10 Long-term positives of Patriots’ 2015 season
While the 2015 season ended in disappointment for the New England Patriots, there were many positives that came out of the campaign that spell good fortune for the Patriots down the road. All was not lost when Tom Brady’s pass on that fateful two-point conversion fell incomplete in the AFC Championship Game.
Here are 10 long-term positive outcomes from the 2015 season that will help the Patriots sustain their winning ways in 2016 and beyond, starting with a bright spot on special teams:
(Editor’s note: All stats come by way of Pro Football Reference.)
10. Brandon King emerging as this generation’s Matthew Slater
Since being promoted to the active roster after the Patriots cut Brandon Fletcher in early October, King has been nothing but extraordinary playing with Slater on punt coverage. He made a few nice plays in the AFC Championship Game, cementing his role in the Patriots’ special teams force for 2016.
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Special teams may not be the sexiest of topics to write or read about, but they are important nonetheless. The Patriots are fortunate to have not only a perennial Pro Bowler in Slater, but also an extremely promising understudy in the form of King.
Next: 9. Strong play of interior defensive line
9. Strong play of interior defensive line
Entering Week 1, everybody and their mother was concerned about the interior of the defensive line after the departure of Vince Wilfork in the offseason. Those worries were not only put to rest, but also transformed into relief; the Patriots are better off without Wilfork.
2015 first rounder Malcom Brown was a stud. His combination of size, athleticism and instincts should lead to at least one Pro Bowl berth over the course of his career.
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In addition, midseason pickup Akiem Hicks was everything the Patriots hoped he could be and more, forcing his way up the depth chart to the No. 3 spot by postseason. He had a few nice run stuffs on Sunday afternoon.
And of course there’s trusty veteran Alan Branch, who made a big sack in the AFC Championship. Branch knows what it takes to win it all, as he was instrumental in the Patriots’ Super Bowl XLIX victory.
Last but not least, don’t forget about Dominique Easley, who was on fire before getting injured in Week 14. Easley and Brown represent the future of the Patriots’ defensive line.
Next: 8. Slippery RBs Lewis, White
8. Slippery running backs Dion Lewis and James White
Much like they directly addressed the departure of Wilfork, the Patriots filled the void left by Shane Vereen in the pass catching backfield role with the rise of first Lewis, then White once Lewis tore his ACL.
From the Dion Lewis vault:
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Over the course of the regular season, Lewis and White satisfied Brady’s need for a target out of the backfield by combining for 798 yards and six touchdowns on 76 receptions in addition to 290 yards and four touchdowns on the ground.
While Lewis is definitely the more exciting player, White was serviceable cog in his own right. Brady displayed his confidence in the sophomore pro by targeting him throughout the AFC Championship Game.
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In 2016, look for the Patriots to use these two players interchangeably. Since both Lewis and White serve the same role in the Patriots’ offense, it’s likely that White will only see significant action if Lewis is injured.
It’s a luxury to have a pair of such talented and versatile skill players on the same roster.
Next: 7. Trio of rookie offensive linemen
7. Trio of rookie offensive lineman: David Andrews, Tre’ Jackson and Shaq Mason
You may remember that the Patriots were dealing with a very early injury bug on the offensive line before Week 1. It required the Patriots to start a trio of rookie offensive lineman at both guard positions and center against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Fourth-round picks Jackson and Mason excelled at guard from the very start, and Andrews played so well filling in for Bryan Stork at center that the Patriots actually delayed handing the starting position back to Stork when he returned from a severe concussion injury.
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The future of the Patriots’ interior offensive line bodes very well with Jackson and Mason likely to be starters for years to come and Andrews presenting himself as arguably the best backup center in the NFL considering how well he played as a starter in 2015. In particular, Mason is an outstanding run blocker with that Georgia Tech background.
The Patriots certainly have work to do on the offensive line this offseason—they already started by firing Dave DeGuglielmo—but at least they will have three sophomore anchors at their disposal in 2016.
Next: 6. Rise of Butler, Ryan as starting cornerbacks
6. Rise of Malcolm Butler, Logan Ryan as starting cornerbacks
See a theme developing here? The 2015 Patriots did an outstanding job of answering the offseason departures of 2014 starters. Such was the case at the cornerback position, where Darrelle Revis, Brandon Browner, Kyle Arrington and Alfonzo Dennard all shipped out of town in the 2015 offseason.
First and foremost, Butler stepped up to the plate and flew up the NFL’s cornerback ranks. His season was highlighted by suffocating coverage on Odell Beckham Jr., 15 passes defended and excellent tackling. The latter was on full display in the AFC Championship Game when Butler flew to the sideline to cut off C.J. Anderson from the first down marker, giving the ball back to the offense at a crucial juncture in the game.
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In his third season out of Rutgers, Ryan came into his own as a No. 2 corner. Playing with safety help over the top while covering No. 1 receivers for much of the season, Ryan exceeded expectations. In both Broncos games, Ryan shut down Demaryius Thomas. He also paced the Patriots with four interceptions.
The Patriots need to address the nickel cornerback spot in the draft and/or free agency, but they have two solid starting cornerbacks that have plenty of productive years left in the tank.
Next: 5. Continued elite inside LB play
5. Continued elite inside linebacker play from Jamie Collins, Dont’a Hightower
You aren’t going to find a better pair of inside linebackers in the NFL than Collins and Hightower.
Starting with Collins, it’s pretty amazing that he led the Patriots in tackles (89) despite missing an entire one-fourth of the season with that mystery illness. In addition, Collins racked up 5.5 sacks and led the entire NFL with five forced fumbles. He also recovered a fumble and returned it for one of the defense’s two touchdowns on the season.
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Collins is a rare specimen with his blazing speed, surprising bulk and pure athletic ability. A case could be made that he is the most talented player on the Patriots’ defense. He should be viewed as an early candidate for Defensive Player of the Year in 2016.
One could also make the argument that Hightower is the most essential member of the Patriots’ defense. After all, Hightower is the command center of the unit; he can be seen barking out orders pre-snap, and his excellent instincts in run defense were a major reason why the Patriots surrendered the ninth-fewest rushing yards in 2015.
Both Collins and Hightower will begin the 2016 season at just 26 years of age.
Next: 4. Star power and depth at defensive end
4. Star power and depth at defensive end
First and foremost, Chandler Jones must be given a nod here. Jones ranked fifth in the NFL with 12.5 sacks, the highest total of any Patriots’ defender since Mike Vrabel racked up that same amount in 2007. Unfortunately, Jones had his quietest game in the AFC Championship Game, barely even getting a glimpse of Peyton Manning. But he is certainly a star, someone who should contender for Defensive Player of the Year in 2016.
Right behind Jones with eight sacks on the season was Jabaal Sheard, who was one of the NFL’s quietest yet productive free agent signings of 2015. The Patriots were keen on Sheard in the 2011 NFL Draft, so you can bet that Bill Belichick is glad to have him on the roster for the foreseeable future.
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And then there’s Mr. Durable himself, Rob Ninkovich. Amazingly, Nink hasn’t missed a game since the 2009. He produced 6.5 sacks this year.
As for depth, the Patriots are looking good with 2015 picks Geneo Grissom and Trey Flowers coming up through the ranks. Grissom recorded his first career sack in Week 17, and Flowers played well in the preseason before going down with an injury that threw his rookie campaign off the tracks.
Next: 3. Ascendance of Amendola, Martin
3. Ascendance of Danny Amendola, Keshawn Martin
With all the injuries the Patriots had to deal with on offense this season, Danny Amendola and Keshawn Martin each deserve credit for stepping up and answering the call.
Amendola had easily his best season as a Patriot on the heels of his unforgettable performance in the 2014 playoffs. The former St. Louis Ram caught 65 receptions (second-most on the team) for 648 yards and three touchdowns.
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In addition, Amendola proved himself as an elite punt returner. His 12 yards per return average was the best in the league.
Surpassing the oft-struggling Brandon LaFell on the depth chart was former Houston Texans receiver Keshawn Martin, who came to New England by way of an early-season trade. Martin proved himself as a reliable target for Brady early on, breaking from the script and getting open for a scrambling No. 12 against the Jacksonville Jaguars and catching his first touchdown as a Patriot.
On the season, Martin caught 24 passes for 269 yards and a pair of scores. He also impressed on kick returns, averaging 25.7 yards per return and ripping off a 75-yarder.
The Patriots are fortunate to have two dependable receivers after Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman.
Next: 2. Aggressive safety play from Chung, D-Mac
2. Aggressive safety play from Patrick Chung, Devin McCourty
Much of the reason the Patriots ranked a stalwart ninth against the run in 2015 was because of their starting safeties. Chung and McCourty regularly attacked runs before the ball carrier could get to the second level.
As evidenced by his 85 tackles (second on the team behind Collins) and three tackles for loss, Chung was no stranger to opposing running backs. The Oregon product often delivered the finishing blow, stopping ball carriers in their tracks. Chung could also be found in sticky coverage on opposing tight ends; his coverage abilities is leaps and bounds better than it was during his time with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2013.
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McCourty also proved that he’s more than just a safety blanket against the deep pass, registering a sack on his stat sheet. The Patriots are extremely fortunate that they held off the Jacksonville Jaguars in a bidding war for McCourty’s services in the 2015 free agency frenzy, as he should be one of the league’s best free safeties for the rest of the decade at least.
Next: 1. Brady continuing to drink from fountain of youth
1. Tom Brady continuing to drink from fountain of youth
Alright, maybe this wasn’t the case in the AFC Championship, as Brady looked pretty awkward for much of that game as a result of DeMarcus Ware leaping on him every other play. But for the much of the 2015 season, Brady was contending for MVP honors with Cam Newton, and it’s because he found some fountain of youth to drink from every night after he finishes his ultra-healthy gourmet dinner.
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Just look at the numbers. Brady completed 64.4 percent of his passes for 4,770 yards, 36 touchdowns and just seven picks in the regular season. Instead of declining with age, Brady continues to improve segments of his game, such as mobility in the pocket to extend plays.
It sounds funny to say that the strong play from Brady in 2015 is a long-term positive outcome of the season, seeing as how he’s going to turn 39 this summer. But honestly, Brady is training his body and mind to play well into his forties.
Next: 4 Frustrations from AFC Championship loss
2015 may have ended in agony, but the NFL hasn’t seen the last of Brady in the Super Bowl, that much is for sure.