2013 NFL Preview: New England Patriots

Added on Jul 22, 2013 by Scott in

NFL

Drama is not a word Bill Belichick likes to hear muttered around Patriots headquarters, but it’s been a constant since the 2012 season came to an end sans another Super Bowl title. Even before the Aaron Hernandez saga reared its ugly head, the normally sedate Pats were dealing with issues involving Rob Gronkowski’s spate of surgeries and a lack of big ticket free agents coming to town. Could this be the year that Belichick’s Boys are vulnerable in the AFC East? Let’s take a look.

New England Patriots

Tom Brady is, well, Tom Brady. So, most pundits believe he’ll be a-okay without longtime security blanket Wes Welker manning the slot. This might be true if Hernandez weren’t sitting in a jail cell and Gronkowski wasn’t recovering from arm and back surgeries. Danny Amendola is a nice addition, but he’s not Welker. In four seasons, he’s never eclipsed 700 yards receiving and has scored a total of seven touchdowns. Those numbers will obviously improve with Brady, although expecting a herculean jump is premature. On defense, they are young and improving. Players like Chandler Jones, Dont’a Hightower and Kyle Arrington must raise their games to vault the unit into the upper echelon.

Player in the spotlight: Rob Gronkowski – Unless Lavelle Hawkins or rookie Aaron Dobson suddenly morphs into A.J. Green, Gronk is the only legitimate downfield threat. Considering he is not the picture of health, that’s not great news for the offense. Defenses are likely to key on Gronkowski until another player proves dangerous enough to draw coverage away. Brady is known to work wonders, but #87 might have a difficult time running free in 2013, especially if his arm and/or back flares up.

Trouble spot: Wide Receiver – Losing Welker and Brandon Lloyd means 292 receptions, 2265 yards and 10 touchdowns, not to mention Hernandez’s 51 catches and five scores. Filling the void are Amendola, rookies, and a bunch of outcasts from other teams. The Pats are equipped to ground and pound with Stevan Ridley, Shane Vareen and LeGarrette Blount, and may have to if the receiving corps underwhelms. There’s only so much magic that Brady can conjure.

Fearless forecast – The AFC East is still dysfunctional, so the Pats are and should be the favorites to win a fifth consecutive division crown. That said, this roster doesn’t appear to be of the dominant variety. Ten wins might be all Belichick is capable of mustering.