Game-Planning the New England Patriots: What Will We See in '09?

It's always difficult to say what the Patriots will do in any given game.

This team is organized, built and trained to be incredibly versatile. Players must be able to fill multiple roles for the team, or they don't remain Patriots for very long. The team's emphasis on situational football makes them very difficult to surprise (but not impossible, as last year's Wildcat blindside at the hands of the Dolphins demonstrated).

The Pats don't have a defined team mentality. Many teams rely too heavily on setting up one facet of their game (run, pass or defense) to be successful, but Bill Belichick and his staff have consciously avoided such an approach.

The coaches, in other words, approach football the way Bruce Lee approached martial arts —the style of having no style.

Take last season for example—the team can attempt 43 passes and be successful (as in a 48-28 victory over Miami in November) or, when circumstances dictate, it can morph into a power rushing team (like it did in a wild-and-windy win over the Bills in the last game of the year).

However, there are a good number of things we can expect to see in the 2009 season, given the changes in personnel.

The Pats, most likely, will make new pickup Fred Taylor a change-of-pace back. He won't get the majority of the carries in any given game (he's past that point in his career), but his shifty style of running can be effective in keeping opposing defenses off-guard.

One free-agent acquisition I believe has been underrated is that of linebacker Tully Banta-Cain. Banta-Cain, who is returning to the team after a somewhat disappointing stint in San Francisco, will be used principally on third downs to rush the passer. Banta-Cain knows the system, and the team's overall talent allows it to use him in his most natural role.

In terms of general philosophy, we will probably see the Patriots resume the aerial attack that has been terrorizing the league for the past two years.

The team likely will use the three-receiver shotgun look quite a bit, directly snapping the ball to the halfback when they wish to run from the formation. Though Jabar Gaffney has left through free agency, Joey Galloway should provide the team with a viable threat opposite Moss—with Wes Welker in the slot, of course.

Though some have mentioned the possibility of seeing the Wildcat formation from the Pats next year, I don't believe that's something that will consistently pop up in games. I know the team picked up WR/QB Julian Edelman in the draft, but the Wildcat seemed to be losing steam even last year, and I know defensive coordinators will spend the summer thinking about how to stop it.

What will the Pats be in '09?

Whatever they need to be to be successful.