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Monday, August 25
Updated: September 3, 10:12 AM ET
 
Revamped Patriots better recognize

By Glen Farley
Pro Football Weekly

 
2003 PATRIOTS
 Bill Belichick
Bill Belichick is entering his fourth season with the Patriots.
  Head coach:
Bill Belichick (4th year).
2000 record: 9-7.
AFC East finish: 2nd.
Season opener:
Sept. 7 at Bills
Schedule | Depth chart
There really wasn't much mystery at all as to why the Patriots failed in their Super Bowl XXXVI title defense.

The major problem was, well, their defense -- more specifically, a run defense that ranked 31st in the NFL.

Clearly, age had caught up with the Patriots. Well aware of this, in an attempt to address their speed on that side of the ball, the Pats uncharacteristically made a major strike on the free-agent market by luring 25-year-old free-agent linebacker Rosevelt Colvin from Chicago (at a cost of $25.9 million over six years), then used four of their top five draft picks on defenders.

While you're adding names to your Patriots depth chart, you can also pencil in this change in their defensive scheme: After using the defense at times in the past, the Patriots will go with a 3-4 base this season.

To be sure, this team also has its issues on the offensive side of the ball -- running back Antowain Smith slipped below the 1,000-yard plateau last season, and there are concerns about the size of the wide receivers and the condition of the offensive line -- but if the Patriots are to return to the playoffs in 2003, they'll have to rally 'round an improved defense.

Offense
Quarterbacks:The education of Tom Brady continued last year, his first full season as the Patriots' starter. Although he continued to be efficient and maintained his poise, too much pressure was placed on the third-year signal-caller by an inconsistent running attack and an offensive philosophy that at times was far too impatient in trying to establish the run. Behind Brady on the depth chart are a veteran and a "kid." In the contract year of the three-year deal he signed in moving to New England from Miami in 2000, this likely will be backup Damon Huard's last season in New England as '02 fourth-round pick Rohan Davey develops.
Grade: B.

Running backs: The highlight here last year was the emergence of Kevin Faulk, who rebounded from a key turnover in Week 6 against Green Bay to establish himself as a solid situational back who is now pressing Smith for more time. With the team holding an option at the end of this season to void the final three years of the five-year deal Smith signed after 2001, this looms as a huge season in his NFL life. Former Chargers fullback Fred McCrary was signed to replace Marc Edwards, who moved on to Jacksonville. Larry Centers, at 35 years old the NFL's all-time leading receiver out of the backfield, was summoned during the preseason to pitch in -- more accurately, catch -- on third downs.
Grade: C.

Receivers: Small in stature, big in heart, Troy Brown is the poster child for the Patriots' wide receiver corps. Brown, David Patten, Deion Branch and second-round draft pick Bethel Johnson all stand under six-feet tall. One of the more surprising developments of the offseason was the Patriots' failure to add a big target to the mix. After fighting the ball and injuries as a rookie, 2002 first-round pick Daniel Graham will be counted on to contribute much more at tight end this season. Former Seahawk Christian Fauria, a truly good soldier who is willing to do whatever is asked of him, caught only 27 passes but got in the end zone seven times last season.
Grade: Grade: B-minus.

Offensive linemen: Continuing what has become a Patriots tradition of late, the team opened training camp with the likes of right guard Joe Andruzzi, right tackle Kenyatta Jones and right guard Stephen Neal, all of whom were expected to at least vie for starting time, sidelined by injuries. That prompted the team to summon 31-year-old guard Brenden Stai, an efficient veteran who was unemployed due to -- what else? -- health issues. Stai's stay lasted less than two weeks, however, before he continued another recent Pats' tradition and informed head coach Bill Belichick he'd decided to retire -- the third straight year a guard has retired in Pats camp. Center Damien Woody is the anchor of the line. Guard Mike Compton and tackle Matt Light are solid, if unspectacular, on the left side. The first draft pick of the Bill Belichick era, Adrian Klemm, was given the opportunity to be more than the answer to a trivia question, but has failed to take advantage of it, bringing Tom Ashworth into the picture. Grade: C-minus.
Grade: C-minus.

Defense
Defensive linemen: The feeling originally was that top pick Ty Warren would play nose tackle, freeing up Richard Seymour to play at end, but Belichick was quite quick to announce that Warren would play end also. Seymour has made the move, but he'll move around up front in an attempt to get the most out of what some in the organization believe are endless skills. Ever the professionals, Anthony Pleasant and Bobby Hamilton give all they've got up front. The problem had been the aforementioned nose, where 2002 fourth-round pick Jarvis Green got first crack in camp before bowing to Rick Lyle, who didn't immediately establish himself either. That forced the Pats to trade for big boy Ted Washington, who missed nearly all of last season in Chicago because of injuries. He'll be shoved into the nose tackle position, though his recovery is not assured and he probably won't be able to play every down even when healthy. New England could use the smaller, quicker candidates on passing downs. Undersized overachiever Dan Klecko, a fourth-round choice out of Temple whose engine is always revving, seems destined to contribute somewhere on this side of the ball, but where?
Grade: C-plus.

Linebackers: Colvin was added to a cast that was already solid, what with team-leading tackler Roman Phifer, Ted Johnson, Tedy Bruschi and Mike Vrabel. The surprise at the outset of camp was that Phifer had moved inside alongside Johnson, leaving Bruschi as the third man in the rotation. He won't lack playing time, though. Colvin and Vrabel are outside. Willie McGinest could see double duty at end and 'backer, provided he can stay healthy. Larry Izzo and Don Davis likely will make their greatest contributions on special teams.
Grade: A-minus.

Defensive backs: In their never-ending quest for (Ty) Law and order at the cornerback position, the Patriots planned for the future with their selections of Illinois' Eugene Wilson in the second round of the draft and UCF's Asante Samuel in the fourth. With Otis Smith's release, the onus will be on those two and Tyrone Poole, who was brought in from Denver, to fill one starting spot and the nickel and dime slots. In a move five days before the season opener that shocked the players, the Patriots released four-time Pro Bowler Lawyer Milloy, who had started 106 consecutive games for the Patriots but whose productivity had declined last year. His spot will most likely be filled by Aric Morris, the former Titan who was signed in the offseason. At the other safety will be Rodney Harrison, the hard-hitting ex-Charger who moved in before Tebucky Jones was traded to New Orleans.
Grade: B.

Special teams
If Adam Vinatieri is a sure foot, punter Ken Walter repeatedly stubbed his toe last season, prompting the Patriots to bring journeyman Dan Pope to training camp. Faulk returned two kickoffs for touchdowns in 2002. Although the talent on the Patriots' coverage teams took a hit with the loss of Tebucky Jones, it was aided with the acquisitions of safeties Chris Akins and Aric Morris. Izzo remains a force in this aspect of the game.
Grade: B-plus.

Glen Farley covers the Patriots for the Brockton (Mass.) Enterprise.

Pro Football Weekly Material from Pro Football Weekly.
Visit PFW's web site at http://www.profootballweekly.com





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