Wow! The New England Patriots made huge news today by trading a 2013 fifth round draft pick for defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth and a late 2012 and late 2013 draft pick for wide receiver Chad Ochocinco. How will this effect the Patriots in 2011? Can Bill Belichick handle both personalities in the same locker room?
Albert Haynesworth is coming off a terrible season for the Washington Redskins where he often battled with head coach Mike Shanahan. Haynesworth often complained that he did not fit into the 3-4 defensive scheme that the Redskins ran. But don't the Patriots also run a 3-4 scheme? Yes, they do. However, the Patriots were only fourteenth in the league last season in sacks and were very poor on third down. My guess is that Albert Haynesworth will be mostly utilized on the nose on third down in hopes that he will be able to clog up the middle and move the pocket on the quarterback. This should create a better pass rush from the outside and force the quarterback to throw earlier than he wants to. This is a really good deal for the Patriots.
Chad Ochocinco is also coming off a disappointing season. He only had 831 yards and four touchdown receptions. But being paired with Tom Brady should improve those numbers significantly. He will be the deep ball threat the Patriots missed last year after trading Randy Moss to the Minnesota Vikings. With New England's talented slot receiver Wes Welker, two young tightends Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski, and Deion Branch on the other side, Ochocinco will be expected to open up the middle of the field by drawing double coverage deep down field from the safety. I am stating it here right now, the Patriots will break the offensive points record for a single season set by the Patriots in 2007. This offense is going to be dynamic. And oh yeah, Bill Belichick and Chad Ochocinco have been good friends for a few years now.
The Patriots have basically given up nothing for two players who are low risks and could give them high rewards. If they do not work out, you cut them or trade them for late draft picks. However, I think the Patriots struck gold here.
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