New England Patriots' '09 Roster Analysis: A Battle of Wits

This offseason, the New England Patriots added plenty of fresh talent to their roster. At recent minicamps, Super Bowl-hungry veterans stood next to rookie free agents, all determined to prove they belong. Here's a look at some of the positional battles that are sure to dominate headlines this summer in New England.

Outside Linebacker: Pierre Woods vs. Shawn Crable

This battle has already drawn plenty of attention from Patriots fans, and most of it hasn't been positive. When Jason Taylor spurned New England's advances, the team was left with a huge question mark at linebacker. Woods and Crable are two players most likely to fill that role.

Woods has more experience, with three starts last season. He totaled 18 tackles and one sack in those games, but showed flashes of promise. Against the Jets in Week 11, Woods had 11 tackles, a sack, and a tipped pass. He's also got four years of experience in Bill Belichick's defense, which could give him a head start in this battle.

Although Crable didn't play at all during the 2008 regular season, he had an impressive preseason. He accumulated 16 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and an interception. However, Crable's lower body strength is questionable. He may not be able to shed blocks and set an edge against the run.

In this battle, the edge goes to Woods, but with a caveat. There have been several trade rumors floating around New England involving Derrick Burgess and Greg Ellis. If Belichick isn't convinced that Woods or Crable can do the job, he won't hesitate to bring in a veteran starter.

Cornerback: Terrence Wheatley/Jonathan Wilhite vs. Shawn Springs/Leigh Bodden

This battle is a tag-team match pitting youth against experience. With Ellis Hobbs and Deltha O'Neal gone, New England will feature two new starting cornerbacks for the first time since 2005.

New England drafted Wheatley and Wilhite in the second and fourth rounds of the 2008 draft, respectively. The youngsters showed they could play in 2008, with Wheatley earning a starting job before injuring his wrist. Wilhite eventually took O'Neal's job and played well over the last four weeks.

However, their play wasn't impressive enough to prevent the signings of Springs and Bodden this offseason. At 34, Springs has seen just about everything from NFL offenses. He's cunning and knows how to bait quarterbacks into making bad throws.

Bodden enjoyed his best season with Cleveland in 2007, under former Patriots DC Romeo Crennel. Clearly, New England believes he can replicate that success in a similar defensive scheme.

At this point, it looks like Springs and Bodden will anchor the Patriots' defensive backfield in 2009. But Belichick's cornerback gambles don't always pan out. (If you're a Patriots fan, you only need to remember two words: Duane Starks.)

Athletic rookies Patrick Chung and Darius Butler could also push for playing time. Don't rule out a youth movement just yet.

Running Back: Fred Taylor vs. Sammy Morris vs. Laurence Maroney

Known primarily as a pass-heavy offense, New England actually enjoyed great success running the ball in 2008. Despite briefly handing the reins to undrafted rookie BenJarvus Green-Ellis, the team finished with 142.4 yards rushing per game last season. That total was good for sixth best in the NFL.

Not content with his stable of running backs, Bill Belichick signed veteran Fred Taylor to provide additional depth. Taylor suffered through an injury-plagued season in 2008, but averaged more than 1,200 yards per season from 2002-2007. Behind a strong offensive line, Taylor could approach that number again in 2009.

Despite starting only seven games last season, Sammy Morris rushed for 727 yards and seven touchdowns. He's a strong runner who hits holes quickly and never seems to get stopped for a loss. However, he's more suited to split carries, and his injury history suggests that he isn't capable of carrying the load for a full season.

The wild card in New England's backfield is former first-round pick Laurence Maroney. Maroney showed flashes of brilliance early in 2006 and late in 2007, but he's never been able to play with consistency, and hasn't gotten through a full season without injury.

There are smoke signals out of Foxborough that the team's patience with Maroney is wearing thin. If he can overcome a tendency to hesitate and the injury bug, he could produce big numbers in 2009. If not, he'll be looking for a job elsewhere.

The edge in this crowded competition goes to Taylor. He can run over defenders, break tackles, and has good open-field speed. He's also hungry to prove doubters wrong, and he should get the chance this season.

Wide Receiver: Joey Galloway vs. Greg Lewis

On paper, this battle looks like a big mismatch. Galloway and Lewis are the two main competitors for the vacant second receiver spot. However, there's no sure thing when training camp rolls around, so let's take a closer look.

Recent reports have clocked Galloway in the 4.4's in the 40-yard-dash. If his legendary speed has returned, he could drastically open up New England's offense. However, he's 38 years old and coming off a foot injury. Receivers make their living with cuts and jukes, so Galloway's foot must be 100 percent for him to succeed.

Lewis, underdog that he may be, has potential to surprise in 2009. He's only played 16 games once in his career, and he finished that season with 48 catches for nearly 600 yards.

Compare Lewis' stats to those of New England's former No. 2 receiver Jabar Gaffney. Gaffney averaged 37 catches and around 450 yards receiving in his two years starting for New England.

When faced with Galloway's uncertain health and Lewis' potential, the choice isn't so clear-cut. That's why I'm going with the underdog. Galloway could be an effective deep threat, but Lewis' precise routes and good hands make him a better option as the team's second receiver.

As training camp grows closer by the day, these positional battles will come into ever-sharper focus. By August, we'll have a pretty good idea of who came to play and who didn't. Until then, there are plenty of jobs for the taking in New England.