Where are our weaknesses on offense?

[mgteich]

There are decisions regarding the last two offensive linemen.

Do we have any real weaknesses, or should we expect smooth sailing for our #5 offense in 2009? Obviously, the tight ends need some time to develop, and perhaps Tate also. But we have the insurance policies of veterans Crumpler and Holt.

Personally, I see this offense as better than 2009, if only because Brady is healthy. Obviously, that should be make a significant difference.

OFFENSE (25)
QB Brady, Hoyer
RB Maroney, Faulk, Morris, Taylor
WR Moss, Welker, Edelman, Holt, Tate, Price, Aiken
TE Grankowski, Hernandez, Crumpler
OL Light, Kaczur, Koppen, Neal, Vollmer, LeVoir, Connolly, open, open

 

[bigfandan]

Maybe we trade Mankins for a top lineman? If that team is willing to sign him to the deal he wants.

There are decisions regarding the last two offensive linemen.

Do we have any real weaknesses, or should we expect smooth sailing for our #5 offense in 2009? Obviously, the tight ends need some time to develop, and perhaps Tate also. But we have the insurance policies of veterans Crumpler and Holt.

Personally, I see this offense as better than 2009, if only because Brady is healthy. Obviously, that should be make a significant difference.

OFFENSE (25)
QB Brady, Hoyer
RB Maroney, Faulk, Morris, Taylor
WR Moss, Welker, Edelman, Holt, Tate, Price, Aiken
TE Grankowski, Hernandez, Crumpler
OL Light, Kaczur, Koppen, Neal, Vollmer, LeVoir, Connolly, open, open

 

[patsfan-1982]

i would say the OL is the biggest Weaknesse if mankins is not there and if neal can't stay healthy

 

[sbpatfan]

Tight End is a weakness until proven otherwise.

Offensive Line is somewhat of a worry, but with so many bodies there you expect someone to emerge. Losing Mankins will be noticeable, but I almost feel it's safe to assume someone is going to do an adequate job there.

Wide Receiver is also a worry, Moss and Welker are great but both are victims of age and injury. Holt has that feel to him that he'll be a reliable receiver no matter where he is, just because he's Holt. But this team needs more than that, one of the young guys really need to emerge besides Edelman.

Running Back - who cares, it's a committee, everyone does an average job. Maroney is consistent yet hated. And I'm willing to bet that Maroney will probably end his career in New England with more yards than any other back because he''s never been over used, RBs have the shortest career in the NFL. Chris Johnson is awesome but the Titans just put a railing on his body for a 2000+ yard season to only go 8-8. How many times do you really think he can do that and how is that 2000 yard season even predictable? RBs are such a risk.

Quarterback - After a year off, an injury plagued Brady makes an offensive group with some decent sized holes a top 5 offense.

No matter what, we'll be decent with Brady.

 

[SammyBlueCat]

The offensive line is frightening.

 

[AzPatsFan]

I would phrase the answer differently. Where will the Pats spend their 5 premium draft picks in Rounds 1-3 in 2011, (2#1s;2#2s and 1#3)?

I would guess:

A) 3-4 RDE
B) DE-->OLB
C) RB
D) WR
E) Offensive line (Interior)

Hunch thought: Seymour, Older and wiser and having experienced the "grass is greener reality", will resign with Pats, and take back DL team leadership. Freeing a prime draft pick for an Offensive Tackle.

 

[dhamz]

Until proven otherwise, they are what they were at the end of last year:

- An offensive line that got the QB hit way too much and struggled to open holes needed for a consistent running game.
- Alternate targets in the passing game not named Moss or Welker

The offseasons seems to have provided a lot of potential solutions to the 2nd issue and even more questions on the first.

 

[mgteich]

I agree that we should look to see where we were last year as a start.

Where do you think that the patriots were on the sack stats last year? If the pass protection was so bad, please explain how an injured Brady (with no #3 WR) had the #3 passing offense in the league. We would have been better if Brady were healthier.

Our running game was in the middle of the pack with the two starters totaling over 1000 yards (average 4 YPC), and the two change of pace backs each over 300 yards (averaging 4.8 YPC). The problem if there was one was OL injuries and playcalling.

Until proven otherwise, they are what they were at the end of last year:

- An offensive line that got the QB hit way too much and struggled to open holes needed for a consistent running game.
- Alternate targets in the passing game not named Moss or Welker

The offseasons seems to have provided a lot of potential solutions to the 2nd issue and even more questions on the first.

 

[Calciumee]

The major weakness for me is the OL Backups! If the OL stays healthy (with or without Mankins, Kaczur will do ok) we will be fine, but if we get injuries *cough*Neal*cough* that might be a problem for us.

The WRs seem to be an upgrade on last season, but Tate and Price are unknown, and how much does Holt have left? But for this season we will be fine.

 

[patsinthesnow]

Rb......................

 

[RhodyPatriot]

The running game is subpar and has been for years
The o-line is adequate at best
Tom Brady has taken a beating over the course of his career because of that adequate at best o-line. It shocks me that BB has not made keeping Brady safe a bigger draft day priority over the years.
Passing game is going to be tremendous this season. Those new TE's are the real deal, Welker is back and Randy "ruff ruff" is playing for a new contract.

 

[patsox23]

The offensive line -- WITH Mankins -- was poor last year. Really underratedly terrible.

 

[IllegalContact]

kaczur at LG is a disaster

 

[jsull87]

I would phrase the answer differently. Where will the Pats spend their 5 premium draft picks in Rounds 1-3 in 2011, (2#1s;2#2s and 1#3)?

I would guess:

A) 3-4 RDE
B) DE-->OLB
C) RB
D) WR
E) Offensive line (Interior)

Hunch thought: Seymour, Older and wiser and having experienced the "grass is greener reality", will resign with Pats, and take back DL team leadership. Freeing a prime draft pick for an Offensive Tackle.

perfect if it happened... by no way can i ever see that happening. only because i see him having personal issues with new england now

 

[CrazyDave]

OL is a true concern for me.
I want Mankins in camp, and I want to see Vollmer on the field.
Not even Tom Brady can throw td passes from a lying on the ground position.

As for the running game, this offense got weaker the moment Morris got hurt.
Ground game needs to get better. (duh).
These 2 things are obviously related, and improving one should help the other.
I want Vollmer on the field.

 

[BTTA]

Not where, so much as what

1. Big play frequency, and thus, threat that opens up the routine running game and keeps Welker, Edelman, and the tight ends open on the short routes.

2. Pass protection against max-rush teams, to keep Brady healthy, avoid 3rd-and-longs, and allow for offensive rhythm to develop.

 

[Deus Irae]

There are decisions regarding the last two offensive linemen.

Do we have any real weaknesses, or should we expect smooth sailing for our #5 offense in 2009?

I would use the word "question" instead of "weakness". And, doing that, I'd say that there are questions in every area of the offense.

WR - will WR3 step up this year? Can Someone take snaps from Moss to give him rest? Will Welker be able to come back at, or near, 100%? Can Edelman be of some value playing on the outside, or is he just going to be Welker's backup?

TE - What's Crumpler's physical condition? Can he move faster than last season, or will he be all but useless in the middle of the field as he was last year? Will Hernandez be able to handle what will essentially be the WR4 position? Will Gronk be able to stay healthy? Can he block at the NFL level and force teams to defend him over the middle?

OL - Is Light going to be able to put together another quality year? Will Mankins be back? Can Kaczur replace Mankins if needed? Can Koppen and Neal stay healthy? Will Vollmer improve at RT? Is there any backup interior lineman who can play worth a damn?

RB - Can the RBs stay somewhat healthy? Does Faulk have another great year in him? Does Taylor have anything left? Will Maroney get back to his rookie level of play and avoid fumbles?

QB - Will Brady be 100% this year? Can he regain his ability to move in the pocket, and his willingness to keep his eyes downfield? Will he be willing and able to run for a couple of yards when needed this year?

 

[HEY BRO! WHAT UP?]

Whether Mankins plays or not, their O-line is the biggest weakness. Brady gets hit way too much and they make Maroney look like the worst RB in the NFL.

I remember someone on this board said the O-line was "young and deep". Sorry, but depth does mean adding players. In addition, if there are two weak links on the line and nobody on the roster can unseat them, that should answer whether they have "depth".

RB is their second weakness as their old and injury prone. Faulk is reliable but Morris and Taylor can't be counted on. Both the O-line and RB's go hand in hand. If the line can't block, the RB's will be ineffective.

WR's are the third in terms or ranking weakness. Hopefully Moss is in better shape and Welker returns week 1. However, please don't rush him back like Mayo was last year. If they can prepare without Welker, they can win without Welker as they have won 3 super bowls without him. I'm rooting for Holt to make the team. He's a great route runner and can catch everything. We all thought how valuable Gaffney was, Holt will be better. At worst, Tate and Price will be the Pats new kick and punt returners. Sam Aiken will go back to his role on special teams.

TE's are next on the list. They'd be ranked higher if the Pats utilized them more often. The Pats will carry 3 TE's (Crumpler, Gronk and Hernandez). I think Hernandez will be the Pats best rookie on offense.

QB is last on the list. Now that Brady is two years removed from his injury, I expect a better season from him. A lot of people on this board only go by stats but in reality, Brady didn't have a very good season. He'd be the first to tell you, he left a lot of points on the field and should've won at least 3 more games then they did last season (at NYJ, at Indy, at Miami and at Houston to name a few). With potentially better players at WR and TE, O'Brien getting comfortable calling plays and Brady two years removed from injury, their offense should be more efficient then last season.

 

[mavfan2390]

The ball's going to be spread out a lot this year... I could see Gronkowski and Hernandez playing a lot together, with Gronk taking the traditional TE spot and Hernandez in the slot, especially to start the year to ease Welker back in.

 

[TheComeback]

I agree with everyone who pointed to the oline as the biggest weakness on this offense, even with Mankins. Without Mankins, it appears to be a decent to sub-par run blocking line, but a pretty horrible pass-blocking line.

At this point in their careers, Light, Kaczur, and Neal are all better at drive blocking than pass protection. It seems that Vollmer will be our most balanced lineman. And Koppen just doesn't have it anymore. He is a pretty good play caller but seems to screw those calls up in crunch time, and also gets crushed by NTs, and additionally can't run block, especially against said nose tackles. I think that explains why the Pats seem to struggle so much with 3-4 defenses.