Predicting New England Patriots' Training-Camp Standouts

Just because the New England Patriots were Super Bowl champions, does not mean they are without any questions or concerns headed into training camp.

Quite the contrary. If you're not getting better, you're getting worse. What's better than winning the Super Bowl? Winning it again the very next year. 

The Patriots are never ones to get that far ahead of themselves, though. You'll never hear a peep out of Gillette Stadium about the prospects of the team hoisting its fifth Lombardi Trophy in the past 15 years to cap off the greatest run any head coach, quarterback, franchise or its owner have ever seen. 

Besides, there's still a whole summer's worth of training-camp battles that need to take place before any of that happens. Through those battles, the Patriots hope to find the answers to the aforementioned questions. 

These are some of the players who could provide those answers.

Jabaal Sheard

David Richard/Associated Press

Outside linebacker Jabaal Sheard (97, middle) will find ways to make an impact in his first year with the Patriots.

The Patriots have needed depth at outside linebacker for years, and with the addition of veteran Jabaal Sheard, they may have found the perfect fit for their defense. In fact, they may have taken it a step too far—Sheard may not be depth at all, but instead, he may challenge for a starting spot.

The 6'3", 260-pound edge defender has experience in a 3-4 and a 4-3 front, which will serve him well under Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, who has been known to switch up schemes like "Macho Man" Randy Savage switched up ring attire. Sheard was more productive in a 4-3 (15.5 sacks from 2011-12) than he was as a linebacker in a 3-4 (7.5 sacks from 2013-14), but he at least has an understanding of his role in both schemes.

Sheard could be competing with Rob Ninkovich for starting duties in the defense. Ninkovich has played more snaps than any other defensive lineman in the NFL over the past two seasons, according to Pro Football Focus. If nothing else, Sheard will supplement Ninkovich's snaps and could come onto the field in passing situations to rush the quarterback.

That being said, Sheard has shown the ability to be productive if given a full-time job on defense. Don't expect him to go down the depth chart without a fight.

Brian Tyms and Aaron Dobson

Associated Press

Wide receiver Brian Tyms (above) enters his second season with the Patriots and could push for playing time.

With Brandon LaFell, Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola, the Patriots have a trio of wide receivers that they can consistently trot out in spread formations. The only criticism of the group is that aside from LaFell, the Patriots don't have a lot of size in their top three.

That's where Brian Tyms and Aaron Dobson come in. The two receivers belong in the same slide because they can both provide the same thing: a capable deep threat with the size to win one-on-one matchups on the boundary and the ball skills to go up and take passes away from opposing cornerbacks.

Neither man had much of a chance to put their skills to use in 2014 for different reasons. Tyms was an afterthought after returning from suspension; he only earned more than 20 snaps in one game last season, according to Pro Football Focus, and it was the meaningless season finale against the Buffalo Bills.

Dobson, on the other hand, found himself a healthy scratch for several games in 2014; when he finally earned his shot to play, he injured his hamstring and finished the season on injured reserve.

For Dobson, this could be a make-or-break season—and subsequently, a make-or-break training camp. He'll be competing with the likes of Brandon Gibson, Jonathan Krause and Josh Boyce for a roster spot, and all three of those receivers have exhibited some sort of value on special teams.

Tyms is also beginning to show value in that respect and stepped in as the gunner on punt coverage this spring, while Matthew Slater was out of practice. 

Tyms took advantage of his opportunities, both on special teams and on offense. Aside from one off day where he had a few drops, Tyms was all over the field making leaping, diving catches, adjusting to poorly thrown passes in flight and generally showing all the skills a team wants to see in its boundary receivers.

Scott Chandler

Stephan Savoia/Associated Press

Rob Gronkowski is usually the tight end standing out at practice, but Scott Chandler (above) will get opportunities to do the same.

Almost daily, folks in attendance at Patriots training camp will see some sort of amazing play by tight end Rob Gronkowski. Those same folks will have to keep track of jersey numbers this summer, though, because there will be not one but two big-bodied pass-catching tight ends making plays for the Patriots. 

Scott Chandler signed with the team as a free agent this spring, and with his arrival comes the potential return of a two-tight end attack on offense. The Patriots employed that strategy with great success when Gronkowski was paired with Aaron Hernandez. Ever since the latter was arrested on murder charges, though, the Patriots have not had anyone reliable enough to plug in with Gronkowski on an every-snap basis.

Chandler could be that guy. The 6'7", 260-pound tight end has played no fewer than 750 snaps in any of the past three seasons, according to Pro Football Focus. He's not the most dominant blocker in the game, particularly for a man of his size, but if he can learn to play with leverage and manhandle linebackers at the second level, he could be an asset for the Patriots' running game.

He's also been a very reliable receiver, dropping only 14 of 153 catchable balls thrown his way over the past three seasons, according to Pro Football Focus. If nothing else, his sure hands and size will make him a consistent playmaker and a sight to behold in the red zone.

Malcom Brown

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Rookie Malcom Brown (above) should be prominently featured on the Patriots defensive line.

A little scheme versatility goes a long way to making an early impact in the Patriots defense. Rookie lineman Malcom Brown has the size, strength and agility to line up at multiple spots: defensive end or nose tackle in a 3-4 and defensive tackle in a 4-3. He can split gaps as a pass-rusher or hold multiple gaps as a run-stuffer. 

So why will he stand out? If nothing else, for his ability to play all over the line. However, several of Brown's reports lauded the rookie for a tremendous level of athleticism. CBS Sports' Dane Brugler and Rob Rang commented that Brown was "frequently among the quickest off the ball, showing the ability to penetrate and create havoc on behind the line of scrimmage." 

He's not just quick, though, as you'd expect from a 6'2", 319-pound man. NFL.com's Lance Zierlein said Brown "began to impose his will more frequently late in the season" while adding that he "flashes power and control in his hands."

Brown will be competing with Sealver Siliga, Dominique Easley, Chris Jones and Alan Branch for playing time, but it's safe to bet that Brown will finish in the top three at the end of training camp. Who knows exactly what the Patriots have in store for Brown in his rookie season, but it's a safe bet that whatever it is, it won't see him spending too much time on the bench.

Daxton Swanson

Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Cornerback Daxton Swanson (35, above) showed a lot of potential in spring practices over the past two years.

No team hopes that their practice-squad players will stay on the practice squad forever. The hope is that those players can eventually develop the necessary skills—whether physical or mental skills—to make it to the starting lineup. 

For Daxton Swanson, those hopes may finally come true. The young cornerback has flashed big-play potential the past two years in spring practices. Last year, those flashes did not translate to training camp; he was buried in a competition among veteran talent that had already carved out their roster spots. This year, with almost all of last year's cornerbacks gone, Swanson has another opportunity to make the cut.

Logan Ryan and Malcolm Butler appear to be the front-runners for the starting jobs at cornerback, but that doesn't mean Swanson can't make an impact in the first-team defense. He only needs to beat out veterans Bradley Fletcher and/or Robert McClain to land in the third or fourth spot on the depth chart. 

If Swanson can continue to make plays on the ball the way he did this spring, it will be hard to ignore his prospects of making an impact for the Patriots in 2015.

Unless otherwise noted, all practice notes obtained firsthand. All advanced statistics provided by Pro Football Focus.