Patriots: 6 surprise players of 2015

Patriots: 6 surprise players of 2015

Every year, the New England Patriots’ personnel development system produces a handful of surprise performers. Either through the draft or prudent free agent signings, the Patriots always experience an influx of new talent for fans to enjoy on Sundays. Here are the six best surprise performers of 2015; players who haven’t had significant roles for the Patriots in past years, but stepped up big-time this season.

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6. Keshawn Martin

Acquired by the Patriots via a midseason trade, Martin immediately showed he could be a trusted target for Tom Brady against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Martin scored a touchdown by adjusting his route accordingly for a scrambling Brady, catching the crossing pattern and taking it in for a score.

On the season, Martin reeled in 24 receptions for 269 yards and two touchdowns. He also averaged a respectable 25.7 yards per kickoff return, as well as 11.5 yards per punt return. Unfortunately, Martin was one of the problem children during the Patriots’ punt return struggles when he muffed a return against the Houston Texans.

But for the most part, the introduction of Martin into the offense and special teams was a welcome sight for Patriots fans fed-up with the underachieving Aaron Dobson.

Next: 5. James White

5. James White

Listed as a running back on the roster, White specializes as a pass catcher out of the backfield, much like the man he replaced in the offense, Dion Lewis (more on him later). White rushed for just 56 yards on 22 carries, but he was very impactful in the passing game, snagging 40 balls for 410 yards and four touchdowns.

White may not have the jaw-dropping open field juking ability of Lewis, but he’s a dynamic player in his own right. He didn’t get many opportunities as a rookie, but once Lewis went down, White assumed a larger role in the offense and looked anything but out of place.

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It was a frustrating Week 17 against the Miami Dolphins, but White’s 68-yard catch and run was perhaps the lone bright spot from the afternoon. The play was the complete White package—slippery route running, sure hands and creativity after the catch.

Another play that sticks out from White’s season was his 30-yard touchdown catch off a screen pass, which Bill Belichick called “one of the best executed” plays of the year.

Next: 4. Malcom Brown

4. Malcom Brown

From the moment he was selected at No. 32 overall in last spring’s draft, Brown has been everything the Patriots could have asked for and more. Once again, Bill Belichick nailed it with the recognition of an aging player; Brown was by far a better player than Vince Wilfork this season.

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Brown accumulated 48 combined tackles, three sacks, 17 yards lost and two fumble recoveries in his rookie season. Worth noting is the fact that those two heads-up fumble recoveries led the entire defense. Brown has also grown into a stalwart defender against the run.

Here’s Bill Belichick heaping praise on the 2015 first rounder:

"I’d say it kind of maybe started around the bye week somewhere there after the Jacksonville game, somewhere in the area. I think he’s really come on through the season, which isn’t always the case with first-year players. It took him a while to get to that point through training camp and the early part of the season, but he’s become much better and more consistent in every phase of the game — running game, passing game, play recognition, communication, adjustments — just everything. It seems like every week he just builds on it. He’s really hit a good slope, a good incline. He’s worked hard. There is a lot on every rookie’s plate. There’s a lot on his plate as a rookie in the different situations that he plays in and the number of things that we do on the front, so it’s not easy, but he’s improved his techniques, his fundamental play, and he’s improved his communication and overall understanding of the multiples that are involved. It’s been good."

And he’s just 21 years old.

Next: 3. Malcolm Butler

3. Malcolm Butler

Entering the 2015 season, Butler was a complete mystery to many outside of New England. Sure, he had made the play of his life in Super Bowl XLIX, but was Butler the real deal?

Butler checks in at No. 3 on this list because of how well he has played—at a Pro Bowl level, quite literally.

Butler was ranked 22nd overall out of all cornerbacks in the NFL by Pro Football Focus. His 15 passes defended was tied for 15th among all defensive players, indicating that Butler excels at getting his hands up in coverage and making the play.

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Of course, Butler’s season was defined by his suffocating coverage on Odell Beckham Jr. after OBJ’s 87-yard touchdown (which was more the fault of Devin McCourty than Butler). After that play, Butler limited arguably the most talented wide receiver in the NFL to just 17 yards on three catches, owning the matchup as the night went on.

What makes Butler such a special player is his evident confidence and short memory. When he gets beat, Butler forgets about it immediately and moves on to the next play. That’s the mark of a true No. 1 corner.

Next: 2. Dion Lewis

2. Dion Lewis

Coming out of nowhere to play a major role in the first half of the Patriots’ 2015 regular season was Lewis, who had previously bounced around the league with the Cleveland Browns, Philadelphia Eagles and Indianapolis Colts but had never been given a real chance.

Despite missing the second half of the regular season, Lewis found himself the second-leading rusher when all was said and done in Week 17. In addition, his average of 4.8 yards per carry bested the rest of the Patriots’ backfield. The Pitt product finished with 234 yards and two touchdowns on 49 carries before tearing his ACL against the Washington Redskins.

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t 36 passes out of the backfield for 388 yards and two scores. White has been a pleasant surprise as a fill-in for Lewis, but the Patriots have missed and will continue to miss the spice Lewis brings to the offense both as a pass catcher and ball carrier.

The sheer number of Patriots players and coaches who huddled around Lewis after he tore his ACL shows how highly the team thinks of Lewis. Defensive coordinator Matt Patricia, of all people, gave Lewis a comforting arm over the shoulder as the undersized back made his way toward the locker room.

Next: 1. Jabaal Sheard

1. Jabaal Sheard

Although he missed three games midseason due to an ankle injury, Sheard had his best season as a pro in his debut season as a Patriot. As a reward for his efforts, Sheard will play in his first postseason game when the Patriots take the field on January 16th.

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As Bill Belichick described earlier this season, the addition of Sheard to the roster took some pressure off Rob Ninkovich and Chandler Jones at the edge rusher spots.

"When we signed Jabaal, we kind of thought that it would be kind of put us in a three-for-two position at defensive end. Rob and Chandler, when they, well two years ago they played almost every snap. They were both in the high 90-percent range. Then Chandler missed a few games last year and then came back and again played almost every snap once he came back and was a big factor for us. It’€™s just hard to count on guys at that position to be as durable overall as Rob and Chandler had been, particularly this year and two years ago. So, kind of having that three-for-two with those players, we felt like would give us good depth on defense."

Sheard’s stat line reads eight sacks (tied for 22nd in the league) and four forced fumbles (tied for second in the league with nine other players). Without a doubt, the signing of Sheard by personnel director Nick Caserio was one of the most prudent moves of the 2015 free agency period.

Next: AFC Power Rankings: End of regular season edition

Go Pats.