With The First Pick
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5 Reasons New England Patriots repeat as Super Bowl champs

By Maurice Barksdale

Nov 23, 2015; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) signals during the second half of the New England Patriots 20-13 win over the Buffalo Bills at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 23, 2015; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) signals during the second half of the New England Patriots 20-13 win over the Buffalo Bills at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports /
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New England Patriots
Sep 1, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Buffalo Bills cornerback Stephon Gilmore (24) and defensive back Robert Blanton (26) stand on the field before the game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Lions win 31-0. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /

5. More talent on Defense

The New England Patriots ranked 8th in the NFL in total defense last season.  They ranked 3rd against the run and 12th against the pass.  Some head coaches would be pleased with those rankings.  But Bill Belichick is always searching for ways to make his team better.

Before the miraculous Super Bowl comeback you could see the Patriots defensive flaws.  In the first three quarters, Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons offense was easily moving the ball on the New England Patriots defense.

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The Patriots secondary was struggling and the front seven was having trouble stopping the Falcons running game.  Of course all of that changed in the 4th quarter.  But I think Bill Belichick is thinking more this off-season about the loss that almost was and to prevent a repeat of that situation.

However, the Atlanta Falcons offense made just about every defense they faceded look bad.  But when it comes to winning Super Bowls, almost losing one is motivation enough for the Patriots. Motivation to try to take things to another level.

First of all the New England Patriots needed to add talent at cornerback.

They already had Malcolm Butler at cornerback but the Super Bowl showed that they needed to give him some help.  So the Patriots signed the top free agent cornerback on the market in Stephon Gilmore.

Belicheck could to watch Gilmore up close, having faced his former team the Buffalo Bills twice a year.  Gilmore gives the Patriots an emerging shutdown cornerback to lineup opposite Malcolm Butler, making it harder to attack the other side of the field.

Also, the Patriots traded a second round pick to the Carolina Panthers for defensive end Kony Ealy.  An under the radar move that could pay off big time.  The Patriots lost DE’s Chris Long and Jabaal Sheard in Free agency, but with Ealy still early in his career I think he has more upside.

Kony Ealy has shown flashes but not had that break out year yet.  That could all change with the Patriots.  Ealy will rotate with Rob Ninkovich at defensive end.  I think Ealy will emerge as a dangerous pass rushing threat opposite Trey Flowers.

These moves will help the Patriots improve on their number twelve ranking against the pass and make an already good defense better.

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