The 5 Biggest Issues Facing New England Patriots with OTAs Wrapped
Now that the New England Patriots have closed shop on organized team activities (OTAs), and with mandatory minicamp kicking off in just a few days, the complexion of the roster is starting to take shape.
The key word is "starting."
Nothing is set in stone, and the Patriots are nowhere near where they need to be when the 2015 season kicks off, but these important stages of the workout program have allowed them to get a rough idea of what they're working with for the next three months before the season begins.
That being said, they're also getting a feel for their biggest issues, and while they will work out some of those issues sooner than others, all of them bear their own level of attention.
Who Starts at Cornerback?
1 of 5
The Patriots could not have expected to come out of organized team activities with any level of clarity as to who would be starting at cornerback. Any hope of that was dashed when Malcolm Butler missed the first three weeks of practice after showing up late for the first practice of the year due to inclement weather, according to Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald.
Not that a padless, walkthrough-paced practice is any kind of proving ground for the cornerback position, anyway. Sure, it's a good time to show the coaches that you can play with proper technique and can execute a scheme, but with such a limited framework, no one is locking up a starting spot in May and June.
Thus, we continue to wonder who will start at cornerback after the departures of Darrelle Revis, Brandon Browner, Kyle Arrington and Alfonzo Dennard. The starting jobs could go to any combination of Butler, Logan Ryan, Bradley Fletcher, Robert McClain and a host of rookies and backups.
Based on the Patriots' recent heavy implementation of the sub-package (three or more cornerbacks on the field at a time), we could even see a lot of cornerbacks who aren't considered starters.
Who Starts at Left and Right Guard?
2 of 5
When the Patriots offense got off to a turbulent start in 2014, the offensive line got the most blame (aside from the quarterback position). Once the team settled in on a starting group rather than rotating in and out of one turnstile after another, the offense finally began to click.
You'd think, with recent evidence of the importance of cohesion on the offensive line, the Patriots would place a premium on maintaining some stability up front. That's not how it went down, though, as they opted not to bring back free-agent guard Dan Connolly.
Now, it appears both starting guard jobs could be up for grabs. Last year's starting right guard Ryan Wendell has been missing from practices to this point, so both spots have seen a number of faces, with Caylin Hauptmann, Cameron Fleming, Marcus Cannon, Tre’ Jackson and Shaq Mason all getting turns.
As mentioned at cornerback, the Patriots were never going to get any answers to these questions during OTAs, when there are no pads and hitting and everything is still at a walkthrough pace, but finding an answer should be at or near the top of the Patriots' to-do list.
Will Tom Brady Be Available Week 1?
3 of 5
The availability of No. 12 should be the Patriots' No. 1 concern in 2015.
With Tom Brady's appeal date set for June 23, the Patriots will know sooner than later whether the face of the franchise for the past 14 years will be available for the first four games of this year. By then, though, they will have already held their mandatory minicamp, and training camp will be the only remaining opportunity to get Jimmy Garoppolo those all-important first-team snaps.
He got some minutes in garbage time of a blowout loss to the Kansas City Chiefs and again at the end of the 2014 regular-season finale against the Buffalo Bills. He had flashes of brilliance, as he has in practices throughout his tenure, but a five-interception performance in a recent practice set off some red flags.
Two things: (1) it was practice, and (2) several of those interceptions were circumstantial (bobbled passes that could have been caught, great plays by a defender). That being said, there will be concern if Garoppolo has to start, even if he looks incredible in the offseason workout program from here on out.
The remainder of this offseason will be interesting, if only for the development of Brady's suspension and what it means for the Patriots.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
What's the Pecking Order at Running Back?
4 of 5
LeGarrette Blount, Jonas Gray, James White, Travaris Cadet, Tyler Gaffney and Brandon Bolden are all competing for four or five spots on the roster. That means that (unless the Patriots are able to sneak someone onto their practice squad), there will be at least one, maybe two well-known and talented running backs available on the open market between now and training camp.
Even after the Patriots trim out the bottom of the depth chart, there will still be some question marks at the top.
It seems that the No. 1 running back spot is Blount's to lose. The five-year veteran finished out the 2014 season as the lead back in the Patriots offense, and he was earning most of those opportunities at OTAs. He may not be the savviest back on passing downs, but he's lost some weight and looks ready to compete for snaps on third downs as well. Behind Blount, the Patriots have Gray and Bolden as their top options for the tough yards between the tackles.
In the scatback role, the Patriots could turn to any one or a combination of White, Cadet and Gaffney. White took a redshirt year as a rookie in 2014, Cadet was productive for the New Orleans Saints as a passing-down back, and Gaffney spent all of his rookie year on injured reserve. With that, it looks as if the top spot in that role is Cadet's to lose.
But, as is the case at every position, only time will tell, and a lot can change between now and the final preseason game.
What Will the Front Seven Look Like?
5 of 5
It's a question we must ask every year. The Patriots are always changing up their look, strategy and personnel—their everything in the front seven. In 2015, things figure to be more of the same—more change.
With Vince Wilfork gone, the Patriots lost a true nose tackle to execute their 3-4 scheme but also a versatile player who lines up everywhere on the defensive line and served as a leader. Sealver Siliga could fill in at nose tackle and as a defensive tackle in the 4-3, but those spots will be heavily sought after. Dominique Easley and rookie Malcom Brown could compete for snaps in both fronts, as could veterans Alan Branch and Chris Jones.
On the end, there are even more question marks.
Chandler Jones and Rob Ninkovich should be the starters, and veteran Jabaal Sheard should also work into the mix, but rookies like Geneo Grissom, Trey Flowers and Xzavier Dickson could compete for snaps as well. It will all depend on whether the Patriots are in a 3-4 or a 4-3 and on whose opportunities will get trimmed to get those players on the field.
And that doesn't even address the linebacker spot. Jamie Collins, Jerod Mayo and Dont'a Hightower all have a claim to a major role on the defense, and all three can get on the field in the 4-3, but it could get tricky in the 3-4. It will all unfold from week to week, series to series and even play to play during the regular season, but it's a storyline that bears watching as we work our way through the offseason workout program.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.png?w=480)
