a special teams guy who’s primary position is cornerback.

I think this is how the draft will shape up:

Round

1. Linebacker

2. Safety

3. Cornerback

4. Cornerback/Safety (somebody who has the versatility to play either)

5. Safety/Cornerback (same as above, however more of a safety)

6. Linebacker

7. Lineman/Small Linebacker

Overall, the Pats will just be better defensively, and will be able to utilize all of their weapons offensively. Even though the Pats lost Pioli and McDaniels, I believe that that the coaching of Bill O’Brien will be fine in replacing Josh, and Belichick has a very similar and uncanny knack for getting a steal pick, similar to Pioli. Plus, I don’t expect the Pats to get hit with 20+ injuries again this season. And when healthy, this team has shown (2007-2008) that they really can’t be beat*. So, if the Pats made, and almost won the Super Bowl* with an extremely similar team, which has an improving defense, then shouldn’t they be able to do it again?

*Note: The Giants won because of an attrocious offensive game, and the David Tyree catch 1) never happens again and 2)Richard Seymour and Ty Warren were being held on that play (look at the replay)