1. Tavon Wilson will supplant Steve Gregory at FS by Week 8.
Wilson will be this team's starting Free Safety by Week 8. I've been extremely impressed by him in the preseason and think the Patriots found something in Wilson. I think Gregory will be solid and really help this Defense but Wilson will be better and they will switch roles by mid-season. Wilson will start and Gregory will play in sub packages. This move will be based on performance and not injury. Gregory will be healthy and a contributor all season long.
2. Jermaine Cunningham will have 10+ sacks.
Whether he eventually starts at DE or strictly comes in on sub packages Cunningham will have a great year rushing the passer. I could see his role coming together exactly like Mark Anderson's did last season. First half of the year he played during pass rushing situations and recorded 5 sacks and then eventually started by December and continued his strong play and record another 5 sacks. Cunningham's 2012 season could very well mirror Mark Anderson's 2011 season.
3. Nate Solder will make the Pro Bowl.
I think Solder's preseason struggles have been greatly exaggerated. Sure he has struggled but as we saw in 2011 he can be a very good if not great Tackle in this league. I feel like he will improve week by week and by mid-season he will be one of the best tackles in the league. His pro bowl prospects will be improved by the fact he's going to be the Left Tackle of the Best Offense in the NFL. Hopefully he will not play in the game though, as we hope the Patriots will be in the Super Bowl.
4. Greg Salas will have 50 receptions.
Salas is going to emerge as the Patriots #3 receiver and he will have a big impact in 2012. He will prove to be an upgrade over anything Branch, Gaffney or Stallworth would have given the Patriots. He is another player with knowledge of the system and has the youth to be consistent week to week unlike Branch and Gaffney. This is Josh McDaniels offense now and clearly he wants his guys in place. I expect his guys (Lloyd, Salas) to have big years.
5. The Patriots will have a Top 5 Defense.
The Patriots finished ranked 31 in total defense in 2011 and in 2012 they will make a Houston Texans like jump into the Top 5. I for one thought they weren't as bad as advertised in 2011. Sure they had some poor performances but at the same time they had some good games in the regular season and they played really good in the Playoffs. They under performed in 2011 but the talent is there and it has even improved during the offseason. They are young, athletic and talented. Players such as Hightower and Jones will really help this unit. Now that Belichick has the horses he can start scheming again like he did in 2001-2005.
Wilson will be this team's starting Free Safety by Week 8. I've been extremely impressed by him in the preseason and think the Patriots found something in Wilson. I think Gregory will be solid and really help this Defense but Wilson will be better and they will switch roles by mid-season. Wilson will start and Gregory will play in sub packages. This move will be based on performance and not injury. Gregory will be healthy and a contributor all season long.
2. Jermaine Cunningham will have 10+ sacks.
Whether he eventually starts at DE or strictly comes in on sub packages Cunningham will have a great year rushing the passer. I could see his role coming together exactly like Mark Anderson's did last season. First half of the year he played during pass rushing situations and recorded 5 sacks and then eventually started by December and continued his strong play and record another 5 sacks. Cunningham's 2012 season could very well mirror Mark Anderson's 2011 season.
3. Nate Solder will make the Pro Bowl.
I think Solder's preseason struggles have been greatly exaggerated. Sure he has struggled but as we saw in 2011 he can be a very good if not great Tackle in this league. I feel like he will improve week by week and by mid-season he will be one of the best tackles in the league. His pro bowl prospects will be improved by the fact he's going to be the Left Tackle of the Best Offense in the NFL. Hopefully he will not play in the game though, as we hope the Patriots will be in the Super Bowl.
4. Greg Salas will have 50 receptions.
Salas is going to emerge as the Patriots #3 receiver and he will have a big impact in 2012. He will prove to be an upgrade over anything Branch, Gaffney or Stallworth would have given the Patriots. He is another player with knowledge of the system and has the youth to be consistent week to week unlike Branch and Gaffney. This is Josh McDaniels offense now and clearly he wants his guys in place. I expect his guys (Lloyd, Salas) to have big years.
5. The Patriots will have a Top 5 Defense.
The Patriots finished ranked 31 in total defense in 2011 and in 2012 they will make a Houston Texans like jump into the Top 5. I for one thought they weren't as bad as advertised in 2011. Sure they had some poor performances but at the same time they had some good games in the regular season and they played really good in the Playoffs. They under performed in 2011 but the talent is there and it has even improved during the offseason. They are young, athletic and talented. Players such as Hightower and Jones will really help this unit. Now that Belichick has the horses he can start scheming again like he did in 2001-2005.
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