People Misunderstand Patriots' Biggest Needs

Its been several quiet months since the Patriots' 2009 NFL season ended, and to the naked eye it seems as if they haven't done much to improve their team from last year.  I've read countless articles stating the two biggest problems from last season were outside linebackers and the running game.  After the Patriots skipped on Sergio Kindle and drafted a largely unheard of pass rusher and failed to address the running back position, people seem to be writing off the Patriots for the 2010 season.  After doing my own analysis, I highlight the three biggest problems from the 2009 season, and what the team has done to fix them.  And things are starting to look good.

1. Wide Receiver depth.  Sam Aiken is our Special Teams captain, but he really shouldn't be our third wide receiver.  Edelman started to emerge last season, but Sam Aiken as a third wide receiver for a team that comes out with three wide receivers on a regular basis isn't a good thing.  Compare us to the Colts.  The Colts lose Anthony Gonzalez last year and their receiving core didn't miss a beat.  Garcon and Collie step in and the Colts offense remains prolific and dynamic.  You have an offense based on Welker, Moss, and Aiken and it makes us very one-dimensional and predictable.  This year gets me excited.  Tory Holt had 750 yards last year on the Jaguars and he shouldn't be overlooked.  Its very realistic he could get 1,000 yards with Tom Brady throwing him balls.  Brandon Tate is an incredible talent and will immediately affect the team if he can stay healthy.  Then you add in guys like rookies Gronkowski and Hernandez who form match-up problems for the defense.  Finally, we might have a dynamic passing attack again.  Look how Aiken just went went from third on our depth chart at receiver to 6th (Moss, Welker, Holt, Edelman, Tate, Aiken).  Also, Taylor Price is a burner and had the 2nd fastest 40 at the combine.  This major overhaul at the receiving options for a pass-centric team is very, very significant.

2. 1/2 Linebackers.  Please dont narrow this down to the lack of pass rush by the outside linebacker as every single Patriots reporter has been doing.  If you look at our four linebacker spots, we only have "every-down" players at two of the positions.  Mayo and Banta-Cain were reliable as every-down players, but thats it.  Guyton is great in sub packages, but is a liability against the run.  I love having Guyton on the team, but he shouldn't be playing 85% of the defensive snaps.  Then there's a void at that other outside linebacker spot.  Half of our starting linebackers aren't every down players.  Tyrone McKenzie is a guy that I can't wait to see contribute on the field and I think Spikes is a perfect fit for our defense.  I don't care what his 40 time is.  Linebackers don't run 40 yards in a straight line from a stand-still.  Spikes reads plays and anticipates better than any linebacker I've seen in recent years.  Look at our inside backer depth from last year: Mayo, Guyton, Seau, and Alexander?  This year: Mayo, McKenzie, Guyton, Spikes.  Huge upgrade.  Then we get Crable and Cunningham to get a chance to make an impact on the outside.  Linebackers depend on each other and as a whole, the group of four will all be vastly better than they were last year.  Look what happened against the Colts when they ran their hurry-offense when Addai got back in the game in the 4th quarter....

3. New Secondary.  I haven't seen anyone bring up this point and I think it might be the best point out of the three.  Our secondary last year was completely new.  Look at the guys we had contribute: Bodden (1st year with Patriots), McGowan (1st year with Patriots), Butler (rookie), Springs (1st year with Patriots), and Chung (rookie).  Meriweather played a ridiculous 93% of defensive snaps and Sanders started to get playing time back down the stretch, but they were the only defensive backs that had over a year with the Patriots.  We had five guys who all had less than one year in the system.  Most of the time, three out of the four defensive backs from this group out there.  Our secondary became very exposed at times and a big part was because of the lack of cohesion.  This year looks way better because Bodden, Butler, McGowan, and Chung will have one year under their belt.  Add in McCourty and this group has the potential to be very special.

Too many reporters keep saying the pass rush needs improvement but I think that's not the main problem.  Our running game is fine (Faulk averaged 5.4 ypc, Morris 4.4 ypc, and Taylor 4.3 ypc).  Give us depth at receiver, get every-down linebackers, and give the secondary time to play with each other and our team is completely different.