Identifying Potential Breakout Players for the New England Patriots' 2012 Season

The New England Patriots have a system that doesn't ask their rookies to contribute right away. With that comes the possibility for several players to break out in 2012.

When the team let running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis walk away in free agency, they embraced a backfield that features untested youth at the forefront of the depth chart. What can the Patriots expect out of the youngsters?

The table is set on defense with several young players entering what should be big years, and with a full offseason program, a few players could turn heads.

Who could break out for New England this season?

Ras-I Dowling

Hopefully Ras-I can avoid becoming "Ras-IR" in 2012. The 2011 rookie defensive back missed much of training camp with an injury but looked good in the first game of the season against the Dolphins, breaking up a goal-line touchdown pass for Brandon Marshall (pictured).

But after two games, he was put on injured reserve, and the Patriots' secondary sorely missed his presence.

He has had a hard time staying healthy throughout his career and according to Pro Football Weekly's pre-draft scouting report, has missed games in every season dating all the way back to his junior year in high school. Hopes for a breakout season should be tempered by his medical rap sheet.

If he can stay healthy, though, Dowling could be a big part of a deep secondary.

Stevan Ridley

Stevan Ridley wasn't given much of a chance to break out in 2011, carrying the ball just 87 times. It didn't help that he fumbled twice down the stretch, in Week 17 against the Bills and in the divisional round of the playoffs against the Broncos.

But Ridley had enough flashes of brilliance to instill the confidence in him that allowed the Patriots to part ways with BenJarvus Green-Ellis. 

The opportunities may not be abundant for Ridley in what will likely be a pass-happy offense under Josh McDaniels, but Ridley's underrated explosiveness (5.1 yards per carry in 2011, 4.6 yards per carry and 1,000 yards rushing at LSU in 2010) gives him the potential to break out in 2012.

Brandon Spikes

Brandon Spikes has been the object of my affection in the past, and while the draft selection of Dont'a Hightower has cast some doubt on Spikes' future with the team and his role in the defense, there's always room for a player who's as intimately familiar with Belichick's schemes as Spikes is.

What's more, the former Gators All-American linebacker has shown his worth in both the 3-4 and the 4-3 for the Patriots. While he remains primarily a two-down linebacker as of yet, he'll be utilized more to his strengths now that Hightower is in the fold.

A unit that is in flux will need a vocal and emotional leader, and Spikes has proven his worth in that role over the past two years.

Shane Vereen

After missing much of 2011 as a redshirt rookie, Shane Vereen likely won't be asked to take on a lion's share of the load, but even in minimal opportunities, he could break out.

He averaged five yards per carry in each of his three seasons at California and showed his versatility in catching 74 career passes in college. He totaled 30 touchdowns rushing and receiving in his final two years at Cal. 

We've seen slow development spell doom for youngsters in the Patriots system in the past (see Price, Taylor), but Vereen is at his best working the perimeter of the field. The Patriots could definitely find ways to utilize him in that role, especially if they get back to running a lot of screens as they have in the past under McDaniels. 

Expectations are low for Vereen, but the sky is the limit for him in 2012—that is, if he doesn't drown in the depth chart.

Kyle Love

Kyle Love played a much bigger role than would have been expected, participating in 51.4 percent of the defensive snaps according to stats website Pro Football Focus. Even more impressive was his effectiveness on such a high number of snaps.

The Patriots will be hoping to get as much or possibly even more out of Love this season, and he could deliver for them if his career trajectory continues as it has thus far.

His ability to dominate as a two-gap defensive tackle may go overlooked, but he can still have a big impact on the defense as a whole simply by doing his job and taking up two blockers, as he has done for the Patriots since he joined the team in 2010.

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