2009 Record: 10-6, Division Champions
2009 Playoff Record: 0-1
Key Losses: Jarvis Green, Adalius Thomas, Benjamin Watson
Key Additions: Alge Crumpler, Tory Holt, Devin McCourty
The Patriots have been the best team of the past decade, winning three Superbowls in four years and compiling the longest NFL win streak. They've been hard-pressed to live up to that history in recent years, though, losing to the Giants and going a full season without Brady. 2009 was supposed to be the year they finally got back to the top, but an early playoff exit exposed the team as no longer being the dynasty they were only a few years ago. Coach Bill Belichick is trying to get the team back to that level with a drastically changed lineup. Most of his players from those championships have left, and he now has a team composed primarily of rookies and veterans. If the Patriots are going to repeat as Division Champs they're going to have to get the most out of both groups.
Their defense is one area that used to be lights-out, but with marquee players either going to other teams or retiring there is a considerable pool of youth there trying to play at the Patriot level. There aren't many major changes this season, and Belichick seems to be expecting improvement from his young players that are entering their second and third years. That task isn't as monumental as it sounds, though. Last season the Patriots ranked in the upper half of the league in all major categories of pass defense, their problems came against the run and in generating sacks. Their secondary is solid, and with a first round pick at cornerback they should be a strong team against the pass.
Their front seven is another story, though. Linebacker is an obvious area of need after losing Adalius Thomas, the latest of the New England backers to take off for another team. It showed, as they drafted two linebackers in the second round. These players are going to be hard-pressed to produce right away, which in itself isn't that strange in Belichick's system, but they are going to be asked to produce in an area of weakness. The Pats can't be content with status quo, they need more pressure on the QB and better play against the run. Further compounding this problem is the holdout of star linebacker Derrick Burgess who accounted for five sacks last season. This means the pressure will be on Tully Banta-Cain, Jerod Mayo, and the rookies to step up play at that position and get this team back to a point of being a feared playoff contender.
The front three don't look much better. Those positions weren't addressed until the seventh round of the draft, and the line as it is now looks to be comprised of a group of aging veterans. Gerrard Warren was brought in to stop the run, but his sack production hasn't been very impressive ion recent seasons. Vince Wilfork is in a similar situation, and these two veterans will be called upon to elevate the defense and be a dominating force up front. Whether or not this combination of youth and veterans will produce better results than last year is a question, though.
Offense is still strong behind Tom Brady, but not invincible without Wes Welker for an undetermined amount of time. New England invested Heavily in the tight end position during the offseason, bringing in Alge Crumpler and drafting Rob Gronkowski in the second round. They should make up somewhat for he presence Welker brings in short yardage situations, but the Pats have stalled without Welker on the field despite their tight ends before. This adds yet another question to a team that has a good deal of them already.
Another question will be their rushing attack. One move that would clear up some of these questions would be to get guard Logan Mankins back under contract, as guards play a big factor in rushing performance. Otherwise, though, they ranked near the top of the league last season, but are again going with a running back by committee. BenJarvus Green-Ellis looked good in limited play last year, but it seems more likely that they will stay with a committee with proven veterans Laurence Maroney, Fred Taylor, and Kevin Faulk on the roster. They could stand to improve their per carry average, but other than that their rushing attack was solid. If they build on what they did last year it should provide a boost to the offense.
The rest of the offense is rock solid. Brady is back under center, and Torry Holt will be in the lineup next to Randy Moss. The rest of the receiving corps is suspect, but if they can play solid until Welker comes back they should have a surge late in the season. Their line is also rock-solid in pass protection, ranking third in the league last season. If they can repeat that success this team should have a good shot at making the playoffs.
The Pats are a better team than they seem, though they are showing some chips in the armor. They have some areas where they could improve, but those areas won't hold them back dramatically. They have some favorable matchups this year, but some problem ones as well such as the team that knocked them out of the playoffs last year, the Baltimore Ravens. If they can't solidify their run D it could cost them a playoff berth, though that speaks to the strength of their division as well. The Patriots have plenty of potential, they just need to translate that into post-season success.
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