Optimistic

As a New England sports fan, I am genetically pre-disposed to pessimism. This, despite the fact that I was not born here. Perhaps I moved to New Hampshire sensing it was a place where like-minded people would be accepting of my feelings that doom is the natural end-state for all human beings and that life is all about preparing us for that. Still, we are not merely simple mechanisms that repeat the same patterns of behavior and reiterate the same words until they ultimately become the thematic catch phrases of our individual lives. We are complex, non-linear beings and even someone as unsentimental about the state of the world as me occasionally succumbs to unbridled optimism.

And yes, that’s easy to say looking out the front bay windows of my three bedroom house as the spring rain does its very best to green up my front lawn.

As OTAs get under way, with limited media access to practices and players in shorts and jerseys, we’re left with little more than scraps (Donte’ Stallworth dropped a pass!) to sustain us. Local Pigskin Pundits and Bobbleheads are left to speculate (Julian Edelman hasn't taken any snaps with the defense! Will Allen is taking reps at safety! Rob Ninkovich is lining up at defensive end!) rather than deliver analysis and insights.

So, let’s roll with that.

Here are 10 Blindly Optimistic Predictions for the 2012 New England Patriots and no, Chad Ochocinco leading the Patriots in receptions is not one of them.

1) Dont’a Hightower will become New England’s version of Terrell Suggs. Bill Belichick has a new toy to play with in Hightower and he will move him around in combinations with Jerod Mayo, Brandon Spikes and Ninkovich designed to put a defensive playmaker in open space. Hightower will become that player opposing offenses have to identify pre-snap or risk certain destruction.  Defensive Rookie of the Year.

2) Chandler Jones will have locals comparing him to Willie McGinest by Week 12. Most Patriots Pundits are setting the bar low for Jones, reminding us that Jason Pierre-Paul took a year to tap his rather impressive upside. With Ninkovich, Bequette, Hightower and maybe even Jermaine Cunningham all capable of pressuring the quarterback, Jones should have his chances and I think he’ll produce.

3) Jake Bequette will become New England’s Jared Allen.  Pencil him in for 9 sacks as a 3^rd down specialist. He really should start working on the mullet now.

4) Devin McCourty will bounce back from a brutal 2011 with 8 INTs. With a much improved front seven playing in front of him and reinforcements at safety, McCourty will return to his freshman form in 2012.

5) I’m with this guy: Nate Ebner will be the next New England sports folk hero.

6) Shane Vereen and Stevan Ridley will each run for 800 yards and combine for 12 touchdowns as the Patriots offense becomes a mash up of 2004 and 2007.

7) Brady will throw 18 of his 46 TD passes off play action.

8) Brandon Lloyd will top his career best numbers. I know. With Gronkowski, Hernandez and Welker lining up with him it seems crazy to project 1500 yards and 12 TDs for Lloyd. Then again, we’re talking about Tom Brady, here. Also…

9) The Patriots offense will score 666 points in 2012. You know, because Bill Belichick is an Imp of Satan. With the revamped defense pitching more 3 and outs in 2012, the Patriots fast break offense will get more opportunities to score and convert those chances at a rate of nearly 42 point per game.

10) Tom Brady will be named MVP of the regular season and the Super Bowl. Patriots 42, Cowboys 6.

It could happen.