I don't disagree with any of that. That's why I said I think it's just the first in a series of moves. I think if BB had his way, he'd always have a coverage oriented pass defense. The Patriots have always been at their best when they've had a shutdown corner, a la Ty Law, Samuel to an extent, Revis...In BB's base 3-4, that shut down corner allows him to do so, so many things. Putting Browner on the other side was seriously a stroke of genius. Take away the No. 1 option with Revis, and then beat the shit out of the man on the other side at the line, giving the help a little extra time to shade over and/or double team. I think if someone could get inside BB's head, that is probably the recipe he would cook every single season if he had the option.
I just don't think that option is going to present itself based on what's available out there now. Like I said, it's always possible he fills that role through a trade or other move, even in-season, like they did with Talib, but absent that, I think BB probably grabs a couple more guys to fill out the secondary that he thinks can contribute, whether it be through free agency or the draft, but the idea of a true No. 1, shutdown guy like Revis or Law is probably off the table. Right now, who's really left that could even be considered a No. 1? Tramon Williams? Arenas?
Thus, I think we'll see a few more moves that bolster the pass rush. As much as I even hate to write it, Greg Hardy would be my target right now. He's a beast, and would be a perfect fit. I can't imagine what him and Chandler could do opposite each other. A guy like Orakpo, on a one year "Prove you're healthy" type of deal would be a move I could see BB making. There is much more availability, and I think folks forget how formidable this pass rush can really be with a healthy Chandler. I forget how many sacks he finished with last year, but I also remember he had like 7 sacks eliminated by defensive penalties (a bunch of which probably attributable to Browner). A fully healthy Chandler, playing the way he did last year, without the penalties, could very well be a 15-20 sack season, with Nink as the next best rusher on the team. You put another 15-20 sack guy like Hardy with him, and all of a sudden, the pass defense just got better by virtue of the fact that the quarterback just lost about a second per drop back. It would be amazing.
I'm also very sincere when I talk about game planning for opponents. We all know the Bills, Dolphins and Jets make moves specifically to try and stop the Patriots. Shit, just look at what each of them have done this offseason, and you can see that. I don't think it's a stretch to believe the Pats don't do the same, and with guys like Brandon Marshall and Sammy Watkins playing against us twice a year, but with flotsam and jetsam throwing it to them, I think it makes sense to start focusing more on the QB and less on the receivers. If you can exploit the weakness there, the strength is eliminated on it's own.
But anyway, it's just a theory and just something I'll be watching. We won't know anything for certain until September, when the snaps matter, but for me, if I were GM of this team, and I took a look at what was available to me on the market, what I already have on the roster, and who I have to beat next season, that's absolutely an avenue I'd probably be heading down.
Of course, it's the Pats, so don't be surprised if they do nothing, and head into the season about 12 million under the cap, and everyone squeals and bitches about it, and then they go 12-4 and make it to the conference championship when the dust settles and everyone says "Oh yeah, they knew what they were doing all along."