A look back at story lines is telling

November 05, 2008|On football, Mike Reiss, Globe Staff

Things move so fast these days, sometimes it's easy to forget to look back.

When the Patriots gathered for the start of training camp in late July, there were story lines aplenty. The weather was toasty, the sting of falling just shy of an undefeated season resonated among players, and one of the more prevalent questions was whether the team could avoid the "Curse of the Super Bowl Loser."

Now that the team has hit the midpoint of its regular season - at 5-3, and in a three-way tie for the top spot in the AFC East - how have the top camp story lines unfolded?

A look back at the key issues then, and how they've been answered:

1. Who replaces Asante Samuel?

The top question then remains a pressing concern today. The Patriots have not filled the void left by Samuel's departure to the Eagles, which has led to second-guessing of the team's decision-making process. It started with free agent signee Fernando Bryant (cut before the season). Veteran Lewis Sanders started on opening day before fellow free agent Deltha O'Neal stepped in, but O'Neal hasn't made anyone forget about Samuel. Rookie Terrence Wheatley started at the spot Sunday night and showed some early promise before leaving with a left hand injury that looked serious as trainers held his arm en route to the locker room.

2. How will first-round pick Jerod Mayo progress?

Much discussion centered on how complex the Patriots' defense was for a rookie linebacker, so it was unclear how much Mayo, the 10th overall selection in the draft, would contribute. Yet he was thrown into the mix as an opening-day starter and played every snap in the first two games, showing the athleticism, versatility, and smarts to be part of every package. On the season, he has played in 84 percent of the defensive snaps, which is more than everyone but linebacker Adalius Thomas and safety James Sanders. Mayo leads the team with 65 tackles and is a candidate for NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.

3. Can the defense get over the hump?

The 2006 season ended with the Colts driving for a late fourth-quarter touchdown in the AFC Championship game, while 2007 had a similar ending with the Giants marching down the field for what turned out to be the winning score in the Super Bowl. Because of that, it was suggested there could be some schematic changes to help the defense close the deal, while the possibility of fusion between Bill Belichick-based and Dom Capers-based schemes was broached. However, there have been no major changes, and the defense as currently constituted has looked more vulnerable than in the last two seasons.

4. The right side of the offensive line.