Tuesday, I introduced my blueprint for the Patriots offseason…if they re-sign Wes Welker. The following looks at the what the Patriots should do if they cannot sign their best wide receiver.

Scenario #2 – the Patriots let Wes Welker walk

This scenario would not surprise me in the least.

Welker vs. Samuel

It would be a strange coincidence that like Asante Samuel, Welker was allowed to walk free after failing to come up with a ball that would have clinched a Super Bowl win against the Giants. It would be just that, a coincidence. The Patriots had issues with Samuel during his time in New England. They never believed he was the player that Samuel thought he was. If you listen to some of the comments of former Patriots, Ty Law, Troy Brown and Rodney Harrison, they tend to agree with that assessment.

Welker has been the perfect Patriot, though, and the only questions with him are age and durability. He is in his 30’s and he takes a weekly pounding because of his size and fearlessness over the middle. How much capital is he actually worth? Would that money be spend better elsewhere? The Patriots, unlike the Red Sox, don’t care too much about fan PR so if Welker does go, don’t expect too long an explanation. There will be an expectation that his departure will not make the Patriots worse on offense or less of a team. That certainly happened with Samuel, and they have yet to replace that position as the pass defense has gotten progressively worse since Samuel signed with Philadelphia.

Free Agency – Offense

Without Welker, the Patriots would have an extra $9 million to put towards upgrades. You would then expect either a Brandon Lloyd or Reggie Wayne (or perhaps both) with Julian Edelman moving into the slot. The Patriots could also draft a couple of wide receivers similar to drafting two tight ends in 2010. Michael Floyd of Notre Dame might be someone on their short list, as he is a big receiver who can stretch the field. The only problem is the Patriots’ inability to get young receivers on the same page as Tom Brady, especially at this stage in Brady’s career.

Free Agency – Defense

On defense, it could mean the Patriots make a run at Cortland Finnegan to team with Dashon Goldson or Michael Griffin in the secondary. They could also decide to keep Devin McCourty at safety with Patrick Chung and try to bring in Finnegan and maybe Jacksonville’s William Middleton, whose career is trending upward.

What Life Would Be Without Welker

The biggest problem with the Welker non-signing for me is the uncertainty behind it. Forget the media, forget Michael Felger calling the Patriots cheap, it’s all about what improves this team over the next 2-4 years. What you don’t want is Brady throwing to Chad Ochocinco and Juilan Edelman in 2012. The Patriots need to come into free agency swinging, like they did in 2003 (Rosevelt Colvin & Rodney Harrison) and 2007 (Donte Stallworth, Wes Welker via trade, Randy Moss via trade, Adalius Thomas, Sammy Morris).

With Welker gone, it makes sense to lock up Rob Gronkowski or you will pay 30% more like you did with Wilfolk and Mankins. The new CBA is in place, a slotted draft, the Patriots have to start locking up guy earlier. It just makes better business sense. This approach of Franchising and then paying, it costs you more in the end. I am not sure why an organization as smart as the Patriots don’t grasp that sometimes.

Looking Forward

The Patriots have a couple of avenues they can pursue. They have a talented team, an average AFC field to compete with and Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. Barring major injury to #12, they can get right back into the fight for 2012. They will need more weapons on both sides of the ball. Let’s not forget they were a dropped pass from missing the big game altogether.

Adding Welker AND Lloyd makes the most sense. It also allows the Patriots to spend their draft picks on defense and perhaps one wide receiver. They can then fill in with some depth drafting in rounds 3-5. Last year, the Giants did little in free agency and got almost nothing from their draft. They somehow found a way to win a Super Bowl. The key difference was they had the pass rush in place, they had a veteran secondary and they had Eli Manning’s late game magic to cover up a lot of mistakes.

If the Patriots try to depend once again on the brilliance of Tom Brady, Bill Belichick and street free agents, they will not be so lucky. NFL free agency is so much different than baseball. All the multi-year players will be locked up by end of March so teams can know what they want going into the draft. After the draft is where you see the one-year deals being offered. Also, it’s a time for cuts, especially close to the June 1st deadline. So, this team will probably continue to add pieces right up to training camp. The Patriots are all or nothing usually in free agency, and by Feb. 29, you will know what direction they are headed.

© gcain for Sports of Boston, 2012. | Permalink | No comment
Filed under: Featured, Opinion, Patriots, Top Story.

The Miami Dolphins narrowly avoided disaster Saturday against the New England Patriots. Somehow a group of talented, motivated football players broke into their locker room, knocked everyone out, stole their uniforms and took the field for kickoff. The “Dolphins” went into halftime up 17-0.

Luckily, the true – and truly terrible – Dolphins regained consciousness and took back their uniforms for the second half. The Patriots scored 27 points in a row and held on to win, 27-24.

The Patriots clinched a first-round bye, and the Dolphins continued their mission of destroying the legacy of a once-great franchise.

Which Patriots graduated with honors, and which will have to take summer school classes? Here’s this week’s report card.

Quarterback: A-

Tom Brady couldn’t do much in the first half, what with all the Dolphins constantly in his face. Whatever happened at halftime, the protection improved in the second half, and Brady came alive. Brady’s second-half line: 20-27 for 217 yards and a touchdown, finishing 27-46 for 306 overall. Brady continues to play with guts, QB-sneaking not once but twice for rushing touchdowns in the second half.

Running Backs: B+

Though the Patriots gained 119 yards and two touchdowns on the ground Sunday, actual running backs only accounted for 94 of them, and Brady rushed for both scores. Still, Stevan Ridley seems to improve with every game. He led the team with 13 carries for 64 yards Sunday, averaging 4.9 yards per carry – just 0.2 yards lower than Miami’s rushing leader, Reggie Bush.

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends: A-

Wes Welker loves playing the Dolphins: Hh has more receiving yards (981) against his former team than against any other opponent. Welker continued his dominance Sunday, catching seven balls for 138 yards – the most since Week 4 against the Raiders. Rob Gronkowski backed up Welker with seven catches for 78 yards, usually earned by breaking three or four tackles. Deion Branch‘s smartly staying inbounds in the back of the end zone in the third quarter led to the Patriots’ lone receiving touchdown, and Aaron Hernandez‘s sure-handed reception converted the last third down the Patriots would need to run out the clock.

Offensive Line: C+

Missing Matt Light and losing Logan Mankins early on definitely hurt an already porous offensive line. But the Patriots should be so familiar with the Dolphins’ pass-rush by now that even backups could give Brady decent protection. Instead, they allowed four sacks – three in the first half – and eight QB hits. They also struggled to spring the running backs. Though the offensive line improved dramatically in the second half, this unit needs to go back to the drawing board before next week.

Defensive Line: B+

The defensive line combined for two sacks and five hits on Miami QB Matt Moore. Vince Wilfork recovered a fumbled snap that set up the Brady-Branch touchdown. The line played penalty-free, but they also allowed Bush to rush for 113 yards. The line disrupted Moore some, but the secondary accounted more for Moore’s barely 50-percent accuracy and the Dolphin’s 5-13 third-down conversion rate. Not a bad game, but not a great one either.

Linebackers: A-

Jerod Mayo and Rob Ninkovich combined for three sacks, and along with Dane Fletcher limited the Dolphins’ rushing game to short gains, not big ones. But Fletcher also committed a ridiculous pass interference penalty against Moore as a receiver, turning what should have been fourth-and-3 from the New England 20 to first-and-goal from the 3. The Dolphins went up 17-0 three plays later on a touchdown pass to fullback Charles Clay.

Defensive Backs: B

Brandon Marshall torched the secondary for seven catches, 156 yards and a touchdown. Devin McCourty, meanwhile, had an up-and-down day: a key interception that led to the Patriots going up 20-17, plus four defensed passes, but also a horrible pass interference penalty against Brian Hartline on third-and-12 from the Miami 9. Still, an up-and-down day is better than a down-and-down day, which is what Patriots fans have come to expect from McCourty this season. And both McCourty and James Ihedigbo blitzed well, each making one tackle behind the line.

Special Teams: A-

Stephen Gostkowski badly missed a 51-yard field goal to close out the first half, but he put the Patriots on the board with a 45-yarder on the opening drive of the second half, then put the Patriots up 20-17 with a 42-yarder in the fourth. He also nailed all three extra points. While the coverage teams didn’t commit any penalties, Julian Edelman dropped and had to dive on a punt.

© Matt Goisman for Sports of Boston, 2011. | Permalink | No comment
Filed under: Featured, Opinion, Patriots.

Sexual assault charges against Patriots WR Julian Edelman were dropped on Thursday.

“I am very appreciative of the hard work of the County’s public officials and of my attorney Amy McNamee. I am humbled by the support of my teammates and the Patriots organization. I’m just looking forward to focusing on football,” Edelman said in a statement released by the team.

On Halloween, Edelman was accused of assaulting a woman at a Back Bay club by intentionally grabbing her crotch. He was arrested outside of the bar and charged with indecent assault.

When arraigned on the charges in November, Edelman pleaded not guilty. He was due back in court Jan. 10, but prosecutors instead dropped the charges, saying Thursday that a review of witness statements and surveillance video would not “prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant intentionally engaged in a harmful or offensive touching of the complainant.”

Watch: Video of the incident

Everyone is innocent until proven guilty, and since Edelman cannot be proven guilty, he is by default, innocent. I find it interesting, though, that he doesn’t talk about his innocence in his statement, only crediting his lawyers’ efforts and thanking his team for their support.

Usually, Bill Belichick has no tolerance for any inappropriate off-the-field behavior. If anything, Edelman’s playing time increased after the alleged assault, as he is playing several snaps per game on the defensive side of the ball, in addition to his work on special teams and offense. With the charges being dropped, it’s pretty clear his status with the team is now safe.

© KC Downey for Sports of Boston, 2011. | Permalink | No comment
Filed under: Featured, Patriots, Top Story.

Bill Belichick’s defensive genius, record-breaking offenses and three Super Bowl victoriess will someday put him in the Hall of Fame. Tom Brady and he have formed the greatest coach-quarterback pair in NFL history.

But beyond all of that, one thing truly sets Belichick above the rest: his creative use of personnel. Belichick has always found a way to get maximum productivity out of players cast aside elsewhere.

Troy Brown: Turning Small Receptions into Big Defenses

Brady might be the best example of a nobody Belichick turned into a superstar, but the full list is much, much longer. A perfect example is Troy Brown: a small-yardage receiver (career average: 11.4 yards per catch) who only once gave the Patriots a 1,000-yards receiving year once, and whose touchdown receptions maxed out at six in 1997. He averaged fewer than four catches per game in the playoffs, only scoring once.

As Belichick’s offense became bigger and bigger, Brown’s usefulness as a wide receiver lessened and lessened. So in typical fashion, Belichick made Brown a cornerback in 2004.

The move paid dividends, with Brown picking off three passes and recovering two fumbles. Injuries wracked the Patriot secondary that year, and Brown’s contributions gave the full-time defenders just enough of a reprieve to keep everything from collapsing.

When Brown retired in 2008, Belichick said it was “an honor and a privilege” to work with Brown. High praise from a man who rarely gives any.

Julian Edelman: The New Troy Brown?

This season, an injury-riddled defense has been once again getting help from a wide receiver.

Three years into his career, Julian Edelman has yet to find a clear role with the Patriots. His 2010 season didn’t come close to his 37 catches and 359 yards (one touchdown) the year before. Without a decent final five games, his 2011 season (three catches, 27 yards) won’t even approach his 2010 season (seven, 86).

Edelman currently ranks ninth on the Patriots’ receiving chart – easily last place among the wide receivers and tight ends. Belichick’s passing strategy – Wes Welker and Aaron Hernandez in the slot, Deion Branch along the sideline, Rob Gronkowski over the top – just doesn’t include Edelman’s skill set.

Like Brown, Edelman is also a competent punt returner, but in recent weeks Danny Woodhead has taken his place. Unwilling to let a talented, healthy player just sit on the bench, Belichick has started using Edelman as a cornerback.

While the move hasn’t yet produced a turnover or sack, Edelman has undeniably helped an incredibly shaky secondary hold together for just a bit longer. It might be a stop-gap measure, but so far Edelman at cornerback has worked out.

Edelman currently has five tackles, including four solo. These aren’t the numbers Brown put up in 2004 – 17 tackles, four defensed passes – but they still reflect the overall positive impact Edelman has had on the team.

Equally important to Edelman’s tackles has been his tackling technique, which is flawless. He gets low on receivers, then wraps them up or trips them. He doesn’t lead with his helmet, and he stops forward momentum without allowing extra yards after the catch. He hits hard, but clean.

Edelman put all that on display in Sunday’s thrashing of the Philadelphia Eagles. Vince Young scrambled for the end zone on second-and-eight from the New England 9 midway through the third quarter, and Edelman stopped him at the 2. A fourth-and-1 incomplete pass killed the Eagles’ best change to get back in the game.

Apparently unsatisfied with that tackle, Edelman hit Young again near the end of the third. Young dropped back to pass near midfield, and an unblocked Edelman zeroed in on Young on a right-side corner-blitz. Young threw a rushed, incomplete pass to avoid the sack, but Edelman still leveled him with a perfect, waste-high, pads-first tackle.

Edelman’s tackle sent as clear a message to Young as James Harrison or Ndamukong Suh ever could. And Edelman did it without playing dirty or dangerously.

Belichick has yet again found a way to get production from a player that otherwise would have just sat on the bench. Good for Belichick for getting past Edelman’s off-the-field issues, and good for Edelman for swallowing his ego and being willing to play a position he’d never played before.

Edelman might never be Brown. But with a defense as banged up as the Patriots, Edelman might just need to continue being Edelman.

© Matt Goisman for Sports of Boston, 2011. | Permalink | No comment
Filed under: Featured, Opinion, Patriots.

It took the New England Patriots a drive to get in rhythm, but once they did, Sunday’s game went according to plan. Tom Brady dissected the Philadelphia Eagles’ secondary, the defense allowed just three points across 50 minutes of football, and the Patriots handed the “dream team” Eagles a 38-20 nightmare of a defeat. The boobirds started singing early at Lincoln Financial Field, and they didn’t quit until the stadium emptied out.

Whose play was masterfully artful, and whose was just b.s.? Here’s your weekly report card.

Quarterbacks: A

Tom Brady turned in a brilliant performance Sunday, completing over 70 percent of his passes for 361 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. With little pressure to worry about, Brady had plenty of time to find the open receiver and throw a perfect strike. Only one pass even had a chance at being intercepted, and it wasn’t. Otherwise, immaculate decision-making from the emotional leader of this team. He even rushed for 28 yards!

Brian Hoyer took over midway through the fourth, successfully handing the ball off on three straight plays when the Patriots just wanted to bleed the clock and punt.

Running Backs: A-

BenJarvus Green-Ellis did most of his damage on the Patriots’ first scoring drive, churning up 28 hard-fought yards on eight carries. He ended the drive with a 4-yard burst into the end zone that cut the Eagles’ lead to 10-7 and chewed up almost seven minutes. Green-Ellis added a second, 1-yard touchdown on the Patriots’ next drive.

The running game’s focus shifted towards clock management as the Patriots’ lead grew and grew, but the threat of the run still helped sell two play-action passes. The first, with Danny Woodhead on the field, left Wes Welker wide open for a 41-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter. The second led to a 14-yard pass to Rob Gronkowski early in the fourth. That drive ended with a 24-yard touchdown pass to Gronkowski.

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends: A

The Patriots’ receiving corps played smart, crafty football Sunday. When Deion Branch (six catches, 125 yards) caught a 49-yard pass at the Philadelphia 15 early in the second, he made a fantastic move on safety Nate Allen to pick up another 14 yards, setting up Green-Ellis’ easy 1-yard score. When Welker (eight catches, 115 yards) caught a sideline-pass outside the Philadelphia end zone, he dragged his feet just enough to keep him in bounds while dragging the ball above the left pylon for the touchdown.

Meanwhile, Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez combined for 10-of-11 receiving, 121 yards and a touchdown. Hernandez showed some of the skills that have so defined Gronkowski this season, making a one-handed catch in the first and breaking two tackles in the third.

Offensive Line: A

The offensive line allowed just one sack and two hits. Terrific pass-protection this time, and just one enforced penalty – Brian Waters for holding, though the Eagles declined two more against the offensive line. The Patriots didn’t really try to run until the game was essentially over, so no points lost there. This unit’s play was extra commendable considering they’re now down to their third-string center.

Defensive Line: B

With the exception of Kyle Love (and Mark Anderson, whose sack was nullified by an illegal contact call against Phillip Adams), no one on the offensive line got any pressure on Vince Young. They shut down the run, but when nearly three out of every four plays is a pass, that’s not that big of an accomplishment.

The easiest way to save the secondary is to force the quarterback to throw prematurely. Against the better QBs the Patriots will face in the playoffs, this inconsistent pass-rush will not get the job done.

Linebackers: A-

The linebackers got great play from Rob Ninkovich, who sacked Young and tackled running back LeSean McCoy 4 yards behind the line of scrimmage. The linebackers helped completely shutdown the Eagles’ running game, although they had more trouble dealing with tight ends Brent Celek and Clay Harbor (100 yards on six combined catches).

No linebacker made a game-changing play, but everyone ably handled their assignments. Bill Belichick loves when that happens.

Defensive Backs: A-

Antwaun Molden picked off Young, and Kyle Arrington led the team with 10 tackles and two defensed passes. The secondary still allowed 400 passing yards, but over a quarter of that came on two passes in the first two drives. Arrington and the rest of the secondary settled down after that, playing a major role in Philadelphia’s barely 30 percent third-down conversion rate and stagnant scoring offense.

With the secondary so banged up they’ll use anybody healthy enough to correctly lace his cleats and correctly put on a helmet, Julian Edelman is seeing time at cornerback, and he’s actually contributing. The Patriots’ defensive backs allow yards, but they don’t allow points. For now, the system is holding together.

Special Teams: A-

Stephen Gostkowski missed a 39-yard field goal at a time when the Patriots were up just 14-10, but otherwise a nearly error-free game for special teams. Gostkowski made all five extra points (including one backed up 5 yards by a false start), no one committed a penalty on punt/kickoff returns, and the Eagles averaged a starting field position behind their 19 yard line – 8 yards behind the Patriots’ average starting spot.

© Matt Goisman for Sports of Boston, 2011. | Permalink | No comment
Filed under: Featured, Opinion, Patriots.

The Kansas City Chiefs threw everything but the kitchen sink (unless you count Jerrell Powe) at the New England Patriots Monday night, hoping to disrupt Tom Brady early on and keep the game close late. It worked for about 20 minutes, but the Patriots eventually solved the Chiefs’ defense. The end result: a 34-3 Patriot victory and a tie atop the AFC conference standings.

Who published and who perished? Here’s my weekly report card.

Quarterback: A-

Brady showed considerable poise in the midst of the Chief’s early onslaught, then used a combination of screens and hurry-up offenses to regain control at the line and beat that onslaught. Once Brady could breathe again, he began to pick apart the secondary, finishing the game with 234 passing yards and two touchdowns.

The Chiefs played early on as if they really felt they could beat the far-superior Patriots. Instead of panicking when they made a few plays, the unflappable Brady simply waited until they returned to earth, then swatted them aside like the flies they were.

Running backs: A

Three Patriots running backs combined for 147 rushing yards and a touchdown, with Shane Vereen getting into the end zone for the first time in his NFL career. BenJarvus Green-Ellis recorded a hard-fought 81 rushing yards, plus 25 more on a catch-and-run to kick-start New England’s first drive of the second half.

Once the Patriots took control at the line of scrimmage, running lanes started opening up. The Patriots’ successful second-half rushing game protected Brady from the blitz, sustained three drives that chewed up nearly 15 combined minutes, and kept safeties honest. Even during the less-successful first half, the running game still helped sell Brady’s first play-action pass – a 52-yard touchdown pass to Rob Gronkowski that gave the Patriots the only lead they’d need.

Tight ends/Wide Receivers: B+

Even a horrifying-looking head injury couldn’t slow down Gronkowski, who yet again led the team with 96 yards and two touchdowns. Both touchdowns were far more a testament to Gronkowski’s brute strength than Brady’s passing accuracy.

The Patriots threw less than half as often as they ran Monday, so the receivers didn’t have the opportunities they normally would to show off their prowess. Combined with a Chief secondary that contained the Patriots’ receivers until midway through the second quarter, you get a sub-par performance from the Patriot passing game.

Offensive Line: B+

Though they’ve had far worse games, the offensive line shouldn’t have had the trouble they did with the Chiefs’ pass-rush early on. The Chiefs have the fewest sacks in the NFL, but they still got to Brady three times and hit him six times.

The offensive line took control in the second half, but bad pass-protection early on led to Brady’s fumble at the Kansas City 30, taking points off the board at a time when New England was losing. The offense sputtered out of the gate, and much of that was due to an over-matched Patriot offensive line.

Defensive Line: A-

Monday night’s performance wasn’t quite the awe-inspiring pass-rush of a week ago against the Jets. Still, the Patriots sacked Tyler “Who Is This Guy?” Palko four times, hitting him nine times in total. Andre Carter had perhaps the best all-around defensive game, splitting a sack with Mark Anderson while recording two tackles-for-losses, three QB hits and a defensed pass. Anderson added a solo sack.

The defensive line held the Chiefs’ running game out of the end zone, but they also allowed 125 rushing yards (discounting Palko’s 6-yard loss). This unit was victimized by its own success Monday night: they played commendably, but we know they can play better.

Linebackers: A-

Jerod Mayo led the team with 11 tackles, and Rob Ninkovich contributed a sack and two QB hits. Overall, the linebackers played adequately for the limited demands placed on them. Once the Patriots went up by three touchdowns, all the linebackers had to do was execute the Patriots’”prevent” defense. They did so competently, giving up short-yardage receptions for clock time.

The defense shut the Chiefs out for over 45 straight minutes, and the linebackers get a bump from the overall strong defensive play. But just like the defensive line, they’ve been better.

Defensive Backs: A

Palko’s 236 passing yards were the second-fewest of any game this season. Though Palko is by far the worst quarterback the Patriots have played this season, give the secondary credit for not allowing him to ever get into rhythm with his receivers. Patriot cornerbacks picked off Palko three times, including once in the Patriot end zone by Phillip Adams. Kyle Arrington, meanwhile, showed fantastic concentration by not giving up on tipped passes, hauling in two for interceptions that took the fight out of the Chiefs.

The Patriot secondary gets extra points for making due with a truly depleted roster. Even Julian Edelman had to play some snaps at cornerback, successfully handling the new role.

Special Teams: A

Stephen Gostkowski nailed both field goals and four extra points, and the return unit played penalty-free, immaculate football.

With just over five minutes gone in the third, Edelman received the ball at the New England 28. Edelman juked Jalil Brown at the 28, but his explosion past the rest of the Chiefs happened through fantastic blocking by his teammates. Edelman then easily dodged punter Dustin Colquitt to take it 72 yards for the touchdown.

Edelman gave the Patriots a three-touchdown lead – insurmountable for the injured, inexperienced Chiefs.

© Matt Goisman for Sports of Boston, 2011. | Permalink | No comment
Filed under: Featured, Opinion, Patriots, Top Story.

UPDATE (5:12 p.m. ET): Edelman’s agent Don Yee issued a statement about the incident:

“The charges will be fought vigorously within the court system, instead of a rush to judgment elsewhere,” Yee said. “We have no further comment beyond that.”

***

New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman was arrested and charged with battery and indecent assault, after an incident at a Back Bay nightclub Tuesday morning.

The Boston Globe reports that Edelman was arraigned in Boston Municipal Court and released this morning.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick said on his Tuesday conference call that there isn’t enough information to comment.

The Boston Globe cited a report they obtained by Boston Police, saying that Edelman allegedly reached underneath the woman’s Halloween costume and groped her between her legs.

A witness who was with the woman threatened to beat up Edelman. Because the altercation was inside the club, the witness and Edelman were both kicked out.

On the field, Edelman has seen his role steadly decrease. The 25-year-old from Redwood City, Calif. has only played in four games this season and has three catches for 25 yards.

Last season, in what was considered as a down year, Edelman caught just seven passes for 86 yards. With Wes Welker sidelined for part of the season, Edelman thrived as a rookie. He caught 37 passes for 359 yards.

A seventh round pick from Kent State, Edelman quickly became a fan favorite in 2009, but hasn’t done much since.

In the past when players got into trouble with the law, Belichick didn’t blink twice to release the players — if he felt they were expendable.

Edelman could be the next one on that list.

© Matthew Marcantonio for Sports of Boston, 2011. | Permalink | No comment
Filed under: Featured, News, Patriots, Top Story.

After opening the preseason with a pair of dominating efforts, the New England Patriots were humbled on Saturday night, falling 34-10 to the Lions at Ford Field in Detroit, Mich.

Quarterbacks Struggle

Quarterback Tom Brady struggled after being pressured and rushed by the Lions defensive line throughout, causing him to miss throws and receivers that he usually makes. The two-time Super Bowl MVP tossed for 145 yards on 12-22, firing both a second-quarter touchdown and interception in the loss.

Backups Brian Hoyer and Ryan Mallett fared no better, as the two signal-callers could not generate any scoring drives. Hoyer finished the evening with 88 yards on 6-12 attempts, while Mallet completed 9-14 passes for 65 yards.

Defense Torched

Another unit receiving high marks throughout the preseason, the Patriots defensive unit was over matched by the Detroit offense. Lions QB Matthew Stafford showed his No. 1 pick potential, dissecting the New England secondary for 200 yards. Stafford finished 12-14 with two touchdowns and a perfect quarterback rating of 158.3.

Detroit scored on five of its first seven possessions en route to a 27-10 halftime lead, with scoring drives of 65, 57, 51, 52 and 46 yards.

Welker scores, injured later

Wes Welker provided the lone offense for New England, scoring on a Tom Brady pass in the second quarter. Welker split the safeties on a play-action, catching Brady’s perfect pass and scampering the rest of the way untouched.

On Brady’s interception, Welker made a nice open field tackle. However, the Texas Tech alum injured his neck on the play and did not return.

Three studs

Julian Edelman – Edelman appeared to clinch a roster spot with some solid special teams play on Saturday. Edelman showed some flashy moves on an exciting 26-yard punt return, while later returning a kickoff 32 yards.

Kyle Arrington – Arrington registered a red zone interception late in the third quarter, hauling a possible Lions scoring drive. He was one of the lone Patriots defenders that stood out. Arrington also sacked Stafford on a key third down to force a Lions’ punt.

Aaron Hernandez – Hernandez corralled a one-handed Brady throw on 3rd and 13, using his moves and muscle to earn the first down. The second-year player from Florida ended his evening with five receptions for 46 yards.

Three duds

Tom Brady- Brady was unable to find a rhythm in his one half of play. While Brady connected with Welker on a 44 yard play-action touchdown, Brady also tossed a crucial interception during the two-minute drill that cost the Pats points as the first half ended.

Offensive Line- One significant factor in Brady’s play was the struggles of his offensive line. Lions defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh, Cliff Avril and others continually broke through protection to pressure New England passers. The line was unable to create a solid ground attack as well, as Patriots runners gained 61 yards on 17 carries.

Devin McCourty- An emerging star, McCourty acquiesced a pair of long receptions to Calvin Johnson and Maurice Stovall during the first half. While Johnson’s long haul was severely under thrown, McCourty appeared out of position on several Stafford passes.

The Patriots return to action next Thursday at Gillette Stadium to conclude the preseason, battling the New York Giants.

© Taylor for Sports of Boston, 2011. | Permalink | No comment
Filed under: Featured, Patriots, Top Story.

After trading away Randy Moss in October last season, the Patriots committed to reshaping the look of their receiving corps. Soon thereafter they brought back Super Bowl XXXIX MVP Deion Branch, and this offseason sent shock waves throughout the league by trading for one of the game’s most notably outlandish personalities in Chad Ochocinco.

See: Our 2011 Patriots Previews

While those two, along with Tom Brady’s favorite target Wes Welker, are guaranteed locks for the opening day roster and will top the depth chart, the Patriots are deep with young talent at receiver with the likes of Julian Edelman, Taylor Price and Brandon Tate, among others.

As the preseason dwindles down, the Pats are going to have to face some tough decisions. On one hand, they can keep seven receivers on the roster, as Mike Reiss of ESPN Boston has speculated, or cut some talent to make room at other positions.

Here’s a look at each wide receiver and where they figure to fit int Brady’s arsenal of weapons in 2011.

Chad Ochocinco

The outspoken six-time Pro Bowler is at a stage in his career where he can no longer match the production of his prime years lining up alongside T.J. Houshmandzadeh with Carson Palmer under center in Cincinnati (see 2005 stat line: 97 rec, 1,432 yards, nine TDs). We won’t see 90-plus catches or 1,200 yards, but the Patriots aren’t expecting that, nor do they need it in an offense in which Brady will benefit from spreading the wealth to a number of backs, receivers and tight ends with diverse skill sets.

That being said, the 33-year-old Ochocinco still has a lot left in the tank, and has much to bring to the passing game.

Last season with the Bengals, Ochocinco had his share of ups and downs, ending up with a respectable, but below career-average, 67 catches for 831 yards and only four touchdowns. A lot of this can be attributed to the Bengals’ offensive futility and the decline of Palmer. Ochocinco should benefit from a change of scenery in New England — or “heaven,” as he likes to call it on Twitter.

Ochocinco has the pass-catching ability and athleticism that the Patriots have lacked since  Moss’ departure, and he should prove to be a valuable complement to Welker and the tight ends underneath. He’s struggled a bit with drops in training camp thus far, but turned in a strong first outing in a Patriots’ uniform, hauling in a touchdown in last Thursday’s preseason demolition of the Bucs.

While Ochocinco’s unique personality has made him one of the most well known talkers in the league, never has it affected his performance or work ethic on the field. Even though he is in the latter stages of his career, Ochocinco has showed up in Foxborough ready to learn, play – and most importantly – win.

Wes Welker

After his first season back from season-ending surgery from a torn ACL and MCL in 2009, Welker has commented that he’s feeling the best he’s felt physically in his entire career, which is a scary sign for opposing defenses. The elusive pass catcher turned in a 2010 performance (86 catches for 848 yards and seven TDs) that would have been tremendous for most receivers, but was disappointing by Welker’s high standards.

Welker is what makes the Patriots offense go, and second only to No. 12, he is the offense’s most indispensable player, as evidenced by his 2007-2009 seasons. In each of those three years, Welker caught more than 110 passes for over 1,000 yards, and was Brady’s go-to receiver in pressure situations.

Conventional logic would say that Welker won’t be able to replicate that production at age 30 with major surgery in his recent past, but knowing the remarkable work ethic and drive of the fan favorite, there’s just something that tells you Welker isn’t done making his name as one of the league’s best receivers. Fans shouldn’t be surprised if Welker improves on last year’s production, and returns to being the key cog of the Patriots’ passing game.

Even if this isn’t the case, the chemistry between Welker and Brady isn’t going anywhere, and No. 83 will always be a factor.

Deion Branch

Branch was a valuable pickup for the Patriots in the wake of the Moss fallout last season, catching 48 passes for 706 yards and five touchdowns in 11 games. After his strong start to his career in New England, Branch’s production faltered in Seattle as he battled injuries and never seemed to find his rhythm.

In those 11 games in New England last year, Branch posted the most receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns since his first season in Seattle back in 2006.

Branch,32, is entering the closing stages of his career. Still, he is a veteran presence who knows the offense well and is a strong locker room guy. He’s not going to post 1,000 yards and may very well experience a drop off from last year, but he’s possess reliable hands and a good rapport with Brady.

Plus, he’s a link back to the days of the dynasty, and his presence on the field will always remind fans of his 11 catches for 133 yards to lead the Pats past the Eagles in the 2004 Super Bowl.

Julian Edelman

Edelman can still be considered a player on the bubble to make the team, but his talent on special teams, especially returning punts, should be enough to keep him around. Whether that translates to seeing bountiful playing time in the offense remains to be seen.

Edelman made the jump from collegiate quarterback to NFL wide receiver astoundingly in his rookie season. He quickly became a fan favorite as he did his best Welker impersonation, hauling in 37 catches for 359 yards. Last season, though, the sophomore slump hit hard. Despite strong play on the punt return team, Edelman was a complete non-factor offensively (seven catches for 86 yards).

Edelman is great insurance as a slot receiver in case Welker goes down, but it looks as if his primary contributions will come on special teams if he makes the Week 1 roster. Given his talent and football IQ look for Edelman to be more relevant in the passing game, but don’t expect him to surpass Ochocinco, Welker or Branch on the depth chart.

Taylor Price

Price is an electric deep threat that has Patriots fans buzzing after his five catch, 105-yard performance in the team’s opening preseason game against Jacksonville, which featured a smooth, toe-tapping touchdown reception on a Brian Hoyer pass.

Last season was essentially a redshirt season for Price, who was late to training camp because of regulations pertaining to the University of Ohio’s late graduation date.

But after a lost season, Price looks ready to contribute right from the start. At 6’0″, 205 lbs., Price has the combination of size and speed that make him a legitimate deep threat with the potential to stretch the field. In an offense like the Patriots’ that feasts on picking apart defenses with screen passes and slant routes underneath, the established presence of Price could potentially be lethal.

At the start of camp, he was on the bubble, but his performance against the Jaguars should ensure him of a roster spot. If he can build off his early successes at camp and harness his immense athleticism, he could be a pleasant surprise and become a dangerous deep threat for Brady.

Brandon Tate

If the Patriots cannot afford to carry seven wide receivers, Tate could be the odd man out. In his sophomore season after spending most of his rookie campaign on injured reserve, Tate started off strongly returning kickoffs, but his production tapered off. He failed to step up as a consistent option in the place of Moss and finished the year with a respectable, but unimpressive, 24 catches for 432 yards and three touchdowns.

Tate has all the speed and athleticism in the world, but hasn’t yet seemed able to put it all together. He’s done little this preseason to prove that his spot on the roster is secured, and the way in which his production dwindled over the course of 2010 does little to support his cause either.

With the emergence of Price, Tate could be on the outside looking in. If, on the other hand, he can prove his worth on special teams, he could very well still land a spot, and be a speedy and youthful target for Brady. One thing is for sure — if Tate makes the squad, it will be a make or break season in his young career.

Matthew Slater

Slater is the most likely candidate to sneak onto the roster if the Patriots decide to go with seven wideouts. In 2010, he led the team in special teams tackles, and he has carved out a role for himself in all facets of the special teams game. Belichick clearly has faith in the fourth year veteran, and has forgiven mistakes including a costly fumble on a kickoff in a 2008 loss to the Steelers, to keep him around.

If Slater makes the roster, he likely won’t add much to the passing game — he is yet to catch a pass in an NFL game.

Buddy Farnham

Farnham, who spent last season on the practice squad, is a likely cut given the team’s depth, but he is certainly an intriguing option. The Andover native and lifelong Patriots fan starred at Brown University, where he was three times All-Ivy first team and in 2009 was the Ivy League Player of the Year when he ranked fifth in the country in receiving.

While Farnham, a pass catcher in the Welker/Edelman mold, has potential as a receiver and a punt returner, it is his flexibility that may sneak him onto the roster.

The Patriots have been working Farnham out at safety, in addition to wideout, and in the Jacksonville win, he picked off a pass which elicited an enthusiastic response from Belichick the likes of which may have never before been seen in the fourth quarter of a preseason game. Everybody knows that the Pats love depth, and a player that can contribute on both sides of the ball à la Troy Brown could tickle Belichick’s fancy.

Jeremy Ross

Ross is an undrafted free agent who made his name at Cal primarily on special teams. He is an electric punt returner who is second in the school record books only to DeSean Jackson, but he has done little in camp or in the first two preseason games to showcase his speed and playmaking ability. Barring a sudden change of events, he will likely face the ax when the time for cuts come, but we could see him wind up on the practice squad if he clears waivers.

Darnell Jenkins

Like Ross, Jenkins’ only hope at this point seems to be a place on the practice squad. The 28-year old Miami alumnus has kicked around the league since being signed as an undrafted free agent by the Texans in 2008, and has had multiple stints with the Patriots, although he is yet to catch a pass in an NFL game. There’s something that Belichick and Caserio like about the guy, since they have three times given him a contract, but with the competition this year, there seems to be no plausible way that Jenkins finds a place on the active roster.

Tyree Barnes

Barnes won’t make the active roster, but he is a player with a fascinating story. The Patriots signed Barnes, an alumnus of the United States Naval Academy, after he went undrafted in 2009, and he spent that season on the Reserve/Military List along with fellow Navy player Eric Kettani. Both players spent the last two years completing their tour of active duty, and were on time to camp after finishing their required time in May.

Spending two years away from the game and with his mind obviously in another place, Barnes isn’t expected to contribute any time in near future, but look for the Patriots to clear space for him on the practice squad if he can successfully clear waivers.

Other Possibilites?

The Patriots have recently worked out NFL veterans T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Mark Clayton, but neither have yet been offered a contract. The workouts looked purely to be depth moves for the preseason as Edelman, Price and Tate are all battling minor injuries that have been enough to keep them out of practice. While neither visit led to anything, it leaves the door open for other free agent possibilities to keep an eye out for, although it appears unlikely that any move will have a serious impact on the receiving corps for the start of the 2011 season.

© Ethan McCoy for Sports of Boston, 2011. | Permalink | No comment
Filed under: Featured, Patriots.

In 2010, the Patriots’ special teams units turned in some of the best performances they’ve seen in years. Under second year special teams coach Scott O’Brien, the Pats finished in the top five in the league in 10 of 22 special teams statistical categories, including in scoring, blocked kicks, and, perhaps most importantly, fewest penalties.

The season was highlighted by one of the strongest special teams performances in the entire NFL season turned in a 41-14 thumping of the Dolphins in Week 4. In the second half of that game, Brandon Tate ran back a 103-yard kickoff return for a touchdown before Patrick Chung blocked a punt that set up a BenJarvus Green-Ellis short yardage TD, and a field goal attempt that was scooped up and returned all the way by Kyle Arrington (Chung also returned an interception for a score that game).

See: Our 2011 Patriots Previews

The Patriots look set to welcome back a number of familiar faces from those units, as well as add some new ones on the depth chart as they always do.

With O’Brien even further settled in and a number of young contributors with a season under their belts, special teams looks poised to build off their 2010 campaign on all fronts.

Kickoff Returners

Tate returns as the team’s top kick returner from 2010. He started the season off strong, logging over 100 return yards in each of the Pats’ first four games and averaging 33.4 yards/return.

In that span, Tate ran back touchdowns in Week 1 against the Bengals and in the aforementioned Dolphins contest in Week 4. He looked poised to make a case for himself as a Pro Bowl returner, but his production dwindled as the season progressed, and he failed to find the end zone again. He finished the season with a 25.8 yards/return average. 

Tate is no sure bet to make the Week 1 roster this year. Coupled with his disappointing finish to 2010 in the return game, he failed to steadily contribute in the passing attack after Randy Moss’ departure, and thus far in training camp is yet to make a convincing case on the field that he is indispensable.

There are a number of other players on the bubble who could contribute in the kick return game, as well. Matthew Slater ran back 22 kicks in the 2008 and 2009 seasons, but with disappointing results. Still, Belichick seems to like his versatility and for that reason has kept him on the roster the past three seasons.

Another name to watch is Jeremy Ross. The undrafted free agent out of Cal was the Golden Bears’ top return man. Although he had more success in the punt return game, he is a speedy and athletic player who could sneak onto the roster and see time if Tate or Slater stumble.

Other players who are sure-bets to make the roster and could get the spot return include Devin McCourty, Sammy Morris, and Kevin Faulk. In his senior season at Rutgers, McCourty averaged 25 yards/return and ran back the third longest touchdown in school history (98 yards). McCourty certainly has the ability, but it may not be worth the risk to put him out there to take wallops on the kick return team.

Morris ran back five kicks in 2010, and while he isn’t much of a threat to take one the distance, he is a safe bet to reach the 25-yard line without coughing the ball up. Faulk hasn’t seen consistent reps in the kickoff return game since 2006, but is always a safe option to put back there if needed.

And who knows? Maybe Dan Connolly has another epic return in him.

Punt Returners

While the question marks surrounding Tate have put the kickoff return game in question, there is much more stability in the punt return unit, starting with Julian Edelman. Edelman didn’t add much to the offense in 2010, but made his mark in the return game with an exclamation point coming as a 94-yard touchdown return to victimize (you guessed it) Miami in Week 14. Edelman set a franchise record with that return, which also helped him set another franchise record by averaging 15.2 yards/return.

In addition to Edelman, the Pats have a host of experienced punt returners, led by Faulk and Wes Welker. The aforementioned Ross and Slater, if either make the team, could provide further depth as punt returners, as could Chung, whom the Patriots have
had run back kicks on several occasions.

Placekicker – Stephen Gostkowski

Gostkowski looks set to go after rehabbing from an injury-shortened 2010 in which Shayne Graham (no longer with the team) served as his replacement. The Pats have brought in former UMass kicker Chris Koepplin as competition, but the local undrafted free agent has reportedly struggled in camp, according to updates from ESPN Boston’s Mike Reiss. Back at full health, Gostkowski is physically ready for the 2011 season, but there may be an adjustment period as he gets back up to game speed and recovers his touch. However, it looks fairly certain at this point that the Patriots’ all-time leader in field goal accuracy will be out on the field for kickoff in Week 1.

Punter Zoltan Mesko again will serve as the holder, and Matt Katula is back as the long snapper after restructuring his contract, which kept him out of training camp for the first week.

Punter – Zoltan Mesko

Mesko rewarded the Patriots for spending a 5th round draft pick on him by turning in a stellar season in 2010. After years of journeymen punters and ensuing shaky results, the Pats finally appear to have found stability in the 25-year old Mesko, who averaged 43.2 yards a punt with a long of 65 yards last season. His net average of 38.4 yards was the highest ever of a rookie punter in NFL history. Mesko made headlines during the lockout by spending his offseason interning as a private equity analyst in Philadelphia, but was quick to trade in his business suit for football pads once the lockout came to an end.

Kickoff/Punt Coverage Units

The Patriots pride themselves on their depth on special teams, and every year have a number of unsung heroes who become mighty contributors on the special teams coverage units. In 2010, Slater, Tracy White, and Kyle Arrington were the top three tacklers on a special teams unit that ranked 6th in the league in punt coverage and 17th in kickoff coverage. Other contributors included linebackers Dane Fletcher and Rob Ninkovich, while running backs Morris and Danny Woodhead proved valuable on kickoff coverage.

Slater, White, and Arrington may be fighting roster spots, but how players on the bubble perform on special teams is often the litmus test Belichick uses to determinehis final cuts. One new face to keep an eye on with this unit is Jeff Tarpinian. An undrafted free agent out of Iowa, Tarpinian was a tackling machine on Iowa’s kickoff coverage team and may have an inside track on a final roster spot if he can show in training camp and preseason games that he can bring his game to the professional level.

Often times, the unheralded performers on special teams come out of nowhere. Until the final cuts are made and the season gets underway, it is tough to speculate on who may step up, and who may get burned.

What we can be sure of, though, is that it will be this front that determines who will be in, and who will be out, come Week 1.

© Ethan McCoy for Sports of Boston, 2011. | Permalink | One comment
Filed under: Featured, Patriots.