Tedy Bruschi Retires: The Symbol Of a Dynasty

Tedy Bruschi was a constant symbol of hard work, grit, and determination on the Patriots.

He was a great locker room leader, and was consistently a defensive captain. He was an inspiration to every player on the defense, especially following his comeback from a career-threatening stroke.

For all of his value as a motivational leader, and as a symbol of the Patriots organization over the course of the decade, his retirement isn’t the end of the world from a football perspective.

Look on the bright side: At least Bill Belichick won’t have to consider embarrassingly cutting Bruschi during the brutal 27-man roster chop over the next two weeks.

What’s sad is that the last image we have of Bruschi is in the preseason game versus the Washington Redskins, where he busted coverage against Chris Cooley and gave up a 73-yard reception to the tight end.

But we must remember him for his many accomplishments, his big plays, and the big games in which they occurred.

A sack and an interception helped the Patriots win by three points in Super Bowl XXXIX, the last championship team Bruschi played on.

The 2004 AFC Championship game versus the Colts comes to mind, where Bruschi recovered two fumbles by the Colts’ offense.

I couldn’t have loved any man other than my father more than Bruschi on that day.

As the “glory days” of New England’s defense began to wane, so did Bruschi’s career.

He was never the same player after his stroke.

The intensity was still there, but the speed definitely was not.

Still, he was a crucial part of New England’s defense, and was always serviceable as a sure tackler even in the latter stages of his career. But even this began to wane over time, as the sheer strength and athleticism of younger players would sometimes overwhelm the much older man.

It will certainly be interesting to see how the defense performs without their staple at middle linebacker.

Who will the Patriots turn to for his replacement?

They could continue the development of undrafted free agent Gary Guyton, who started a couple of games for New England last season. He already has knowledge of New England’s system, and could be aided by the presence of so much talent and experience around him.

The Pats could also turn to veteran linebacker Paris Lenon, a free agent pick-up from Detroit.

Fortunately for the Patriots, 2008 first-round draft pick Jerod Mayo figures to pick up a lot of the slack left behind by Bruschi. It’s safe to say last year’s Defensive Rookie of the Year learned a thing or two from his elder. Mayo’s career could parallel Tedy’s, leading the team in tackles numerous times, and leading a stingy defense all the way to a Super Bowl.

If he can find his penchant for the big play, as Bruschi did, Mayo could go down in Patriots lore, just like Bruschi will.

Now with Bruschi’s retirement, most of the major components of the Patriots dynasty on defense have either retired or been sent away.

Bruschi, along with Mike Vrabel, Willie McGinest, Ty Law, Lawyer Milloy, and Rodney Harrison, have all moved on from their “glory days” as leaders of one of the top defenses in the league.

The time has come for a new era of New England defense. It’s time for the Patriots’ youngsters to step in and make a name for themselves.

 

Brandon Marshall: Yet Another Wide Receiva Diva

Michael Irvin. Keyshawn Johnson. Terrell Owens. Chad Ochocinco. Plaxico Burress. Michael Crabtree.

Now, you can add Brandon Marshall to the laundry list of wide receivers in the past and present who have been known as divas.

My five-day vacation from work began this morning. To begin, I drove around with my iced coffee and thought of a good article to write. The folks at WEEI Sports Radio were discussing the massive amounts of drama surrounding the scenario out in Minnesota involving He Who Must Not Be Named (for fear of giving him the media attention he hungers for).

Having heard enough of this dead-horse topic, I tuned into another local sports station, where they were discussing the NFL.com report on Brandon Marshall’s status with the Broncos. Marshall had been caught on tape by local news, putting his diva on display.

Hand the ball to the ball boy? Nope, he punted it the other direction.

Why try to catch a pass when he could just as easily swat it away and avoid doing any real work?

Ever heard the expression, “run, don’t walk?” Apparently, Marshall hasn’t. He strolled along while the rest of the team ran during practice.

Could anyone really wonder why he was suspended from the Broncos for conduct detrimental to the team?

If Josh McDaniels hadn’t done anything about this situation, how would it have made him look? In a summer where one player (who will still not be named) dictated the tempo of Vikings’ organized team activities and training camp, McDaniels refused to be walked all over by an egomaniac.

Although many people have questioned if McDaniels learned anything from Bill Belichick, he has proven that he learned at least one thing: never be held hostage by any player, no matter the skill level.

Belichick did it by sitting Bledsoe when he had confidence in Brady. He did it by benching Terry Glenn during his diva moments. Now, McDaniels has followed the model set by the evil genius himself.

The question now becomes, what end does the new head coach hope to reach by implementing this suspension? Of course, Marshall will still get paid, so he isn’t concerned with it nearly as much as one may think.

This is probably just a “statement move” by McDaniels to prove the earlier point that he won’t be held hostage. More than likely, it will be a temporary suspension until either a) the Broncos and Marshall work out a new contract to satisfy him, or b) the Broncos can work out a trade with another team.

Option a seems a little less likely, if only because they would probably have already worked out the new contract if that was their plan. Perhaps wide receivers such as Braylon Edwards or Anquan Boldin will still be on the market?

McDaniels may no longer have the star power in Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall, but at least he’s proving that he won’t tolerate childish behavior on his squad.

 

Source

NFL.com

Tom Brady’s Competitive Fire Still There, But Patriots’ Backup QB Options Strong

The position of most reverence in New England also happens to be the last stop on my journey through the Patriots’ roster.

After a heavily-truncated 2008 campaign, Tom Brady returns in rare form to the field.

Many have speculated the possibility of a repeat of his astounding numbers in 2007. Regardless of the likelihood (or lack thereof) of another record-breaking season, he quelled any burning questions about his confidence in his knee when he hurled multiple passes down field to Randy Moss and Joey Galloway in the preseason opener against Philadelphia.

The look of intense concentration in his eyes before the game, coupled with his utter infuriation at the lone interception he threw, both showed that his competitive fire hasn’t burned out in his 12 months off the field.

He even expressed regret that he was untouched by the Eagles’ front seven, saying he wished someone would just “blast [him]” so he could remember what it feels like. He got his wish, as he was tossed and thrown to the ground by Cincinnati Bengals’ linebacker Keith Rivers. Later, defensive end Robert Geathers took Brady’s words to heart and nailed him to the ground with a vicious sack.

The question remains: what happens if Brady’s knee wears out or gets hit again and he needs to sit out a couple of weeks? Who can the Patriots fall back on?

As usual, the depth chart is filled out with a veritable who’s-who of late-round draft picks. Julian Edelman, Kevin O’Connell, Brian Hoyer, and Andrew Walter will all compete for time at quarterback.

They once had Matt Cassel, who led the team to an 11-5 record in 2008, to fall back on. His lack of presence could (but hopefully won’t) be felt in 2009. Even he was once an unproven quarterback drafted in the seventh round, and in the Patriots’ system, he earned himself a starting job and a nice contract. Could be the talent, could be the coaching.

Probably, I think, a bit of both.

With that, let’s look at the depth of quarterbacks at New England’s disposal. God forbid anything happens to Brady and we haven’t at least taken a peak at what’s underneath.

Edelman is listed as a wide receiver on the Pats’ roster, but he figures to be more of a utility player, lining up on occasion as the quarterback in New England’s wildcat packages. His speed combined with his experience as a quarterback both make him a dangerous threat wherever he lines up. He proved that point as a slot receiver and kick returner, even returning a punt for a touchdown in New England’s preseason opener.

Brian Hoyer of Michigan State is in the upper echelon of all-time Michigan State quarterbacks. Despite this fact, he went undrafted in 2009. He entered the market as a free agent and was quickly picked up by New England almost immediately after the draft. His less-than-impressive senior season could be attributed to Michigan’s run-heavy offense and also to several drops by his receivers. He went 11-of-19 in the preseason game versus the Bengals, so he could surely improve.

Andrew Walter is a fifth-year quarterback, having been traded over from New England’s recent farm team, the Oakland Raiders. Drafted early in the third round in the 2005 draft, his opportunities were few and far between in Oakland. He was a third-stringer his rookie year and was given an opportunity to succeed when the team benched starting quarterback Aaron Brooks in Week 1 of the 2006 season. He threw only three touchdowns versus 13 interceptions in eight starts. In two games in 2008, he threw three interceptions and no touchdowns. His setbacks in the past figure to fuel his fire in the competition for a roster spot.

O’Connell is also a quick guy, who was known for his scrambling abilities in college, setting numerous school records for rushing yards and rushing touchdowns by a quarterback. Though he only threw six passes last season, mostly in garbage time, he has the skill set necessary to be a leader, and an accurate enough arm to get the job done in New England’s offense. Whether or not he’ll be able to quickly grasp New England’s complex scheme will be essential in determining whether he’ll earn a spot on the roster.

I figure that either Walter or Hoyer will be cut to trim their quarterback depth chart down to three bodies. Edelman will make the team as a wide receiver, but as mentioned above, he possesses the skills to be an excellent option in the wildcat, though the Patriots figure to use that much less with Brady back behind center; why willingly reduce the quality of your quarterback?

Obviously, the depth chart suffered a huge loss when Matt Cassel was traded to Kansas City, but the confidence the Patriots’ front office showed in Tom Brady makes me confident that he’s ready to go.

If Brady is feeling 100 percent come Sept. 14, the Patriots won’t need to worry about a back-up. They’ll have their field general back.

Donte Stallworth: Can the Fallen Hero Find His Inner Phoenix?

There are plenty of success stories about people rising from the ashes to make a name for themselves.

For all those stories, there are the fallen heroes whom we either pity or loathe.

Donte Stallworth definitely falls into the latter category.

Rewind about a year and a half ago. The Patriots are on a tear through the entire NFL, and have won 18 games straight in the season.

Stallworth is lined up opposite Randy Moss in Super Bowl XLII. He converts a big 3rd-and-13 for the Patriots in the second quarter, gaining 18 yards and moving the Patriots up to the 26. Things are looking great, as the Patriots are ahead and have the ball with momentum.

He only reeled in three catches that night, as the Patriots lost to the Giants 17-14.

From there, it just gets ugly.

Stallworth was picked up in free agency by the Cleveland Browns, who were coming off of one of their most promising campaigns since returning to the NFL in 1999. The Browns’ passing game figured to be potent with Derek Anderson spreading the ball to Stallworth, Braylon Edwards, and Kellen Winslow. Their aerial attack never got off the ground, though, as Anderson couldn’t duplicate his success from the previous season and the Browns finished a messy 4-12.

On March 14, 2009, Stallworth hit rock bottom—and Mario Reyes—hard.

Intoxicated above the legal limit, Stallworth got behind the wheel of a motor vehicle and, in his incoherence, struck Reyes hard enough to kill him.

The accident tragically ended Reyes’ life. It was the hit to Reyes, though, that subsequently caused Stallworth’s downfall.

After he served 24 days of his 30-day sentence, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell handed down the decision to suspend him for a single season.

Stallworth’s has become one of the sadder stories in the league today—while it’s hard to feel remorse for someone who endangered himself and others by driving drunk, it’s incredibly sad that his life was sent down the toilet by one bad decision.

Hopefully, that will be the worst decision he ever makes in his life.

Supposedly, he’ll be reinstated at the conclusion of next season: The Super Bowl.

It could be tough for him to find a home after his lousy decision, but hey, if Michael Vick could do it, so can Stallworth, right?

Incidentally, it will be the two year anniversary of the supposed start of this downward process. Perhaps Stallworth can mark the occasion by becoming the phoenix who rises from the ashes, and make a new name for himself in the process.

Creme of the Crop: The Top Five Defensemen in the AFC North

Time to quit putting off the one segment of this series that I’ve been dreading—the AFC North.

How does one sum up four teams—two of which are defensive heavyweights, the other two of which are paperweights—into one article, one list of simply five players who have the most impact on their defense?

The Ravens and Steelers can make a case for at least seven of those type of players apiece.

It’s not going to be easy, and I’ll probably stir up some controversy along the way, but as always, this is just my take on the situation. I’m not aiming to be agreeable, just to do justice to my opinion on the topic.

As usual, the Bengals underperformed last season. In a break from the norm, though, their futility was more represented by their impotent offense than their usual toy soldier defense.

They will have to replicate their success on defense this coming season if they want to contend. With the addition of former USC linebacker Rey Maualuga in the second round, the Bengals can do just that. They now feature one of the youngest and most formidable groups at linebacker.

Quite contrary to Cincinnati, the Pittsburgh Steelers are coming off a Super Bowl run, predicated mostly by their defense. It really says something when the defense is ranked first against the pass and second against the run. There are simply too many stars to mention in that unit. From top to bottom, the Steelers truly possessed the No. 1 defense last season; with nearly everyone from that team returning, things look bright for their future.

The Ravens were a surprising turn-around team last season. Their defense, oddly enough, ranked just below the Steelers in both passing and rushing yards allowed. Despite being mauled by the Giants rushing attack, they still held the distinction of not allowing a single 100-yard rusher all season.

The Browns were led into the abyss by former Patriots defensive wiz Romeo Crennel, who was replaced by another former Patriots coordinator in Eric Mangini. Their roster isn’t anything to boast of, though their linebacking corps is respectable. They chronically rank near the bottom in rushing yards allowed, but had the second-most interceptions in the league (the Ravens, incidentally had the most).

Their two second-year cornerbacks (Brandon McDonald and Eric Wright) flashed potential to be a second coming of the duo of Frank Minnifield and Hanford Dixon, two shut-down cornerbacks for the Browns in the late-80’s. Their continued development will be necessary before they can truly be considered among the elite impact players of this defensively stalwart division.

Honorable Mention: Johnathan Joseph, Domato Peko, Haloti Ngata, Ike Taylor, Casey Hampton, Aaron Smith, Shaun Rogers, Kamerion Wimbley, D’Qwell Jackson, Brodney Pool

Check-In with the New England Patriots: Defensive Backs

Out with old; in with the new.

After being exploited way too many times in the passing game last season, the Patriots were left with the burning question of which position was in more need of an upgrade: defensive backs, or the pass rush.

They chose to severely revamp their secondary.

Boy, did they need it. They gave up the second most passing touchdowns of any defense (27), and they were near the bottom of the league in passes of over 15 yards.

Much of this was due to the small stature of their cornerbacks. Deltha O’Neal (5’11”), arguably the worst cornerback to ever start for the Patriots, was cut from the team early in the offseason.

Ellis Hobbs (5’9”), whose most famous moment as a Patriot was one that highlighted his diminutive frame (a touchdown pass with seconds remaining in Super Bowl XLII) was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles for two fifth-round draft picks in 2010.

Almost immediately, they picked up CBs Leigh Bodden and former Pro Bowler Shawn Springs in free agency. Both players may be approaching the twilight of their careers, but both can still be impact players, and both have the coverage skills and physical traits (namely: height) necessary to get the job done in Belichick’s defensive scheme.

I continue to harp on the importance of the combination of veteran leadership and youthful athleticism on the Patriots roster, but the front office has really done a stellar job this offseason of compiling an excellent mix of both to their roster.

Springs and Bodden can provide the role model of great work ethic needed for the Patriots’ plethora of youngsters in the secondary.

Darius Butler was a steal in the second round of the draft, as many had him ranked among the tops at his position. Butler will definitely serve as an apprentice in nickel situations before potentially stepping into a starting role next season.

Second-year cornerback Jonathan Wilhite played in all 16 games, and started four in his rookie season last year. Terrence Wheatley, who missed most of last season with a wrist injury, is another sophomore who will greatly benefit from the presence of the two veterans.

With Shawn Springs coming off injury, and perhaps a little too much hype surrounding the arrival of Leigh Bodden, the secondary may not be the shutdown group people are anticipating.

The group has the tools to be formidable this year, and with the athleticism of the younger players in the unit, they could take the words of the wise and become some of the best in the league in the future.

At safety, former Pro Bowler Rodney Harrison announced his retirement in the offseason. Those who had hopes for a Favre-like return had their pipedreams go up in smoke when he ended his press conference by proclaiming, “When I made my decision to retire, I made my decision to retire…I’m done.”

Though none can deny the rich history Harrison has in a Patriots uni as well as throughout his career (the only 30 sacks/30 interceptions safety in league history), the Patriots are more than ready to replace his production, though it may be awhile before they find a leader, or an anchor in the secondary, quite like Harrison.

Third-year safety Brandon Meriweather out of Miami has played well as a strong safety, having nabbed 79 tackles to go along with two sacks and four interceptions while starting only 11 games.

His progress was visible last season; instead of continually trying to “blow up” receivers with a heavy hit stick, he began to make the clean wrap-up tackles in the open field. His continued maturation will be vital for the Patriots’ defense, as he could prove to be a scary force over the middle.

At free safety, we have James Sanders, who started 14 games for New England last season. He wasn’t incredibly productive, nabbing only one interception to go along with his 64 tackles.

The Patriots’ first draft pick of 2008 was in the second round, safety Patrick Chung out of Oregon.

I had never heard the name until the Patriots drafted him, but any Pats fan is put at ease by this segment from his scouting report on NFL.com: “Chung evolved into an exceptional leader by mastering the mental aspects of the game and grasping an understanding of the team’s defensive objectives.”

From that sentence alone, Chung sounds like a Belichick player through and through—he’s a learner, a true student of the game, who possesses the sound fundamentals and mechanics necessary to make an impact for this defense sooner than later.

In what could be quite the rotation situation, Meriweather will flex back and forth between free and strong safety while James Sanders fills in at free safety. Coverage deficiencies considered, Chung should fill in sparingly at strong safety until he learns the ropes of the NFL game.

With such a strong diversity of talent, the Patriots’ secondary will be as dangerous as they’ve ever been in Belichick’s tenure as head coach.

That spells terrible things for opposing quarterbacks who think they can sneak one past New England’s defensive backs. The veterans have talent for this year, and the young guns have potential for the future.

Checking in with the Patriots: The “Fearsome Foursome” of Running Backs

Last season, the New England Patriots relied more heavily on their rushing attack than they have in recent years.  This was for obvious reasons, not the least of which was the season-ending injury to Tom Brady in the first quarter of opening day against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Let’s compare the Patriots rushing attack in the past two seasons:

Patriots running backs	Attempts	Total yards	Yards per attempt	Rushing touchdowns
2007	451	1,849	4.1	17
2008	513	2,278	4.4	21

 

To give a bit more perspective to these numbers, the Patriots ranked 10th in the league in rushing attempts in 2007 versus fourth in 2008.  Their yards-per-attempt average was only .1 less than the vaunted Vikings rushing attack last season.

What does this say about the New England Patriots?  Well, it says that their offense is multi-dimensional enough to adapt when needed to (and also that the offensive line is a lot better at run blocking than they are credited for).

Of course, they increased their attempts, but the increase in yards per attempt indicates that the additional attempts were justified; the Patriots weren’t just trying to nurture Matt Cassel, they were using the run more effectively.

Imagine you’re a young quarterback who hasn’t started since high school.  Aren’t you a bit more comfortable every week knowing that you have a solid rushing attack behind you?

How comfortable do you think Tom Brady feels, knowing that his knee might not be 100 percent perfect for the season opener vs. Buffalo?  The fact that he can divert attention away from himself and use the play action pass as effectively as his early years must be helping to keep Brady cool as a cucumber in these hot summer days of training camp.

To add to the three-headed rushing attack of first-round pick Laurence Maroney, Sammy Morris, and Kevin Faulk, the Patriots signed veteran free agent Fred Taylor.  Although he’s on the downside of his career, he will be serviceable behind New England’s nasty line.

We all know that the “Fearsome Foursome” (as I’ve begun calling them) features a slew of runners that are capable of fulfilling multiple duties.  Morris and Taylor are both up-the-middle pounders that like to make contact.  They will bruise opposing secondaries to slow them down on the outsides, or simply run head-on into a middle linebacker and carry him a few extra yards.

Meanwhile, Maroney makes up for their lack of athleticism with his agility.  He does use his lower body strength to barrel into defenders, but likes to use his quickness to break away from them instead.

The backfield is culminated by Kevin Faulk, a.k.a. Mr. Everything.  He is excellent in every facet of the game: catching passes out of the backfield, picking up the blitz as a pass blocker, and he proved last season that he is still a legitimate threat when carrying the ball.

Make no mistake, Maroney is definitely the weak link.  He must prove his worth this season by producing and avoiding injuries in order to prevent himself from becoming a free agent, where his lack of talent won’t earn him as much money as he’d like.

The four working as one could easily mask any deficiencies of the other, especially if the Patriots plan to run any two-back sets (which it appears they will, a lot).  One possible scenario: a shotgun formation, with Faulk and Taylor flanking Brady.  A play-action hand-off to Taylor clogs the middle of the field with defenders, while Kevin Faulk runs a quick screen pattern and breaks off a 15-yard gain down the sideline.

That’s no pencil in my pocket.

I am extremely excited just thinking about what this backfield has to offer.

I could be wrong, but I think that the Patriots will lean somewhat on the run in the first couple of games, just to get Brady re-acclimated with game speed.  The number of pass attempts will definitely go up, and probably peak around mid-November (depending on how bitter New England’s winter is this coming year).  After that, Belichick will once again shift back to the run for December and possibly the playoffs.

As much as the thought of no aerial attack in December has scared me in years past, this time, it doesn’t.

The multi-dimensionality of the Fearsome Foursome is what makes them such a threat.  It seems that they will succeed in every facet of the game, no matter what circumstances may arise.

Of course, only time will tell how invincible the Patriots truly are, if at all.

Check-In With the New England Patriots: Tight End

I guess this article on the New England Patriots’ group of tight ends, could be considered an extension of the segment that I recently wrote on the offensive line. After all, I referenced numerous ways in which the tight end corps will be an essential component to the Patriots’ passing attack this season.

The front office felt it was necessary to add not one, but two extremely athletic tight ends to their group. They acquired former Tampa Bay Bucs’ tight end Alex Smith via trade, while adding New York Jets’ tight end Chris Baker through free agency.

Both of these players are extremely versatile athletes, the breed of players which beguile both Belichick and Brady.

Both Baker and Smith are known for their pass-catching ability. They both hauled in 21 receptions, and Smith snagged three touchdowns. Their numbers were both eerily similar to Benjamin Watsons, who caught 22 passes and two touchdowns.

What’s more, the Patriots’ two hold-over tight ends from last season, Benjamin Watson and David Thomas, combined for 31 receptions, 302 yards, and two touchdowns. Smith and Baker combined for 42 receptions for 444 yards, and three touchdowns.

The Patriots clearly don’t hold high expectations of Watson to return to his numbers from 2005-2007 (he posted 1,473 yards and 13 touchdowns in those three seasons combined). This could be a “tight end by committee”, with the most serviceable player being utilized for their strengths in a given situation.

Back to their versatility, though, both of their new acquisitions are known for their ability to block athletic pass rushers; this was exposed as a weakness in Super Bowl XLII.

The combination of size, speed, and strength that the new tight ends possess makes them excellent additional blockers against edge rushers such as Calvin Pace, Aaron Maybin, and Joey Porter, among many others whom the Patriots will face this coming season.

Although the Patriots currently possess a lot of depth at tight end, I don’t expect them to take all four tight ends into the regular season; most rosters feature only three tight ends.

To me, the only one who doesn’t make the grade is David Thomas. I’ve held out hope for him to develop in the past few seasons, but the third round pick hasn’t performed up to the standard of his 50 catch, five touchdown season as a senior at Texas.

With Watson, Baker, and Smith sharing time as tight ends, the Patriots pack a punch of versatility at a position that they will begin to heavily utilize. Although this is one of the less respected (recognized/discussed?) positions on any teams’ depth chart, it could prove to be one of the most important in the success of the Pats this coming season…for years to come.

At 27, 28, and 29 years of age respectively, Smith, Watson, and Baker figure to be a formidable squad for a couple of years. Watson’s contract is up soon, so the signings could also be a sign that he is out the door.

If that’s the case, the Patriots have done plenty to address the situation and provide insurance in the event of his departure.

Regardless of the outcome down the road, the Patriots’ fleet of tight ends figure to be a group that is formidable at worst, and superb at best.

Certainly, they will need to be accounted for every play.

 

Check-In With the New England Patriots: Offensive Line

I’m beginning a new series on the New England Patriots, entitled “Check-In.” My follow-up series will be “Check-Out,” which will come at the end of the regular season. Updates (as of yet untitled) will more than likely come throughout the regular season.

Today, I start with the offensive line, which has been an anomaly in the past two seasons.

In 2007, they were the most fearsome squadron in the NFL. Their grizzly facial hair earned them the nickname of the “Bearded Brothers.” Opposing defenses nearly gave up trying in their quest to get to quarterback Tom Brady in his explosive statistical season.

Then, in Super Bowl XLII, the wall came tumbling down around Brady. In 2008, things just weren’t the same; the same group of men gave up the most sacks in the league.

What people don’t understand, though, is that the quarterback plays a huge role in the production of the offensive line.

The obvious has been said time and time again: Matt Cassel is no Tom Brady. His release isn’t as quick, he’s not as quick of a decision-maker, and his instincts were dull last season, having not started since high school.

What isn’t as obvious, though, is the difference it made in the offensive lines play. Brady’s uncanny ability to read the blitz before the snap allowed him to make the necessary audibles and adjustments at the line to maximize his protection.

Although the offensive line is comprised entirely of veterans who understand the game, it’s not as easy for them to pick up a blitz from a linebacker or safety in a pinch; they’re usually face-to-face with a 270-plus pound lineman.

Speaking of the line’s veteran status, a dip in their overall athleticism could also be a reason for the surplus in sacks allowed last season. Left guard Logan Mankins is the only starter on the line below the age of 30 and even he is beginning to approach that mark sooner than later.

They haven’t done much to solve this issue as of late, drafting two offensive lineman in the entire 2009 NFL Draft (the second of which didn’t come until the fifth round). Sebastian Vollmer, the 58th overall selection out of Houston, could give right tackle Nick Kaczur a run for his money for the starting position. Vollmer’s youth and athleticism could prove necessary in neutralizing speed rushers off the edge.

Speaking of speed rushers, although the Patriots haven’t added much depth on the line, they have added a number of nimble tight ends to their depth chart. They picked up Chris Baker, formerly of the Jets, and Alex Smith, formerly of the Buccaneers, to add to incumbent starter Benjamin Watson as his back-up David Thomas.

The Patriots are clearly in need of their combined speed and strength in blocking the edge pass rush.

This should hopefully solve the major problem of a lack of athleticism that the Giants presented them in Super Bowl XLII.

Starting left tackle Matt Light is reaching the twilight of his career, and the other starters aren’t too far behind. It’s clear that the Patriots will have to do more to improve themselves in the trenches down the road. Perhaps their wealth of second-round selections in next year’s draft could come in handy in that regard.

Regardless of what they choose to do next offseason, Brady will make use of what’s given to him (as usual) and could make the line look like studs yet again in 2009.

And as always, when all else fails, in Belichick we trust.

 

Will Terrell Owens be “Team Obliterator” in 2009?

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ESPN’s Skip Bayless often refers to Terrell Owens as the “team obliterator” (a play on his initials, “T.O.”)

Owens has thrown all of his quarterbacks under the bus. All of them have been young quarterbacks, like Trent Edwards. How can the outlook for Buffalo’s youthful starting quarterback be anything but negative?

Unlike years past, I don’t think Terrell Owens has any option but to be a team player this year. He only has a one-year contract with the Bills; if he proves to be a cancer yet again, I don’t think there will be any teams left that are willing to take a chance on him.

Realistically, who would? Cincinnati is known for taking a chance on players like Owens, but the combined egos of T.O. and Ocho Cinco would be a readily-combustible combination…ohhh mama, what drama!

I feel bad for young quarterbacks like Edwards, who are thrust into these types of situations with combustible players. I really hope Russ Brandon did the right thing and asked Edwards’ opinion on the matter before hiring someone as controversial as Owens.

All that being said, under the right conditions (especially with an offense that figures to be firing on all cylinders when Marshawn Lynch makes his return), I think Owens will continue his “first season on a new team” streak and put up some very impressive numbers.

In his first season with the Eagles after the trade that sent him there, he had 77 catches for 1,200 yards and 14 touchdowns.

In his first season as a Cowboy, he had 85 catches for 1,180 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Even at 35 years old, Owens will still pose a threat to opposing defenses if only with his supreme athleticism and his ability to beat corners by using those tools, such as his leap and agility.

It will be interesting to see how his presence effects the game planning of defenses in the AFC East when they’re playing against the Bills. Will the Patriots continue to be as relentless with blitzers up front if they know they have two deep threats to worry about?

The same question applies to Rex Ryan and his blitz-happy packages that will become a part of the Jets’ defensive scheme this year.

Both teams have made major moves in free agency to improve their depth at defensive back. The Patriots signed two new starters in Leigh Bodden and Shawn Springs, while the Jets signed former Eagles Pro Bowl cornerback Lito Sheppard.

These signings are signs that the guard in the AFC East is starting to become apparent; the teams are orienting themselves towards aerial attacks.

Even the Dolphins’ (in)famous (depending on how you look at it) Wildcat formation is predicated on deep passes.

Owens has continually made an impression in his first year on a new team, and I think this year looks to be a repeat of that trend. If not, the soon-to-be 36-year-old starlet wide receiver might be watching the stars fade on his career come time for the 2010 offseason.

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