61
The Patriots have to tweak their offensive approach after Gronkowksi’s
retirement, but history says they’ll figure out a way to make it work.
× ROB GRONKOWSKI IS REPLACED BY
REX BURKHEAD. (SORT OF.) The seventh-
year running back doesn’t assume Gronk’s
old tight end duties—veteran Ben Watson
and ex-Texan Stephen Anderson do that.
But neither of those players command
double teams as Gronk did,
which means that New Eng-
land, instead of mainly dic-
tating matchups by aligning
its tight end all over the for-
mation, must employ two-
back sets to force defenses
into more predictable, mani-
pulatable looks. Tailback
Sony Michel is primarily a
runner and his counterpart,
James White, a receiver,
which leaves Burkhead as
their lone hybrid. When
he’s paired with another
back (including fullback James Develin,
who played 36% of the snaps last year in
an increasingly potent old-school ground
game), defenses will be left guessing about
the Patriots’ intentions.
× TOM BRADY LOOKS LIKE TOM BRADY
YET AGAIN. Now 42, the quarterback is
more impressive physically than he was
in his 30s. Time will eventually catch upto Brady , but it doesn’t look as if that
will happen anytime soon.
× JULIAN EDELMAN BECOMES MORE
CRUCIAL. The receiving corps has depth,
but Edelman is the only natural slot
man. First-round rookie N’Keal Harry
often played inside at Arizona State, but
the Pats prefer quick, shifty inside receiv-
ers who can take a precisely timed throw
from Brady and turn upfield. Without
Gronkowski in the middle, Edelman be-
comes the passing game’s fulcrum.
× J.C. JACKSON SHINES. The undraft-
ed second-year pro is the consummate
New England defensive back. He is physi-
cal, adept in man coverage
and versatile enough to
blanket receivers outside
or tight ends inside (includ-
ing the league’s best, Tra-
vis Kelce, for much of last
year’s AFC championship
game). With Jackson, a true
No. 1 cornerback in Stephon
Gilmore, plus a plethora of
multiskilled CBs and safe-
ties, the Patriots can do
anything and everything in
their predominantly man-
coverage scheme.
× AMERICA FINALLY APPRECIATES KYLE
VA N N O Y. The sixth-year outside lineback-
er was the real MVP of Super Bowl LIII.
His versatility late in a 13–3 win over the
Rams was essential to New England’s
creative five-man rushes, diverse fronts
(Van Noy , like Dont’a Hightower, can
play on the edge or off the ball) and stal-
wart run defense.WHAT LIES AHEAD
FRONT 7
20
DB
2
SI’S 2019
PREDICTION
12 – 4
2018 RECORD 11– 5
SEP T. 8
VS. PIT
SEP T. 15
@ MIA
SEP T. 22
VS. N YJ
SEP T. 2 9
@ BUF
OC T. 6
@ WAS
OC T. 1 0
VS. NYG
OC T. 21
@ N YJ
OC T. 2 7
VS. CLE
NOV. 3
@ BAL
NOV. 10
BYE
NOV. 17
@ PHI
NOV. 24
VS. DAL
DEC. 1
@ HOU
DEC. 8
VS. KC
DEC. 15
@ CIN
DEC. 22
(Flex)
VS. BUF
DEC. 29
VS. MIAStre
ngth