- Joined
- May 1, 2008
- Messages
- 16,682
- Reaction score
- 3,686
ESPN Insider article by Field Yates, listing 3 factors that could determine if the Pats' passing offense will revert to top form:
http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/11103711/nfl-why-new-england-patriots-passing-offense-better-2014?refresh=true
I obviously can't post the article, but Yates' 3 factors are:
1. Health. Getting Gronk back, obviously, but also a healthy Amendola and Dobson. Not mentioned is Tom Brady's hand, which I think may have played a significant role during a stretch of last season.
2. Development of the Young WRs. Whether Dobson, Thompkins and Boyce can make the 2nd year leap, and how Brandon LaFell fits in.
3. Fixing the OL. As Yates notes, "It wasn't catastrophic, but the Patriots offensive line regressed in overall performance in 2013 after a lights-out 2012. The interior was the bigger area of concern, with both Wendell and Connolly struggling, which was obvious in the AFC Championship Game."
Nothing earth shattering, but a decent read. Accomplishing all 3 of those things will be a major challenge. I personally think Yates leaves out one possible intriguing element of the 2014 Pats' passing offense, which is better integration of the running and passing games and utilization of 2-back sets in the passing attack, with Shane Vereen and James White both offering the flexibility to borrow a page from Chip Kelly's offense and get creative motioning guys into and out of the backfield.
http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/11103711/nfl-why-new-england-patriots-passing-offense-better-2014?refresh=true
I obviously can't post the article, but Yates' 3 factors are:
1. Health. Getting Gronk back, obviously, but also a healthy Amendola and Dobson. Not mentioned is Tom Brady's hand, which I think may have played a significant role during a stretch of last season.
2. Development of the Young WRs. Whether Dobson, Thompkins and Boyce can make the 2nd year leap, and how Brandon LaFell fits in.
3. Fixing the OL. As Yates notes, "It wasn't catastrophic, but the Patriots offensive line regressed in overall performance in 2013 after a lights-out 2012. The interior was the bigger area of concern, with both Wendell and Connolly struggling, which was obvious in the AFC Championship Game."
Nothing earth shattering, but a decent read. Accomplishing all 3 of those things will be a major challenge. I personally think Yates leaves out one possible intriguing element of the 2014 Pats' passing offense, which is better integration of the running and passing games and utilization of 2-back sets in the passing attack, with Shane Vereen and James White both offering the flexibility to borrow a page from Chip Kelly's offense and get creative motioning guys into and out of the backfield.
Last edited: