Patriots Offense - A plethora of riches??

IF the OL can give Brady time in the pocket, this should be the most dominant offense in football after Brady serves his suspension. Between Hogan, Edelman, and Amendola, we have guys that can get open quickly. Add Dion to that list as well, health allowing. Nate Washington will provide Brady and the offense with a different dimension: a guy that can threaten outside the numbers and get deep from time to time. Just the threat of being able to take the top off a defense means that defenses can't automatically play the Pats as if they're in the red zone on obvious passing situations, making the windows Brady has to pass through less tight. Then you have the two headed TE attack. That dynamic alone should make the Pats absolutely lethal in the red zone but it also dictates that the defense can't automatically key on pass or run if Brady is under center on first and second down. The Pats could just as easily run the ball with those two on the field as blockers. The only two question marks are pass protection and RB.

I kinda like the idea of lewis starting on PUP, as dabruinz stated. And also think its a possibility Much rather have him in the playoffs than early in the season. Despite all the injuries last year-if lewis was healthy in january-Pats win the SB. Even w/o lewis, this offense should be great. But just imagine in January-February, the ol healthy, and gronk,bennet,edelman and lewis on the field at the same time?!I dont even care who the 11th player is,doesnt matter. How the hell do you stop THAT?

jimnance said:

I kinda like the idea of lewis starting on PUP, as dabruinz stated. And also think its a possibility Much rather have him in the playoffs than early in the season. Despite all the injuries last year-if lewis was healthy in january-Pats win the SB. Even w/o lewis, this offense should be great. But just imagine in January-February, the ol healthy, and gronk,bennet,edelman and lewis on the field at the same time?!I dont even care who the 11th player is,doesnt matter. How the hell do you stop THAT?

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It isn't what you want, but in the event that Brady and Lewis miss the start of the season, you get to avoid exposing two more players to waivers early, while teams are finalizing their rosters for opening week. The two later cuts have a better chance of making the PS or shadow roster.

DaBruinz said:

So true. I purposely left out the running game because that area is still so fluid. My gut tells me that Lewis is going to be PUPed to start the season and that the team will "rely" on Blount, Brown, White, Develin for the running game with Foster on the PS.

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That would really suck. They could still get by but that would leave them with no outside run game at all. I'm still hoping they will make a deal for a RB. K.C would be eating the signing bonus/ guaranteed money so I would try to get Jamal Charles from them. I realize it's a high money deal but think they could handle it for this year.

We had a lot of depth last year but the injuries just killed it. Hopefully with a new strength and conditioning program and some better luck, they will roll into the postseason with some serious depth.

the weapons are great indeed. I still feel meh about the proper running game, but still.

If the O-lines plays even decently, this offense could be off-the-charts good. I don't want to compare to 07, but....

I just looked at Jamaal Charles' contract and the high money is done, as they gave him 18 million the past two years. For a back of his caliber his contract is completely reasonable and very low risk. I think the Chefs want to move him and Belichick and Reid could strike a deal on a conditional pick.

While the top RBs are getting 10 million a year, the Patriots could get Charles for about half that (5.3 million cap hit in 2016 and 7 in 2017) with no guaranteed money to eat and the ability to restructure or walk away in 2017. When healthy he is an exceptional player and could put their offense over the top.

Ivan said:

I just looked at Charles contract and the high money is done as they gave him 18 million the past two years. For a back of his caliber his contract is completely reasonable and very low risk. I think the Chefs want to move him and Belichick and Reid could strike a deal on a conditional pick.

Whille the to RBs are getting 10 million a year the Patriots could get Charles for about half that (5.3 million cap hit in 2016 and 7 in 2017) with no guaranteed money to eat and the ability to restructure or walk away in 2017. When healthy he is an exceptional player and could put their offense over the top.

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I hadn't looked at Charles' contract, but assumed it would be too much for the Pats' liking. If the Chiefs have indeed given him 18mil already, and there's no significant guaranteed money, i'd certainly be open to them striking a deal for him....say maybe, a certain 4th round pick in 2017?

Mike the Brit said:

I'm not sure that Hogan is money in the bank. On the other hand, it wouldn't surprise me if Keshawn Martin or even Chris Harper or DeAndre Carter came to play a decent-sized role.

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I would be extremely surprised if Harper or Carter make it past the 1st round of cuts. Especially with the additions of Hogan, Washington and Mitchell.

Nate Washington has been VERY durable though out his career, only missing 2 games in 10 seasons (hamstring middle of last year)! He also injured his hip in week 17 but obviously the Pats looked closely at him during his visit to Gillette this off season.

I'm guessing with Brady as his QB, he is going to be more than serviceable vertically. This might also help Gronk and Bennett if the safety has to account for him.

Also, he probably knows 75% of our offense based on last year with the Texans (HC & QBs).

Should be fun to see how it goes.

There are a lot of NEW guys, so I'm holding back from getting too psyched about our offense. We've seen time and again, it takes a ****load of time before Brady feels comfortable with someone, or the receiver can't figure out the offense. Look at LaFell; he was pretty invisible until the second half of his first season, half the people here wanted him gone. Turned out he had a good season, but there is definitely an adjustment period.

Easier for guys like Martin and probably Washington because they come from similar offenses. But Hogan and Bennett may struggle initially.

Ivan said:

When healthy he is an exceptional player and could put their offense over the top.

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The health is the biggest concern with him and he would have that in common with Lewis and others. But the fact that Charcandrick West and Spencer Ware both got contract extensions last month makes this even more interesting. Add that to the time when New England sent a second-round draft pick to the Cincinnati Bengals to get Corey Dillon back in 2004, who also happened to be 29 at the time. As a traditional power back he'd no doubt be intriguing. Heck, even before his injury, Charles ran for 364 yards and four touchdowns on 71 attempts. The question is who would bite first.

Ivan said:

I just looked at Charles contract and the high money is done as they gave him 18 million the past two years. For a back of his caliber his contract is completely reasonable and very low risk. I think the Chefs want to move him and Belichick and Reid could strike a deal on a conditional pick.

Whille the to RBs are getting 10 million a year the Patriots could get Charles for about half that (5.3 million cap hit in 2016 and 7 in 2017) with no guaranteed money to eat and the ability to restructure or walk away in 2017. When healthy he is an exceptional player and could put their offense over the top.

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I'd **** myself if the Pats brought Charles in.

saspack said:

If the o line cannot protect Brady, this is meaningless. AFC championship game, remember?

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I remember. Do you? I remember that every single Offensive Lineman on the Patriots roster was injured at one point or another with the exception of David Andrews. I know that we had our starting RT playing LT and he was playing hurt. I know that our normal back-up tackle was playing RT and playing hurt. I know that the guard who started at LG hurt his shoulder against Philadelphia and wasn't the same the rest of the season. I know the Rookie LG who placed said LG suffered a knee injury. I know the rookie RG suffered a knee injury and missed the end of the season. I know our starting center from 2014 started the season on the PUP, ended up having to play RT at one point and wasn't nearly as effective as he'd been the year before.

Add to that the crappy coaching that led to massive communication issues.

What have the Pats done?
1) They replaced the crappy coach.
2) They've added 2 more interior linemen, one of whom has played all 5 O-line positions during his college career and the other who has played Guard and Center.

Solder, Vollmer, Mason, Stork, Jackson, Waddle, and Cannon should all be healthy going into TC.
The communication issues that plagued the Patriots O-line should be resolved and our starting center likely won't be tipping off the defense this year as to the snap count.

Wide Receivers (not TEs):
1. Edelman
2. Amendola
3. Hogan
4. Martin
5. Washington
6. Dobson
7. Mitchell
8. Harper
9. Lucien
10. Slater
11. Carter

Slater makes it b/c of special teams. Edelman, Amendola, and Hogan are locks (Hogan less than the other two but still...all three should make it). Assuming they keep 7 guys (including Slater as a STer), that leaves Martin, Washington, Dobson, Mitchell, Harper, Lucien, and Carter for three spots.

Depends on what they're looking for. And there will be a couple of injuries along the way during camp probably, so that will narrow things down. Too tough to say who I would like for those last three spots, because I don't know much about the rookies, but off the top of my head, I think I'd prefer Martin, Washington, and Mitchell. Martin helped out last year. Washington is a solid vet, and Mitchell is very intriguing to me.

DaBruinz said:

So true. I purposely left out the running game because that area is still so fluid. My gut tells me that Lewis is going to be PUPed to start the season and that the team will "rely" on Blount, Brown, White, Develin for the running game with Foster on the PS.

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Lewis, when he plays, is also a receiving weapon, especially in the YAC department.

DaBruinz said:

The Patriots passing game is going to be something special to watch this year, imho. On one hand, you have TEs Gronkowski and Bennett. On the other hand, you are at least 3 deep in quality WRs in Edelman, Amendola and Hogan. And if one or more of Washington, Mitchell, Lucien pan out, you'll have a corps that is 4-5 deep.. Something that is unheard of..

This will truly allow the Patriots to be so flexible on offense that on one play a 2 TE set that features Gronk and Bennett or that features Edelman and whomever else is on the field. Or they could use it to run.

I haven't been this excited about the potential of this offense since the Pats "traded"/signed Welker and then traded for Randy Moss.

I truly hope people don't say "Brady has no weapons" since even likely 3rd string TE Clay Harbor and FA signing Nate Washington can do damage to opposing teams..

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Don't forget about Lewis, although I think we should call him Shake & Bake from now on, because every time he moved he roasts everyone around him

All the running game needs to be is average and get some tough yards every now and then.

All the oline needs to be is pretty good.

If those two units can live up to those lofty standards we are in like Flynn.

KontradictioN said:

I'd **** myself if the Pats brought Charles in.

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Before I looked at the contract numbers I thought it was going to be too high for them to bite, once I saw the numbers I felt like he's there for taking. If he's healthy I think he would be available and its exactly the kind of FU to the league Belichick would be happy to extend.

Ivan said:

I just looked at Charles contract and the high money is done as they gave him 18 million the past two years. For a back of his caliber his contract is completely reasonable and very low risk. I think the Chefs want to move him and Belichick and Reid could strike a deal on a conditional pick.

Whille the to RBs are getting 10 million a year the Patriots could get Charles for about half that (5.3 million cap hit in 2016 and 7 in 2017) with no guaranteed money to eat and the ability to restructure or walk away in 2017. When healthy he is an exceptional player and could put their offense over the top.

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They still won't pay $5m/yr for a RB