2002 RECORD: 9-7 TEAM RANK (NFL): Defense (23rd); Offense (21st) ADDITIONS: Free agents -- LB Rosevelt Colvin (Bears), S Rodney Harrison (Chargers), CB Tyrone Poole (Broncos), S Chris Akins (Browns), FB Fred McCrary (Chargers), S Aric Morris (Titans), LB Don Davis (Rams), WR Dedric Ward (Dolphins). Draft picks -- 1. DT Ty Warren (Texas A&M); 2a. Eugene Wilson (Illinois); 2b. Bethel Johnson (Texas A&M); 4a. NT Dan Klecko (Temple); 4b. CB Asante Samuel (Central Florida); 5. Dan Koppen (Boston College); 6. Kliff Kingsbury (Texas Tech); 7a. TE Spencer Nead (Brigham Young); 7b. DE Tully Banta-Cain (California); 7c. NT Ethan Kelly (Baylor). SUBTRACTIONS: S Tebucky Jones (Saints), WR Donald Hayes (Jaguars), Terrell Buckley (Dolphins), Cam Cleeland (Rams), Grey Ruegamer (Packers), OT Greg Randall (Texans). Team news | Roster | More on Patriots draft

		Wed., May 28 Will Colvin and Harrison make them better defensively than in their Super Bowl season? The Patriots needed an infusion of new defensive talent and they needed more speed. It's 50-50 if these moves will allow them to jump from 23rd in the league into the top 10. It's hard to believe that a Bill Belichick team can have back-to-back years in the bottom of the league's defensive stats. Coaching alone should allow them to improve. Rosevelt Colvin gives them another pass-rushing linebacker with younger legs than Willie McGinest and Roman Phifer. Rodney Harrison adds another run-stopping safety to play next to Lawyer Milloy. There will be speed and coverage questions between Milloy and Harrison, which should challenge Belichick's schemes. Adding nose tackle Ty Warren should also revitalize the defensive line and allow Richard Seymour to be more dominant at defensive end. Last year was probably a defensive Mulligan, but it's still going to be hard to recapture the magic of the Super Bowl season two years ago.

Defending a championship is never easy and last season was one of ups-and-downs for the New England Patriots.

Following their surprise Super Bowl run, the Patriots entered 2002 with a bit of a chip on their shoulders, looking to prove that they really were the best team in the NFL. That quest got off to a convincing start, as New England jumped out of the gate with three straight wins and a new high-powered offense (115 points in the three wins).

However, the Patriots followed their 3-0 start with four straight losses, finished the season 9-7 and lost out on a playoff bid due to tie-breakers in the AFC (the Jets won the AFC East at 9-7 and Cleveland got the final wild-card bid at 9-7).

The fast start masked the struggles of a defensive unit that was the main force behind New England's championship season. New England won the Super Bowl in 2001 with a stingy defense that gave up only 17 points per game and 115.9 yards rushing per game. Compare that to 21.6 points per game and 137.4 yards rushing in 2002 and it's easy to see why New England missed the playoffs.

What they've added?
The focus for the Patriots this offseason was clearly on the defense. Normally not a big player in free agency, the Patriots made a splash this offseason. New England landed one of the prime players on the market, inking LB Rosevelt Colvin to a seven-year deal. Colvin, who is just 25 and has had 10½ sacks each of the last two seasons, will bolster a pass rush that had just 34 sacks in 2002. Willie McGinest and Richard Seymour led New England with 5½ sacks last season.

The Patriots also added two new faces in the secondary, signing safety Rodney Harrison and cornerback Tyrone Poole. Harrison's signing allowed the Patriots to trade Tebucky Jones, who was looking for a long-term deal, to the Saints for third- and seventh-round choices in this year's draft and a fourth-round pick in 2004. Harrison will team with Lawyer Milloy to give the Patriots two of the hardest hitting safeties in the NFL. At the least, Poole will be the nickel back and he should compete with Otis Smith for a starting spot.

In the draft the Patriots landed defensive tackle Ty Warren (No. 13 overall), who will be expected to contribute immediately. With the Patriots looking to switch to a 3-4 defensive front, Warren will have the inside shot at the starting spot at nose tackle, with Pro Bowler Seymour moving to a defensive end spot. Fourth-round pick Dan Klecko could also work his way into the rotation on New England's line.

Fantasy Focus

The Patriots' run-pass balance reversed in 2002. Last season, the Pats passed 62 percent on downs compared to when they threw only 39 percent two seasons ago. As a result, Antowain Smith's stats were negatively affected the most. He ran for 1,157 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2001, but slumped in 2002 by running for only 982 yards and six scores. Since Tom Brady has fully recovered from a separated shoulder, expect the Patriots to keep throwing in 2003. They own a deep group of wideouts and for the past two drafts, have recently used their early picks on receivers (Daniel Graham, Deion Branch and Bethel Johnson). It makes more sense to bypass Smith and take a chance on a sleeper like Washington's Trung Canidate. -- Roger Rotter, ESPN.com Fantasy editor

On the offensive side of the ball, the Patriots were relatively quiet. Wide receiver Dedric Ward was signed as a free agent. While he's not the big target the Patriots seem to lack, Ward, who had just 40 receptions in two seasons in Miami, should fit in well in New England's offense and provide depth. The Patriots used a second-round pick on Bethel Johnson, who will immediately be their fastest receiver and could provide a nice deep threat.Fullback Fred McCrary is the only offseason addition currently penciled in to start.

One thing to watch as training camp approaches is the right shoulder of quarterback Tom Brady. Brady made some news during the offseason when it was learned he'd suffered a slightly separated shoulder in New England's season finale against the Dolphins. While a shoulder injury is never a good thing for a QB, Brady says he's close to 100 percent and recently participated in New England's offseason passing camp. The Patriots added Kliff Kingsbury through the draft and already have Rohan Davey and Damon Huard on the roster, but they clearly need Brady to be healthy.

What they're missing?
Not much. The Patriots roster (at least at the top) seems pretty much set and they probably won't be making any major moves.

One position many Patriots fans would have liked to have seen addressed this offseason was running back. With Antowain Smith coming off a disappointing 2002 season (982 yards on 252 carries), there was plenty of sentiment for the Patriots to go after a running back in the draft. While New England appears content with Smith, don't be surprised if Jamal Anderson's name crops back up as a possibility. The Patriots were close to signing Anderson last offseason and if can prove he's in shape and wants to play, they'd likely be interested.

What it all means?
For a team that doesn't generally delve into the big-time free-agent market, the Patriots were extremely active this offseason. The additions on defense -- Colvin especially -- should boost the unit back among the NFL's best.

But they'll have their hands full trying to make the playoffs. With the Bills, Jets, Dolphins and Patriots, the AFC East stacks up as one of the NFL's toughest divisions. That said, the Patriots feel like they were good enough to make the playoffs last season and anything short of that this year will be a major disappointment.

Peter Lawrence-Riddell is an NFL editor for ESPN.com.