The New England Patriots will have a number of enticing position battles in the coming weeks.
The NFL announced this week that teams should prepare for training camp to begin on July 28 despite the coronavirus pandemic still engulfing the country. But we know regardless of the current state of affairs, the New England Patriots will be ready to get back on the field and prepare for the 2020 season.
With so many new faces in Foxborough this year, we can expect some healthy competition in the coming weeks for some starting jobs that are likely up for grabs. Some are obvious, while others are a bit under the radar.
Who could be a new starter for Bill Belichick come Week 1?
4. Quarterback
As we all know, there will be a battle for the Patriots starting QB job.
Duh, yes. This had to be included solely because of the discourse that’s been going on for the past month. With Cam Newton now in town, though many feel he could waltz into Week 1 as the starter, there will be a competition for the starting job.
Jarrett Stidham was believed to be the starter before Newton’s arrival, and he’s not going to back down given he’s already familiar with the playbook and his teammates, having spent a year with the team working under Tom Brady.
Newton needs to prove he’s overcome the injuries that have plagued him for the better part of two years. On top of that, he’ll be tasked with learning a complex offense and establish a rapport with new teammates. The former MVP will certainly be up for the task, but nothing is guaranteed with Belichick.
3. Center
The battle for the Patriots center position will be much different than the rest.
This isn’t so much a battle as it will be determining a capable body to line up against opposing defenses. Incumbent starter David Andrews missed all of 2019 with blood clots in his lungs, which were career threatening, but now he’s ready to return to the gridiron.
Will he be in shape and able to catch back up to game speed? Will the medical issue creep back up and affect his ability to perform in 2020? We don’t know. He doesn’t have much competition behind him, with incoming rookie Dustin Woodard as the only other option on the depth chart (though we know Belichick ensures his OL is versatile).
However, Woodard played his college ball at Memphis, which had one of the best offenses in the country. Don’t let his status as a seventh-round pick fool you. He can play anywhere along the line, having started 52 total games for the Tigers at left guard, right guard and center (where he played his senior year).
According to the Patriots scouting report, Woodard is “known for his athleticism, tenacity and intelligence, which allows him to overcome limited size. … Rarely caught off guard by unexpected blitzes.”
It seems like the Pats could have a formidable backup on their hands in case anything goes wrong with Andrews.
2. Tight End
Another obvious position battle will see the Patriots emerge with a new starting tight end.
Bill Belichick selected two tight ends in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft in Virginia Tech’s Dalton Keene and UCLA’s Devin Asiasi. However, since then we’ve learned Keene profiles as more of a versatile option for the Pats due to his tremendous blocking abilities. It’s been said he can line up at fullback, H-back and tight end.
That kind of rules him out as the unquestioned starter, so expect Asiasi and Matt LaCosse to duke it out for a majority of reps. LaCosse got some starting time in 2019, but failed to impress even when Benjamin Watson was serving a suspension. He logged just 13 receptions for 131 yards and a touchdown in 11 games (eight starts).
As for Asiasi, he’s more of a developmental project considering he had just 52 receptions for 789 yards and six touchdowns in 18 college games, most of which came during last season with the Bruins when he was the starter for the first time. But his 6-3, 257-pound frame is a dream target for a guy like Newton, who loves to utilize the tight end.
LaCosse is more of a blocking-type tight end, while Asiasi is clearly the superior receiving option. Regardless of how Belichick and Josh McDaniels decide to deploy the offense, keep a close eye on this position battle over the next month and a half.
1. Linebacker
Incoming rookie Josh Uche figures to make a considerable impression during Patriots training camp.
Could we see two Michigan alum rushing the quarterback for the Patriots in 2020? Chase Winovich figures to see an increased role, and rookie Josh Uche could follow.
The second-round pick (60th overall) really came on during his junior and senior seasons, logging a total of 46 tackles (18.5 for a loss) and 14.5 sacks. The outside linebacker is currently behind only Brandon Copeland and Shilique Calhoun on the depth chart, so it’s pretty obvious he’ll have a chance to snag a starting spot.
Copeland came over from the New York Jets in free agency, but didn’t have a great 2019. He logged just 42 tackles and 1.5 sacks across 12 games. Similarly, Calhoun appeared in 15 games but registered just nine tackles. All Uche will have to do is prove he can get to the QB better than these guys, and the job will pretty much be his.
Those guys have the veteran edge, but the Pats liked what they saw with Uche.
“Explosive pass rusher with good length and strength. … Plays with great effort, no snaps off. …Quick off ball, with good bend around the arc. … Active hands. …Great closing burst,” per the team’s scouting report.
It’ll be a rookie looking to make a lasting impression versus a couple of veterans looking to save their jobs on this new-look front seven for New England.