After an incredibly disappointing 2022 season for many reasons, many fans have developed a pessimistic mindset regarding the Patriots' future.
The 20-year run of dominating the division and the league came to a screeching halt when Tom Brady left in 2020, and the rebuilding process began.
It hasn't gone smoothly, as they have faced many obstacles on their path to this point, but there is a lot to be optimistic about when looking ahead to the upcoming season.
From exciting additions in free agency and what (maybe prematurely) appears to be a successful draft to the return of Bill O'Brien and Adrian Klemm and the exit of Matt Patricia, the significant changes needed and made have brought back hope for much of New England.
Although there is a list of things to be excited about, four aspects have seemingly brought the most optimism for the season ahead.
The coaching changes made on offense
Rarely are substantial coaching changes like hiring a new offensive coordinator, or offensive line coach celebrated. However, after the cards they were dealt for the 2022 season, there was a clear sense of relief and eagerness from the Patriots players when hearing the news of Bill O'Brien and Adrian Klemm's arrival.
Of course, not all of New England's struggles can be placed on the shoulders of a single coach, who also wasn't put into a position to thrive. That wouldn't be fair to do. But knowing that the offense will once again be run by a respected and experienced offensive mind is easy to be excited about.
With O'Brien back in the fold, Mac Jones and the rest of the offense will have a fair chance to succeed and return to being a competitive offense.
The quarterback will also have O'Brien to rely on as the quarterback's coach, which was another tension-filled part of the 2022 season, as Jones was seen multiple times expressing his frustration mid-game.
The addition of Klemm is also crucial, mainly because of how inconsistent the offensive line was last year. Because of the continued absence of adequate protection, Jones and the other quarterbacks were sacked a total of 41 times, leading to incompletions or interceptions and even injury.
With Klemm's experience as not just an offensive tackle but one that played for the Patriots and his lengthy resume of coaching the line, there's no reason to believe the unit isn't in better hands going into the season.
The roster has gotten younger and faster
An emphasis over the last few years, as said by the director of player personnel Matt Groh, has been to make the Patriots a younger and faster team.
Before the team made that change in philosophy, New England had consistently been one of the oldest teams in the league and certainly not known for having the speediest of players.
But since Groh became heavily involved in the draft process in recent years, there was a noticeable effort to add tougher and faster talent to the team.
That's a primary reason Tyquan Thornton, who clocked in the fastest 40-yard-dash time of all receivers, and Pierre Strong Jr., the fastest running back of the class, were selected last year. The same can be said about players drafted this year, as well.
The conscious effort will inevitably lead to a big payoff once they take the field, especially in a division led by some of the NFL's fastest and most explosive players. And the youth movement on defense will make it much more difficult for opposing offenses, which has been a lingering issue for New England over the last few years.
The shift in attitude from the whole team
One of the most noticeable things about the 2022 season was the overall energy loss from the team. Even before the season began, a lack of excitement was quite apparent when players spoke to the media or even when they were practicing. That attitude remained throughout the year and, in some cases, only worsened.
Considering what they were all dealing with, from Matt Patricia and Joe Judge to heartbreaking losses that were difficult to recover from, it's not surprising every week was challenging to be optimistic.
Unfortunately, most media and fans criticized specific players for their way of handling that stress and frustration, which seemingly made the situation even worse.
Now that one of the most significant contributors to the stress and struggle of last season has moved on to another team (Patricia), and the other has been moved back to his usual position with special teams (Judge), there has been a visible shift within the team as they prepare for the upcoming season.
Many have touted the personnel changes as the primary reason for the infusion of excitement, while others have credited the guys on the team for helping make the change.
But no matter what it is, the fact there is united optimism and enthusiasm from all facets of the team is a reason for the fans to feel more comfortable looking forward to a bounce-back year from the Patriots.
The potential of the 2023 draft class
On the off chance you're not familiar with all of the Patriots' 2023 draft picks, here is a list to remind you of who was selected and the position they play.
- Christian Gonzalez - cornerback
- Keion White - EDGE
- Marte Mapu - linebacker
- Jake Andrews - center
- Chad Ryland - kicker
- Sidy Sow - guard
- Atonio Mafi - guard
- Kayshon Boutte - wide receiver
- Bryce Baringer - punter
- Demario Douglas - wide receiver
- Ameer Speed - defensive back
- Isaiah Bolden - cornerback
Although it's still too early in the offseason to know definitively which players will make the final 53-main roster, there is enough room to make educated guesses based on their performances through OTAs and minicamp and their value to the team.
The biggest takeaway from the class is the potential they all possess. There was definitely a focus on improving the offensive line, a much-needed move, and special teams, which has surprisingly been one of the weakest parts of the team the last few seasons.
We may not have seen much from the rookies yet, but a few names have already turned heads during practices.
That's a great sign, right?
With Groh's input in the draft over the last few years, the Patriots have struck gold with a handful of those they drafted. Who's to think that won't happen again this year? It's exciting to think about!