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This is for players whose level of play is yet to be determined. Here is my list, in order. I'm interested to hear yours:
1. Devin McCourty- If he returns to his 2011 level of play, this could be a top 5 defense. If he plays like last year, this could be another big problem.
2. Nate Solder. For obvious reasons, his development is huge. He needs to learn at a very fast pace because a few mistakes could have disastrous consequences.
3. Ras-I Dowling. Ras-I was a huge loss for us last year, as he had cracked the starting lineup on just one month of practice with the team. If he can stay healthy, I think this changes the defense dramatically.
4. Brandon Lloyd. I am concerned that Lloyd's acrobatic jump-ball skills will be wasted in our system, as that is not Brady's style of play. I hope I'm wrong; if Lloyd can be a reliable downfield threat, our offense will add another dimension.
5. Stevan Ridley. If Ridley can hold on to the football, I think we have our most talented running back since Corey Dillon. If he can't, expect to see the offense rotate between a spread and 2 TE.
6. Brandon Spikes. When healthy, the defense goes from soft to nasty. Really hoping he can keep that killer edge and make the Patriots a physical team.
7. Pat Chung. A good safety who could be on the verge of being great. I think this is the year we find out if Chung is a solid starter or pro-bowl safety. His leadership and playmaking abilities need to stand out.
8. Chandler Jones. Although some have called him a project, the articles I've read suggest he is ready to step in immediately. Would be a huge bonus if he can come around by December.
9. Danny Woodhead. The one thing the Pats lacked last year was that third-down greatness they had in 2010, where screens and draws often got scores of yards. Hoping Woodhead is healthy enough for that extra burst that is crucial.
10. Rob Gronkowski. Maybe it's surprising to see him on this list, but it's more a compliment to just how great he was last year. It will be difficult to continue at such a tremendous level of play, and I'm hoping the injury, off-field distractions and celebrity life will not bring him down to the level of mere mortals. He can't go much further up, but he could go pretty far down if he doesn't continue focusing on the game.
*Note: Although the defensive linemen are very important, I did not see much potential variation from guys like Love and Deadrick. I think we know who they are and what to expect.
1. Devin McCourty- If he returns to his 2011 level of play, this could be a top 5 defense. If he plays like last year, this could be another big problem.
2. Nate Solder. For obvious reasons, his development is huge. He needs to learn at a very fast pace because a few mistakes could have disastrous consequences.
3. Ras-I Dowling. Ras-I was a huge loss for us last year, as he had cracked the starting lineup on just one month of practice with the team. If he can stay healthy, I think this changes the defense dramatically.
4. Brandon Lloyd. I am concerned that Lloyd's acrobatic jump-ball skills will be wasted in our system, as that is not Brady's style of play. I hope I'm wrong; if Lloyd can be a reliable downfield threat, our offense will add another dimension.
5. Stevan Ridley. If Ridley can hold on to the football, I think we have our most talented running back since Corey Dillon. If he can't, expect to see the offense rotate between a spread and 2 TE.
6. Brandon Spikes. When healthy, the defense goes from soft to nasty. Really hoping he can keep that killer edge and make the Patriots a physical team.
7. Pat Chung. A good safety who could be on the verge of being great. I think this is the year we find out if Chung is a solid starter or pro-bowl safety. His leadership and playmaking abilities need to stand out.
8. Chandler Jones. Although some have called him a project, the articles I've read suggest he is ready to step in immediately. Would be a huge bonus if he can come around by December.
9. Danny Woodhead. The one thing the Pats lacked last year was that third-down greatness they had in 2010, where screens and draws often got scores of yards. Hoping Woodhead is healthy enough for that extra burst that is crucial.
10. Rob Gronkowski. Maybe it's surprising to see him on this list, but it's more a compliment to just how great he was last year. It will be difficult to continue at such a tremendous level of play, and I'm hoping the injury, off-field distractions and celebrity life will not bring him down to the level of mere mortals. He can't go much further up, but he could go pretty far down if he doesn't continue focusing on the game.
*Note: Although the defensive linemen are very important, I did not see much potential variation from guys like Love and Deadrick. I think we know who they are and what to expect.