Heading into the post-Tom Brady era, Bill Belichick is faced with a bunch of challenges. Some will be strategic challenges, some will be positional challenges. Many of the challenges will be involving personnel. However, there is no doubt that he will be tasked with one of his toughest seasons as head coach of the New England Patriots.
Belichick will be leading a younger Patriots team. As a result, some growing pains may occur. However, Belichick is a coach that has been through and seen it all. He will truly be put to the test. Undoubtedly, some tough decisions are ahead. As coach and general manager, all of the decisions rest in his hands. We take a look at three biggest challenges for Bill Belichick heading into this offseason.
Finding a playmaking tight end
Finding a playmaking tight end is one of the biggest challenges for Bill Belichick this offseason. Heading into the draft, the Patriots are missing a playmaking tight end. It was apparent in 2019 how much they missed Rob Gronkowski. Now, the challenge is on how to fill the void, and make the tight end position a source of production moving forward.
Matt LaCosse and Ryan Izzo are currently the two veteran tight ends on the roster. The organization needs more production there. LaCosse caught 13 passes for 131 yards and a touchdown last season. Izzo grabbed six catches for 114 yards and a touchdown. New England needs more production from the position over the course of the season.
When you look back in Patriots history and think about how they have used the tight end, the position has been valued greatly in the offense. A younger Ben Watson, Daniel Graham, and Gronkowski are all examples of that. Particularly when you think about the fact that New England is going to put a quarterback with less experience behind center, the tight end position is key.
The challenge for New England will be to either find a playmaking tight end in the draft, or try to see what they could get out of Izzo or LaCosse. Either way, Bill Belichick needs to make sure that the tight end is ready to be a focal point of the offense in 2020.
Getting depth at wide receiver
Getting depth at the wide receiver position will be crucial for Bill Belichick moving forward. The Patriots still have a reliable receiver in Julian Edelman, but beyond that there isn’t much depth to be found.
New England will be looking for second-year wideout N’keal Harry to have a breakout year. Jacoby Myers also figures to be a part of the equation as well. Beyond that, there is not a ton of depth. The challenge for Bill Belichick this offseason will be to try and see if he can grab a playmaking receiver, whether it be the draft or by other means.
The lack of depth showed itself a bit last year. There were glimpses of what the wide receiver group could do, but many on the unit were extremely young and raw. Edelman is a reliable target for any quarterback to throw to. He recorded 100 receptions and 1,117 receiving yards last season. His six touchdowns matched a career-high. There is no doubt that he will be a huge part of the equation moving forward. However, Edelman is 33 years old and has taken a lot of hits. It will be difficult for the next Patriots quarterback to rely solely on him.
The challenge for Bill Belichick heading into the draft would be to find a playmaking receiver who can start right away. This is not a position where New England and Bill Belichick can afford to wait any longer. He needs to make sure that adds somebody to this offense that can come in and contribute instantly.
Getting the quarterbacks ready
Perhaps one of the bigger challenges of the offseason for Bill Belichick is making sure that his quarterbacks are up to speed. As has been well-documented, the New England Patriots are entering a world without Tom Brady. Now, Jarrett Stidham and Brian Hoyer will have the offense fall on their shoulders. Following Tom Brady is a difficult task, and Belichick has to be ready to adjust as much as the quarterbacks.
For one, scaling down the playbook might be beneficial for both coach and signal-callers. Brady was in the New England Patriots system for the better part of 20 years. He knew the nuances and audibles like the back of his hand. In some cases, he was even his own offensive coordinator. The Patriots don’t have that luxury in their quarterback anymore.
The challenge for Bill Belichick this offseason is to assess the strengths of Stidham and Hoyer and adjust the playbook accordingly., Belichick might want to scale back the playbook and give the offense a set of plays that both quarterbacks are comfortable with.
This will not be easy for either quarterback or coach. However, it is necessary in an adjustment period. This will truly test Belichick’s ability as a game-planner and strategist. It will be fascinating to see how he adjusts, if at all.
