Predicting the Winner of the New England Patriots' Biggest Training Camp Battles

Just because the New England Patriots are defending Super Bowl champions does not mean they are exempt from the same issues that surround any other NFL team.

The Patriots have had to deal with some turnover on their roster, but they are usually able to brush it off by plugging a new cog into their machine. At some point, though, the losses will be more than just a flesh wound. 

For now, though, the Patriots can't worry about whether that time has come. All they can worry about is fielding the best team possible for the 2015 season with the hand they've dealt themselves. While that hand is weaker in some spots, it is notably stronger in others.

That shift in balance at certain positions will be noticeable in the training camp competitions. Last year's backups will compete to become this year's starters, and last year's starters will try to prove that they're not slipping into backup duties just yet.

Here are some early predictions on who could win each of the key battles on the Patriots roster.

Starting Left and Right Guard

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Rookie guard Tre' Jackson (above) could be a starter for the Patriots in a changing offensive line.

Winners: Tre' Jackson, Ryan Wendell

The Patriots faced significant issues at the offensive line positions last season, but that didn't stop them from making more changes to the front line this past offseason. The departure of veteran Dan Connolly and the arrivals of rookies Tre' Jackson and Shaq Mason have opened the doors for a figurative and literal changing of the guard. 

Jackson and Mason are far from the only two men competing to start on the Patriots offensive line, though. The two will have to stave off efforts from veterans Ryan Wendell and Josh Kline, as well as backup Caylin Hauptmann and even tackles Marcus Cannon and Cameron Fleming, who could also be in the mix at guard.

In the end, Cannon and Fleming are probably at their best as sixth- and seventh-wheel pieces on the offensive line who can come in when the team needs to either set up a jumbo package or to rotate someone else off the field. The Patriots' best bet may be to roll with a rookie and a veteran at the guard spots, with Jackson and Wendell winning out to start the season. 

That being said, expect the Patriots to give everyone every chance to take Wendell's spot; the Patriots could save $1.55 million by cutting Wendell this offseason.

Backup Defensive End/Outside Linebacker

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ORCHARD PARK, NY - NOVEMBER 30: Jabaal Sheard #97 of the Cleveland Browns puts on his helmet as he warms up before the start of NFL game action against the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium on November 30, 2014 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Tom

Winners: Jabaal Sheard, Geneo Grissom, Trey Flowers

Chandler Jones and Rob Ninkovich have been the Patriots' starting edge defenders for the past three years, whether they have lined up at 4-3 defensive end or 3-4 outside linebacker. 

But for the past two years, the Patriots have not had enough depth to supplement the snaps of Jones and Ninkovich. Both men have been run into the ground and were the No. 1 and 2 defensive ends in the entire NFL in snaps in 2013, according to Pro Football Focus. 

This year, the Patriots aren't taking the same chance. They've called in some reinforcements in the likes of Jabaal Sheard, Geneo Grissom, Trey Flowers and Xzavier Dickson to comprise a competition for backup spots. 

Sheard is a versatile edge defender, much like Jones and Ninkovich, and can line up as either a 4-3 defensive end or as a 3-4 outside linebacker, though he is better in the former role than the latter. He was considered a fit for the Patriots in the 2011 NFL draft, when he entered the league, and four years later, he has made his way to a Patriots team that still needs his services. 

Grissom is also a versatile front-seven defender who has lined up at nearly every position there is to offer: 4-3 defensive end and defensive tackle, 3-4 defensive end and outside linebacker. His versatility doesn't stop there, though, as he also offers value on special teams. The Patriots wouldn't have drafted him in the third round if they didn't think he would make the team in 2015. 

The battle will probably come down to Flowers and Dickson. The winner should be the defender with the most upside on special teams, since that will comprise a majority of their role as a rookie and until there's some attrition on the roster. Flowers has more upside both on special teams and defense, but Dickson could make a push for the roster with his ability to cover kicks and punts.

Wide Receiver

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All eyes will be on wide receiver Aaron Dobson (middle) to finally stay healthy and build on his rookie campaign.

Winners: Brian Tyms, Aaron Dobson

Brandon LaFell, Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola are all locked in as starting wide receivers in the Patriots offense. Matthew Slater will be the wide receiver-in-name-only, as he is every year, and he will star on special teams as the gunner. The backup spots will be hotly battled by everyone else. 

That means Aaron Dobson, Brian Tyms, Brandon Gibson, Josh Boyce and Jonathan Krause will all do battle over two spots, at the most. Dobson and Tyms are the obvious choices as front-runners in this battle due to their experience in the system as well as their performances this spring, which were both solid. 

Gibson, Boyce and Krause were all given chances to make their own noise, too, with each getting opportunities to catch passes from both Tom Brady and Jimmy Garoppolo. Boyce and Krause also earned reps on special teams as returners and cover men. Gibson had a down year in 2014, making only 29 catches for 295 yards and one touchdown, but he is now two years removed from a season-ending ACL tear and should be fully healthy. Krause was on and off the practice squad last year, and he is still a strong practice squad candidate for his return ability. 

That means the battle will probably come down to Tyms, Dobson, Gibson and Boyce. Dobson's status as a second-round pick doesn't mean anything to the Patriots; they've moved on from former second-round picks without a second thought in the past (see Ras-I Dowling, Terrence Wheatley, Darius Butler), but Dobson has shown great potential in the Patriots offense and deserves another chance to stay healthy. Tyms has a lot of physical potential, and he's been spotted on special teams this spring for the first time in memory.

Backup Linebacker

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Linebacker Dane Fletcher (52, above) was a valuable backup in his previous stint with the Patriots; could he resume that role in his second go-around?

Winners: Dane Fletcher, James Morris, Matt Wells

There's no concern in New England over who will be the starting linebackers. If healthy, the trio of Dont'a Hightower, Jerod Mayo and Jamie Collins are more than good enough to get the job done at those three (or two) positions. 

It's the backup spots where the big questions begin, because there's a possibility that one or two of New England's starting linebackers may not be ready to roll for the beginning of training camp and/or the regular season. 

That's where names like Dane Fletcher, James Morris, Matt Wells, Jonathan Freeny and Darius Fleming will all become increasingly important. Fletcher has more knowledge of the Patriots defense than anyone else on the list, and he offers special teams value, so while his roster spot is not guaranteed, it is much closer to locked down than anyone else's. That's also true thanks to his ability to fill in at middle linebacker, where Hightower's availability is still in question.

James Morris was on his way to making a surprise bid for the 53-man roster last summer until an ankle injury ended his season. He was one of the top linebackers getting opportunities with Hightower and Mayo both absent from practice this spring, and he has already shown his ability on special teams in covering kicks and punts.

Wells, Freeny and Fleming could compete for the final spot. If it's all about the best option, the job could go to Wells. He was targeted 43 times and allowed 21 catches for 212 yards with six pass breakups, according to Pro Football Focus.

While Wells has more potential upside and fills a niche need as a backup coverage linebacker, he also has eligibility for the practice squad that the other two do not have: Fleming enters his fourth year in the NFL and Freeny enters his fifth. That could mean Wells lands on the practice squad to make room for more depth at the position while Fleming and Freeny fight it out for the potential sixth spot. 

Cornerback

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Aug 7, 2014; Landover, MD, USA; New England Patriots defensive back Daxton Swanson (35) warms up prior to the Patriots game against the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Just because the New England Patriots are defending Super Bowl champions does not mean they are exempt from the same issues that surround any other NFL team.

The Patriots have had to deal with some turnover on their roster, but they are usually able to brush it off by plugging a new cog into their machine. At some point, though, the losses will be more than just a flesh wound. 

For now, though, the Patriots can't worry about whether that time has come. All they can worry about is fielding the best team possible for the 2015 season with the hand they've dealt themselves. While that hand is weaker in some spots, it is notably stronger in others.

That shift in balance at certain positions will be noticeable in the training camp competitions. Last year's backups will compete to become this year's starters, and last year's starters will try to prove that they're not slipping into backup duties just yet.

Here are some early predictions on who could win each of the key battles on the Patriots' roster.