Patriots: Ranking positions by strength
It’s not rocket science; the best way to approach the offseason is to identify positional shortcomings from the previous year and improve upon them. In the Bill Belichick era, the New England Patriots have succeeded year in and year out by treating the offseason just like any given fall Sunday.
With that in mind, this morning we are ranking the positions of quarterback, running back, wide receiver, tight end, offensive and defensive line, linebacker, cornerback and safety in terms of strength. Criteria include 2015 performance, star power at the position and outlook going forward.
Punter and kicker have been left out (sorry, Ryan Allen and Stephen Gostkowski), and the specific positions on the offensive and defensive line have been grouped together as a unit.
Alright, let’s get to it.
Next: 9. Offensive line
9. Offensive line
The offensive line takes the rear because of the pummeling Tom Brady took in the AFC Championship Game. You can blame it on Dave DeGuglielmo’s bad day, or any other number of factors. Health certainly played a role in the degradation of the offensive line, too. But considering how stacked the Patriots are across the board, we have to start somewhere, even if the Patriots’ offensive line group isn’t all that bad.
Look, this unit clearly did not have the trust of Josh McDaniels in run blocking as the season wore on, as the Patriots barely ever ran the ball consistently well over the course of their 2-4 finish to the regular season.
What the Patriots should do over the offseason: Upgrade depth at both tackle positions. Nate Solder and Sebastian Vollmer are locked-in as the starters, but the Patriots need to bolster backup spots behind those guys. Cameron Fleming and Marcus Cannon just aren’t the guys you want protecting Brady in the playoffs.
North Dakota State product Joe Haeg should be on the Patriots’ radar in the 2016 NFL Draft.
Next: 8. Running back
8. Running back
Just like every other team in the history of football, the Patriots are better when they thwart a threatening ground attack. Look back on their victory in Super Bowl XLIX; strong running from LeGarrette Blount provided just the kind of security blanket Brady needed to neutralize the Seattle Seahawks’ pass rush.
The running back position is listed so low because of the questionable situation surrounding Blount, the only power back on the Patriots’ roster who isn’t over the hill (sorry, Steven Jackson). Dion Lewis, James White and Brandon Bolden are all very good in their individual roles, but until the Patriots have a dependable downhill runner on the roster not named Blount, the running back position will be a bit of a question mark.
What the Patriots should do over the offseason: Are they going to re-sign Blount? This writer doesn’t think so. What about the tantalizing option of free agent running back Matt Forte? Now that’s an idea. As for the 2016 NFL Draft, Notre Dame’s C.J. Prosise comes to mind as an intriguing option.
Next: 7. Wide receivers
7. Wide receivers
Right now, Julian Edelman is the only sure bet at the wide receiver position for the Patriots, which is why the group gets ranked this low.
Danny Amendola had an outstanding 2015 season with 65 receptions for 648 yards and three touchdowns, but his cap hit of $6.8 million makes puts his future in New England in doubt. That figure is more than any of the Patriots’ offensive skill players, quite a nice pay day for a No. 3 wideout.
Brandon LaFell had a bad case of the dropsies for the majority of the 2015 season, never reigniting the flame with Brady that he enjoyed in the 2014 postseason run.
Keshawn Martin was a pleasant surprise, often starting in front of LaFell. But he isn’t the type of player the Patriots want as the longer-term No. 2 guy.
As for Aaron Dobson, don’t be surprised if the Patriots ditch him this offseason unless he shows once and for all that he belongs in this offense.
What the Patriots should do over the offseason: Find a way to re-sign Amendola at a lower cost and give LaFell and Dobson chances to prove themselves in competition with a slew of offseason additions, such as Mohamed Sanu and Ricardo Lockette.
Next: 6. Safeties
6. Safeties
First and foremost, let’s thank the free agency gods that the Patriots were able to retain Devin McCourty last offseason. Without McCourty providing security over the top, Malcolm Butler wouldn’t have made the Pro Bowl and Logan Ryan wouldn’t have had such a good year.
Patrick Chung also stood out in 2015, stepping up to make 85 tackles, second-best on the team behind Jamie Collins. Chung put his nightmare 2013 season with the Philadelphia Eagles even further behind him by doing a good job in coverage against tight ends.
After McCourty and Chung, however, there are question marks, which is why the safeties get ranked relatively low on this list. Duron Harmon may have been a good centerfielder with three interceptions, but he was exposed badly in Week 16 against the New York Jets filling-in for an injured D-Mac.
You have to think that 2015 was Tavon Wilson’s last year in New England. He was seldom used in settled defense, and his special teams skills are in danger of being relegated useless by up-and-coming players like Brandon King.
Jordan Richards looks like a better special teamer than a full-time safety, although the jury is still out on that one. We have to see more from him.
What the Patriots should do over the offseason: Let Wilson go, groom Richards, give Harmon another chance; invest a late-round pick in a safety to introduce freshness into the training camp competition.
Next: 5. Cornerbacks
5. Cornerbacks
One year after undergoing a huge amount of change at the position, the Patriots can point to cornerback as one of their strengths on defense thanks to the ascendance of Butler and growth of Ryan.
Going forward, expect the Patriots to continue giving safety help to Ryan in coverage against No. 1 wideouts and letting Butler shutdown the No. 2 on his lonesome.
Where the Patriots are weak at cornerback is the No. 3 and No. 4 spots. Justin Coleman, Leonard Johnson and Rashaan Melvin vied for nickel duties all season, but none emerged as an overwhelming solution to the problem.
What the Patriots should do over the offseason: Target lanky 6-foot-2 prospect Deiondre’ Hall in the 2016 NFL Draft and mull over the possibility of signing standout slot man Brandon Boykin in free agency.
Next: 4. Defensive line
4. Defensive line
This is an area the Patriots have improved immensely in over recent years. The defensive line has grown into a major strength for the Patriots.
Akiem Hicks and Alan Branch provide veteran beef in the interior, and rookie Malcom Brown was everything the Patriots could have asked for and more in 2015. And don’t forget about 2014 first rounder Dominique Easley, who flashed promise last year before going down with an injury against the Houston Texans.
Moving outward, the defensive line only gets stronger at the ends. Chandler Jones ranked fifth in the league with 12.5 sacks, the most by a Patriot since Mike Vrabel totaled that amount in 2007. Rob Ninkovich was an iron man per usual, and Jabaal Sheard was easily the Patriots’ best signing in 2015 free agency.
The future looks bright at defensive end with 2015 picks Geneo Grissom and Trey Flowers coming up through the ranks.
What the Patriots should do over the offseason: Not much has to be done year, as the Patriots have a great blend of veteran leadership and influx of promising youth.
Next: 3. Tight end
3. Tight end
The presence of Rob Gronkowski alone makes this position one of the Patriots’ strongest positions. Gronk is a truly special player; the NFL hasn’t seen anyone quite like him in recent memory. The Arizona product put forth another great season in 2015, leading the Patriots with 1,176 yards and 11 touchdowns on 72 receptions.
Michael Williams is virtually a sixth offensive lineman when he’s on the field, snowplowing in the run game. He ought to have a spot on the Patriots’ final roster in 2016.
After Gronk there is certainly room for improvement in the passing game. Scott Chandler didn’t really pan out in 2015, catching just 24 passes for 259 yards and four touchdowns, barely getting used at all from December on.
What the Patriots should do over the offseason: Go after a large, athletic tight end like Ladarius Green in free agency to provide Brady with twin towers at tight end, or Jerrell Williams in the 2016 NFL Draft.
Next: 2. Linebackers
2. Linebackers
The Patriots are extremely strong at the linebacker position because of their two-headed monster at inside linebacker. Jamie Collins and Dont’a Hightower are two of the top five, six linebackers in the entire NFL.
Despite missing four regular season games, Collins still led the Patriots in tackling. As for Hightower, the Patriots are markedly better against the run when he’s on the field.
Again, there is room for improvement at depth here. With the Jerod Mayo era likely over, the attention turns to players like Jonathan Freeny, Dekoda Watson and Darius Fleming.
What the Patriots should do over the offseason: Let Mayo and Dane Fletcher go in free agency; target Scooby Wright III in the 2016 NFL Draft.
Next: 1. Quarterbacks
1. Quarterbacks
Until Brady shows serious signs of decline, quarterback will always be the Patriots’ best position. It also doesn’t hurt that Jimmy Garoppolo continues to study under the best quarterback of all-time, biding his time until that first NFL start.
Honestly, it’s looking increasingly likely that Brady will play good football well into his forties. As long as the Patriots address the offensive line depth issues and generate a potent rushing attack, Brady will have the protection he needs to continue throwing passes until Gisele taps him on the shoulder and insists he retires before his 45th birthday.
Here is some recent reading on Brady here on Musket Fire:
Tom Brady was in Gillette every day week after AFC Championship loss
Tom Brady writes handwritten letter to fans
Even though Peyton Manning won Super Bowl 50, Tom Brady is still GOAT
Next: Ranking all 9 uniform combos in Pats history
Stay tuned for more fresh points of analysis all offseason.