Angry Fan Rant

Time to let off some steam... The biggest problem with these Patriots is the defense. Plain and simple -- there just isn't enough of it. And it has nothing to do with Tedy Bruschi missing the first six games, Rodney Harrison's knee exploding in Week 3, Richard Seymour's extended absence or the retirement of Ted Johnson before training camp opened. This problem has many faces. It starts with the brain farts by Bill Belichick and Scott Pioli this offseason. How's that Duane Starks trade working out? The Pats "stole" Starks from Arizona for a third round pick, a pick that could have been used on Domonique Foxworth, who is now starting for Denver at cornerback. The Starks blunder was not their only one. How about taking Logan Mankins in the NFL Draft (a player who I actually like) instead of a defensive back (Corey Webster, Josh Bullocks) or a linebacker (Odell Thurmon, Lofa Tatupu)? Mankins has earned a solid reputation but the need wasn't at guard, it was on defense. They could have re-signed veteran Joe Andruzzi at guard and gotten younger on D very easily. Another questionable move was bringing in Monty Beisel from Kansas City to play middle linebacker. True, when Bruschi had the stroke the Pats were put in a tough spot but Beisel has turned out to be a big bust so far. He makes tackles, only they are 8-yards downfield instead of near the line of scrimmage. If he was playing better, Bruschi would still be training for a 2006 comeback instead of playing. And can defensive coordinator Eric Mangini get consistent -- with a poor secondary the opposing quarterback needs to be pressured and that usually happens with blitzes. Mangini seemingly does not know this. (Of course he does. I'm just pissed that the Pats D is getting lit like a homeless guy with a bottle of Popov vodka. He's doing what he can with what's on the roster.) There are plenty more mistakes (Chad Scott, Chad Brown, not finding a replacement for the softer-than-tissue-paper Ty Poole, letting Ty Law walk when they could have mended that bridge) but there's still time left in the game (Brady just found Troy Brown to cut the score to 34-21 Indy). (Now that I've said this I know that the Belichick/Pioli team has recreated Patriot football from joke team to model franchise in under five years and that they certainly deserve the benefit of the doubt. It's just that their mistakes need to be counted as well as their amazing successes.) Realistically the Pats will probably go no better than 10-6, win the AFC East and lose in the playoffs. The spring and summer leading up to the 2006 season needs to be one that sees the defense being rebuilt along with some more depth on offense.