ok, sorry but you don't really know what you're talking about. maybe you follow football but that doesn't mean you follow the patriots and know everything. I certainly don't follow the bills and everything they do so I don't make predictions about what I don't know. Here's what I do know though:
1) Samuel is a product of the patriots defensive system. He had excellent closing speed and the ability to jump routs, which belichick knew, and structured our secondary around it. We always had a safety over the top to cover samuel, which allowed him to jump routs. when he got beat we would still have the safety, but he got a lot of picks because of this. He wanted to be paid more, and belichick doesn't pay players if they're not worth it, he knew samuel was just decent. Randy moss is worth the money. Brady is worth the money. Samuel is NOT worth the money. The eagles are gonna be scratching their heads when they realize samuel sucks in 1 on 1 coverage and always gets beat deep. Just like the many other great players that were products of the system but left for better money and never lived up to their expectations.
2) Lynch is NOT going to have to cover recievers. We origionally had tank williams who is a great strong safety who can also play linebacker, a key part in matching up with teams with strong tight ends like Indy. Lynch is gonna be a decent replacement for him, and will mostly be asked to play up near the line and stop the run, blitz and cover tight ends. Belichick knows hes not fast so hes not gonna expect him to cover receivers, and he knows how to use smart veteran guys.
3) Corners are not an issue. So far the corners are one of the best surprises so far this pre season. Ellis Hobbs has certainly improved and an already decent career (hes really not that bad, a lot of times it looks like he got beat but that's because there should have been a safety over the top, not his fault). We also have Fernando Bryant, who has been very solid for us, then our two draft picks Terence Wheatly and Jonathan Whilite have also been very good so far.
4) Our starting linebackers come first game: Mike Vrabel (33), Teddy Bruschi (35), Jerod Mayo (22), Adalius Thomas(31). Thats a solid linebacker crew, with Vrabel coming off his best season so far and a pro bowl, and Thomas moving to his natural position of outside linebacker where he is expected to dominate. Other key guys are Shawn Crable, Victor Hobbson, Pierre Woods and Eric Alexander, all but hobbson are young and they all are talented. Linebackers are one of our strongest positions.
5) Offense is going to be as strong as last year. Not as dominant because as you say, teams now know how to stop our pass. However I think this year will show the emergence of one of the strongest and deepest running back cores in the league. With Maroney (almost 1,000 yards in only 7 games last year), Sammy Morris (also very good before he was injured), Kevin Faulk (one of the best third down backs in the league, great blocker and catching), and Lamont Jordan (1000+ yard and 70 catches in 2004). Thats 3 starting quality running backs and a very good third down back. Running will keep blitzes honest and open up the passing game, so don't expect 50+ points a game, but we'll be more versatile and prepared for any situations.
With our weak schedule, as I said before less than 12 wins would be very disappointing. That's counting loosing 2 of 3 versus Indy, Pittsburgh and San Diego, and then 2 upsets somewhere else. As you can see that's a pretty big stretch in itself, I can realistically see 14 or 15 wins.
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