Belichick From the Block

Remember that J-Lo song “Jenny From The Block,” that came out like five years ago? Well if the title isn’t enough of an indication, J-Lo urges her friends and critics through “song,” to remember no matter how successful she has become, she is still the same person; still if you will, Jenny from the block. In the chorus, she triumphantly belts: “No matter where I go, I know where I came from.”

Despite their remarkable offensive outputs over the last three seasons, the Patriots' defenses have gotten progressively worse.

Now, you may be wondering what this has to do with anything. Well, let’s dive in.

The New England Patriots are 7-5. The still lead the AFC East, but by their traditional standards, they are off to one of their ugliest starts in the last decade. Their Sunday afternoon loss to the Dolphins marked the first time in more than three years that the Patroits have dropped two games in a row.

And when you begin to examine why, “Jenny From The Block” all of a sudden becomes a lot more salient.

Despite the fact that the term “dynasty” gets thrown around in New England all the time, the Patriots haven’t won a Super Bowl in five years. So let’s examine what they looked like when they were repeat champions in 2003 and 2004.

In 2003, the Patriots ranked in the lower half of the NFL in terms of offensive yards, and were out of the top 10 in points per game. Their defense however allowed less than 15 points per contest, good for best in the NFL.

2004 was the first time in the decade that the Patriots were a genuinely dominating offense. Their offensive output went from 17th overall in 2003, to being ranked in the top five in almost every major offensive category. But the main story was still their defense, which finish just behind the Steelers for best scoring defense in the league.

This paints a very interesting picture. When the Patriots were winning championships, their defense kept them in games until the fourth quarter. Then, Tom Brady and friends would take over. So I guess the million dollar question is this: Have the Patriots forgotten where they came from?

Despite their remarkable offensive outputs over the last three seasons, the Patriots' defenses have gotten progressively worse. In fact, the 2004 season marked the only time that the Patriots had a top five offense and defense in the same year. The years previous to 2004 saw their defense getting stronger and their offense suffering. Since their last title, it has been a total role reversal.

Now, sports media figures question coach Bill Belichick on a weekly basis. Usually it is because he went for it on fourth down in an unconventional situation. It appears however, that these figures haven’t once stopped to ask why he would go for it. And it's because his defense has really had that much of a problem.

The Patriots have spent three years adding new Lamborghinis to the offensive garage, including but not limited to Randy Moss, Wes Welker, and a cavalcade of running backs. But at the same time, Belichick has been willing to part ways with several of the best defensive players he’s ever had.

Everyone knows about the famed Boston-New York rivalry. But not everyone knows how much they have in common. If there was one team that served as a suitable means comparison for the 2009 New England Patriots, it would be the team that everyone in New England hates: the New York Yankees.

After an unparalleled reign of success through the turn of the millennium, the Yankees appeared to forget how to be themselves. Despite the fact that the Yankees desperately needed pitching and defensive help, they spent the better part of the last six years going after home run hitters.  Now, having come back into their own, the Yankees win a World Series.

The mantra is simple: if you are good enough at one thing, it may be able to overshadow your woes in another area. But for all the great things we say about him, Bill Belichick should know better than that. It is Belichick after all who because famous for shutting down superior teams and then wearing away at their sub par defenses. Don’t forget where you came from. Or else people start singing about it.

Then it gets real ugly.