Thanks to the Patriots' Loaded Running Game, Josh McDaniels Won't Be Missed

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Fresh legs

Although the Patriots were loaded at running back last year, they had a great deal of injuries to cope with. Sammy Morris, LaMont Jordan, and Laurence Maroney all missed extended time, and Kevin Faulk even missed a few games. 

This gave undrafted rookie BenJarvus Green-Ellis a chance to shine. 

This season, the Patriots hopefully won't have to deal with the same number of injuries as they did last year. 

Thanks to their depth, they can switch personnel whenever they want and get a pair of fresh legs in the game. This will keep the defense on its toes, as well as give the Patriots' RBs some much-needed rest. 

I think that as creative as the Patriots were in the passing game the last few years, they can be just as creative thanks to their unmatched depth in the backfield.

The Return of Tom Brady

You're probably saying to yourself, "How can Brady help the running game? Won't he have a bigger impact on the air attack?" 

Obviously yes, but with the possibility of Brady being held out of preseason action, it is of the utmost importance that Brady is not rushed back prematurely. 

Recovering from a brutal knee injury, I see the Pats using a more conservative attack in their first few games, running to set up the pass and keeping defenses guessing. Brady's pass attempts per game will decrease, at least early on, and the Patriots' play callers will ease him back into the offense. 

Sure, his numbers will rank among the league's best by week 17, but thanks to the depth at running back, he doesn't have to be Superman right away.

The Patriots' offensive playbook will be wide open this year, but with the loss of the flashy McDaniels, I envision a more conservative approach early on. 

This also has benefits on the other side of the ball, as a team that can run the ball effectively can both take control of the clock and keep its defense on the sideline. 

The Patriots defense has been the only question mark over the last few years, and with a revamped and relatively inexperienced defensive backfield, staying off the field could help the team control the pace of the game. 

In the long run, I think that Brady will have another All-Pro season, but this year, given the departure of McDaniels and the depth at running back, the offense could have a different philosophy.

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