PREDICTED RECORD: 13-3

KEY ADDITIONS: WR Chad Ocho Cinco, DT Albert Haynesworth

PROJECTED STARTING OFFENSE:
QB: Tom Brady
RB: Ben-Jarvis Green Ellis
TE: Rob Gronkowski
LT: Matt Light
LG: Dan Connolly
C Dan Koppen
RG: Logan Mankins
RT: Sebastian Vollmer
WR: Chad Ocho Cinco
WR Wes Welker
(3WR Deion Branch, TE Aaron Hernandez, 3DRB Danny Woodhead)

PROJECTED STARTING DEFENSE:
DE: Albert Haynesworth
NT Vince Wilfork
DE: Mike Wright
ILB: Jerod Mayo
ILB: Brandon Spikes
OLB: Jermaine Cunningham
OLB: Rob Ninkovich
SS: Brandon Merriweather
FS: Pat Chung
CB: Leigh Bodden
CB: Devin McCourty
(Nickel DB Darius Butler, Dime DB Kyle Arrington, NIckel LB Dane Fletcher)

OFFENSIVE PHILOSOPHY: (One-Back, Spread)
The Patriots employ a one-back spread offense that utilizes three receivers, one back and a tight end. The Pats will also use four and five receiver sets in certain situations and when they need to gain a tough yard, they’ll use a tight end as a fullback in two back sets. New England is difficult to defend because they employ multiple personnel groupings and move their players around in different alignments. New England’s running game is a zone based running game that features inside zone and stretch. The Pats will also use a man-gap scheme as well and run several variations of a one-back power play. OC Bill O’Brien’s passing game looks simple but it’s actually pretty complex because the receivers are expected to sight adjust their routes at the snap of the ball. Tom Brady has the freedom to make sight adjustments at the line whether they are protection adjustments or to identify coverage and help his receivers prior to the snap. Brady’s knowledge of the playbook and his ability to audible in and out of plays makes the Patriots offense even more explosive.

DEFENSIVE PHILOSOPHY: (3-4 Base, 40 Nickel)
The Pats are a 3-4 base defense but you’ll see alot more 40 nickel fronts this season especially with the recent addition of Albert Haynesworth. Bill Belichick isn’t a big blitz guy. He likes to use his fronts and move coverages around based on the opposing team’s personnel groupings and player alignments. The Pats will give teams different looks upfront. You’ll see a 30 front, 40 front, 20 front and even a single man line (Vince Wilfork on the nose) When it comes to the secondary, Belichick is a master at game planning coverages and taking away the other team’s best receiver. In order to help their secondary, the Patriots will lean on their defensive line to generate a pass rush because right now their outside linebackers haven’t proven they can get to the quarterback consistently. Belichick is good at following league trends so expect the Pats to use their nickel package roughly 65% of the time which means they’ll be in a 40 front a bunch.

DOC’S BREAKDOWN: Thanks to the recent additions of Chad Ocho Cinco and Albert Haynesworth, the Patriots are the best team in the AFC, at least on paper anyway. Offensively its all about Tom Brady and the passing game. Brady was the first unanimous MVP in NFL history in 2010 and had one of the greatest seasons by a quarterback in any era. It’ll be hard to repeat that performance but Brady won’t have to. The Pats have enough weapons now that they can spread the wealth around and get all of their pieces involved. Ben Jarvis Green Ellis is a nice complement to Brady and he gives the Pats offense some much needed balance. With Logan Mankins signing his franchise tender and Matt Light re-signing, the Pats offensive line returns intact which is huge. As much as people want to see Nate Solder get on the field, he’s not ready. 

Defensively the Pats must be better.They played well at times last season but the numbers don’t lie. They were 25th in total defense and 30th against the pass. That’s not good enough and they’ll have to improve big time if New England is going to live up to their reputation as a super bowl contender. Haynesworth will help but there still isn’t an outside linebacker on the roster that is a proven pass rusher. If Belichick wants to utilize his base 30 defense, he’ll either have to get production from Jermaine Cunningham and Rob Ninkovich or he’ll have to blitz alot more than he wants to. 

The 2011 schedule is tough especially at home with San Diego, Kansas City, Indy, the Giants and Dallas coming to town. With that said, they should still win 13 games and gain homefield advantage throughout the AFC playoffs.. Anything less than that would be a disappointment because this team is built to win now.

Aashish Sharma

A native of Wellesley, Massachusetts, Aashish is a lifelong fan of the Red Sox, Patriots and Celtics. He graduated Wellesley High School in 2008, and the University at Buffalo in 2012. You can follow him on Twitter @aashish1989.