2_New England Patriots1

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AFC EAST PATRIOTS 2014 STRENGTHS: • Elite quarterback, future hall of fame head coach, stable offensive line Patriots Offense With Tom Brady at the helm, the New England Patriots are always a threat to be the NFL’s best offense. They were runnerups to the Denver Broncos in scoring with 27.8 points per game last season, and this year’s team should be even better. Brady passed for 4,342 yards and 25 touchdowns, but in today’s pass-happy league those numbers ranked him just 6th and 11th, respectively. Brady also completed his lowest percentage of passes since 2003. But when you look deeper into the numbers, Brady is poised for an even bigger year in 2014. His numbers were significantly better during the second half of the season. Brady passed for 16 TDs through the final eight games and improved his completion percentage by almost 9.5 percent. A major reason for the team’s early offensive struggles were an onslaught of injuries. TE Rob Gronkowski, WR Danny Amendola and RB Shane Vereen all missed significant time in the first half of the year. Gronkowski and RT Sebastian Vollmer failed to finish the season. Brady struggled with adjusting to the constant roster shuffling, and the one receiver he could rely on, Julian Edelman, came into the year with just 69 career receptions. He emerged as the Patriot’s most consistent receiver, catching 105 balls for 1,056 yards and 6 TDs. 2014 WEAKNESSES: • Prone to injuries in key positions NEW ENGLAND This season, Brady will be able to avoid that adjustment period. All eleven starters, and several important backups, return. Amendola and Gronkowski are the most important pieces of the puzzle, but they’ve started just 23 games combined over the last two seasons. Stevan Ridley and Vereen both return in the backfield. Ridley led the team in rushing yards last season, but he only amassed 772 yards. Vereen was third on the team in receptions with 4, even though he only appeared in eight games. Football games are often won in the trenches, and New England will benefit from bringing back all five starting linemen from last year’s team. Consistency is key because the offensive line works best when it acts as a single unit. The Patriots linemen have all spent their entire careers with the team, except Dan Connolly who spent his rookie season with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Offensive Player to watch Rob Gronkowski is a game changer from the tight end position. He had one of the greatest seasons by a TE in NFL history back in 2011 when he racked up 1,327 yards and led the league with 17 touchdowns. Gronk is a physical phenom at 6-6 and 265 lbs, but injuries have plagued his career. He failed to contribute in the postseason each of the last two seasons and was severely limited in Super Bowl XLVI the prior year. Teams on New England’s schedule must gameplan for Gronkowski because he is a truly unique player. He has the size of a lineman and the skills of a receiver. The Patriots are a completely different team with him on the field and will rely on him to open the field for Brady. When Gronkowski is on the field, the Patriots offense is a completely different animal. The team’s success rests on his ability to stay healthy. Patriots Defense The Patriots are a very disciplined team that rotates between 3-4 and 4-3 base packages. Similar to their offense, New England relies on strategy more than individual skill, but they are also flush with talent on the defensive side of the ball. Rob Gronkowski THOMAS B. SHEA/GETTY IMAGES SPORT


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