Boston TE Party No More. How will Offense Look?

[MoneyFX]

I think the offense will be a lot more ball-control style, along with the play-action to make things easier for the newer WRs to make plays. I see Vereen being featured in the passing game a lot more. I remember Woodhead and the RBs catching more passes when #81 was out last season.

With more of the "Gronk-like" TEs this season in Ballard and Sudfeld, I expect more plays downfield with the TEs with more throws up the seam, along with more options for Brady to go to in the red zone, just in case Gronkowski isn't available.

Given the fact that the WR corps was improved in terms of size and speed, I expect more downfield passing to be incorporated in the offense (which is what the offense needs if they want to make it back to a Super Bowl). More "Posse" personnel with 3WR/1TE/1RB should be expected. Amendola was brought in to take Welker's spot, but even he can get downfield at times too. The group is deeper than last year's, but a lot more unknowns.

Hernandez was great at making plays in space, but his loss is not the "end-all be-all" for the offense. There are lots more others on the team who can make plays in space, whether it be Edelman, Amendola or Vereen (who replaces Woodhead). But his versatility will be missed, as the "12" personnel just won't be the same without him and it will be tougher to dictate matchups. Also, the offense at times was still pretty productive with Hernandez.

Still, it's very hard to tell how the offense will look, too much unknowns at the moment. I doubt the offense will be as productive as it was last season in terms of yards, but I would rather prefer a top 10 offense that can show a little bit of everything rather than a top 3 offense that can only do a few things well.

 

[tonyto3690]

I think the offense will be a lot more ball-control style, along with the play-action to make things easier for the newer WRs to make plays. I see Vereen being featured in the passing game a lot more. I remember Woodhead and the RBs catching more passes when #81 was out last season.

With more of the "Gronk-like" TEs this season in Ballard and Sudfeld, I expect more plays downfield with the TEs with more throws up the seam, along with more options for Brady to go to in the red zone, just in case Gronkowski isn't available.

Given the fact that the WR corps was improved in terms of size and speed, I expect more downfield passing to be incorporated in the offense (which is what the offense needs if they want to make it back to a Super Bowl). More "Posse" personnel with 3WR/1TE/1RB should be expected. Amendola was brought in to take Welker's spot, but even he can get downfield at times too. The group is deeper than last year's, but a lot more unknowns.

Hernandez was great at making plays in space, but his loss is not the "end-all be-all" for the offense. There are lots more others on the team who can make plays in space, whether it be Edelman, Amendola or Vereen (who replaces Woodhead). But his versatility will be missed, as the "12" personnel just won't be the same without him and it will be tougher to dictate matchups. Also, the offense at times was still pretty productive with Hernandez.

Still, it's very hard to tell how the offense will look, too much unknowns at the moment. I doubt the offense will be as productive as it was last season in terms of yards, but I would rather prefer a top 10 offense that can show a little bit of everything rather than a top 3 offense that can only do a few things well.

This is a lot of words to say "We're going to do what we have done for the past four years".

 

[thechris]

Patriots offense is in some serious ****.

 

[jmt57]

I had not even considered Develin.

The options at tight end - Extra Points - Boston.com

Jake Ballard was very successful for the New York Giants in 2011 when they won the Super Bowl, catching 38 passes for 604 yards and four touchdowns. He’s coming off an ACL tear and through OTAs and minicamp has appeared rigid. But you can expect him to loosen up as he fully recovers from his injury.

Michael Hoomanawanui was the first tight end off the bench last season for the Patriots when Hernandez and Gronkowski went down with injuries. He also filled in as the team’s de facto fullback. Despite the lack of targets last season (5), he’s shown an ability to catch the ball when thrown in his direction. He has only two drops in his three-year career. However, like Hernandez, he’s had trouble in spots in run blocking. Prior to coming to the Patriots he was an eight-game starter for the St. Louis Rams.

Daniel Fells is often the forgotten man in the group because he rarely talks to the media and caught only four passes in 2012. But his 338 snaps last season were only a tad shy behind Hoomanawanui’s 363. People forget he was a 15-game starter for the Denver Broncos in 2011 (19 catches, 256 yards, 3 touchdowns) and had his best season in 2010 for the St. Louis Rams in which he caught 41 passes for 391 yards and two touchdowns. He’s capable, just not as dynamic as others on the roster or Hernandez for that matter.

Zach Sudfeld is one of two rookie free agents and he has had the benefit of being healthy in an unhealthy group -- which goes entirely against his injury riddled collegiate career. But he’s looked good so far. He caught the ball well in OTAs and minicamp and found himself in rotation with Tom Brady, a huge plus for a guy trying to make the team. He’s one to keep an eye on going forward.

Brandon Ford is the other rookie free agent on the team and he will likely get more attention going into training camp. A four-year player for Clemson, he has run as low as a 4.64 in the 40-yard dash (Hernandez ran as low as 4.53) and has lined up in the slot during his college tenure. His second position going into the draft was wide receiver, so he can work in the Flex tight end position that Hernandez excelled in. However, he was mostly inactive during OTAs and minicamp with an undisclosed injury. So there’s much to be seen going forward.

James Develin is also a tight end candidate for the Patriots. He’s listed as a fullback but he has worked out with the group during OTAs. As I wrote in late May, he appears to be directly competing with Hoomanawanui for that swing role, between tight end and fullback.

Of course, none of those remaining are going to have the versatility to line up at wide receiver, in the slot and in the backfield like Hernandez, but each can be serviceable for this revamped Patriots offense.​

 

[mgteich]

Perhaps it is appropriate to look at the offense from scratch.

QUARTERBACK
one of the very best, with a familiar and capable coaching staff

WIDE RECEIVER
This is obviously the weakness of the team, with lots of question marks.
Amendola, Jenkins and Edelman are an OK set, if they can remain healthy.
Counting on rookie WR's is likely to lead to disappointment as it has for over a decade.

TIGHT END
one of the best groups in the league, once Gronk is healthy

RUNNING BACK
solid #1 and a fine committee of role players

OFFENSIVE LINE
probably the best in the nil, with players more healthy than last year (at least for now)

BOTTOM LINE
With a little luck in the health department (Gronk, Edelman and Amendola), this could still be a top 5 offense.

 

[Boomer B]

We don't need them to be a top 3 offense in the league. With Brady under centre and with the players they have they should be top 10, even possibly top 5. What I hope for is that the defense can make the jump this year and we become a more balanced team. There are a lot of ways to win games and it doesn't all have to fall on Brady/offense.

I'm also pretty optimistic in our new receivers and in the style of O that we'll run. We can go run heavy with 2 TE'swhich will open up play action and deep shots to Dobson. We can go 3 or 4 wide and I think Boyce can be a big play guy in the slot with Amendola.

There will be a learning curve and a few roadblocks to overcome early in the season, but we are still the best team in the division and will win the East. What I hope is that they enter the postseason running on all cylinders.

 

[mgteich]

IMHO, a top 10 offense isn't near enough to win the AFC, even given our improving defense.

We don't need them to be a top 3 offense in the league. With Brady under centre and with the players they have they should be top 10, even possibly top 5. What I hope for is that the defense can make the jump this year and we become a more balanced team. There are a lot of ways to win games and it doesn't all have to fall on Brady/offense.

I'm also pretty optimistic in our new receivers and in the style of O that we'll run. We can go run heavy with 2 TE'swhich will open up play action and deep shots to Dobson. We can go 3 or 4 wide and I think Boyce can be a big play guy in the slot with Amendola.

There will be a learning curve and a few roadblocks to overcome early in the season, but we are still the best team in the division and will win the East. What I hope is that they enter the postseason running on all cylinders.

 

[Boomer B]

IMHO, a top 10 offense isn't near enough to win the AFC, even given our improving defense.

Baltimore just won the Super Bowl with the 10th rated offense in the league, and a defense that was rated worse then the Patriots.

 

[tombonneau]

I think the two TE offense that was being run is done for 2013. It worked because of AHern. He was the straw that stirred the drink.

Unless they stumble upon another hybrid WR/TE in the mold and caliber of AHern, Jimmy Graham or Tony Gonzalez (good luck), the offense of the late few years IMO will be mutating.

 

[Claremonster]

I would think that the two tightend sets won't be deleted from the playbook. Maybe not used all of the time...but, BB/McD will use it somewhat.

 

[mgteich]

Oh, it can be done. BALT was in the right place at the right time with a couple of fluke plays,
Obviously, they should never have beaten Denver. So sure, any of the top teams could hit a streak of incredibly good luck and win the Super Bowl. If you are in the second season, you have a chance. As patriot fans, we want a bit more.

Baltimore just won the Super Bowl with the 10th rated offense in the league, and a defense that was rated worse then the Patriots.

 

[Patjew]

Worse.
.....

 

[PatsFanInVa]

it was last season -- yes, before we got this offseason's "bad news" on Gronk -- when I first dared to admit on here publicly that (face it,) Gronk is made of glass.

Love him when he's on the field, but you can't count on him, especially late in the season.

I ought to add that I wouldn't last one game playing the game the way he does. But that's not important. He's a burst weapon, and when he's out of ammo he takes a long time to reload (via surgery and rehab.)

No, he's not out for the season, he'll just get a late start. But um, he could have an early end to it too. Just accept it.

Next man up, and enjoy the Brady era. Someone will emerge as Tom Brady's favorite target, or more to the point, some combination of someones.

To those saying the run game is a product of the success of the pass, that's true of every successful run attack in the modern game unless you've got an Adrian Peterson or similar superstar caliber workhorse. Most pass attacks are also reliant on the possible change-up to the run. We've got good balance there once again, best we've had since Dillon.

Defense has been the main project the last couple years, so that's improved since its low water mark. I could see a pretty solid performance, maybe a top 1/3 of the league performance rather than a middle of the pack performance.

It's a year of crisis, and in every crisis is an opportunity. None of this stuff is good news, but the Pats have proven that when a guy goes down, they're able to compensate, even when that guy wears a 12 on his chest.

 

[ausbacker]

I'm guessing most people forgot what Tom Brady did with the 2006 Offense. If the Defense improves in 2013, the Offense will be the least of my concerns.

 

[supafly]

I expect it to take a month or so into the season before they fully are comfortable with everything they are doing in their respective roles, but that could have been said before--prior to the AH events. Belichick teams tend to experiment at times early on, and they learn from their mistakes + what works and what doesn't. It's just one of the reasons why they have such an excellent record down the stretch, post-Thanksgiving every year.

Belichick will address the issues and form a plan (probably several) to best use our players and their weapons.

The main choice may be whether or not to try and keep a primary offensive scheme using 2 TE's, or to choose to go back to more 3 WR sets--at least on obvious passing downs.

Even if they take a hit and go down a TD per game into something in the high 20's, they will still be very competitive. On top of that the defense's improvement can go a long way towards helping out too, especially if they can shave a couple of pts off of the average per game.