If you’re like me you’ve been on Patriots overload the last few days, taking in all the reports, pictures and videos. So what can we tell so far about the 2010 Patriots? Let’s run it all down.
OFFENSE
It’s a good bet that Wes Welker will be back for the opener. That’s great news of course, but even better news is that it sounds like the 2010 Patriots have added four young weapons who all look legit. Brandon Tate, Taylor Price, Aaron Hernandez, and Rob Gronkowski have all had shining moments in the first four days of camp and should form the core of offensive firepower for the next four years at least. The 2010 offense should be far more challenging to defend than the 2009 squad, and when you factor in Randy Moss being in a contract year, well… let’s just say this offense could once again be scary.
On the line Logan Mankins remains MIA and no one seems to have any clue how this will end. Nick Kaczur was filling in for him at LG until getting getting hurt and missing the last few practices. Now Dan Connolly is filling in. Offensively this will prove to be the biggest question mark of the new season. If Mankins returns this offense would look as good as any in the NFL. We’ll see how it all plays out, if Kaczur’s injury is serious it could speed up the process with Mankins, whatever that process may be. He could also be trade bait for a pass rusher at this point.
DEFENSE
The good new is that right now the Pats look stacked at inside linebacker and in the defensive backfield. My woobie Pat Chung has had a challenging start to camp, getting burned in coverage a couple times, but even the most novice Pats followers have taken note of Chung’s development.
Meanwhile the Pats have suddenly gone from Tedy Bruschi and ? at inside linebacker to a stable of four young players who all look solid. Tyrone McKenzie has drawn a lot of praise. It will be most interesting to see how BB gets them all on the field. Eric Alexander’s days could be numbered.
It’s at DE/OLB and D-line that things seem a little more hazy. There has been lots of rotation going on, everyone getting reps, and chances to show what they got. With Derrick Burgess in retirement limbo, and Shawn Crable gone the pressure has been place squarely on rookie Jermaine Cunningham and veteran Rob Ninkovich. Until the first preseason game it’s hard to have an opinion how this will all play out. Pass rush and run stopping can be two of the hardest things to evaluate solely in practice.
But if we were concerned about pass rush with Burgess and Crable in the mix, we’re even more concerned now. We’d welcome bringing in Aaron Schobel as a PRS, perhaps playing for a winner would revitalize him.
3 STARS OF CAMP SO FAR
- Bradon Tate
- Tyrone McKenzie
- Darius Butler