You know how many “big” free agents are going to start on the Patriots this season? Two: Brandon Lloyd and safety Steve Gregory. Every other starter is homegrown. Draft, develop, and reward. The Patriots finally have their system where they want it after the last three drafts, which look like they’re going to be bountiful. It really sets up the team down the road.
Patriots coach Belichick goes young with roster – Patriots – Boston.com
Great read from Bedard on the state of the Pats as we head into the season. This kind of makes all those season previews you read in early summer obsolete.
As I’ve mentioned the defensive rebuild is one of the driving forces behind this blog. I’ve been so curious over the years to see how BB put everything back together after the turnover from Bruschi, Harrison, et al.
2008 was year zero as I see the rebuild. The sucked every last bit of life they could out of those guys in 2007’s crazy run to the Super Bowl. 2008 was still a solid veteran defense but it was old and ill equipped to face the oncoming onslaught of spread offenses.
There’s no question there have been missteps. Bad free agent signings and bad draft picks. But they were able to get by on superior coaching and a little luck. Though it’s crazy to see that almost all of the 2009 Patriots starting defense is now out on the street. Mayo and Wilfork are still with the Pats. James Sanders is in Arizona, Ty Warren seems finally healthy in Denver and Brandon Meriweather is in Washington. After that there’s no one left on a roster: Wilhite, Butler, Adalioops, Bodden, Banta-Cain, etc. Crazy.
The key now is to identify and lock up the young key pieces on defense like the Pats did with Mayo last year. This year we should find out of Chung, Spikes and McCourty are in the long term plans. But you have to love the talent base that has been established.
