Well it’s been a hectic few hours since news broke that Leigh Bodden was out for the season with a torn rotator cuff. Seems like I’m one of the few Pats fans who aren’t suicidal about it.
There’s no doubt that they Patriots would be a better team in 2010 if Leigh Bodden and Ty Warren were playing. But they’re not, so we have to get over it and look at the bright side.
What’s the bright side you ask? Well, here’s a newsflash, the Patriots did not have a Super Bowl caliber defense with Bodden and Warren and they still aren’t one now. They’re young and unproven, and will be greatly inconsistent at times this year.
The bright side is that their talented young players are going to get a lot of experience this year. And who knows, maybe with more experience Devin McCourty or Darius Butler will prove to be better than Bodden.
Either way, the Patriots are still in the early stages of rebuilding their championship defense and injuries can do nothing but expedite the growth of their youngsters. It’s not ideal, but when you think of the 2011 Pats with Bodden and Warren back, along with then experienced veterans Ron Brace, Devin McCourty, and Darius Butler, things will be looking even brighter.
Adjust your expectations. This is a young defense, but luckily the offensive Patriots are still going to be elite, and as has been proven over and over again you really only need one elite group to win a Super Bowl. You just have to all peak at the right time.
