2012 and Beyond

The Patriots and the whole nation of New England were heartbroken for a second time in the Super Bowl against the New York Giants and Eli Manning.  The team had multiple opportunities to capitalize on offensive drives, but there were interchanging mistakes with either Brady missing receivers or receivers dropping balls.  The offense seemed to be in sync for most of the game, but the Giants' front four started closing the pocket faster, and Brady landed on his weak left shoulder courtesy of a Justin Tuck sack.

Throughout the season, our defense was one of the worst, statistically, in the league, mostly because of our secondary's pass defense.  Early in the season, highly touted rookie CB Ras-I Dowling from Virginia was put on injured reserve due to a hip fracture.  Dowling was drafted in the 2nd round by the Pats with the first pick (33^rd).  He looked solid early in the season and most certainly could have helped secondary with his size and versatility.  The Pats' brass is expecting a big sophomore campaign from him next year coming off the unfortunate injury.

Staying with the defense, a key player for the Pats in the playoffs was 22 year old undrafted rookie free agent Sterling Moore from Southern Methodist University.  Moore only accumulated 7 total tackles and 2 picks in the regular season, but both of those interceptions came in the 49-21 season finale win against Buffalo.  In that beating of the Bills, the Pats defense hit a turning point and put together three solid defensive showings in the playoffs including the Super Bowl.  Against Baltimore in the 2^nd round, Moore made a huge play to swat the ball out of Lee Evans' hands in the corner of the end zone.  In the Super Bowl, he played tight coverage on whoever he was matched up against, and in three playoff games, had six pass breakups.  The corner on the other side, Kyle Arrington, 25, led the league in interceptions.  Brandon Spikes has proven he can be a big time game changer with his ruthless run stuffing and knack for creating turnovers.  The D-line is stout and has depth with young'ns Kyle Love and Brandon Deaderick, learning Belichick's defensive schemes.  There is clearly a bright future here, and the building of the team on both sides of the ball will only continue through free agency and the draft.  Free agent DE/OLB Mario Williams' name has been thrown around as a possibility for the Pats if the pass rush heavy Houston Texans decide to part ways with him, coming off a torn pectoral muscle. Andre Carter's injury was tough to bear, but the Patriots can draft and groom a young pass rusher to learn from the likes of Rob Ninkovich and Mark Anderson.

On the offensive side, the Patriots will have to make some interesting moves.  They have had no luck drafting receivers; see Jackson, Price in recent memory.  Wes Welker is a free agent and will likely be back with the team at some point.  Chad Johnson?  Some insiders are inclined that former Pro Bowler, St Louis WR Brandon Lloyd, would follow ex Rams OC Josh McDaniels to the Patriots, possibly.  Negotiations will likely boil up in the spring through the event that is the NFL Draft, April 26-28.  A receiver that can stretch the field as Randy Moss did is needed for next season.  Some other free agent wide outs are Marques Colston, Robert Meachem, and Dwayne Bowe. The Pats are also expected to further improve their depth on the O line to bolster it in protection of Brady, and add onto the surplus of talented youth with Nate Solder, Sebastian Vollmer, Logan Mankins, and Marcus Cannon.

This past season was a huge success.  Tom Coughlin will likely get Coach of the year, but BB can make a case as well, coaching the league's worst statistical defense to the Super Bowl.  He put together an unbelievable game plan, but it just wasn't executed fully on the field by the offense.  The defense stepped up big time in the playoffs from their past criticisms.  Next season, the Pats have a chance to become a juggernaut with Pittsburgh getting older.  Playing Baltimore will always be a bloodbath of a game, and Houston has a superb young defense along with a solid offense that could have gone further in the playoffs if Matt Schaub (and Mario Williams) weren't out for the season.  Even so,  it is the Pats' AFC to lose.  Don't hang your heads, New England; the Super Bowl is an enormous accomplishment in itself which is why players like Matt Light and Rob Gronkowski were celebrating like they did at the Patriots' Super Bowl after party.  This team has more playoff experience now, and the young players will strive to better themselves for next season and try to get back to the big game ASAP.