Brady and The Bunch: What The Patriots Need To Do To Ensure a Superbowl
Yes ladies and gentleman, the Brady Bunch. Tom Brady and company. Such a topic among the soap opera we call the NFL. Are they still a legit Super Bowl contender? Pretender? Where does Tom Brady's hair fall into all of this questioning?
The Patriots have been one of the most interesting teams to follow the past couple of seasons:
An undefeated season and arguably one of the most potent offenses we will ever see.
A season plagued by the downfall of their franchise quarterback.
A 10-6 early exit from the playoffs leaving them with a bad taste in their mouths.
Now, with the 2010 season underway, we really don't know what to expect. The offense has returned to form and seems to be dominant, but a very underachieving defense leaves skeptics with questions left and right.
I am here to let you B/R readers know what the Patriots need to do this season not only to win over their tough division, but to bring a forth Lombardi trophy back to the frozen tundra of Foxboro.
With a few headlines blended together with famous Brady Bunch quotes, you really can't go wrong...right?
"Porkchops and Applesauce" - Peter Brady
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"Porkchops and Applesauce" - Peter Brady
Although many people may not see the link between the two, I'll break it down for you.
In my eyes, porkchops and applesauce is a unfamiliar combo (I'm more of a burger and fries guy).
Before the season started, the combo of Green-Ellis and Woodhead was more of a dinner joke than a reality, but things are really looking up for these two.
Woodhead, the 3rd year player out of Chadron State hasn't seen a lot of time on the field, but has looked no less than impressive in his 11 NFL game career.
Woodhead brings a dimension that the Patriots lost when Kevin Faulk went down with a season ending injury. Woodhead has speed and can catch the ball out of the backfield as insurance for Brady when has no other options.
On the other side you have BenJarvus Green-Ellis (good job Mr. and Mrs. Green-Ellis).
Green-Ellis is the perfect example of the "American Dream".
BJGE (a abbreviation I made up to cope with the constant speller errors) worked as an "understudy" in the Patriots backfield for the last three seasons and has shown glimpses of stardom. Now, with the starting job up for sale, BJGE has the chance to become New England's primary ground option, showing his hard work and patience really payed off.
If these guys can flourish and play above their potential, look for the Pats offense to be better than ever.
"Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!" - Jan Brady
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"Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!" - Jan Brady
An obvious to no one, one of the greatest Brady Bunch quotes also goes along with Tom Brady's greatest weapon, Wes Welker.
Of course, to no surprise of anyone, Welker is a main component of this offense and must touch the ball in order for this team to be successful. With the news of Kevin Faulk down, that is one less option that Brady has in tight pressure situations, to which Welker flourishes the most.
Welker has also proven the quote "torn ACL shmorn ACL" is a reality.
With shifty moves and aggressive play in the first few games, he seems to be in tip top condition. Although he may not be on the roll to having mirror stats as he did last season, when a guy like this is on the field making the defense miss after most thought he would still be licking his wound, it has to mean something.
As the season progresses, Welker will see more and more touches, not only helping himself and Brady out by padding stats, but also opening up offensive plays down field and in the running game (to which they desperately need).
With an offense built around the success of Welker, there really isn't a more suitable quote.
"I am a lady. If you say I'm not, I'll bop you!" - Cindy Brady
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"I am a lady. If you say I'm not, I'll bop you!" - Cindy Brady
We can all agree on something.
The Patriots defense has looked somewhere between horrible and college.
This is their main area of concern.
The only way the Pats can really fix this problem is through practice.
Their defense just needs to go back to the basics. Missed tackles and blown coverage was all too abundant in these first three games, and we're talking the Bengals, Jets, and Bills here. "The Hood" only knows what a team like the Colts or Saints would do to a D like this.
The only real solution is to pray and hope that the first three games were flukes, and their young (but talented) defense shows up later in the season.
Like every great coach has stated time and time again, "DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS".
The Patriots D needs to prove they belong playing with the big boys.
If the Patriots can turn touchdowns into field goals, and field goals into turnovers, expect this team to go deep in the playoffs.
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"Mom always said don't play ball in the house." - Bobby Brady
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"Mom always said don't play ball in the house." - Bobby Brady
It has always been a familiar thorn in the Patriots side. They have always been a great home team, and a mediocre away team.
I would love to post some stats on here for you B/R readers, but go look for yourselves. On any New England team statistics site where you can find splits, it is a ridiculous difference to how good they play at home, to how horrid they play away.
The home away curse especially affects how their guys on the field play.
When the Patriots are away Brady's completion percent drops 10 points, Wes Welker catches are cut in half, and in 2009, their defense gave up 80 more points.
This needs to change.
To be a Super Bowl caliber team, you must learn to win on the road.
The Patriots can't be praying for home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, they need to fix this obvious open wound now.
A road game deep in the playoffs is exactly the kind of brick wall they could encounter in January.
Winning at least 5 out of the 8 road games they will come into this season would be marked as a success.
"The only steps in this house are those, and they lead right up to your bedroom." - Carol Brady.
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"The only steps in this house are those, and they lead right up to your bedroom." - Carol Brady.
Even though people won't admit it, the road to the top of the AFC East still belongs to New England, and the Pats need to keep it that way.
Winning division games is key this season, although they already lost to the Jets, and had a close call to Buffalo, the Patriots need to get back to the top of the AFC East pedestal.
Now, the Pats are viewed as a wild card berth, 9-10 win team that will most likely be eliminated in the first round. The need to let the league know that they are still here.
Wins are good, yes, but embarrassing teams is better.
Tom Brady needs to find his niche and dismantle a defense. Dandy Randy needs to continue making one handed grabs after burning Revis Island. Coach Belichek needs to make smart decisions time and time again that gave him the headline as arguably one of the best coaches of all time.
All in all the Patriots need to be the Patriots.
No more of this transitional hogwash that has been floating around NFL Live, and Sportscenter for the past few months, the Patriots need to find their stride and take the league by the horns.
It's now or never for these guys and their destiny is really in their hands.
Superbowl contender? or Superbowl pretender?
Time can only tell.
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