Three Questions 1. Can the team stay healthy in 2014? The Patriots managed to overcome a rash of injuries in 2013 to win the AFC East for the fifth consecutive year. This year, New England is coming into the season healthy and should avoid the bad luck that saw them lose some of their most important starters. But injuries are unavoidable in the NFL, and the Patriots will rely on their increased depth when necessary. 2. Can Tom Brady return to MVP form? Tom Brady threw for an impressive 4,343 yards and 25 touchdowns in 2013, but five quarterbacks threw for more yards and ten threw more touchdowns. With passing records being continually demolished, Brady needs to push his game even further. With a healthy group of skill players, Brady is set up to have an even better season in 2014. Already a lock for the Hall of Fame, Brady can make a strong case for being considered the greatest QB of all time with another MVP season. 3. Is Darrelle Revis still the league’s best cornerback? Plenty of wide receivers have found themselves lost on Revis Island, but the All-Pro cornerback has seen himself fall in the rankings. An ACL tear ruined one season, and Revis has not quite regained his form. Now that Richard Sherman and Patrick Peterson have proclaimed themselves the best in the world, and been paid like it, Revis has a pair of young challengers to his throne. It’s unlikely that Revis will dethrone either of them but he is still worthy of league-wide praise. secondary. But Revis is a couple years removed from the All-Pro player that disrupted games for the New York Jets and he’ll have the tough task of replacing Aqib Talib. Lining up alongside Revis will be Brandon Browner and Kyle Arrington. No stranger to the league’s disciplinary committee, Browner will miss the first four games of his Patriots career due to a failed drug test. Safety Devin McCourty has not repeated the impressive stats from his rookie year, but he is an excellent fit for the system. He’s not a big hitter, but McCourty is a steady tackler and a team leader. Defensive Player to watch Hightower was a first-round draft pick out of the University of Alabama in 2012. Speed and athleticism made him a big-time prospect, and Hightower is poised for a breakout season in the third year of his career. Last season, Hightower was forced into a more significant role when Mayo was lost for the team’s final 10 games. In that time, Hightower became a more vocal presence, even calling plays in the defensive huddle, but his statistics suffered a bit. Now that Mayo has returned, Hightower can be a more reactive playmaker. His well-rounded skill set works perfectly in the Patriots system. Hightower has the agility to rush the passer and the speed to drop back into pass coverage. Like much of the roster, the Patriots linebackers have grown and developed within Belichick’s system. Surrounded by a wealth of talent, Hightower is ready to take the next step. Patriots Special Teams Coach Bill Belichick is a master of the details that forge lasting success TEAM ROSTER PATRIOTS DEPTH CHART OFFENSE QB Tom Brady Ryan Mallett RB Stevan Ridley, Shane Vereen Brandon Bolden WR Danny Amendola, Julian Edelman Kenbrell Thompkins, Brandon LaFell, Aaron Dobson, Matt Slater TE Rob Gronkowski, Michael Hoomanawanui LT Nate Solder, Chris Martin LG Logan Mankins, Jon Halapio C Ryan Wendell, Chris Barker Bryan Stork RG Dan Connolly, Josh Kline RT Sebastian Vollmer, Marcus Cannon DEFENSE LDE Rob Ninkovich, Jake Bequette Michael Buchanan DT Vince Wilfork, Chris Jones, Tommy Kelly Joe Vellano, Dominique Easley RDE Chandler Jones, Will Smith SLB Dont’a Hightower, James Anderson ILB Jerod Mayo, Chris White WLB Jamie Collins, Ja’Gared Davis LCB Darrelle Revis, Brandon Browner Logan Ryan RCB Kyle Arrington, Alfonzo Dennard SS Duron Harmon, Patrick Chung FS Devin McCourty, Tavon Wilson SPECIAL TEAMS K Stephen Gostkowski P Ryan Allen LSN Danny Aiken
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