2008 Patriots

Here is the third part of my half-assed NFL preview. FIVE THINGS THAT WORRY ME ABOUT THE PATS 1. The defensive secondary. Even with Dom Capers on board to coach the defensive backs, there seems to be a major lack of talent to stop even the blandest of passing games. Of course, the last time I thought that was the 2004 season when Asante Samuel and Randall Gay were the primary cornerbacks and the team went 14-2 and won Super Bowl XXXIX. 2. The health of Tom Brady. I am firmly in the camp that Brady will be just fine and his not playing a single snap in the preseason scrimmages was merely a precautionary move on the part of Bill Belichick and his staff. Still, when the best player in the NFL is banged up, one tends to worry. 3. The offensive line. The last time we saw them, the Giants front seven tossed them around on their way to making Brady's life miserable. With Stephen Neal still banged up and the right tackle spot still uncertain, this position looks shaky. 4. The Super Bowl hangover. I doubt that a team led by Belichick that is loaded with veterans such as Brady, Tedy Bruschi, Rodney Harrison and Matt Light will struggle to bounce back from the loss to the Giants but it is worth mentioning that six of the last seven Super Bowl losers failed to even make the playoffs the following year. Keep an eye on this. 5. The AFC East. Many people think the Pats have six easy wins lined up against the Jets, Bills, and Dolphins but all three teams are improved. I'm not sure that they are improved enough to knock the Patriots out of the top of the division but I doubt they will offer up any easy games. FIVE THINGS THAT EXCITE ME ABOUT THE PATS 1. Richard Seymour. Big Sey is healthy, something he has not been at this point in quite a while. Look for a big year out of the eighth year defensive lineman. 2. The rookie linebackers. Under Belichick, his linebackers have been veterans who have to be smart enough to know the multiple variations of the Patriots scheme and be tough enough to make plays all over the field. This year's veteran corps -- Bruschi, Mike Vrabel, and Adalius Thomas (with Junior Seau a phone call away) -- will get help from rookies Jerod Mayo, Shawn Crable and Gary Guyton. The three rookies provide youth and depth that the Pats need desperately at linebacker. 3. Brady-to-Moss (and Welker), Year Two. Brady might have missed all of the preseason but his work with Moss and Welker survived Moss missing all of the 2007 preseason on the way to a record breaking year. Year Two with this trio may not reach the '07 levels statistically but it will have defensive coaches shitting their pants all season. 4. The running backs. Laurence Maroney showed the NFL that he is a star in the making last year and with some unbelieveable depth behind him in the backfield (Sammy Morris, LaMont Jordan, Kevin Faulk, Heath Evans), the Pats running game will be a force in 2008. 5. Belichick. There is no better coach in the NFL. San Diego and Dallas may have a slight edge in the talent department but with Norv Turner calling the shots for the Chargers and Wade Philipps at the helm in Big D, I like the Patriots chances. SEASON PREDICTION (13-3, AFC EAST CHAMPIONS) Week 1: Chiefs - W Week 2: at Jets - W Week 3: Dolphins - W Week 4: BYE Week 5: at 49ers - W Week 6: at Chargers - L Week 7: Broncos - W Week 8: Rams - W Week 9: at Colts - W Week 10: Bills - W Week 11: Jets - L Week 12: at Dolphins - W Week 13: Steelers - W Week 14: at Seahawks - L Week 15: at Raiders - W Week 16: Cardinals - W Week 17: at Bills - W Divisional Playoff Game - W AFC Championship Game - W Super Bowl XLIII - W