Patriots coach Bill Belichick puts early pressure on players

Editor's note: As off-season work across the league winds down, the focus is shifting to the steamy summer workouts ahead. The countdown to training camp has begun.

The Patriots' aggressive free agents signings - Jonathan Fanene, Trevor Scott, Brandon Lloyd, Steve Gregory and several others - and a draft that added some needed defensive contributors, give New England a deep roster.

During organized team activities and minicamp, Bill Belichick began the task of crafting that roster into a team, and according to his quarterback, he put pressure on his players early and often.

?We?ve done a lot of installation and there?s been a lot of stuff thrown at the players, so mentally, probably more than our level of comfort,? Tom Brady said. ?I think coach has really put the pressure on us to see how much we?re retaining from week to week, so guys have worked hard at it. ... You can really see the team you?re going to be, see the level of competition, the level of focus, the level of concentration.?

What?s new: Offense

In terms of scheme, there's not much change. Bill O?Brien left for Penn State and Josh McDaniels returned as offensive coordinator, but the general premise remains the same, and Tom Brady is still the quarterback. After three seasons away in Denver and St. Louis, McDaniels brings some new wrinkles and a fondness for screen passes. In terms of personnel, the receiver group has gotten a big addition in Brandon Lloyd, who had success with McDaniels with the Broncos and Rams. Lloyd looked like he was fitting in quickly with the Pats during OTAs and minicamp. Jabar Gaffney and Donte' Stallworth, players Brady trusts and know the offense (unlike since-released Chad Ochocinco), have been brought back as well.

What?s new: Defense

The Patriots began the 2011 season with a shift to a base 4-3 defense - no small thing for Belichick, who had long been associated with the 3-4. But Belichick intimated during draft weekend this year that as NFL offenses become more spread out, he felt change was needed, and it looks like New England will be sticking with a base 4-3. The team drafted pass rushers in Chandler Jones and Jake Bequette, and signed Scott away from Oakland. Scott made a big impression during off-season workouts. All three players are similar physically (tall, athletic and around 270 pounds), and are tangible evidence that the biggest issue for this defense in recent seasons - pressuring the quarterback - is getting needed attention.

Camp goals

1. Determine the corners. The oft-maligned secondary should be improved this season. Ras-I Dowling, who started the first two games of his career before missing the rest of the season with a hip injury, is back. The Patriots also drafted Alfonzo Dennard and signed veteran Will Allen. They join Devin McCourty and Kyle Arrington. Belichick would like to move McCourty to safety (which also is a suddenly crowded position), but he'll likely stay at cornerback until concerns about the others at the position are answered.

2. Setting the offensive line. Matt Light retired, which wasn't a surprise. The Patriots drafted Nate Solder in 2010 to eventually become Light?s successor at left tackle. Though Brian Waters (excused for personal reasons) wasn?t with the team at minicamp, he is expected back at right guard. Left guard Logan Mankins is rehabbing a torn ACL suffered in the Super Bowl, and right tackle Sebastian Vollmer had a back procedure, so things elsewhere on the line aren?t as settled. The center job is Dan Connolly?s to lose, unless the Patriots think he?s the best option at left guard until Mankins is healthy. In that case, Dan Koppen play center. Marcus Cannon is probably the best option until Vollmer is 100 percent.

3. Sorting out the running backs. New England has gone with a committee approach for several years, and that likely won't change. BenJarvus Green-Ellis, the Patriots' leading rusher the last two seasons, signed with Cincinnati in March. Second-year backs Shane Vereen (injured much of 2011) and Stevan Ridley (5.1 yards per carry on 87 attempts) are the top candidates, though Danny Woodhead, veteran pickup Joseph Addai and undrafted rookie Brandon Bolden are also competing for touches.

Breakout player: Stevan Ridley, RB

New England had just five runs of 20-plus yards last season, but all of them came from Ridley. Just as it looked like he was picking up steam, he fumbled in the both the regular-season finale and AFC divisional round game against Denver, and the coaching staff sat him for the rest of the postseason. The coaches are hoping it's lesson learned for Ridley.

?As a running back you never want to see the ball on the ground. You can hang your head on it or you can move forward and continue to try to be a better player, and that?s what I have to do. That was last year, it?s a new year, I?m not looking back, man, all I?m going to do is focus on what?s in front of me and try to be a better player and not make the same mistakes.? ? Ridley

Bottom Line

The Patriots reached the Super Bowl XLVI despite having a defense ranked at or near the bottom of the league in almost every category. The major problems have been addressed, so the expectation is for measurable improvement.

The offense has been reloaded, Tom Brady is still at the top of his game, and Belichick the coach did a masterful job overcoming the mistakes of Belichick the GM last year.

All of which is to say: heading into camp the Patriots still look like the class of the AFC. They?ll use the preseason to refine the offense and bond the young defense to get everyone on the same page and play with a swagger that was lacking last year.

Prediction: First, AFC East

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