Repeating as Super Bowl Champs

[BigKen]

Professional football is without a doubt the most difficult sport to repeat as champion. The New England Patriots were last team to so in 2003 and 2004.

What makes repeating so difficult? Salary cap? Free agency? Lack of cohesiveness? Emotional letdown? How about second year players not stepping up to become full time regulars?

Using the Patriots as an example, after they won their second Super Bowl in 2003, a number of personnel changes occurred. Bobby Hamilton who anchored the defensive line left as a free agent for the Oakland Raiders. A second year defensive lineman named Ty Warren stepped in and immediately filled the void. Tom Ashworth an offensive lineman went down with a career ending back injury and was replaced by a totally unknown named Brandon Gorin. Damien Woody left for the New York Jets and second year center Dan Koppen stepped up. Starting CB Tyrone Poole was injured early in the season and CB Asante Samuel immediately grabbed the opportunity to shine. Ty Law played only seven games and was replaced by a converted safety named Eugene Wilson.

Every team experiences injuries and defections to other teams. The 2014 Patriots have lost a significant number of defensive players. (1) Vince Wilfork was not resigned and Damien Easley is waiting in the wings, About 25 lbs lighter but twice as fast, can Easley stop the run and improve the pass rush? (2) Darrelle Revis. After one year, he made his return to the New York Jets. Can Super Bowl hero Malcolm Butler fill his shoes and be a shut down corner? Or Logan Ryan? (3) Brandon Browner. The Patriots certainly won't miss his thirty nine penalties for numerous infractions, but they will miss his physical size and domination against smaller wide receivers. Is Bradley Fletcher or McLain the guy who can move in and play a physical game?(4) Kyle Arrington. He was a premier slot CB and did an excellent job against WRs in a short game. He totally crapped the bed trying to cover anyone running down the sideline. Is Tarrell Brown or a rookie going to take over the short game? (5) Shane Vereen. A true pressure relief valve for Tom Brady and a sure handed receiver who starred in the Super Bowl. The Seahawks had no answer for Vareen. (6) Dan Connolly retired and will it be a veteran like Josh Kline or Cameron Fleming or a rookie like Tre Jackson who will step in and provide quality blocking and a bit of leadership? (7) Tom Brady. No one is too concerned with Brady missing a large number if any, games. But there's always that threat of a big hit, a turned ankle and blown knee. If Brady is out for one game or the entire season, is Jimmy Garrapolo ready to step up and play at Brady's level and take the helm of a defending championship team?

If all of the questions get answered positively, are the Patriots ready to repeat as champions? Or is repeating as Super Bowl Champion becoming too much for any team to achieve? Every year since 2004 there has been a different champion aspiring to repeat and none has done it. Will 2015 be different?

 

[Rex Racer]

They have enough pieces and parts to contend again this year. As always, keeping most of them healthy is a major factor, but barring an epidemic of injuries I think they have as good a chance as anybody.

Now it's off to Amherst CC.

Peace out!

 

[NWPATSFAN]

Pats could certainley repeat. Sure it's a huge task. Especially since the entire division has improved on paper. That could be a blessing in disguise. The O should be fine. Brady will play angry all year. The D will be the difference maker. If they can hold teams the Pats have as good a chance as anyone.
Something not mentioned is cosistency in the coaching staff. This is added value this year. The biggest advantage is the Pats have BB.

 

[ohiopatsfan]

The Pats' biggest ally will be attitude. If the team enters this season with a chip on their shoulders and something to prove, it will certainly help. Question is whether that can overcome personnel losses and the ever-present spectre of injuries.

 

[NWPATSFAN]

The Pats' biggest ally will be attitude. If the team enters this season with a chip on their shoulders and something to prove, it will certainly help. Question is whether that can overcome personnel losses and the ever-present spectre of injuries.

Chemistry plays a HUGE role. If anyone can gather the troops it's BB.

 

[dbldwn711]

I hate to say it but the pats may have the weakest D in the division. That may be their biggest impediment to repeating.

 

[dbldwn711]

How the hell did I get this avatar?!?!?!

 

[ohiopatsfan]

It is certainly true that the defense will be weaker as compared to last season. You can't lose three solid starters and not feel it. If Easley returns to his pre-injury form and the rookie Brown is as advertised, that might at least somewhat mitigate the loss of Wilfork, but the cornerback situation is a serious concern and could be on life support by the start of the season. Also, the loss of Vereen on offense could be serious if Cadet or White don't come through big time. All this being said, the Deflategate matter could become a real motivator and create an "us versus them" scenario, similar to the aftermath of the Spygate affair. BB is a great one at using things like this to motivate the troops.

 

[BigKen]

I'm a fan, but I'm a realist.

Wilfork. Required a double team for years because of his size and speed. After tearing his archilles, he was a much slower Vince. He had lost that explosive first step. He had pretty much been a first and second down DL because he never was really able to get to the QB. Last year his weakness was evident as he was taken out on 2nd down about 50% of the time to allow a better rusher for 2nd and long.

Revis. If you watched Revis closely last year, he had serious problems covering a quick WRon short routes, especially a hard cut left about seven or eight yards off the line. Emmanual Sanders torched him several times and the Past switched up and had Butler cover him. Revis has reached that time where mother nature starts to take away the youth and doesn't replace it with anything but experience. His reputation is still intact, but that will die quickly against the likes of Antonio Brown, Dez Bryant and Odell Beckham.

Browner. Huge physical presence. A true intimidator. But...a Big BUT, he's careless. He was called for more penalties than any other defensive back in the league. 31 calls for illegal contact or holding. 8 Interference calls, 6 of those in the end zone resulting in six opponent touchdowns. The Patriots are getting to the point where they can't make up for multiple mistakes, especially serious ones.

Vereen. He may be more missed than any player who's departed. He worked almost seamlessly with Brady, providing a real relief valve. His ability to line up as a running back but immediately convert to a wide receiver was priceless and replacing him will be difficult.

What's lost most with these departures is experience, knowledge, know how and ability. What the Patriots are hoping will replace that is youth, desire, speed and aggressive play. Is it enough? Every team loses critical pieces every year. Most of them try to replace them with free agent pieces. Over the past 15 years of success, Bill Belechick has swam against that tide. He's infused young, smart players who understood the system and what the coaching staff was trying to accomplish. It's always been "team first", no me, no I. Most important, **Just Do YOUR Job**. If these young guys just do their jobs and not try to do anything more.........

 

[Southieinnc]

Thank you Ken.
Repeating is certainly difficult - maybe unlikely - especially difficult historically.
That said, I do not think we "have the weakest D in the division"
O ye of little faith. We have the best linebacking corps in football. Our secondary has been collected from high draft picks and has been preparing to take over for a time like this. Our pass rush should a real pain to play against. I like this defense.