Can Patriots win without Brady? Hell, yes
Sep 8th, 2008 by Bill Burt
I just got in from my favorite coffee shop — Perfecto’s in North Andover — and the mood was somber.
Tom Brady’s absence has taken away something we’ve become spoiled with around here lately … certitude.
Now there are question marks.
Let’s look at five keys if the Patriots not only can survive Brady’s absence, but thrive:
1. Offensive line.
I have to admit, Matt Cassel (more on him later) looked like he belonged in the NFL yesterday. And I don’t think I ever thought that before. The key, though, especially when he completed that 51-yard thing of beauty to Randy Moss, was he had time.
Even Brady looks average when time is not on his side. This group was special for most of last year in giving Brady time to throw. Well, they must continue the same.
2. Running game.
This is related to No. 1, but it will need to be a strength rather than an afterthought. The Patriots will have to make the change from explosive to powerful. It won’t be easy. And the short, spread passing game can help, but the Patriots will have to commit to controlling the clock and physical play. To be honest, I believed this was an issue even with Brady.
The one positive is the Patriots have more depth at the running back position than ever before. They have three guys (Laurence Maroney, Sammy Morris and LaMont Jordan) who can be No. 1 backs. And they have two (Jordan and Kevin Faulk) who have great hands. Look for this group to become the focal point of the team … yes team!
3. Coaching.
Remember the stories about how Wednesday morning was like going to the candy store for Patriots players as they awaited the coaches’ game plan for the upcoming week? Well, those days are going to have to return. Having Tom Brady and then adding Randy Moss made the need for gadgets (hike the ball to Kevin Faulk), tricks (no d-linemen on the field) and schemes (beat the daylights out of the receivers) less important. Not any more.
Bill Belichick will be working overtime, if you can believe that, to find interesting ways to win.
4. No turnovers.
This will be the key to any success the Patriots have. They have enough players, on both sides of the ball, to be good. But turnovers, or lack thereof, might be the difference between 9-7 and 12-4. If Cassel can take care of the ball and make good decisions, then the Patriots will be very good. They won’t need him to be great just yet. Just be good.
The same goes for the running backs. The ball is to be treated like gold. Two sloppy fumbles against Kansas City (Moss and Wes Welker) had better be the exception than the rule.
5. Defense.
Back to the old mantra — defense wins championships (see story I did eight days ago).
The Patriots bend-but-don’t-break defense won’t be good enough here. It needs to be better than that. It needs to create opportunities. It needs to be dominant.
It is tough playing that kind of defense when your offense throws the ball as much as the Patriots did last year. Well, that won’t be a problem any more.
The Patriots defensive line, which is highly touted, needs to live up to its touting.
If the above happens, and it very well could, the Patriots are in the mix for everything, including a Super Bowl.
