Top 25 players essential to the New England Patriots' 2013 success

[jmt57]

Agree, disagree with these rankings?



Top 25 players essential to New England Patriots' 2013 success: 21-25 | masslive.com

• 25. CB Ras-I Dowling
• 24. RB Leon Washington
• 23. WR Julian Edelman
• 22. S Tavon Wilson and S Adrian Wilson
• 21. C Ryan Wendell

22. S Tavon Wilson and S Adrian Wilson
Given Steve Gregory’s struggles with making tackles last season, the Patriots are hoping that second-year player Tavon Wilson and free-agent signee Adrian Wilson will step up and solidify the spot next to Devin McCourty. Tavon Wilson still remains a bit of a mystery after being used sparingly last season, but Adrian Wilson could be one of the more interesting players on the roster. Given his size (6-foot-3, 230 pounds) and coverage skills, it’s possible that he could serve as the coverage linebacker the team lacked last season, a role he fulfilled at times during last month’s minicamp.​

 

[jmt57]

Top 25 players essential to New England Patriots' 2013 success: 16-20 | masslive.com

• 20. CB Kyle Arrington
• 19. TBD No. 3 WR
• 18. LB Dont'a Hightower
• 17. RB Shane Vereen
• 16. LG Logan Mankins

20. CB Kyle Arrington
Arrington’s snaps took a hit after the Patriots acquired Aqib Talib last season, but he became a more effective role serving as the team’s slot cornerback, where he was asked to cover a more confined space rather than chase a wide receiver down the field. Arrington’s at his best when he can keep his man close and doesn’t have to worry about turning his head to look for the ball. The New England secondary will benefit by having him in that role throughout the 2013 season.​

 

[jmt57]

Top 25 players essential to New England Patriots' 2013 success: 11-15 | masslive.com

• 15. DE Rob Ninkovich
• 14. CB Alfonzo Dennard
• 13. TBD Outside Receiver
• 12. RT Sebastian Vollmer
• 11. LB Brandon Spikes

11. LB Brandon Spikes
The man who brings the edge to New England’s defense, Spikes continued to build on his reputation as being one of the best run-stopping linebackers in the NFL during the 2012 season. His pass coverage still need some work, but Spikes spent his offseason working in Florida with the hope of improving his game. Entering the final year of his contract, proving serviceable in passing situation should help him find the payday he desires.​

 

[jmt57]

Top 25 players essential to New England Patriots' 2013 success: 6-10 | masslive.com

• 10. CB Aqib Talib
• 9. RB Stevan Ridley
• 8. LB Jerod Mayo
• 7. LT Nate Solder
• 6. S Devin McCourty

10. CB Aqib Talib
After suffering through years of dreadful pass defense, Talib was anointed as the savior for helping push the secondary toward respectability after arriving in a midseason trade. While it’s true that he is New England’s most talented cornerback, he wasn’t without fault and was merely average most weeks. But even though he is not infallible, a case could be made that he should rate higher in a list of players most essential to New England’s success.​

 

[jmt57]

Top 25 players essential to New England Patriots' 2013 success: 1-5 | masslive.com

• 5. DE Chandler Jones
• 4. WR Danny Amendola
• 3. TE Rob Gronkowski
• 2. DT Vince Wilfork
• 1. QB Tom Brady

5. DE Chandler Jones
Jones appeared a lock for the defensive rookie of the year award last season after recording six sacks during the first half of the season, but was slowed during the second half after suffering an ankle injury. Based on the potential he showed early on, many believe that he could make the leap this year and emerge as of the NFL’s preeminent pass rushers. That would be a welcome development for a defense that has been searching for such a player for a number of years.​

 

[Brady6]

Pretty much spot on. Nicely done!

If I was to offer an edit it would probably be to swap Spikes and Hightower. Or at least that's my hope. Wouldn't mind seeing Kelly in the list maybe replacing a guy like Washington.

Excellent thread idea!!

 

[jmt57]

A few thoughts:

• The first four are obvious; I'm wondering if Devin McCourty should be number five
  
  
• The yet to be determined WR could be ranked higher, somewhere in the top ten
  
  
• The TE TBD (i.e., not named Gronk) should be on the list somewhere
  
  
• I would place Adrian Wilson higher than a shared ranking of #22
  
  
• I would place a TBD DT (Armstead, Kelly) on the list rather than some of those such as Leon Washington that are in the 21-25 group.

 

[manxman2601]

Pretty much spot on. Nicely done!

If I was to offer an edit it would probably be to swap Spikes and Hightower. Or at least that's my hope. Wouldn't mind seeing Kelly in the list maybe replacing a guy like Washington.

Excellent thread idea!!

My first thought was that Hightower should be higher too. If the weakness from our linebackers was pass defence, it strikes me that it's Hightower and not Spikes that will need to step up and plug that particular hole.

A few thoughts:

• The first four are obvious; I'm wondering if Devin McCourty should be number five
  
  
• The yet to be determined WR could be ranked higher, somewhere in the top ten
  
  
• The TE TBD (i.e., not named Gronk) should be on the list somewhere
  
  
• I would place Adrian Wilson higher than a shared ranking of #22
  
  
• I would place a TBD DT (Armstead, Kelly) on the list rather than some of those such as Leon Washington that are in the 21-25 group.

Agreed, particularly on the DTs. The absence of our first draft pick is a notable omission. In most circumstances, I'd think a team would be their #1 pick in the draft would be one of the 25 most important players the following season

 

[NEPettyOfficer72]

Mark my words, I believe Julian Edelman will have a breakout year and become a megastar. :rocker:

 

[Kontradiction]

Mark my words, I believe Julian Edelman will have a breakout year and become a megastar. :rocker:

I marked those words (from other posters) in 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012.

 

[NEPettyOfficer72]

I marked those words (from other posters) in 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012.

Don't forget to mark mine too, this is it, I believe in this kid. There has been comparisons to him and Troy Brown in an article, and that Brown did not breakout until his eighth season. So why can't Julian do it in year 5? Every single thing is in place for it to happen.