2008 NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS PREVIEW

Took a few days off from doing previews. I finished up my half of the NFC (South & West) last week (Titanreese has the rest). Now I'll start my half of the AFC (East & North) with the defending AFC Champions.

2008 NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS PREVIEW
2007 Record: 16-0 (1st AFC East)
Predicted 2008 Record: 14-2 (1st AFC East)

Key Acquistions: WR Sam Aiken, CB Fernando Bryant, TE Marcus Pollard, OL Oliver Ross, LB Victor Hobson, CB Lewis Sanders, CB Jason Webster, S Tank Williams
Key Losses: TE Kyle Brady, LB Rosevelt Colvin, CB Randall Gay, DL Rashad Moore, CB Asante Samuel, WR Donte Stallworth, DB Eugene Wilson

Last season everyone from experts to casual fans were calling the 2007 New England Patriots the greatest football team in the history of the sport. The Patriots team and players set several records: Points Scored in a Season (586), and PPG (36.6), Tom Brady broke the passing TD record (50), and Randy Moss broke the receiving TD record (23). The Patriots also became the only team in NFL history to go 16-0 in the regular season and only the second to go undefeated in the regular season. All these records dont mean awhole lot though, becuase the Patriots didnt win the Super Bowl. If you dont win the Super Bowl you cant lay claim to the title "Greatest Football Team Ever" can you? Nope. The Patriots were embarraced after coming into the Super Bowl with everyone and their mothers believing the Giants had little to no chance, and the Patriots are hungrier than ever to win another Super Bowl and keep that 'Dynasty' going.

OFFENSE
Tom Brady is still the NFL MVP and is still an elite QB in the NFL. He isnt a question for the Patriots. The Question is how can they keep defenses out of his face, because the Giants spelled out the way to beat Brady. Keep a man in his face all game long. No changes are needed on the Patriots line, though, because all 5 are great players. OT Matt Light, C Dan Koppen, & OG Stephen Neal are all Pro Bowl caliber players while OG Logan Mankins and OT Nick Kaczur all also great players. The way the Patriots will offset the pressure is to run the ball more, and give teams something else to look at other than pressuring Brady all game long. Good thing they have a great stable of backs then. Laurence Maroney is one of the better young RBs in the league while veterans Kevin Faulk and Sammy Morris are great change of pace backs and will help take the load off of Maroney as the season progresses. Also, LaMont Jordan has joined the Pats and will be a great short yardage and goalline back. FB Heath Evans is a great outlet receiver and blocker as well. Last year Randy Moss returned to being an elite receiver in the National Football League and this year should be no different. He is scary talented and with the emergence of Les Welker teams should be still very frightened. As the speedy, great route runner should have an even better season then he had last year. Donte Stallworth is gone and in his place will be youngster Chris Jackson, who is a speedy receiver thats been often injured. He needs to stay healthy this year. Jabar Gaffney has been a great 3rd and 4th option for the Patriots the entire time hes been there and he should continue to produce. Athletic TE Ben Watson is coming off of ankle surgery but he is expected to be 100% by opening day and he could have a breakout season this year. Offense is still not a problem for the Pats.
Grade: A+

DEFENSE
Some of the Patriots 3-4 defenders are getting up there in age and the window is shutting on some of there chances at winning a Championship. The Patriots 3-man Defensive Line, though, is not aging. 325 lb. Nose Tackle Vince Wolfork is a beast with scary speed for his size. He rarely misses plays either, eats up blocks, and gets penetration in the offensive line. On the right side DE Richard Seymour is the healthiest hes been in several years and he is very hungry to put more pressure on the QB. That said, hes already the best run stopping DE in the NFL. On the other side Ty Warren is a great pass rusher who can also stop the run. Also, Jarvis Green is a situational pass rusher who isnt bad against the run either. The LB corps for the Patriots is just as good as the line. On the outside Mike Vrabel is getting to the latter stages of his career, but Vrable is still a great pass rusher. Adalius Thomas is also great OLB and is a demon off the edge and can also cover as well. On the inside veteran Teddy Bruschi will play at one ILB spot while rookie ILB Jarrod Mayo takes the other spot. Bruschi will help Mayo come along, but Mayo has already impressed Patriots coaches & players with his speed, athletism, and intelligence already becoming the starter on the inside. Mayo is a future All Pro in the NFL. Tank Williams has spent his entire career as a Safety, but when he signed with the Patriots Bill Belichick immediately converted him to LB. Williams' hard hitting and toughness is going to allow him to contribute immediately and adds great depth to the Pats great LBs. The Patriots lost several Corners in the offseason but have signed a few very adequate players to replace them. Ellis Hobbs is the only returning starter and hes solid, yet sometimes allows big plays and has been benched a few times in his career. Opposite of him will be Fernando Bryant, whos a little small but has great insticts and is a great cover corner. Bryant could shine on the Patriots defense. Jason Webster and Terrence Wheatley will most likely play mostly in the nickel & dime packages. Both are solid players. At FS James Sanders has been consistent and will likely remain the starter unless Brandon Merriweather can wrestle the starting job away from him. Regardless, Merriweather should still get alot of playing time. Head hunting SS Rodney Harrison returns for his 15th season in the NFL, hes lost some of his speed but hes still one of the most vicious hitters in all of football. If Harrison goes down with an injury Sanders will likely slide over to SS while Merriweather comes in at FS, or Tank Williams could return to his old position at SS.
Grade: A

SPECIAL TEAMS
Stephen Gostkowski is a great Kicker but hasnt gained Bellichicks full trust just yet. He needs to make some clutch kicks, which he should get a chancea this year. Chris Hanson is the Punter, and is solid but is hardly ever used. At Punt Returner Wes Welker is solid and electrifying while Ellis Hobbs and Chris Jackson are likely to handle the kickoff returns. Both are electrifying when give the chance.
Grade: B+

2007 LEADERS
PASSING
Tom Brady: 398-578, 4,806 yards, 50 TD, 8 INT; 2 rushing TD
RUSHING
Laurence Maroney: 185 carries, 835 yards, 6 TD; 4 catches, 116 yards
Sammy Morris: 85 carries, 384 yards, 3 TD; 6 catches 35 yards, 1 TD
Kevin Faulk: 62 carries, 265 yards; 47 catches, 383 yards, 1 TD
Heath Evans: 34 carries, 121 yards, 3 TD; 4 catches, 43 yards, 2 TD
RECEIVING
Randy Moss: 98 catches, 1,493 yards, 23 TD
Wes Welker: 112 catches, 1,175 yards, 8 TD
Donte Stallworth: 46 catches, 697 yards, 3 TD
Jabar Gaffney: 36 catches, 449 yards, 5 TD
Ben Watson: 36 catches, 389 yards, 6 TD
DEFENSE
Tedy Bruschi, LB: 92 tackles (64 solo), 2.0 sacks, 2 PBU
Adalius Thomas, LB: 79 tackles (58 solo), 6.5 sacks, 1 INT (65 yards, 1 TD), 8 PBU
Junior Seau, LB: 73 tackles (57 solo), 3.5 sacks, 3 INT (28 yards), 4 PBU
Rodney Harrison, SS: 70 tackles (56 solo), 2.0 sacks, 1 INT (2 yards), 7 PBU
Mike Vrabel, LB: 77 tackles (55 solo), 12.5 sacks
Asante Samuel, CB: 46 tackles (43 solo), 6 INT (89 yards, 1 TD), 18 PBU
Vince Wolfork, NT: 48 tackles (37 solo), 2.0 sacks
Ty Warren, DE: 53 tackles (34 solo), 4.0 sacks
SPECIAL TEAMS
Stephen Gotskowski: 21-24 FGs, 74-74 XPs
Chris Hanson: 41.4 PPG
Ellis Hobbs: 35 KOR, 911 yards, 1 TD
Wes Welker: 7 KOR, 176 yards; 25 PR, 249 yards