Molholt
Starter
New England Patriots | Season Preview | 2016
Offense
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Offense
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Quarterback | Jimmy Garopollo | 24 Years Old | 75 Overall
Under center for the Patriots will be Jimmy Garopollo, the Eastern Illinois product who spent a season behind Tom Brady before being handed the reigns of one of the NFL's most competitive franchises. Garopollo has impossible shoes to fill and a long road ahead of him to be the Patriots next franchise quarterback, but he does feature some tools that should benefit him. Garopollo has a decent arm, with enough power behind his throws to not see that as a weakness in his game. His accuracy is respectable from about 20 yards and in, which is where the Patriots will focus to try and get him into his groove early on. He will miss throws down the field and on the run, but should be consistent in the West Coast scheme. Where Garopollo might have an advantage over the former star is with his feet. Jimmy isn't an elite scrambler, but he is capable of moving in the pocket and finding lanes to either extend the play or make a break for it himself.
This could be a make-or-break season for Garopollo, as his performance could consider how heavily the Pats value taking a quarterback in the draft. So far this season, in two games, Jimmy has thrown for 377 yards and 2 TDs, largely serving as a game manager as he works his way into his role on the offense.
Quarterback | Sam Bradford | 28 Years Old | 75 Overall
Sam Bradford will be serving as the New England backup this season. A highly-touted college quarterback, Bradford's career has been marred with injuries and disappointment. The veteran hopes to turn his career around in New England. Last season, while in Philadelphia, Bradford threw for just under 2,000 yards with 13 TDs.
Running Back | Javia Locke | 22 Years Old | 79 Overall
Locke might go down as the steal of the draft this past season. New England selected him with the 17th pick in the 6th round and now he is the feature back for this offense. Locke is a one-cut back with a quick first step. His top-end speed won't blow anyone away, but he should be able to hit the line of scrimmage hard and fast. He is more apt to try to run through the defender, rather than around, so expect him to grind out plenty of short carries and always be consistently gaining extra yardage. Locke seems to be an incredibly hard worker based on the preseason and could be a superstar in the making. His usefulness in the passing game has yet to be seen, but he will need to work on that area of his game to maximize his time on the field.
So far this season, Locke has 142 yards on 33 carries, a 4.2 yards per carry average. He has picked up 1 touchdown.
Running Back | Brandon Bolden | 22 Years Old | 73 Overall
In years past, Bolden would be considered the more bruising back in the Patriots offense, but his abilities in short-yardage situations could be diminishing with the skillset of Locke. However, while it is still early on, Bolden is being called on in those areas so far. He has 20 carries for 70 yards, 3 of them going for scores thus far. Bolden's primary role in the offense will be as the receiving back though, as he is far superior to Locke in that area. While he only has 1 catch on the season, New England figures to work him in much more moving forward.
Wide Receiver | Brandon LaFell | 29 Years Old | 84 Overall
LaFell was nearly a 1,000 yard receiver last year, with 902 yards and 4 touchdowns, despite only bringing in 57 catches. LaFell is the biggest red zone threat not named Gronkowski and should be the most targeted outside receiver for the Pats. LaFell has been quite thus far, with only 5 catches and no scores through 2 games, but he was spending time as the team's WR2 and will be featured as the WR1 going forward. With Aaron Dobson missing time with injury and new addition Miles Austin not having time to work much with Garopollo, LaFell should expect to see plenty of targets this season. As one of the best pass catchers on the team, he should do well with the increase in chances.
Wide Receiver | Miles Austin | 32 Years Old | 76 Overall
Miles Austin was the most recent addition to the receiving corp., and was primarily brought in to help a squad dealing with the Aaron Dobson injury. Austin is a former standout for the Dallas Cowboys, before falling off the table and becoming nearly irrelevant in recent years. While there is no Tom Brady, New England is hoping that the veteran can find his groove with others around him to help him find more openings. Austin might have been the most sure-handed receiver on the market, but his recent struggles and age likely deterred interest from other teams. Austin brought in 500 yards and 3 TDs for the Eagles last season.
Inside Receiver | Julian Edelman | 30 Years Old | 86 Overall
Julian Edelman will likely be lining up all over the field, but could be seen primarily in the slot. The 5'10 veteran has become one of the most reliable pass catchers in the league, being an elite level route runner to go with it. He became a valuable weapon when New England lost the similarly skilled Wes Welker and will likely carry the receiving group for the season. Age might begin to catch up with him, but you can't deny his ability to make consistent grabs and find openings in any defensive scheme. Last season, Edelman had just under 900 yards and 3 TDs. I would expect that with a new quarterback, Edelman will surpass those numbers as Garopollo's primary safety blanket.
Tight End | Rob Gronkowski | 27 Years Old | 99 Overall
Speaking of safety blankets, is there any person more capable of bailing you out of a bad throw than Rob Gronkowski? Gronk has been one of the top two, if not the absolute best tight end in the league, almost since the moment he came into it. He's a matchup nightmare, as he can bully his way into space and making catches that the defenders have no chance of interrupting. Gronkowski is likely the best red zone target in the entire league and can make ridiculous catches while in tons of traffic. Last season, Gronk had 700 yards and 7 touchdowns, which are both numbers that I wouldn't be surprised to see him pass this season. He has 100 yards through the first two games this year.
Right Tackle | Sebastian Vollmer | 31 Years Old | 86 Overall
Sebastian Vollmer anchors the right side of the New England offensive line. The veteran is strong and smart, a great combination for a tackle in the NFL. Known primarily for his elite pass blocking, Vollmer will be counted on to give Jimmy Garopollo plenty of time in the pocket, keeping him healthy and hit-free to ensure no jitters from the young signal caller.
Left Tackle | Nate Solder | 28 Years Old | 89 Overall
Nate Solder holds down the opposite side of the offensive line, slotting in as the team's left tackle to cover Garopollo's blind side. Perhaps a slightly better run blocker, Solder is an elite level impact blocker - and should see his fair share of pancakes as a result. Quick, for a lineman, Solder can move downfield and open running lanes for Locke as well. Plus, Solder isn't a bad pass catcher, so don't be surprised if he gets involved in the passing game this year.
