QUARTERBACK:
Tom Brady
Jimmy Garoppolo
Grade and Outlook: Brady is playing as well or even better than ever. At 38 years old he’s moving better in the pocket than he ever has and his pocket awareness has been top notch. His pre-snap reads are outstanding and his accuracy has been excellent.
He shows no signs of slowing down and his ability to command the offense has never been better. Brady’s numbers at the halfway point, he’s completed 225 of 328 passes for a 68.5 percent completion rate, 2709 yards for a 8.25 yards per attempt, 22 touchdowns and just two interceptions for a 113.4 passer rating which is tops in the NFL.
Jimmy G. has been relegated to just holding the clipboard and a few kneel downs at the end of games….which is a good thing. Grade: A – no shocker here.
RUNNING BACK:
Dion Lewis
LeGarrette Blount
James White
Brandon Bolden
Grade and Outlook: No one has surprised more than Lewis this season and he’s been a huge sparkplug for the offense coming out of the backfield. He’s been so elusive and hard to bring down that he’s brought an added dimension to the offense. But his injury on Sunday looks serious and the team will likely be without him for a long time if not for the remainder of the season.
Blount got the most work of the season on Sunday and responded with 29 carries for 129 yards and a touchdown. He has looked good behind what has been a patchwork offensive line so far.
White and Bolden have been relegated to spot duty but more than likely will see their roles increased now given the Lewis injury. Bolden filled in nicely Sunday and hauled in an 18-yard touchdown pass from Brady, his first of his career. Grade B+
WIDE RECEIVER:
Julian Edelman
Brandon LaFell
Danny Amendola
Keshawn Martin
Aaron Dobson
Grade and Outlook: Edelman and Amendola have picked right up where they left off in 2014 and have been excellent, dependable and productive WRs for Brady. LaFell started the season on PUP and has quickly found his rhythm with Brady and the offense. He had 5 catches for 102 yards against the Redskins.
Dobson and Martin have had spot duty and will probably be relegated to just that unless someone gets banged up down the stretch. Grade: B
TIGHT END (3)
Rob Gronkowski
Michael Williams
Scott Chandler
Grade and Outlook: Gronkowski has been his usual dominant, virtually un-coverable self and is arguably the offensive MVP thru the first half of the season. Williams has played more than Chandler which is somewhat of a surprise but given the state of flux in the offensive line…he may see even more duty there. Grade: A-
OFFENSIVE LINE:
OT Sebastian Vollmer
OT Marcus Cannon
OT Cameron Fleming
C David Andrews
C Bryan Stork
G Josh Kline
G Shaq Mason
G Tre’ Jackson
Grade and Outlook: This unit has been banged up and hurt more than any on the roster and still they keep performing at a high level. LT Nate Solder was lost for the season. So Marcus Cannon moved up from swing tackle to take his place. After he was injured Vollmer slid over from RT to fill in. He was injured on Sunday so Cameron Fleming, a PS player from a few weeks ago is now the starting left tackle.
Stork, fresh off IR-Return played RG as Jackson is also banged up as is Mason. Andrews has played every snap this season, the UDFA from Georgia has been a very pleasant surprise. Behind it all is the outstanding coaching of Dave DeGuglielmo who has done a magnificent job of preparing his players and moving them around seamlessly, which isn’t supposed to be done. Grade A-
Next up is the defense:
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A former US Army Special Forces NCO and Officer, Steve has been following the Patriots since their days at Fenway Park. Steve has worked in the film industry and wrote as an Military Editor at SpecialOperations.com, 1945.com as a reporter for the Millbury Daily Voice, Millbury-Sutton Chronicle, and the Grafton News. He's also a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA)
