Allow me to preface this entire post by saying that team Owner Robert Kraft and (former) General Manager Scott Pioli also deserve much of the credit. They worked in a close partnership with the head Coach. Bill Belichick's philosophy has always been "system over star-power" and this line of thought has carried him to three Super Bowl Titles. The Patriots dynasty has been built upon the concept of overall team depth. Belichick never wanted the star players, but more so players who he knew could perform a certain skill set and fulfill a specific role on the team. Now certain players would become stars, but that was never the reason they were chosen to be Patriots. You were chosen if you were smart, hard working, and could fill a certain role. The Patriot method was to have as many players as possible who fit this very mold, so that the team could sustain any personnel loss imaginable. In 2001 the Patriots lost their starting Quarterback in Drew Bledsoe and their most talented wide receiver in Terry Glenn. That year they won their franchise first Super Bowl Championship with an essentially rookie Quarterback and a roster not even close to the most talented. After the 2002 season the Patriots lose their fan favorite and best defensive back Lawyer Milloy. Milloy, the only Pro Bowl player from the year before, feels he has great value and demands a big money contract. Under the system over star power mindset, Bill Belichick knew not to overpay simply to keep a star player. He knew that the team depth was strong enough to handle the loss of talent. Therefore, in a much scrutinized move he opts out of resigning strong safety Lawyer Milloy. Week one of the 2003 season the Patriots square off against the Buffalo Bills in an embarrassing defeat. Former Patriots Drew Bledsoe and Lawyer Milloy led their new team to a 31-0 blowout of New England. Bledsoe threw for over two hundred yards and a touchdown, where Milloy had an interception and a sack on Tom Brady. After the shutout loss there was public displeasure from fans and some players about the whole Milloy situation. However, all would be forgotten when the Patriots embarked on the longest winning streak in NFL history. A streak spanning from week 5 of the 03' season through the playoffs and a Super Bowl victory, all the way until week 8 of the next year.
Even after the historic era of winning three Super Bowls in four years, Belichick's "system over star power" ideology has proven great success. Since 2005 the Patriots have lost Ty Law, future Hall of Fame kicker Adam Vinatieri, Asante Samuel,Willie McGinest, Deion Branch, Corey Dillion, Daniel Graham, David Patten, David Givens and several other important players. Yet the system continued to prevail as the Patriots remained a strong force in the AFC. Perhaps the departure of Branch was the most surprising. Deion Branch was a close friend of Tom Brady's at the time and it was publicly stated he did not want his favorite receiver and good friend to leave New England. Brady offered to take a pay decrease if the team would resign the 2004 Super Bowl MVP (Branch). This gave even more evidence to Bellicheck's commitment to the Patriot system. If he would follow system first even over Tom Brady's wishes, you knew this head coach truly stood firm on his beliefs.
The Patriots would be 22-10 over the next two seasons and make an appearance in the 2006 AFC Championship game. After losing 38-34 to the Colts by blowing a 21-3 lead at halftime, the system that had worked so well finally came into question. In 2005 and 2006 the Patriots were still Super Bowl contenders making it far into the playoffs both years. However, it seemed as if the lack of talent on the Patriots roster was finally rearing its ugly head. The fact that Tom Brady significantly raises the production of any wide receiver he passes to had carried the Patriots to incredible heights. Troy Brown, David Patten, David Givens, and Deion Branch were Brady's favorite and most productive targets. None of them will be Hall of Famers and none have since experienced even close to the level of success they enjoyed with Brady as their QB. On his own merit Brady increases the value of any offensive pass catcher in a Patriot uniform period. With a receiving corp of an aged Troy Brown, Reche Caldwell, Jabar Gaffney, Doug Gabriel, and Chad Jackson Brady still took his team to within one win of the Super Bowl. This was arguably one of the worst group of receivers in the league, and certainly the worst of Tom Brady's career. Reche Caldwell was the Patriots leading WR that year with 760 yards and four touchdowns. Before Caldwell joined Brady on the field his career highs were 28 catches, 352 yards, and three touchdowns. Brady more than doubled Caldwell's previous bests; and has thrown 36% of the receiver's eleven career touchdowns. The system had worn thin after so many years and the Patriots simply needed to surround Brady with more talent. The crushing defeat of that 2006 AFC Championship Game brought forth many team weaknesses; none of which were Tom Brady himself.
An aging defense got exposed in the 06' campaign and the offensive talent around Brady was just simply not good enough. With these lessons in mind the 2006 off season began with an entirely new approach; accumulate star power and then focus on revamping the system. First the offensive talent issues were addressed as the Pats acquired slot receiver Wes Welker and deep threat Donte Stallworth. Next Belichick and company surprised the entire league with a lucrative contract offer to former Raven standout Adalius Thomas; easily the best available defensive free agent. Thomas was part of the highly respected Baltimore Raven defense and had great versatility which Belichick loves. Thomas played several different positions in Baltimore accumulating 50 sacks and seven interceptions. Thomas still stood out even on a team brimming with defensive talent. At age 30 he would become the youngest starting linebacker on the team; an influx of youth was something the Patriots desperately needed. Already having an excellent off season there was one more crucial acquisition on the horizon; their best. Future Hall of Fame wide receiver Randy Moss would become a member of the New England Patriots; the offensive transformation had come full circle.
The 2007 season would be the first time in his career that Tom Brady would have a receiving corp as talented as any in all the NFL. From 2001-2006, with average and some above average receivers Brady threw 147 touchdowns and 78 interceptions. With highly skilled wide outs Tom Brady passed for 50 touchdowns (NFL record) and only eight interceptions. He would throw 34% (50/147) of his first six year's worth of touchdowns in one amazing season. Brady's previous career high for touchdown passes was 26, but what is more impressive than nearly doubling this total is the number of interceptions. What other QB can set a career high in yards, touchdowns, completion percentage, quarterback rating, yards per throw, and yards per game while also having a career low in interceptions? While setting personal and league wide records left and right; to only throw eight interceptions on 578 passing attempts is truly phenomenal. The 2007-2008 NFL season saw the New England Patriots score the most points for one season in NFL history. Tom Brady set an NFL record 50 touchdown passes and Randy Moss broke Jerry Rice's single season NFL record with 23 touchdown receptions. As a team they became the first to ever complete a sixteen game season undefeated. Yes the records were great, and yes in the wake of spy gate it was great to prove the Patriots were dominant with or without "cheating". However, none of this truly mattered to Belicheck, or Scott Pioli, or Robert Kraft, or Tom Brady, or even Randy Moss. All that matters was did the Patriots win the Super Bowl? 18-1 says no; they did not.
Bill Belichick had gone against his former motto of "system over star-power"and it made the Patriots a true Super Bowl contender, but something was missing. Belichick had failed and for some reason his team could not win the most important game of all. Was the defense still not good enough? Was it Tom Brady's injured foot? There are endless amounts of questions/reasons as to why the Patriots were unable to complete the perfect season, but Coach Belichick is the master of now and how. How can we get better next season? This is his only question.
As 2006 had been a lesson to get Brady more offensive firepower and get younger on defense, 2007 would offer its' own message. This message rang loud and clear in the ears of Bill; continue to get younger on defense and combine old and new Belichick to become a better coach. "System over star-power" had made the Patriots an NFL Dynasty, however it also lead to failed playoff runs in 2005, 2006, and 2007. Eventually Belichick's continued negligence of his aging line backing corp and his skill depleted secondary would hold the team back. To get younger on defense in 2007 the Patriots added a great linebacker in Adalius Thomas, and drafted a promising young safety named Brandon Merriweather. The drafting of linebacker Jerod Mayo along with cornerbacks Terrence Wheatley and Jonathan Wilhite in 2008 again reinforced the defensive commitment. 2008 proved that Belichick's system had undergone some regrowth as his team was able to post an 11-5 record even without Tom Brady. System first has always protected the Patriots from injury, free agency, and trades in the past; 2008 was no different. Veterans Randy Moss and Wes Welker carried first year starter Matt Cassel and the offense. On the defensive side of the ball Jerod Mayo emerged as a viable NFL linebacker (named Defensive Rookie of the Year) and second year safety Brandon Meriweather came on strong at the end of the season. The system was strong; as there may be no other team in the league who can lose their starting Quarterback and still win eleven games.
This year's draft saw the completion of transforming the defense from old to young; with defensive tackle Ron Brace, safety Patrick Chung, and cornerback Darius Butler. The youth talent pool has been refilled with only four players over the age of 30 and only one over 33. The Patriots also acquired pass rush specialist Derrick Burgess (31) from Oakland. Derrick is also a versatile player who has played at linebacker and defensive end. Burgess had his best years in 2005 and 2006 where he accumulated 27 sacks and was elected to two pro bowls. In 2005 he led the league in sacks with 16, but since his totals have dropped from 11 to 8 and last season only 3.5. However, it has been proven many times that Belichick and the Patriots organization can revitalize the career of a disgruntled or under performing player. Best exemplified by Corey Dillon who went from outcast to pro bowl Super Bowl Champion, and Randy Moss from three touchdowns and locker room cancer to twenty three touchdowns and playing in the Super Bowl. Now Burgess will be the next forgotten Raider to bolster the New England Patriots roster. Belichick wants players who fill a specific role well, and all Burgess has to do is rush the passer. If Burgess does not get a sack, he may get pressure on the opposing Quarterback in turn altering his throw for an incompletion or interception. That is exactly what this head coach wants; a yes answer to this question; Does this player fill his role? With Burgess and Richard Seymour rushing the passer, and Vince Wilfork clogging the middle, you bet he does.
The strongest evidence of the return to the true Belichick system comes in the following example. When the Patriots starting defensive line is temporarily out of the game, the second string unit can perform the same functions seamlessly. The depth on this team is so strong and has so many players well placed in specific roles. When Burgess or Seymour are on the bench, you bring in Jarvis Green and Ty Warren. Belichick will be able to dial up a blitz with any number of mixtures of defensive lineman and linebackers. More often than not Richard Seymour and Vince Wilfork will be trapped in double coverage. This event will be responsible for opening the door to a host of possible blitz opportunities. With these two drawing four offensive lineman alone, that leaves one offensive lineman to block an oncoming blitz. This blitz could be anywhere from one to eight players strong; and if there is not serious help from other blockers it will be impossible to protect against. One man cannot block so man combinations of such talented players attacking them. If teams are not doubling covering the 6'6 310 pound Richard Seymour, then they are most certainly always needing two against 325 pound Vince Wilfork. The Patriots have one of, if not the best front sevens in the entire NFL. There is such depth and versatility along the defensive line, in the linebacking corp, and a good mixture of veteran and young talent back in the secondary.
Among the defensive backs in the secondary there is less known depth, due to the inexperienced young players. Nonetheless, the veteran talent is quite good; as Sean Springs and Leigh Bodden (2007 pro bowler) are the best Patriot cornerback tandem since Milloy and Law. James Sanders is a quality free safety and strong safety Meriweahter is coming off a promising 83 tackle four interception rookie season. This secondary will benefit from a dominant front seven and some semblance of the signature Belichick defense will finally be back. Coach Belichick even admitted that the 2007 team was too offensively focused; based more on finesse than toughness. The Belichick defenses of 0'1, 03' and 04' were dominant Super Bowl caliber stingy defenses. This 09' defense does not have to be dominant, but you can't win with offensive firepower alone. The 2007 Patriots torched opposing defenses all season, but in the Super Bowl when the offense was unable to win; the defense was left to lose the game. You can see Belichick has revamped the depth on his defense and he knows as well as anyone that defense wins championships. Anyone can score points, but only the great teams can stop you when it matters most. They do not need a dominant defense like championship teams of the past, but they need to implement another Belichick motto. "Bend don't break" was always the defensive way of saying, give up as many yards as you have to, but make the big play. Do not let the other team score when it matters most. The defense will be younger, faster, and the best Patriot defense since 2004. They will bend, but they will not break.
By closing the gap of importance between star power and system, Belichick has become an even better coach. For instance, the Patriots resigned superstar Randy Moss with a well paid contract. The awesome combination of Brady to Moss is starpower that you can't ignore. Belichick still will have system be his most important aspect; he will still stock pile draft picks and fill his roles. However, he will also place a new emphasis on starpower. Knowing he needs Moss, trying to get Jason Taylor and Julius Peppers, and signing Fred Taylor, Leigh Bodden, and Derrick Burgess. This is an influx of talent and the invested interest in starpower. Offense and defense, youth and talent, roles and stars, and system and starpower; all make up the 2009 New England Patriots. New Belichick will use system and starpower to lead his team all the way to their fourth Super Bowl Title in ten years.
