Not simply listing the "best" or "greatest" players in Pats' history at each position, but rather, putting together the "perfect" Patriots team. Obviously it will include many/most of the "best" or "greatest" players, but anyone who wishes to join in this exercise, the rules are: (1) You have to declare your primary offensive set (i.e., 12 personnel - one RB and 2 TEs - etc.) and philosophy, and your primary defensive formation (3-4, 4-3, 5-2, 3-3-5, etc.) and philosophy. Also go with your top HC (duh) and OC and DC (don't need to go beyond that to positional coaches). Feel free to give explanations for your selections.
For me, it begins with the fact that Tom Brady is obviously the QB, and he can run virtually any system you want. He can be a "game manager" or he can go 5-wide and just sling it all day. You've got a million options with him. But because of that, I want an offense that can maximize what he does best, which is make pre-snap assessments, and that means lots of WR in motion, and then pick the best matchup to attack. Furthermore, I'm going to want a Swiss-Army knife kind of offense. So I want two TEs that can block AND catch and give Brady as many options as possible. So I'm going with 12 personnel in this perfect Patriots team. I will also need a versatile RB and linemen who can be effective at both pass and run blocking.
So...here's the offense:
QB - Tom Brady - GOAT; nothing more needs to be said
RB - Curtis Martin - I know he spent the majority of his time with the Jets, but he was a great Patriot, and he could do it all - block, run, and catch; Hall of Famer, and perfect for this team
WR - Randy Moss - all time great field stretcher
WR - Julian Edelman - Welker was a better slot receiver, but Edelman plays both outside and slot, and is a better blocker than Wes, AND he can add the element of a trick play being a former college QB, as the Ravens found out; also tough as nails and as good a big game player that's ever played
TE - Rob Gronkowski - the best all-around TE the NFL has ever seen
TE - Ben Coates - obviously a total stud in both the passing and running games
LT - Bruce Armstrong - a great LT for a long time for the Pats
LG - John Hannah - simply as good as it gets at the position
C - Pete Brock - a rock in the middle, and good in both run blocking and pass pro
RG - Shaq Mason - at his best, he was a tremendous run blocker, and he became a very good pass protector as well
RT - Sebastian Vollmer - could do whatever you needed him to do; not a pro-bowl level player, but a great fit for the Patriots' scheme
Now, defensively, I want a team that can do a credible job against the run, but who really can get after the QB and play pass defense. So I want really good pass rushers all over the field, but not guys who would get steamrolled in the run game. I'm going to play a 4-2-5 system, wanting great athletes all over the field. My linebackers need to be good against the run and in coverage, but I also want them to be credible pass rushers too. And they all need to be SMART and be able to run the system. I know I'm asking a lot. Too bad.
DE - Willie McGinest - off field issues lately, but between the lines, he was tough, strong, set the edge, and could rush the passer as well
DT - Richard Seymour - an absolute rock on the line, can play both DE and DT equally well; also, he's humongous and takes up a ton of space
DT - Vince Wilfork - another immovable guy on the line; very tough to run between the tackles with both Seymour and Wilfork there
DE - Matthew Judon - yep, a surprise, but this guy can REALLY get after the QB; and he LOVES playing for Bill Belichick; perfect Patriots' attitude
LB - Andre Tippett - if it wasn't for Lawrence Taylor, we'd all be speaking of Tippett in hushed tones in NFL circles; he was absolutely incredible
LB - Tedy Bruschi - not the fastest, but he was solid in all aspects of the game and a great, great, great leader
CB - Mike Haynes - as good a pure cover guy as the NFL has had to offer
CB - Ty Law - awesome in coverage, and was tough as nails; big play guy
DB - Stephon Gilmore - he proved himself to be an elite cover guy who made some HUGE plays for this team in the biggest moments
S - Devin McCourty - captain of the defense, great leader, fast, smart, good tackler, and also good in coverage; in his prime, he was phenomenal
S - Rodney Harrison - tough, big hitter, team leader
Now you'll be able to run on this team some, especially if you run at Judon. I thought about Vrabel there instead of Judon, because Vrabel is better against the run, but I thought, you know, I'm ok with giving up a little in the run game in order to have Judon's pass rushing ability. You send Tippett opposite Judon, and the QB is going to be running for his life. Then you've got Seymour and Wilfork pushing the pocket up the middle, and it's deep trouble for the QB. I also considered a third safety (Milloy probably) instead of Gilmore, for added run support, but it was just too juicy to have three cover guys as good as these three. Let McCourty play centerfield and have Harrison up in run support if needed.
In the kicking game, I just need the best they've got. Nothing too fancy.
K - Adam Vinatieri - Mr. Clutch
P - Ryan Allen - hard to pick, but he's got the best career punting average for NE and he won three SBs for them
LS - Joe Cardona - I mean...I don't know...Lonnie Paxton was good too
KR - Ellis Hobbs - played with an edge; the all-time Pats leader in KO return average
PR - Troy Brown - could break one deep, sure handed, and gives you great locker room leadership as well
Gunner - Matthew Slater - all-time great at the position; the total Patriot
Head Coach: Bill Belichick - GOAT, plain and simple
Offensive Coordinator: Josh McDaniels - criminally underrated, he was fantastic and was a good fit under Belichick
Defensive Coordinator: Romeo Crennel - really good at his job, and meshed so well with Belichick
For me, it begins with the fact that Tom Brady is obviously the QB, and he can run virtually any system you want. He can be a "game manager" or he can go 5-wide and just sling it all day. You've got a million options with him. But because of that, I want an offense that can maximize what he does best, which is make pre-snap assessments, and that means lots of WR in motion, and then pick the best matchup to attack. Furthermore, I'm going to want a Swiss-Army knife kind of offense. So I want two TEs that can block AND catch and give Brady as many options as possible. So I'm going with 12 personnel in this perfect Patriots team. I will also need a versatile RB and linemen who can be effective at both pass and run blocking.
So...here's the offense:
QB - Tom Brady - GOAT; nothing more needs to be said
RB - Curtis Martin - I know he spent the majority of his time with the Jets, but he was a great Patriot, and he could do it all - block, run, and catch; Hall of Famer, and perfect for this team
WR - Randy Moss - all time great field stretcher
WR - Julian Edelman - Welker was a better slot receiver, but Edelman plays both outside and slot, and is a better blocker than Wes, AND he can add the element of a trick play being a former college QB, as the Ravens found out; also tough as nails and as good a big game player that's ever played
TE - Rob Gronkowski - the best all-around TE the NFL has ever seen
TE - Ben Coates - obviously a total stud in both the passing and running games
LT - Bruce Armstrong - a great LT for a long time for the Pats
LG - John Hannah - simply as good as it gets at the position
C - Pete Brock - a rock in the middle, and good in both run blocking and pass pro
RG - Shaq Mason - at his best, he was a tremendous run blocker, and he became a very good pass protector as well
RT - Sebastian Vollmer - could do whatever you needed him to do; not a pro-bowl level player, but a great fit for the Patriots' scheme
Now, defensively, I want a team that can do a credible job against the run, but who really can get after the QB and play pass defense. So I want really good pass rushers all over the field, but not guys who would get steamrolled in the run game. I'm going to play a 4-2-5 system, wanting great athletes all over the field. My linebackers need to be good against the run and in coverage, but I also want them to be credible pass rushers too. And they all need to be SMART and be able to run the system. I know I'm asking a lot. Too bad.
DE - Willie McGinest - off field issues lately, but between the lines, he was tough, strong, set the edge, and could rush the passer as well
DT - Richard Seymour - an absolute rock on the line, can play both DE and DT equally well; also, he's humongous and takes up a ton of space
DT - Vince Wilfork - another immovable guy on the line; very tough to run between the tackles with both Seymour and Wilfork there
DE - Matthew Judon - yep, a surprise, but this guy can REALLY get after the QB; and he LOVES playing for Bill Belichick; perfect Patriots' attitude
LB - Andre Tippett - if it wasn't for Lawrence Taylor, we'd all be speaking of Tippett in hushed tones in NFL circles; he was absolutely incredible
LB - Tedy Bruschi - not the fastest, but he was solid in all aspects of the game and a great, great, great leader
CB - Mike Haynes - as good a pure cover guy as the NFL has had to offer
CB - Ty Law - awesome in coverage, and was tough as nails; big play guy
DB - Stephon Gilmore - he proved himself to be an elite cover guy who made some HUGE plays for this team in the biggest moments
S - Devin McCourty - captain of the defense, great leader, fast, smart, good tackler, and also good in coverage; in his prime, he was phenomenal
S - Rodney Harrison - tough, big hitter, team leader
Now you'll be able to run on this team some, especially if you run at Judon. I thought about Vrabel there instead of Judon, because Vrabel is better against the run, but I thought, you know, I'm ok with giving up a little in the run game in order to have Judon's pass rushing ability. You send Tippett opposite Judon, and the QB is going to be running for his life. Then you've got Seymour and Wilfork pushing the pocket up the middle, and it's deep trouble for the QB. I also considered a third safety (Milloy probably) instead of Gilmore, for added run support, but it was just too juicy to have three cover guys as good as these three. Let McCourty play centerfield and have Harrison up in run support if needed.
In the kicking game, I just need the best they've got. Nothing too fancy.
K - Adam Vinatieri - Mr. Clutch
P - Ryan Allen - hard to pick, but he's got the best career punting average for NE and he won three SBs for them
LS - Joe Cardona - I mean...I don't know...Lonnie Paxton was good too
KR - Ellis Hobbs - played with an edge; the all-time Pats leader in KO return average
PR - Troy Brown - could break one deep, sure handed, and gives you great locker room leadership as well
Gunner - Matthew Slater - all-time great at the position; the total Patriot
Head Coach: Bill Belichick - GOAT, plain and simple
Offensive Coordinator: Josh McDaniels - criminally underrated, he was fantastic and was a good fit under Belichick
Defensive Coordinator: Romeo Crennel - really good at his job, and meshed so well with Belichick