Let's talk about the worst case scenario on offense

[Simpelton]

Let's assume for the moment that we get unlucky in each of the big player retention issues we're talking about in the offseason

Namely, we lose Lewis and Burkhead, Gronk swans off to fame and fortune in pro wrestling, another team puts money down on Dola and beats our best offer, etc.

Since none of these things would prevent this team from being, at least, a playoff contender anyway, is there any thought to how you think the team should move forward?

Personally I think that while each of these offensive pieces would be a blow to lose, the offense as a whole would be in reasonable shape. Our top 3 receivers are Edelman, Cooks and Hogan.That doesn't change. What changes is that instead of Captain Clutch at WR4, we have Phillip Dorsett... not ideal, but I think the guy can play.

The running attack takes a big hit, but White and Gillislee give us something to work with. We'd probably be looking to add a new running back, but if we make a good choice there, the RBs can carry their weight.

Big blow would be at Tight End -- obviously. People don't like Allen because he's a blocking TE and he tends to make plays happen for other people rather than making plays himself, but that doesn't mean he isn't a playmaker. I watched him create a lot of holes for Lewis over the last year, it's there if you're looking for it. What he does is sometimes a bit subtle and hard to spot, and he's not ideal as a TE1 because he's not a big receiver, but I actually think we'd be OK with a TE tandem of Allen, Bennett and someone like Hollister or another roleplaying TE3. TE would go from being a major strength of the franchise to simply being a functional part of the machine, but we'd probably get by.

This is basically my longwinded way of saying that the offense is pretty deep, and this team's offense is designed with "next man up" in mind. Gronk is the big X factor, our offense currently relies on him a great deal, but if he's gone, it's not that hard to imagine the team finding a way to work around this and keep the offense strong without him.

 

[Patsfanin Philly]

If we add a RB, I really like Josh Adams from ND.. He;s from my area and a bruiser who can catch the ball ( though they didnt't use him that way at ND) When he did catch it, he often broke it for long distances. He is projected as a 3-5th rounder.......

 

[slam]

Aside from Gronk, losing Nate Solder would be the biggest possible loss for the offense, particularly if we lose Waddle and Fleming as well.

Losing ALL of those guys would mean that we'd free up money for free agency, though.

 

[holyredeemer]

I agree with the overall premise of your post. This Offense is pretty stacked as far as depth goes, and even though losing guys like Lewis, Burkhead and Gronk would hurt, I’m pretty sure we’d find a way to make up the lost production. Hell, maybe the offense would have to change just enough to create a few new wrinkles. I do want to point out that you either forgot about Mitchell with this group as #4 or did I miss some negative news about his return?

Personally I think that while each of these offensive pieces would be a blow to lose, the offense as a whole would be in reasonable shape. Our top 3 receivers are Edelman, Cooks and Hogan.That doesn't change. What changes is that instead of Captain Clutch at WR4, we have Phillip Dorsett... not ideal, but I think the guy can play.

 

[maust]

Let's assume for the moment that we get unlucky in each of the big player retention issues we're talking about in the offseason

Namely, we lose Lewis and Burkhead, Gronk swans off to fame and fortune in pro wrestling, another team puts money down on Dola and beats our best offer, etc.

Since none of these things would prevent this team from being, at least, a playoff contender anyway...

My idea of a worst case scenario involves Brady getting snapped in half, that absolutely would prevent this team from being a playoff contender. Solder, Waddle and Fleming are all UFA's. How can we realistically talk 'worst case scenarios' without starting at OT?

 

[ivanvamp]

If they lose Gronk, they might try to sign Bennett for another year while still developing a younger TE. Don't forget, they won a SB with Bennett and not Gronk just a year ago.

Losing Amendola would be big, but having Edelman and Mitchell back would be tremendous. Edelman, Mitchell, Hogan, Cooks, and Dorsett make a fine WR corps.

At RB, I hope they keep both Burkhead and Lewis but I could see both being gone. White and Gillislee are just fine to start with, but clearly they'd need to address it. I could see them drafting a player later on, but I could also see them signing someone like Corey Grant from Jax, or Thomas Rawls.

 

[RelocatedPatFan]

When I read the title, I have to admit that Jeff Fisher replacing Josh McDaniels was my first thought.

BB will have a team together. If Gronk is out of the picture, it certainly won't be a strength of the team...but same thing would happen if Brady wasn't at QB also. you don't go from the best in position on any team to your next best choice without a serious dropoff.

There's enough RBs that we can figure it out. WR should be fine if we get the injured guys back (Though Edleman isn't likely to be 100%, but I would never count him out)

 

[tasmlab]

Looks pretty sunny either way as long as Brady is Brady it seems. 2006 and 2013 were those lost years where guys like Caldwell or Thompkins/Dobson still had to be significant pieces and they still went to the AFCCG.

But 2018 looks more like one of the good-to-amazing years on paper even if the mainstay is Cooks/JE11/Hoags.

 

[Simpelton]

I agree with the overall premise of your post. This Offense is pretty stacked as far as depth goes, and even though losing guys like Lewis, Burkhead and Gronk would hurt, I’m pretty sure we’d find a way to make up the lost production. Hell, maybe the offense would have to change just enough to create a few new wrinkles. I do want to point out that you either forgot about Mitchell with this group as #4 or did I miss some negative news about his return?

I forgot about him TBH... but also Mitchell doesn't have a good track record for staying healthy in college, so I kind of don't want to count on him until he shows he can get back on the field.

 

[PatsFan2]

We all know with his bouts with various injuries that Gronk wasn't going to have 12 year career 10 Tops. I am glad he's putting the Patriots on notice: this year could very well be his last with or without a serious Injury. I will wish him well either way... Pats need to Scout well in that area for the Future.

 

[signbabybrady]

Brady, White, Jules, Cooks, Hogan, and Mitchell is a good start at the Skill positions and while there is still some holes no reason to think we couldn't fill them in a worst case scenario.

Sounds like Solder is going to play again so hopefully we get continuity on the oline.

Losing Dola, Lewis, and Burkhead hurts but not going to derail anything.

All we're really concerned about is Gronk. And we've dealt with his absence plenty due to injuries so also shouldn't derail things. This one will hurt obviously though as we'll need to find someone to be that guy that draws all the attention.

Then obviously if we fail at replacing all of them we would likely be in trouble too but I'm going to assume that in a worse case scenario where we lose everything we will mostly replace everything and I don't expect the replacements to all fail. In fact I'd expect they mostly succeed.

 

[Joker]

...let's talk about your car. It's screaming "Wash me, please!" Now, if you're a Mr. Common Sense, you won't believe me when I tell you that I've got an envelope that'll clean your car while you're driving it home to work. Well, George, believe me this time, because this one isn't like the Austrian self-sharpening razors. No, friends, no overheating like the tropical fishes. No zizzing and dripping like with the trickle... (click!)

awww crap...lost the channel....what else can we talk about?

 

[SammyBlueCat]

I promise that I will coach up the element of Cat Like quickness to all of our players.

 

[Trycked]

Losing...

Lewis = more time for White (seemed like White was second option last year).
Burkhead = more time for Gillislee / new rookie RB. TB would be healthier.
Dola = we won't have to deal with having too much WR and who to cut during training camp.
Gronk = we've survived without him before.
Solder, Waddle, Fleming = Garcia, draft, draft sprinkled with Dante's magic.

Offense will be fine.

 

[maineman209]

When I read the title, I have to admit that Jeff Fisher replacing Josh McDaniels was my first thought.

BB will have a team together. If Gronk is out of the picture, it certainly won't be a strength of the team...but same thing would happen if Brady wasn't at QB also. you don't go from the best in position on any team to your next best choice without a serious dropoff.

There's enough RBs that we can figure it out. WR should be fine if we get the injured guys back (Though Edleman isn't likely to be 100%, but I would never count him out)

Jeff fisher even replacing the Pats assistant equipment manager would be a clear harbinger of doom.

 

[maineman209]

...let's talks about your car. It's screaming "Wash me, please!" Now, if you're a Mr. Common Sense, you won't believe me when I tell you that I've got an envelope that'll clean your car while you're driving it home to work. Well, George, believe me this time, because this one isn't like the Austrian self-sharpening razors. No, friends, no overheating like the tropical fishes. No zizzing and dripping like with the trickle... (click!)

awww crap...lost the channel....what else can we talk about?

Isn't that the sign for the Antelope Freeway up ahead?

 

[RelocatedPatFan]

I promise that I will coach up the element of Cat Like quickness to all of our players.

Any loss of quickness when they transition from quadrupeds to bipedal locomotion?

 

[Jimke]

If the Patriots lose Solder, they will be in a mess. They will move Cannon to
left tackle where he stinks and create another hole at right tackle.

 

[SammyBlueCat]

Any loss of quickness when they transition from quadrupeds to bipedal locomotion?

Powerful research you have there. More Like:

 

[FCB02062]

yes, it's February, but Tony Mazz "does not feel good" about the team. ..