Starting 4-0 while going undefeated in both the division and the conference is a great way to finish the first quarter of the season. The Patriots are 1-0 against each of their three division opponents, which again is a great way to start. It sets them up beautifully for their perennial elite postseason seeding. Their defense has allowed but one single offensive touchdown against and could very well be the most dominant defense ever coached here by Bill Belichick during this 19-year odyssey. They are also ranked fifth in the league in points scored, averaging 30.5 points per game, but it doesn't feel that way does it? When you look at it in terms of the roster on offense, things don't look so rosy.
That's because it isn't.
It all starts at the offensive line. As they entered the third week of the regular season, the Patriots had already lost 60 percent of its starting unit, including both tackles (Isaiah Wynn and Marcus Cannon) along with their center, David Andrews. Since then, Cannon has returned but the negative impact on the running game, particularly on lead back Sony Michel has been glaringly obvious. The Patriots running game was rightfully labeled an area of strength, or better described as having an embarrassment of riches entering the season, but when your offensive line loses three key members in two weeks problems occur and problems have most certainly occurred all over the offensive side of the ball of late.
Then there's the problem at wide receiver. In the aftermath of the meteor that was Antonio Brown crashing into New England a couple of weeks ago, here's a look at the current depth chart:
Julian Edelman – questionable with a chest injury. (Knowing how tough, gritty and committed Edelman is, my guess is that this injury is worse than has been reported).
Josh Gordon – questionable with a knee. That news dropped on the Wednesday injury report. Prior to that, Gordon looked tentative and slow on Sunday and was nursing a finger injury from the Jets game the week prior. The team is and will be relying on Gordon even more given the current state of the receiver depth chart and that comes with an entirely different set of potential complications.
Phillip Dorsett – your only healthy veteran.
Jakobi Meyers – a rookie, with three regular-season catches.
Gunner Olszewski – a rookie who made the 53-man roster largely for his ability on special teams. The rookie returner is also now questionable with a hamstring injury.
Matthew Slater – speaking of special teams.
N'Keal Harry – rookie on IR and not eligible to return until Week 9.
I could take a deeper dive but I think the depth chart speaks for itself. The Pats need help at wide receiver.
Wide receiver has long been a topic that many immersed in Patriots nation, be it fans or media, have whined about pretty consistently the last two decades. Sometimes merited, sometimes overblown, but now the paradigm is totally different. Last season following Gordon's suspension during week 13, the Pats were able to adjust and morph into a run-based offense.
With the same talent and even more depth at running back this season, one might think that tactic could be replicated but that is not necessarily the case. With an offensive line now working to gain cohesion in-season, the running attack cannot be the primary source of offense. Play-action, which against Buffalo on Sunday was non-existent is tougher to sell without a real threat in the running game. As I wrote above, it all starts with the offensive line and their line is depleted. For these reasons, don't expect that the Patriots will replicate the strategy that led them to glory in 2018. The circumstances now are different.
Additionally, last year strong blocking at the tight end position also aided the running attack. Gronkowski was an all-world Hall of Fame player not just because of his ability in the passing game, but he was a hell of a blocker too. Dwayne Allen was also a rock-solid blocker here last season and he like Gronk is also gone. In 2019? Tight end is black-hole in terms of both catching passes and in run blocking so again, the circumstances are far different.
So what now? If you don't have the tools in the house to fix a problem, you go to the hardware store. For the Patriots, it's time to shop and I made them a list with options for any budget…
Premium items:
They're out there. My two favorites are Emmanuel Sanders and Larry Fitzgerald.
Why Sanders? Belichick made a run at him years ago when he was a young and relatively unknown player in Pittsburgh. He saw something then and he was right, because Sanders has been consistently beastly throughout his storied career in Denver. Speaking of Denver, they stink and have a couple of young receivers in Courtland Sutton and DaeSean Hamilton whom are both becoming more prominent in their scheme. This leads me to think he may be available by the deadline.
Why Fitzgerald? I've long felt that the venerable Larry Fitzgerald and Tom Brady should have been paired many years ago. The skills of each seem to mesh perfectly. Like Denver, Arizona is going nowhere and Fitzgerald is like a wise old uncle nurturing a literal herd of young Cardinals receivers. Arizona drafted three receivers just this year (Andy Isabella, Hakeem Butler and KeeSean Johnson) this is following the 2018 draft where they snagged wide receiver Christian Kirk. Arizona doesn't play defense and has a plethora of receivers. Where the Patriots are absolutely stacked on defense a deal here just makes sense.
Practical item: Maurice Harris.
The aforementioned Jakobi Meyers wasn't the only Patriots receiver who impressed in Training Camp or during the pre-season. Maurice Harris looked to be a roster finalist before Josh Gordon was reinstated by the commissioner and had earned a spot. Harris is solid, not spectacular, but has a few things in his favor.
One. He is familiar with the system and showed well playing in it during the summer.
Two. He's a big target, 6-3, 205-lbs and can play the slot. With Edelman less than 100 percent, I think the slot position needs to be fortified. Harris can step in at low cost and do that.
Three. He's shown some chops at the NFL level. Last year with an anemic Redskins passing game, Harris had a 10 catch, 124-yard performance against Atlanta.
Used Meat: Bennie Fowler and Dez Bryant.
Fowler was just released by the New York Giants. He's not sexy, but he can be productive. During four games with the Giants, Fowler reeled in 12 receptions on 20 targets for 99 yards. Between 2016 and 2017 he caught five touchdowns in Denver so there's some track record there. He's game ready, available and probably worth a look.
Bryant. If he has a published number he's worth a call right? Either that or make a run at Trent Williams, the left tackle in Washington and try to solve these offensive problems that way. Regardless of how it gets done, something needs to be done for the long haul of 2019. The current lot doesn't look sustainable in terms of its depth or current health status.
Look, after the next three weeks, with games against the lowly Redskins, Giants and Jets things record-wise will look really good just as they do now. I predict they will be 7-0 at that time. However, don't be fooled by that, because the Pats can beat those teams with their current offense, injuries and all. Against Kansas City in January though? That could be a different matter. I say fortify the troops now.
