The New England Patriots are starting over new. No, not in the sense that they are having a fire sale on players or completely turning over the roster. Most of the team has never played without Tom Brady. Some have come from different places and have experienced other organizations, but this will be a learning moment for a lot of guys.
How will the Patriots adjust to the post-Brady era? Will they fall flat on their face and the run of success is ended with a Thanos-like snap? If they want to lessen the negative impact of Brady’s departure, these eight Patriots need to step up this season.
Josh McDaniels, OC
Behind Bill Belichick, McDaniels probably has the most to lose in New England this season. He’s spent four seasons without Brady – one in New England, two in Denver, and one in St. Louis. In his three seasons outside the organization, McDaniels’ offenses have never finished higher than 19th in points per game. And, in the one season in New England without Brady, the Patriots brought back a roster that just went undefeated in 2007. They finished eighth in points per game.
Now, McDaniels has a large challenge on his hands. He’ll have to prepare a new quarterback to start in 2020. Whether that quarterback is Jarrett Stidham, Brian Hoyer, Cody Kessler, a rookie, or another veteran, the offense will not run the same as it has in the past.
The best part of Brady’s game has been deciphering defenses and knowing just where the hole will be. It would be unfair to expect that of the next quarterback right away. It will be McDaniels’ job to make it easier on his quarterback and the rest of the offense. If he can do that well enough, the transition might not be as difficult.
Jarrett Stidham, QB
At this point, it feels like Stidham will be the starter this year. If that’s the case, he has a lot on his plate. At 23, Stidham will have to replace the greatest quarterback of all-time. Fans and the media shouldn’t be expecting a performance that’s Brady-like. However, Stidham has the chance to ease the change and prove a lot of people wrong.
Coming out of college, Stidham had doubters. He struggled his final year at Auburn which meant pundits were lower on him. Then he came in and lit it up in the preseason. Some saw flashes of talent while others pointed out that his performance was against second and third-string players And, the last time Stidham got extended game action, he threw a pick-six against the Jets.
Now, the kid from Stephenville, Texas has a chance to be a starter in this league. He needs to study, watch film, and work with his teammates as much as possible to be prepared for this golden opportunity.
Brian Hoyer, QB
Whether or not Hoyer starts this year, he’ll play a pivotal role in this upcoming season. Obviously, if he wins the starting job everything will fall on him, and he’ll have to be the leader of this team. However, the more likely scenario is that Hoyer ends up as the backup.
As the veteran backup, he’ll be Stidham’s go-to guy. Hoyer needs to bestow any knowledge onto the starter and continue to teach him throughout the year. And, in practice, Hoyer will need to be the leader. He’s seen how this offense practices and what it takes to be a winning team. That mentality should be taught to the starter.
Sony Michel, RB
Michel got a lot of flak for his performance last season, and it obviously wasn’t all his fault. However, some of the blame can be tossed his way. Now, he must step up and play like the first-round talent he was drafted as.
The biggest criticism of Michel has been his inability to make the first defender miss. That’s why not having a consistent fullback last year really hurt him. Without James Develin, Michel was often getting hit at the line and being taken down. This year, he should take a step forward and begin either avoiding those would-be tacklers or running right through them. An above-average running back can be a young quarterback’s best friend. Michel can take some of the burden off of their shoulders.
N’Keal Harry
Harry had a disappointing rookie season after being the first, first-round wide receiving the Patriots have selected during Belichick’s tenure. A lot of that stems from the injury that caused him to miss the majority of the season. He never got the opportunity to learn and grow within the offense, and by the time he came back, there was no time to catch up.
This season, if healthy, Harry can finally become the red-zone threat the Patriots have been missing without Rob Gronkowski. Harry’s size should make him a prime candidate for jump balls and fade routes. Being that solid, big-bodied receiver may take some of the responsibility off of the tight end group that’s still looking slim.
Mohamed Sanu, WR
Sanu was expected to be the deadline acquisition that would change the trajectory of the offense last year. He was another target that could help Brady on the way to a deep playoff run. Instead, an injury lessened his impact and really put a strain on him to play.
This season, Sanu has a chance to show everybody that he is a solid second wideout. Many people said that he was only able productive because he played next to Julio Jones and A.J. Green. Now, he needs to take that opportunity and show that he can get open himself and that he doesn’t just take advantage of double-teams. If he can be another slot, opposite Julian Edelman, that offense, and that wide receiver group specifically, looks a lot better than it did at the end of the year.
Isaiah Wynn, LT
Wynn missed his rookie season with a torn Achilles and sat out half of last year with a toe injury. 2020 needs to be about proving that he can stay healthy and be the franchise left tackle. Many have questioned whether or not Wynn could move positions down the road and play guard. He should want to erase that narrative.
The former Georgia Bulldog has the tenacity, ability, and edge to be a solid left tackle for years to come. He just has to show it for a prolonged period of time. If Wynn can take the backside pressure off of whatever quarterback is playing, he can take one thing off their mind.
Julian Edelman, WR
This is going to be a very interesting year to watch Edelman. Obviously, he’s been Brady’s primary target since his ascension in 2013. They’ve been almost inseparable on the sidelines. Now, Edelman has to find that connection with his next quarterback.
There are a lot of questions about if he can do that. Was it Brady that made Edelman great, or will he be able to succeed with the next guy? That’s an important question. A lot of Edelman’s game has been about being on the right page with Brady and knowing where he’d want to go with the ball. It’s brand new now.
And, Edelman’s mentality will be one of the key factors in this next season. Edelman can’t get frustrated if he thinks the quarterback missed an opportunity. His leadership will be imperative. He’ll have to help coach up the quarterback and the receivers. Without Brady, Edelman has to step up and have his presence felt.
