In preparation for the Saints’ first preseason game of the season tomorrow, I spent some time with my Bloguin cohort Derek Hanson over at Foxboro Blog for a little Q&A. Special thanks to Derek for taking the time to answer these questions before the game, he definitely has a very interesting take on a lot of Saints/Patriots related items and runs a top notch blog. Be sure to go check out his Pats blog today for my take on the same questions, and over the next couple days for an opposing opinion on the game Thursday. Enjoy the Q&A below!
Saints Nation: The sports media is engaged in an all out love fest with the Jets these days as the poster kids for the AFC East. Do you feel like the Patriots are getting overlooked here as the team to beat in that division?
Foxboro Blog: I think that when people see the Jets, they look at a team that played in the AFC Championship last year and stockpiled a bunch of big-name players this off-season, and they naturally conclude that they’re going to be even better this season. My counter argument is that the Jets only made the playoffs in ’09 because their two superior opponents laid down for them in Weeks 16 and 17. Their quarterback threw more interceptions than touchdowns last season. Their “big name” acquisitions like LaDanian Tomlinson, Antonio Cromartie, and Santionio Holmes were players whose former teams didn’t even want them. They lost their top rusher. Their lockdown defender, Revis, is holding out. I also think that Rex Ryan is a little crazy in the head. The Jets are a time bomb that’s just waiting to explode.
On the flip side, the Patriots stayed the course, re-signed most of their own key free agents, stocked up nicely in the draft, and cut out the locker room cancers who submarined last season. It wasn’t a sexy headline grabbing off-season, but it was effective. I’ll take the 2010 Patriots over the 2009 any day of the week. The AFC East is still the Pats’ division to lose, but if any team scares me it’s the Dolphins, not the Jets.
SN: Drew Brees has always been one of the league’s most under-rated quarterbacks. Now that he has a ring, does he deserve to be in the discussion with Brady and Manning for the leagues best QB?
FB: I have never, I repeat, NEVER seen a quarterback light up the Belichick-era Patriots the way Drew Brees did last year. After that Monday Night game, he automatically entered the discussion for me. Brady has the rings, the incredible comebacks, and the historical 2007 season. Manning is a legend in his own right and probably the most skilled QB in the game. But the fact remains that Brees is a tremendous quarterback and leader. He’s the reigning Super Bowl champion and he beat Manning to earn that title, which has to count for something. I’d still rank him third in behind Manning and Brady, but in my opinion, nobody outside of these three even enters the conversation. Depending on how Tom Brady bounces back in his second year post-injury, Brees could easily be the #2 QB in the NFL.
SN: What are you the most excited about heading into the 2010 season?
FB: I’m excited about watching all of our young players. Throughout the Patriots storied run last decade, they were always referred to as a “veteran” team. For the first time in a long time, I would actually characterize this team as “young”. The Patriots have had a slew of draft picks the past two seasons, and a lot of them appear to be quality additions. Jerod Mayo, Sebastian Vollmer, Patrick Chung, Julian Edelman, Aaron Hernandez, Brandon Tate, Devin McCourty, Brandon Spikes, Darius Butler – these are names that you Saints fans might not be familiar with, but I have a feeling that over the next few years you’ll know many of these guys the way you did Tedy Bruschi and Troy Brown.
SN: What do you think the Patriots’ weak point is?
FB: After cutting the cancerous Adalius Thomas, the Pats were dealt a tough blow when another outside linebacker, Derrick Burgess didn’t show up to training camp because he was contemplating retirement. The OLB position was already a weak point for the team last season before these subtractions. Unless Florida rookie, Jermaine Cunningham is able to step in and play like a vet, this is going to be a very thin and potentially disasterous spot on the Patriots roster. Here’s hoping that the Patriots can land the recently released Aaron Schobel…
SN: Putting all emotions aside, from a pure cold-hearted football standpoint, if you could choose between Sean Peyton and Bill Belichick to coach your team for the next three seasons, who would you chose?
FB: I definitely have to go with Belichick. Ever since the Patriots’ loss in Super Bowl XLII, things have been a bit shaky for Bill. I used to never question the man, but more and more, I find myself scratching my head at some of his decisions. For example, if you know that you’re going for it on 4th and 2, pinned down in Indy territory, wouldn’t it be smarter to run the ball on 3rd and 2 and not call a passing play? Regardless, even if Belichick has lost a few miles per hour of his fastball, he’s still the best in the business. I will, however, admit that the only reason I even proposed this as a question is because Sean Payton may be the only coach in the league who would even make me think twice about the decision.
SN: What is your prediction for the Saints this season?
FB: With the Super Bowl fresh on all of our minds, it’s easy to predict that the Saints will pick up right where they left off. More often than not, though, teams don’t head back to the big game in back to back years. I’d be surprised if they aren’t in the playoffs and champs of the AFC South, but chances are, some team we’d never expect will come out of nowhere and shock us all just like New Orleans did last year. I’ll put them in the conference championship though, where they lose on the road to this year’s “hot” team.
SN: What is your prediction for the Patriots this year?
FB: They have Brady. They have Belichick. That automatically makes them contenders. However, if the Colts are as good as they were last year, I have a hard time seeing this young team defeat Indy in the playoffs. I say the Pats take the AFC East, they win their home wild card round game, and then they fall in the divisional round.
CLICK ON THIS LINK TO READ MY RESPONSES TO MOSTLY THE SAME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SAINTS ON THE FOXBORO BLOG.
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