The New England Patriots are a perennial powerhouse in the AFC, making to the last three AFC Championship games. However, Head Coach Bill Belichick and company haven’t won a Super Bowl since 2004, and no one in New England is satisfied.
With that said, the Patriots make some type of move every offseason. Most of the moves this season came on defense, but that’s not to say the offense won’t be different than last year.
Most notably, tight end Rob Gronkowski is back in the fold at tight end, giving quarterback Tom Brady his favorite target back. Otherwise, the starting lineup should look a good bit like last year.
New starter: Rob Gronkowski
Yes, I am aware that Gronkowski is not new, but he is the sole change in the starting lineup from the 2013 campaign, where the Patriots finished 12-4 overall. Brady certainly missed Gronkowski for most of last season, as he ranked last in the league in completed passes to tight ends according to nfl.com.
In the two years before that, he ranked first. In his five games last season, Gronkowski caught 44 passes for 461 yards. These stats are why he’s so important to Brady and the Patriots offense, which reverted to a power-running toward the end of the season, because the passing game was not in sync. Gronkowski, if healthy, could be the top tight end in the league, so his appearance in the starting lineup in vital.
Area of Improvement
Despite the offensive efficiency (ranked seventh in the league), the Patriots need more consistency out of their wide receivers. Led by Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola, the Patriots struggled to move the ball through the air last year.
Amendola was injured for much of the season, and the Patriots hope that he live up to his contract he signed before last year. With Rob Gronkowski back to full health, these receivers should see more open looks, and likely more production. But if they don’t step up, the Patriots may not succeed offensively.
Potential breakout star: Shane Vereen
Vereen is known to most NFL enthusiasts, but I don’t believe he’s reached his peak potential. Also injured for most of the season, Vereen only rushed for 208 yards and a touchdown last year. His job was justly taken by LeGarrette Blount and his power running, but now the job is his to take. Stevan Ridley is clearly not the coaches favorite, and with the improved passing game, Vereen should get plenty of looks.
Vereen could verge on 700-800 yards this season if used as the primary back. However, with the way the Patriots operate, he may split carries with Ridley.
On his way out: Dan Connolly
Connolly turned in a quality 2013 season after struggling for most of the season prior, but his contract only runs through this season. Although he had a solid season, Connolly is on the weaker side of a strong offensive line for the Patriots. Plus, the Patriots could draft a guard, or bring someone from within to take the spot.
Marcus Cannon filled in at tackle last season, but could play guard as well. If the Patriots feel they could fill the role from the reserves, Connolly could see his way out of town. However, he’ll be happy with a nice paycheck from the team that signs him.