New England Patriots: 7 Burning Questions for the 2011 NFL Season
Talking about burning questions for the 2011 NFL season may be a bit premature since we're not even sure if there will be a season. There's cause for hope, however, with recent talks between the NFL and FKA NFLPA.
For all the success that the Patriots experienced last year, though, there are still plenty of questions surrounding the team. From rookies to veterans on offense and defense and everything in between, position battles will be won and lost, and those battles will contribute to the success of the team in 2011.
So it's clear that the answers to these questions are important—let's get right to them.
Erik Frenz is the co-host of the PatsPropaganda & Frenz podcast. Follow Erik on Twitter @erikfrenz.
Who Will Start at Left Tackle?
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I can't believe this is really a burning question, but after the Patriots drafted Nate Solder, it's legitimate. Not to mention, Matt Light's contract has expired and there are questions as to whether he'll even be back with the team next year.
Heck, Mark LeVoir has even entered the conversation, and ESPN Boston's Mike Reiss noted in a live chat yesterday that LeVoir was the starter at left tackle in the absence of Light and Solder during the Patriots' 40-players workouts at Boston College.
With 10 years under his belt, nine of which have been protecting Brady's blind side, it's hard to imagine life without Matt Light. It's a very real possibility, though, and could be just one of a few changes on the offensive line this offseason.
Who Will Start at Left Guard?
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Contrary to the previous slide, is anyone really surprised by this one?
Logan Mankins' contract debate has drawn out now almost two full years. Mankins has been franchise tagged, so, in theory, he is locked up for next year.
That depends on how the collective bargaining agreement pans out, though. That scenario certainly wouldn't make him very happy, either.
This situation is perhaps more pressing than at left tackle, where at least the Patriots have their long-term solution in the fold. Dan Connolly was a nice stop-gap last year, but who knows if the Patriots see him as a long-term answer at left guard.
Who Will Win the Battle for Playing Time in the Backfield?
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With two talented running backs drafted in the first three rounds of the 2011 NFL draft, the Patriots have clearly put a high premium on their offensive backfield as well.
The selections of California's Shane Vereen and LSU's Stevan Ridley had a lot of pundits scratching their heads, but the two picks remind me of the selection of tight ends Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski from last year. They may both play the same position, but they both feature their own skill set and figure to contribute in unique ways.
Oh, did I mention there are two proven backs already in the fold?
Yup, Danny Woodhead and BenJarvus Green-Ellis both return after a strong 2010 campaign. The two combined for 1,555 yards rushing and 2,019 total yards.
This figures to be one of the most versatile backfields in the NFL in 2011.
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Will the Return of Ty Warren and Mike Wright Improve the Pass Rush?
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The fans and analysts suffering from the pass-rush panic attack have probably forgotten that the Patriots' leading sacker was Mike Wright, who had 5.5 before going down in Week 11 with a concussion that kept him out for the rest of the season.
At least Wright made it that far. Ty Warren was placed on season-ending injured reserve with a hip injury before playing a single down in the 2010 season.
The impact of solid interior pass-rushers and space eaters on the defensive line is vastly underrated in terms of generating a pass rush. Their return could signify an improvement in this area.
Of course, if it doesn't, those pass-rush panic-attackers will be on high alert in the 2012 offseason.
Who Will Step Up at Outside Linebacker?
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I had to get to the outside linebackers eventually, right?
With names like Jermaine Cunningham, Eric Moore and Rob Ninkovich, it's no wonder fans aren't exactly impressed with the current crop of outside linebackers. There's also that whole thing about the Patriots' outside linebackers combining for just 12.5 sacks as a group.
But if Belichick's utter refusal to draft one of the top prospects in 2011 says anything, it's that he has confidence in those guys (at least more confidence than he had in any of the prospects in the draft).
Cunningham and Ninkovich both had strong 2010 campaigns, but their impact doesn't show up in the sack totals. Those two and Eric Moore should all benefit from their experiences of last year.
Now, if only they could get back to real practices with their coaches, maybe they'd all start making those strides toward a big leap in 2011.
Don't count out Markell Carter, either. The sixth-round pick has received a lot of praise from his coaches at Central Arkansas and could compete for some starting time.
How Will the Battle in the Secondary Shake Out?
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So many talented cornerbacks, so few starting spots. It's important to remember, though, that the third and fourth cornerbacks have essentially become incredibly relevant backups, if not starters in the pass-happy NFL.
This is especially true for the Patriots defense, which was in the sub package 57 percent of the time last year, featuring more than the standard two starting cornerbacks.
These factors (probably the former more than the latter) have contributed to Bill Belichick placing an extremely high premium on cornerbacks, especially in the draft.
And now, with names like Ras-I Dowling, Devin McCourty, Leigh Bodden, Kyle Arrington, Darius Butler and Jonathan Wilhite, all eyes will be on the cornerbacks in training camp (whenever that may be).
Are They the Team to Beat in the AFC East?
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After a 14-2 season, it's hard to believe the Patriots wouldn't be the team to beat. Enter the New York Jets and their 28-21 win in the playoffs last year, and suddenly things aren't so clear for the golden standard of the AFC East over the past decade.
It's still a two-horse race between the Patriots and Jets, but who will come out on top is anyone's guess.
That's why they play the games.
Your Thoughts?
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Are there any burning questions you have that I didn't get to?
What do you think the answers to some of these questions will be?
Let me know in the comments section below. Thanks for reading!
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