Tag Archives: Rex Burkhead

Future Patriots? College Players to Watch This Year

While Bill Belichick and the Patriots always seem to find a way, there should be some reason for concern with the future of this team. A bad draft next year would be detrimental to the future of this team and here is why:

In 2020 and 2021 several premiere players on the Patriots’ offense and defense will see their current contracts expire. The Patriots will have many key pending free agents coming up. Pending free agents are the last thing a team with a desperate need for a tight end wants to hear.

Tom Brady will be a pending free agent after this season and David Andrews will be in 2021
Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Notable 2020 free agents: Tom Brady, Kyle Van Noy, Joe Thuney, Devin McCourty, Josh Gordon, Jamie Collins, Ben Watson, Adam Butler, and many more

Notable 2021 free agents: David Andrews, Dont’a Hightower, James White, Michael Bennett, J.C Jackson, Duron Harmon, Lawerence Guy, Stephen Gostkowski, Rex Burkhead, Deatrich Wise and more

Some of these players will obviously be resigned, however, some will not and will go to other teams.

Safety Concerns

Honestly, McCourty’s days look numbered, and he even contemplated retirement during the week leading up to the Super Bowl.

Devin McCourty during Opening Night for Super Bowl LIII
Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

“Yeah man, if we win a Super Bowl, I don’t know what else can top that.”
Devin McCourty during Super Bowl media week

Devin McCourty has always been a key piece to this defense and the team, however, he is on the wrong side of thirty and has the second-highest cap hit among safeties this season.

Unless the then thirty-two year old safety wants to sign on to a pretty sizable cash reduction in comparison to years prior, McCourty might find himself being forced to call it quits.

The other safety up for a new contract soon is Duron Harmon. Much like McCourty, he also plays a big role in the Patriots’ secondary. Losing him would not bode well for the Patriots, and would leave a pretty large hole in the secondary (especially if McCourty is gone by this time too).

New England will try really hard to resign both players. Harmon will probably be a harder one to accomplish, as the 2021 cap might restrict the Patriots from offering a desirable deal.

The last and final thing to mention before naming the potential solution to this issue is that Chung, much like McCourty, also is aging. He is coming off shoulder surgery and a bad arm injury that he sustained in the Super Bowl. Many question marks surround his future going forward.

Solution at the Position:

Xavier McKinney of Alabama
Photo: Stuart McNair, 247Sports

Three big names to watch this season at the safety spot are Grant Delpit of LSU, Isaiah Simmons of Clemson, and Xavier McKinney of Alabama.

McKinney should be, by far, the most realistic name when the season is all set and done. Delpit currently projects to be a top ten pick and Simmons does not stand far behind.

For the sake of realism here, Xavier McKinney is the guy to look at.

Xavier McKinney: Some compare him to former Giants, now Redskins’ Landon Collins. McKinney plays strong safety for the Tide and, in some eyes, was the Tide’s top safety last year. Even over NFL draftee Deionte Thompson, who many had going in the first round, but fell out due to size concerns.

McKinney will now be the leader of that Nick Saban secondary, and his skills will be on full display. Pay close attention to his intelligence and athleticism on the field. These are traits that New England convets.

Another standout trait McKinney has is his footwork. His feet are on another level, which goes to show just how much time he puts into his game. Good footwork does not come easy ,and takes a lot of time to perfect.

McKinney’s press coverage is air tight. He is a gym rat. Only has 3% body fat (DK Metcalf’s was 1.6% for reference). His versatility and potential are also key traits of his too.

All this leads me to think that Xavier McKinney could not only play strong safety in New England, but could really fill the void of Patrick Chung’s inevitable absence in a few years.

Defensive End is Destined to be a Problem

In the 2021 offseason Deatrich Wise, Michael Bennett, and Derek Rivers will all see their current contracts expire. This will be problematic as there is no way the Patriots would be able to afford signing all three of these pass rushers.

Bennett would demand at least $4.5 million at 35 years of age.

Wise has a chance to secure the bag with good play over the next two seasons
Stew Milne-USA TODAY Sports

Deatrich Wise’s market is yet to be seen. The pass rusher seems set for a breakout season, and might increase his market dramatically over the next two seasons.

Derek Rivers should focus on making the team first, however, he has the potential to make somewhere around $3 million (if he actually pans out, which is a big if).

Things could really go haywire in 2021 if all three, more importantly Wise and Bennett, do not return. So who can be our pass rusher across from Chase Winovich?

Solution at the Position:

Patriots’ fans can hope and pray all they want that Iowa defensive end A.J Espensa can fall later in next year’s draft. Unfortunately, much like Grant Delpit, this seems very unlikely. Yetur Gross-Matos, right now, seems more realistic at the defensive end position and should be an extremely intriguing prospect to watch this football season.

Yetur Gross-Matos: He earned first defensive team Big-10 honors last season as a sophomore. His size is pretty prototypical for an edge defender (6-5, 265 pounds). Matos looks to become the next first round defensive lineman out of Penn State since Jared Odrick in 2010.

The most impressive skill of Gross-Matos’ is his quickness. Not too long ago, he ran a 4.52 forty-yard dash. That would have ranked third among all defensive lineman in this year’s NFL combine.

A really impressive stat from last season was his twenty tackles for a loss. Gross-Matos proved to be a disruptive force last season in University Park and will only continue to grow this season.

His jump off the ball is very nice and his change of direction skills are very solid as well.

He still hasn’t proved to be a fantastic pass-rusher, and his success really relies on how well his jump off the ball was. However, expect him to improve on those weak spots this season and keep a close eye.

Victor Dimukeje of Duke
Credit: Mark Dolejs-USA TODAY Sports

*Note: For a more mid-round prospect, watch out for Victor Dimukeje out of Duke. Pro Football Focus likes him a lot and so should you. Really good defender for Duke.

Tight End Still Pressing Need

Ben Watson, Matt LaCosse, Ryan Izzo should be good enough to get by this year. However, next season Ben Watson will probably retire again. Even if he somehow finds his way onto the roster again, tight end should be a position to address early.

Ben Watson back in Patriots’ gear for the first time since the 2009 season
Credit: Nancy Lane/Boston Herald

Naming a tight end out of this class is really hard. Almost all of the tight ends are different and have their own trademark ability.

Albert Okwuegbunam of Missouri is currently the top tight end prospect in this class. However, his ability has really been hyped up, and he might not be the top prospect come next April.

Grant Calcaterra of Oklahoma is certainly intriguing. He plays a lot like Evan Engram. Unfortunately, he blocks a lot like Evan Engram too.

This John Mackey Award candidate Jacob Breeland might be the best fit in New England Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports

The most complete tight end might just be Jacob Breeland of Oregon.

Breeland is a 6’5, 248 pound deep-threat tight end with strong hands and elite athleticism.

He played receiver in high school (just as Grant Calcaterra did) and he has brought those receiver-like skills to his job as tight end of the Oregon Ducks.

With Gronk now gone, the Patriots will lose one of the greatest red-zone threats in team history. While Breeland certainly should not be expected to replace Gronk per say, a 6’5, receiver-like body would defiently help pick up the pieces in the red area.

Another thing that makes Breeland extremely valuable is his speed and size combination that can so easily create mismatches for opposing defenses. We all know that Belichick, Brady, and McDaniels are experts in this area and having a guy like that could certainly serve them well.

Breeland appears to be a much stronger blocker than both Grant Calcaterra and Albert Okwuegbunam. That really tipped the scales in his direction.

A strong season by him would really seal the deal for him being the favorite tight end target for next year’s NFL Draft.

Rex Burkhead’s Job is Safe in A Crowded Backfield

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No Patriot has received more flack this offseason than Rex Burkhead. The latest buzz on Rex is he will be the odd man out this summer in the runningback rotation. Yet, I am here to pump the breaks on that belief.

Uncertainty Creates Opportunity

There are large uncertainties at both receiver and tight end. This makes it likely the Patriots will start the season with a few more runningbacks than normal.

Ben Watson’s suspension, Julian Edelman’s age, N’Keal Harry’s inexperience, and the current uncertainty the public has with who will be the number three receiver should all indicate that the Patriots might be grounded to start off the season. Then, once Ben Watson comes back and things start to make sense and click, things should open up more.

Losing Gronk, and Watson to start the season, the Patriots start 2019 with a less than stellar tight end group. This group does have guys like Ryan Izzo and Andrew Beck, who were very strong blockers in college, however, both have not played a regular season game yet.

Matt LaCosse looks like the front runner for the starting job and also has shown that he is a good blocker. However, he has never seen a role of this magnitude in the NFL before.

Not to mention, the tackle spots remain a question mark. Marcus Cannon may have come off a very strong campaign last season, but struggles to remain consistent in the NFL. And the even bigger issue continues to be the health of Isaiah Wynn, who so far has been forced to hand the lion share of left tackle reps to Joe Thuney, due to his inability to be at full go so far.

With all this uncertainty with the offense to start the season, the Patriots could use a back that can hit the hole fast and hard, embrace the contact, and run with excellent vision. No one on the Patriots does those things better than Rex Burkhead.

Familiar Spot for Rex

Not to mention, Rex has pretty much been fighting for his job his whole NFL career. In a season where everyone believes he is on the outside looking in, he has a lot to prove.

The biggest thing holding Rex’s roster spot in place has to be his contract. Cutting Rex Burkhead would cost the Patriots more money than keeping him on the team for the season.

Economic Fallout Would Be Unbelichickian

Trading him would do the same. Also, the trade market for runningbacks is ridiculously low at the moment. Several quality runningbacks like Jay Ajayi, Marshawn Lynch, and Alex Collins are yet to be signed this offseason.

Rex Will Survive

Giving all this evidence, the number of runningbacks the Patriots currently have might not matter. Rex Burkhead will survive the crowded backfield .

Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports for cover image

Making the case for Jeremy Hill

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The New England Patriots have a busy and challenging offseason ahead of them, with 22 free agents set to hit the market. Key defensive players and 80% of the receiving corps make up a majority of that number. However, unlike in years past, running back is not a need. Sony Michel, James White, and Rex Burkhead are all under contract for 2019.

However, there was another running back that was signed in 2018 and had some high expectations. Jeremy Hill was signed from the Bengals after several up and down years, but the talent was there. Cincinnati is not the easiest place to play, and a change of scenery seemed to be what Hill needed. He turned in a decent preseason, rushing for over 100 yards and a touchdown. His power running style similarly resembled former Patriot LeGarrette Blount, which was something the backfield was missing.

Unfortunately, in Week 1 Hill suffered a torn ACL as he was blocking downfield, ending his season. In the small sample size we were given, it seemed as though Hill found his stride again. He had good speed and hit the open gaps with force. He also was a threat as a pass catcher out of the backfield, something Sony Michel struggled with this season.

Hill was signed in New England to a one year “prove it” deal worth $1.5 million dollars. That contract is expired now and he looks to be on the back end of his rehab. So, with an already crowded backfield and not a whole lot of cap space, should the Patriots sign Hill to another one year deal?

The Pros

At first glance, it may seem ludicrous to consider signing another running back to the roster. For one, the Patriots are projected to only have around $55 million dollars in cap space once they make the necessary cuts (Dwayne Allen, etc.). Although, that number will be largely taken up by hopefully Trey Flowers and another splash signing at either wide receiver or defensive line.

However, his deal in theory would be very similar to the one he signed in 2018, for $1.5 million. This contract would of course be mainly non-guaranteed and not create too much dead money. It is a low risk signing for New England and is beneficial to both sides.

In regards to the already crowded backfield, carrying 4 running backs is not unfamiliar in Foxboro. Just two years ago in 2016 the Patriots took 4 backs to the Super Bowl. Of course, one of these was Brandon Bolden who was mainly a special teamer. But lets not forget Rex Burkhead was a key member on punt returns. Remember that play in Pittsburgh?

Its not as crazy a concept as it may look on paper. Sony Michel would remain the first down back, as many in New England are predicting big things for Number 26. James White would be the primary third down back, catching passes out of the backfield. Rex Burkhead would be a mixture between the two, filling in wherever he was needed most. Hill would slide in as the short yardage/goal-line back, where power running is the most beneficial. Third and less than 2 to go was by far New England’s worst conversion rate this season. A power runner like Hill could help out tremendously with getting the necessary one or two yards in those situations.

The Cons

The negative to resigning Hill is simply that he would be potentially taking up a valuable roster spot. New England would essentially be carrying 5 running backs (James Develin included) and there are thinner spots on the team that need extra depth.

Speaking of James Develin, many fans this year were calling for more of the big fullback on the aforementioned short third downs. The Fullback Dive play was something that worked almost every time it was called. Develin is more than capable of getting the necessary yardage and wouldn’t be taking up an extra roster spot.

There is also the money to consider, as Hill may not cost that much but it would still be cash that could be spent elsewhere.

There is a case to be made for Jeremy Hill resigning in New England. He brings a new style of running to the backfield that complements the other styles well. If returns to his 2014 form, where he rushed for over 1,000 yards, the Patriots would possess a formidable backfield.

However, he would take up a roster spot while not getting too many touches. This also means he could be taking away from some of Michel’s rushes, and Michel is the better running back right now. However, I believe Hill, if healthy, can be a valuable piece to the Patriots offense. If he’s willing to come back on a similar deal to the one he signed a year ago, I think its worth it.

Not to mention he loves it in Boston and adores the Foxboro Faithful.

The X-Factors of Super Bowl 53

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From Malcolm Butler to David Tyree to Tracy Porter, Super Bowls are often home to small time players making gargantuan plays. Butler’s pick, Tyree’s catch (that shouldn’t have been a catch if the referees called ‘in-the-grasp’ on Manning before the throw, but water under the bridge), and Porter’s pick-six on Peyton Manning are some of the many examples of this. These are the players that don’t get an entire segment dedicated to them on NFL Network. They don’t get the most popular podium on Opening Night, or even any podium for that matter. But, these players, or X-factors, are more often than not the heroes of the Super Bowl.

The Patriots and Rams are both star-studded on either side of the ball. Names like: Aaron Donald, Julian Edelman, Todd Gurley, Stephon Gilmore are just a few of the Pro-Bowlers on both rosters. Players of this caliber are expected to show up, have a big game, and be in the running for Super Bowl MVP.

However, every so often, a player on the bottom of the depth chart comes out of nowhere. They come off the bench and can either be the hero or the villain who isn’t welcomed back into the city afterwards. This is usually the difference between a team winning and a team losing. There are of course blowout games like Super Bowl 48 where Seattle didn’t need any depth players to come through. Although, as Patriots fans, we know to not expect a blowout in the Super Bowl. X-factors will be needed in this Super Bowl for both teams, the question is who are these players?

Will another Malcolm Butler type player show up in Super Bowl 53?

Here’s a list of some of the potential X-factors for both teams that could shape how this game turns out:

Rex Burkhead, RB Patriots

Off the bat, you may think Burkhead doesn’t fit the description of an X-factor. He is of course coming off a two touchdown game against the Chiefs in the title game. However, when you take a closer look at that game, Burkhead didn’t play so well. He had 41 yards on 12 attempts and was stopped on a crucial fourth down in the fourth quarter. It wasn’t until the end of the game where Rex really began to break through with the two TD runs.

Against the Rams, expect Sony Michel to get a majority of the touches when the Patriots are in the “I” formation and when Tom Brady goes under center. The Patriots have had a lot of success with Michel in these packages the past few games and shouldn’t deviate too much. James White will once again be the primary third down back, being more of a receiver than runner.

So where does that leave Burkhead? In the past, he has been used either when Michel needed a break or in specific circumstances. He won’t get the number of touches that Michel will, but it’s what he can do with his touches that make him an X-factor. The Rams will be prepared for Michel’s style of running and should have a plan in place to stop him. If Burkhead can come in with some different looks on offense and gain chunks of yards, that will be a huge difference in how the Patriots offense runs.

Rex Burkhead scored two go-ahead touchdowns in the AFC title game and needs to replicate that performance to set up the Patriots offense.

Josh Reynolds, WR Rams

Los Angeles has quietly one of the best wide receiver tandems in the NFL with Robert Woods and Brandin Cooks. Cooks, as most Patriots fans know, is incredibly fast and a legitimate deep threat. Woods is a terrific complement to Cooks with the way he’s able to get separation in the slot, similar to Edelman. New England should have a similar gameplan in place to deal with Cooks as they did with Tyreek Hill. One cornerback lined up with Cooks with immediate safety help over the top is the look I would expect. With Woods, Stephon Gilmore should be able to shadow him effectively.

Next on the Rams depth chart: Josh Reynolds. Reynolds hasn’t had a monster year, garnering just over 400 yards, but it’s not his stats that are worrisome. He stands at 6’3″ and will likely not be given a whole lot of attention compared to the other two LA receivers. 4 years ago in Super Bowl 49, New England faced a similar threat in Chris Matthews. He was third or fourth on Seattle’s depth chart but made play after play thanks to his height and Kyle Arrington covering him.

Jason McCourty or J.C. Jackson will likely draw the responsibility of guarding Reynolds. Jared Goff has been trusting him more and more this postseason and if he has a big game, it could spell disaster for New England.

Samson Ebukam, LB Rams

Linebacker isn’t one of the Rams strongest positions on the defensive side. Pro-Bowler (for special teams) Cory Littleton is their best linebacker, but other than that there’s not too much overflowing talent. However, one of Tom Brady’s weakest points in his game is his inability at times to see the cover linebacker. Last week in the AFC title game he threw a pick directly to linebacker Reggie Ragland in the endzone. In Super Bowl 49 Bobby Wagner intercepted Brady and two weeks before in the AFC title game D’Qwell Jackson jumped in front of a ball meant for Gronk (which started Deflategate).

Samson Ebukam is an outside, cover linebacker for the Rams that nearly picked off Dak Prescott in the Divisional round. He has multiple touchdowns on the year, two against Kansas City, and is very quick moving. Given the right situation, he has the potential to cause Brady some trouble with Wade Phillips calling the plays.

Samson Ebukam has a couple of interceptions on the season so Tom Brady will need to be on the lookout for number 50.

Deatrich Wise Jr. or Adrian Clayborn, DE Patriots

So far in the postseason Deatrich Wise Jr. has been inactive. Against the Chargers he had a nagging ankle injury but he was a healthy scratch for the AFC title game. Adrian Clayborn got the nod over him and played decent, but didn’t make any spectacular plays.

In order for the Patriots to keep having the pass rush success they’ve been having, they need to get more productivity from the other DE position. Trey Flowers can’t do it all by himself, even though at times he seems like he can. Whoever is active between the two, because its been one or the other thus far, needs to get to Goff. He isn’t a running quarterback so there should be no excuse for not pressuring him.

Rushing the passer is the main reason the Patriots have had so much success on defense this postseason. If they want to take home the Lombardi, they will need to find a way past the Rams offensive line. Accomplish that, and L.A. head coach Sean McVay will be sweating in his khakis.

Brady’s at his best when spreading the ball around

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Who’s the Best Receiver? The Open One

Throughout Tom Brady’s illustrious career he’s always had the ability to find the open receiver, which is always the best option.

The Patriots played the lowly Jets on Sunday, a team that was depleted, and about to fire their Head Coach. Tom Brady looked sharp throughout the game, hitting four different players for TD passes. Phillip Dorsett and Chris Hogan saw an uptick in playing time and targets.

Brady’s Best Option In The Playoffs

The month of January has usually been dominated by Rob Gronkowski. Gronk has not seen his usual targets this season, but now it’s crunch time. He is the NFLs all time leader in targets (111), receiving yards (972) and TDs (12) by a Tight End in the postseason. He’s still a dangerous weapon for the Patriots when targeted.

The Patriots offense in 2018 has looked quite different then what fans are accustomed to. Tom Brady albeit against the Jets showed a glimpse of what’s to come in the playoffs. The key is to get back to what makes him great, spreading the ball around and getting guys involved early.

It’s Time For Everyone’s Best

The loss of Josh Gordon has now opened the door for Phillip Dorsett, Chris Hogan and Patterson. Hogan had 11 targets last week and was an overthrown ball by Brady from having a TD as well. Gronkowski didn’t see many targets again, but he showed everyone he still has gas left in the tank. One player to keep you’re eye on is Phillip Dorsett, he took a backseat when Gordon came to New England. The wide receiver now has a chance to be a big part of a super bowl run. He’s caught 16 passes on 16 targets since October, now that Gordon is gone Dorsett should be seeing more looks from Brady. TB12’s passer rating when throwing to Dorsettt is 120.1 and now the WR is in line for more action.

Super Bowl Bound

The running backs are also a major part of the passing game, each RB can take it to the house, or catch passes from anywhere on the field. Brady may not have all pro weapons at his disposal, but that’s never stopped the Patriots before. The collection of players at his disposal could make it back to the Super Bowl once again.

My personal thoughts on this offense-spread the football around to everyone, get Gronk involved early. The Patriots Dynasty is far from dead. January is New England’s month, and in February anything is possible.

Running Backs Will Be a Major Factor For This Offense

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Patriots Running Backs Need to Be More Consistent

Sony Michel has had great games when healthy this year. The rookie has been a stud, making opponent’s respect the run game. Last week in Miami wasn’t the same ground game as we saw against the Vikings. Sony Michel has the talent and football IQ to have great games. The rookie just needs to be more consistent, weeks 4-6 he was running like a veteran.

New England lost him for a few weeks after a scary looking injury. Michel returned in week 10, although limited as the team wanted to be cautious. He had 11 attempts for 31 yards, and the Pats lost to Tennessee.

New England came out of the bye with Sony looking great, as he rushed for 133 yards on 21 touches and a touchdown. The last two weeks the Pats featured running back hasn’t eclipsed 65 yards on the ground or a touchdown.

The Running Game With The Return Of Rex

Sony’s Numbers were expected to go down slightly with Burkhead coming back from IR. The Patriots brought Rex back in week 12, and Michel had his second best game of the year. Since then, the numbers show that Michel is still getting the same amount of touches as he did weeks 4-6. The yards and touchdowns haven’t followed. Sony should get back on track against the Steelers, in a huge game for both teams.

Rex Burkhead could be a huge playoff addition

Rex Burkhead came back from a long stint on the IR, looking to help the offense. The hope was to take some pressure off of Michel and James White, since they’ve been overworked most of the season. Rex didn’t play in week 12, while Sony and White ran all over the Jets. Burkhead’s return hasn’t been what I expected it to be. Rex has only 11 rushing attempts for 22 yards in two games, with 3 receptions for 24 yards. The Patriots could be bringing him back slowly, as they know what they’ve got in him from last year.

James White has been the glue, doing his job catching passes out of the backfield, also as the early down back on occasion.

White did have a good day running the ball alongside Michel in week 12, adding 73 yards on just 9 attempts. This was his highest total of rushing yards of the season. The following week, White had a great game against the Vikings. But last week against Miami he had his lowest output of the year rushing and catching the ball. New England’s on to Pittsburgh, and this running game should get back on track.

The Patriots Run Game Will Be Fine Moving foward

The Patriots have one of the best RB groups in the NFL, and they will need it against a tough Steelers run defefese. James White and Sony Michel could be used heavily this week to keep Pittsburgh’s potent offense on the sideline. James White and Sony Michel have been very impressive this year, but because of injury we’ve yet to see both at a high level consistently. The offensive line, and injuries to Gronk and Dwayne Allen, have also contributed to some inconsistencies in the run game.

Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

New England is as healthy as it’s been all year, and the Patriots RBs are going to use that to their advantage. James White and Sony Michel will most certainly be used heavily, since history shows this is when New England starts to lean on the run game.

Rex Burkhead could have a breakout game, or he could still be getting some rest for the home stretch. Bill Belichick is impossible to predict, especially when it comes to RBs. Anyone who plays fantasy football knows that. The Steelers are having a rough stretch as of late, and I expect Michel and White to run all over them. New England’s RBs will set up the play action pass, and the Patriots will need the run game the rest of the way to be SB contenders.

BREAKING: Burkhead is Back

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Rex Burkhead Is Back

New England Patriots running back Rex Burkhead has been added to the 53 man roster on Monday. Burkhead has been on injured reserve since September 26th, after playing in just three games. He started two of the three games before his injury, rushing 24 times for 86 yards. Burkhead also caught three passes for 31 yards. New England released offensive lineman Matt Tobin, making room for the dual-threat running back.

Running Back play has been the difference through 11 Games

Burkhead is Back on the 53 man Roster

The Patriots announced the good news a day after the team rushed for 215 yards, as White and Michel both had career highs. The running game has been important this season. The Patriots’ eight wins came with an average of 136 rushing yards per game. New England’s three losses have come with an average of just 70 rushing yards. New England seems to be getting healthy at the perfect time, as Shaq Mason returned to the offensive line, as well as Rob Gronkowski. Both players contribute to the ground game in a huge way, and it showed Sunday in a win over the Jets.

Rex Provides Much Needed Depth

The Patriots came into this season wanting to have a stable of running backs, rotating guys in keeping everyone fresh. Unfortunately, that is not what happened, but now with Sony, Rex and White, the Pats have some depth. The addition of Burkhead will take some of the beating off of Michel, while James White can settle back into his dominant role.

It took a while for Burkhead to recover from his injury. A great way to help recover and build muscle is with clenbuterol for sale. It helps add additional muscle bulk and improve strength.

Rex Burkhead is on the roster for Sunday’s game against the Vikings, we will have to wait and see if he gets in the game. Bill Belichick has always preached that the season starts after Thanksgiving. New England is now primed to run the table, and get the 1 seed.

Duel threat out of the backfield

The Patriots now have three versatile hard-nose RBs to play with, along with James Develin at fullback.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone, I am thankful for Family, Friends and the Patriots, as I’m sure you feel the same way.

FLASHback to 2007’s Offense

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COMPARING THE 2007 SEASON TO THIS YEARS TEAM OFFENSIVELY

In 2007, New England was a juggernaut on offense. As far as regular seasons go, well, the Patriots went undefeated. Of course, this season won’t be perfect, the offense could look quite familiar. Josh Gordon recently picked up by New England, has many fans very excited. First and foremost, he is not Randy Moss 2.0. I want to make that clear.

However, if Gordon can fall in line, keep his nose in the playbook and contribute all season, then we could be in for quite the show. The comparisons this year to the undefeated regular season are fair, hear me out.

(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

DIFFERENT NAMES – SAME GAME

New England’s offense in 2007 was unstoppable, mainly because of Randy Moss and Wes Welker. Other key players had their roles as well, only one player remains – Tom Brady. 2007 will go down as one of the best complete football teams of all time, if not the best. Here is what the offense looked like.

Starting off is Tom Brady, who has seemed to have gotten better with age. As he admits himself, “I feel like I’ve played better the last eight years then I did my first ten.”

Next, let’s look at the running game. Laurence Maroney handled the heavy workload. Patriots HOF’er Kevin Faulk and Sammy Morris as the 3rd down change of pace backs. Heath Evans was the fullback.

Jumping ahead to this season, SB hero James White, Rex Burkhead, and rookie Sony Michel can all either be RBs or receivers in the slot or split out wide. In today’s NFL, I’d give the slight edge to this season’s RB core, as moving the ball through the air is more important than ever. Defenses can’t tell whether it’s a run or pass play when any of these players step on the field. Also, James Devlin is used at FB to open up running lanes and catch the ball as well.

Photo Courtesy of Sports Illustrated

PASS CATCHING COMPARISONS

Randy Moss is in the HOF, Josh Gordon is not Randy Moss. However, if Gordon is the best version of himself, he will fill the Moss role, which is taking the top off the defense with his size and speed. Brady hasn’t had this since Randy Moss, with the obvious edge going to Moss, with one caveat – the rest of the pass catchers overall compared to this year.

With Gordon attempting to do his best Moss impersonation, Brady now has a real deep threat. His targets also include Rob Gronkowski, Julian Edelman, Chris Hogan, and Philip Dorsett with special teams ace, Corderelle Patterson, being involved in some packages each game.

Josh Gordon opening up the field for these receivers will not allow defenses to double. If they do, Brady will find one of the open players. Looking at this year’s pass catchers and 2007 receivers, it’s the same concept with similarly skilled players except for Moss. Now, 2018 now has a beast like him plus Rob Gronkowski. That alone is scary for opponents.

Edelman will be back in the slot, with Gordon opening up the field. Just like Welker did in 2007

Patriots offensively in 2007, besides Randy, had an aging local legend in Troy Brown, another Patriot HOF player, along with Wes Welker, Donte Stallworth, and Jabar Gaffney. They didn’t have a huge part of this comparison in Rob Gronkowski. Ben Watson was good along with Brady, but it’s not close to Gronk alone. 2018 also adds Hollister in the mix. So, can this year’s team look anything like the 2007 Patriots?

IN CONCLUSION, WHERE DOES THIS SEASON’S OFFENSE STACK UP?

Going through it by positions was interesting, and all these comparisons depend on one player, who’s never been dependable. In the event Josh Gordon does click with Tom Brady, this year’s Patriots team will do some serious damage. As I see it, this years RB group can be better than 2007.

Pass catchers; if everything goes to plan, will put up eye-popping numbers. Rob Gronkowski, Julian Edelman, Josh Gordon and Chris Hogan with the RBs will keep defenses up at night.

No, this season won’t be as prolific as the undefeated team but will have a similar feeling to it. As always, health will play a factor as well of the offensive line.

Tom Brady and Bill Belichick are still here, with players comparable or better to the 2007 team. Still, it’s too early to tell what will happen next.

No Tom Brady led offense will ever be as good, but this year is the closest it will get. Imagine all of this coming after the recent WR drama throughout the last few months.

Who Will Make the Cut at Running Back

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Which Running Backs Will Make The Team

It’s no secret the New England Patriots have lots of running backs at the moment. Injuries have plagued the position early on. Newly drafted Sony Michel has a knee injury. According to Jeff Howe of the Athletic Michel had his knee drained earlier this month due to a tear in his meniscus. Running back Rex Burkhead is also dealing with a slight tear in his knee but according to Howe it’s a minor injury and nothing serious. James White seems to be Tom Brady’s go-to guy as we saw on Thursday night against the Eagles. Fighting for a roster spot on the Patriots is running back Mike Gillislee who had 383 yards last season and 5 touchdowns.

Rex Burkhead was initially on the practice field Sunday afternoon but would go to the lower field with teammates on the physically unable to perform list. Rex Burkhead has not taken a preseason snap yet. Rookie running back Sony Michel was a no show in practice yesterday. Undrafted free agent Ralph Webb made a good impression in the first preseason game this season. Bill Belichick had this to say after the game against Washington:

“It’s what he was like at Vanderbilt: he ran hard, he’s tough. He’s not the biggest guy, but he’s got good strength for his size and he runs hard. … He’s a tough kid, runs with good pad level. Webb’s got good speed, catches the ball well. Made a nice catch on the two-point play. It was a low ball, made a good adjustment on the catch and got it in.”

My Predictions

In my opinion, I think the following running backs make the team.

James White. He had 429 yards and three touchdowns last season. He also is Brady’s most trusted running back on the team.
Rex Burkhead. He had 264 yards and five touchdowns last season.
Ralph Webb. He’s had a decent preseason and Belichick seems to like him.
Sony Michel singed a rookie contract and has the potential to be the next Dion Lewis.

That leaves Mike Gillislee not making the roster for the upcoming season. Last season Gillislee finished the season with 104 carries for 334 yards. Gillislee appeared in just one of the team’s final eleven games last season. He would injure his knee in that game and miss the entirety of the postseason.

The second running back who will be cut is Jeremy Hill. Hill never found the end zone and only had 116 rushing yards last season. The Patriots will carry four running backs on the roster heading into the season.

New England Patriots Free Agency Wish List

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NFL free agency is set to begin on March 14^th, and the New England Patriots should be active in the market. Despite making it to the Super Bowl, this team has several roster spots that need replacing or upgrading entering 2018. Additionally, they also have several key free agents entering the market. Without further ado, here is the New England Patriot free agency wish list:

New England Patriot Free Agency Wish List

Re-sign Nate Solder

Bringing Nate Solder back should be the Patriots top priority

Image credit: Boston Herald

If the Patriots accomplish nothing else this offseason, they must accomplish this. Nate Solder is one of the top ten or fifteen best left tackles in the league, and his presence is crucial on this team. Quarterback Tom Brady isn’t getting any younger (probably), so keeping Brady upright should be the teams number one priority.

It won’t be cheap to acquire Solder, but the Patriots can’t afford to be stingy. Solder is easily the best left tackle on the market, and the NFL Draft is expected to be poor on starting-caliber tackles. This gives Solder all the leverage to break the bank, as teams won’t hesitate to pay for the most important position on the offensive line.

Not only is Solder one of the best left tackles around, but the drop off behind him in talent is staggering. Were Solder to leave, the next man up would be 2017 third round pick Tony Garcia. Garcia missed his entire rookie season with a blood clot issue, so it’s anyone guess how good he will be in 2018.

New England should also look into bringing back Cameron Fleming and LaAdrian Waddle. While neither is a starting caliber player, both are more than capable of filling in during an injury and playing adequate football. With right tackle Marcus Cannon’s injury history and the violent nature of the offensive line position, the swing tackle position is highly important.

Address the Running Back Position

The Patriots have quite a few players hitting free agency that New England would love to have back. Running backs Dion Lewis and Rex Burkhead were both valuable contributors to the 2017 Patriots, and would certainly be welcome back on the team.

However, the Patriots shouldn’t overspend on either player. Lewis is reportedly fielding three-year, $18 million dollar offers. If that report is true, Lewis would rank among the top ten highest paid backs in football. Lewis is a phenomenal talent, but his injury history makes him not worth that type of money.

Burkhead’s market is more unclear. While he is reportedly receiving interest around the league, there’s no way he’s receiving a contract similar to Lewis. It’s more likely that his offers are more in line with his actual worth, since he’s not coming off the career year Lewis is. Of the two running backs, Burkhead is the one more likely to return.

New England would have no need to sign another running back should one of those two return to New England. However, should New England miss out on both, there are a few interesting options around the league. They probably wouldn’t spend top dollar to sign anyone like San Francisco 49ers running back Carlos Hyde, but there are a few good potential free agent bargains.

The biggest running back bargain could be Dallas Cowboys running back Alfred Morris. He probably wouldn’t cost much to acquire, and has a history of success. Prior to joining the Cowboys, Morris was the lead running back for the Washington Redskins. He broke the 1,000-yard mark in three of his four years there. He didn’t do it in Dallas, but that was because he was backing up one of the best running backs in football in Ezekiel Elliott.

Build Depth at Linebacker

Preston Brown could carry on the annual tradition of the Patriots taking the Bills best players

Image credit: The Buffalo News

As currently constructed, the Patriots are paper-thin at linebacker. They have a legit star in Dont’a Hightower, a good number two linebacker in Kyle Van Noy, and not much else. Linebacker was an issue all season for the Patriots, especially when Van Noy couldn’t play.

There’s two steps to fix this. First, the Patriots should re-sign Marquis Flowers. Flowers had something of a breakout season in his first year in New England. Injuries forced the career special teamer into the starting defense, and he ended up making a name for himself. He’s a great pass rusher and can hold his own in coverage, albeit that isn’t his strength. He doesn’t have the same ceiling, but he has a skill set very similar to that of Jamie Collins. He should only get better as he gets more reps, so bringing Flowers back should be of utmost importance.

Flowers alone won’t fix this. New England should also look into bringing over a run stopping linebacker, and the best fit would be Buffalo Bills free agent Preston Brown. Brown led the league in tackles during the 2017 season, and would be a perfect fit in New England.

Brown’s not great in open space, so he would fill in as the middle linebacker. This frees up Hightower and Van Noy to play on the edge, which suits their skills better. This defense would be hard to run against with Van Noy and Hightower handling edge duties and the reigning tackles leader in the middle of the defense. Add in Flowers as an off the bench pass rusher, and now the Patriots have four linebackers capable of making big plays.

Find a Second Cornerback

Let’s face it- Malcolm Butler is as good as gone. It was a great tenure that ended on an incredibly low note, but New England needs to move on. Looking around the free agent market, there’s quite a few players that could immediately help.

The Patriots already have one high-priced cornerback in Stephon Gilmore, but there’s talk they could go that route again. If they do, they should look at Los Angeles Rams cornerback Trumaine Johnson. Johnson played the previous two seasons under the franchise tag, and is a match for what New England’s scheme.

Johnson is better playing press coverage, but is certainly capable of dropping into zone and performing well. In many ways, he’s a mirror of Gilmore, albeit not quite as good. Combining those two with Devin McCourty, Patrick Chung, and Duron Harmon would give the Patriots one of the best secondaries in the league.

There’s also been talk that the Denver Broncos could release former Patriot Aqib Talib. While New England shouldn’t trade for him, they should definitely take a look if Denver does release him. Talib was the biggest factor in solidifying the defense in 2012 and 2013, and was an incredibly valuable member of the team. He’s not quite what he was, but he’s still one of the better corners around. He and Gilmore would arguably be the best cornerback tandem in football.

If New England wants a more cost-effective option, the best choice could be Kyle Fuller. Fuller will have a market, but not as big a one as the previous two. Fuller can play a variety of coverages and should fit in New England’s defense. He’s not a superstar like Talib or Johnson, but he doesn’t need to be. The rest of this secondary is so good that all New England needs is an average second corner to succeed.

Cover Image: Masslive.com