Quote:New England didn't have Ty Law, Darelle Revis, Aqib Talib, Vince Wilfork, or Richard Seymour last year. Belichick had a lot of Pro Bowlers in his early years with the Pats. How much of that was raw talent vs. development? I remember thinking the Pats were the worst team in the league on paper before the 2001 season, and then they won the Superbowl. It wasn't a talented roster before Belichick developed it.
Belichick regularly plugs in guys who were cast off from other teams and they have career years. Here, look at their 2009 roster. They had Wilfork that year, and Mayo, but the rest of the talent on defense was a bunch of journeymen and cast offs. They were 5th in scoring defense in 2009.
http://www.pro-football-reference.com/te...roster.htm
What defensive players has Gus developed? Other than Marks (who may have appeared to improve just because he was played out of position by the tacks), I can't think of a defender who is significantly better than when he arrived on the team. If you want to say Telvin, go back and look at his play in his very first preseason game in 2014. If Branch and Clemons were the reason the defense sucked (they weren't that bad in 2014), why wasn't Ryan Davis used at Leo.
#becauseGus
(emphasis added)
As to the highlighted portion, your original quote said "every year since Belicheck took over their defense has been in the top 17..."
To then turn around and restrict the standard to last year is disingenuous.
To ask about raw talent vs. development...here's a few things to keep in mind.
First, Belichick started running their defense initially in 2000. But keep in mind, before then, it was still largely stocked by Parcells. Belicheck came up under Parcells and coached with him for years. Many Belicheck assistant coaches were on those Parcells teams with the Giants and Patriots. There were players from Parcell's last Patriots' Defense in 1996 that were still on the roster in 2000, including Willie McGinest, Ted Johnson, Tedy Bruschi, Ty Law, and Lawyer Milloy. Many of those guys were already developed and familiar with the scheme. He didn't HAVE to develop those guys, and most of them played key roles in their Super Bowl years of 1996-pre Belicheck- and of 2001 (Belicheck era). Secondly, McGinest was a first round pick, Johnson was a 2nd round pick, Ty Law was a first round pick, Milloy was a 2nd round pick, Bruschi was a 3rd round pick, Seymour was a first round pick in 2001, and Wilfork was a first round pick. THose guys had the innate talent already. To suggest it wasn't a talented nucleus before Belicheck simply isn't true.
Now what ready made Super Bowl/Pro bowlers were on the Jaguars defense when Bradley arrived? Mathis, who everyone knew was finished?
What defensive player had Jacksonville drafted in the top 10 when Bradly arrived? None until 2015-his third year. That man was Dante Fowler, who blew out his knee in minicamp. What other first rounder defenders were on the Jaguars roster? Well, there was Tyson Alualu...so there's that...I guess. By Belicheck's 2nd year, he had drafted Seymour 6th overall Willie McGinest already on the roster, along with Ty Law (23rd pick overall in 1995) and Lawyer Milloy.
As to that 2009 roster of New England's you referenced? They DID still have two pretty good players along the DL in Ty Warren and Vince Wilfork. The castoffs they got from other rosters were at least productive players before coming to New England (Adalius Thomas, Shawn Springs). Yes, Bradley brought over Bryant and Clemons from Seattle, but they were finished too. Not only that, but unlike that "untalented" rag tag group of misfits in New England, the Jaguars defense under Bradley had zero offensive support. Gabbert and Henne were the QBs. WHo did the Belicheck group have to support them? Some guy named Tom Brady.