No former Patriot-turned-analyst has been more inclined to put his old team on blast than Rodney Harrison.

Unlike other former players who have been known to take it easy on their old team, you certainly can’t say that Harrison has been reticent to call out his old club. The ex-New England safety, who currently works as an analyst for NBC Sports, has taken his share of shots at the Patriots the last few seasons -- in 2009, he told Tom Brady to “take off the skirt and put on some slacks” after the quarterback was seen complaining about a call. And last year, he said the New England secondary was “probably the worst secondary I’ve seen in the last decade.”

But in town to be honored as part of “The Tradition” Wednesday night at the TD Garden, Harrison sounded a far more optimistic note about the Patriots and what they’ve done this offseason, saying they’ve gotten “better” and “younger” in free agency and the draft, and added there’s only one reason they shouldn’t be back in the Super Bowl in February 2013.

“I think they’ve addressed some needs across the board,” Harrison said Wednesday night. “I think with Tom Brady really being that centerpiece you can build your team around and coach Belichick. Obviously with the great teaching that he and his staff does, I think they’ll be fine. I think they’re in tune to go back, as long as they don’t allow complacency to kick in.”

While there was some optimism, Harrison continued to hammer on the secondary, noting specifically that it’s time for players like safety Patrick Chung and defensive back Devin McCourty to assert themselves as leaders.

“They have a lot of room on the defensive side where they can come out and get better,” Harrison said. “They need to get better defensively, especially in the defensive backfield. Guys need to step up -- Patrick Chung, Devin McCourty. They need to step up. It’s time for them not to think that they’re young players. They need to make plays, and there’s no reason this team should be ranked 32nd in the league (defensively).”

Harrison believes that when it comes to young players making the leap to full veteran status, one of the first things they have to show is consistency.

“I think as a young player, you have to focus on being consistent each and every day. I’m not saying that they’re not, but being a pro, doing things right all the time and learning from last year. You have to get better. And I think as they get better, other people look around and say, ‘These guys are really the leaders in the secondary,’ and they’ll catch on.

“When you’re doing things right, when you’re playing fast -- when you’re doing things right all the time -- people want to be a part of that. And then, you start having success and you go out there and you really set the tone. When I played, I really wanted to go out there and hit somebody in the mouth. Set the tone. And I figured that everyone else would join, and that’s what happened.”

Harrison also gained a measure of notoriety when, in the days following New England’s Super Bowl loss to the Giants, he got after Rob Gronkowski, lashing the tight end after he was pictured partying in the wake of the defeat. Harrison said Gronkowski “disrespected himself,” and added that “if Willie McGinest, Tedy Bruschi, Larry Izzo, Richard Seymour or myself had been at that party, [Gronkowski] probably would have got his head rung.”

Now, almost five months later, Harrison said he’s got nothing but love for the big tight end, saying there’s a “time and a place for everything,” and adding that with his new contract, Gronkowski will be asked to be more of a leader in 2012.

“I love the kid. I love him,” said Harrison. “Everyone jumped on me for criticizing him at the Super Bowl for dancing and having a good time after the incident kind of occurred. But I love the kid. I think he’s a phenomenal player. My whole point was, there’s a time and place for everything.”

The 23-year-old Gronkowski signed a contract extension in the offseason that will net him roughly $55 million, a deal that includes a $13.17 million signing bonus. Harrison, who won a pair of Super Bowls with the Patriots, said that sort of contract means the Arizona product has to bring a different mindset to Gillette Stadium than the one he had his first two years in the league.

“He is a core guy. They paid him like he’s a core guy,” Harrison said. “He has to be a leader. He can no longer sit in the background. He has to sit in the forefront and say, ‘I’m going to help lead this team.’ And you do that by making good decisions in good situations. So he’ll get better. He’ll grow. He’ll mature. And he’ll continue to be a fabulous player.”