5 keys for the Patriots in the NFL season-opener against the Steelers
COMMENTARY
A collective sigh will blow through New England after kickoff in the NFL season opener featuring the Patriots and Steelers.
It’s been a long offseason in good ways and bad. The New England Patriots won the Super Bowl — lest we forget — and Julian Edelman, Tom Brady, and Rob Gronkowski made cameos and headlines off the field all summer. But then there was Deflategate — and a rehashing of Spygate.
So when the ball flies on Thursday night at 8:30 p.m., the collective catharsis will spread from Connecticut to Boston to Maine. After the elated realization that real, regular season football has returned, be sure to watch for these five things. They’ll determine the outcome of the Patriots Week 1 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
1. Tom Brady: Rust or revenge?
The last time Brady and the Patriots emerged from a scandal, they rewrote offensive record books. Brady — aided by Randy Moss, Wes Welker, and Donte Stallworth — became a ruthlessly efficient scorer. In 2015, Deflategate will neither be out of sight nor out of mind — Brady will be out to prove that his career that includes 53,258 passing yards, 392 passing touchdowns and four Super Bowl victories had nothing to do with PSI, underinflated footballs, or videotaped signals.
Bill Belichick was concerned Spygate would affect his Hall of Fame status, according to an ESPN report. Brady could have the same fear — he’ll be out to make a statement with every snap.
2. Suspensions will affect this game
Brady will be on the field Week 1 thanks to District Court Judge Richard M. Berman. But three notable players will not be: Steelers’ Le’Veon Bell and Martavis Bryant and Patriots’ LeGarrette Blount. The absence of Bell and Bryant could neuter the Steelers offense.
Bell was arguably the most versatile running back in the NFL last season with 1,361 rushing yards, 854 receiving yards and 11 total touchdowns. The Steelers offense will sorely miss him, as his patient, efficient running style complemented the explosive, high-tempo tandem of Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown. Serviceable but not superlative running back DeAngelo Williams will serve in Bell’s stead.
Martavis Bryant, who was in a battle for the second receiver spot, arbitrarily loses it to Markus Wheaton for the time being due to his four-game suspension for violating the NFL Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse. In 2014, he averaged 21.1 yards per reception and scored eight touchdowns on 26 receptions — his suspension means one less headache for the Patriots’ secondary.
Blount’s absence forces the Patriots to rely upon Brandon Bolden and their pass-catching running backs, as they released their other power back, Jonas Gray, on Sept. 5. But NFL.com writer Marc Sessler may have said it best: “Patriots coach Bill Belichick could finesse a 200-yard rushing performance out of Natalie Portman.’’ The Patriots rushing attack should be fine.
3. Necessity will encourage creativity in the Patriots’ passing attack
Without starters Brandon LaFell (injury) and Blount, the Patriots could use unconventional formations and packages to get their best players on the field. New England flashed some two-back and two-tight-end sets during preseason — they even lined their running backs up at wide receiver. And with a stable of pass-catching running backs in Dion Lewis, Travaris Cadet, and James White, New England has every reason to experiment with their shifty, smaller backs.
The offense could also change pace regularly. One passing play might be an exhibition of two-back finesse, and the next passing play could be a display of two-tight-end physicality. Scott Chandler and Gronkowski combine for over 13 feet and 345 pounds of tight end. The Patriots could use the tandem to control the center of the field — especially in the red zone.
4. The Patriots must contain Antonio Brown
With a league-high 1,698 receiving yards in 2014, Antonio Brown may be the most explosive receiver in the league. Patriots defensive backs Malcolm Butler and Devin McCourty could combine forces to attempt to limit the man who will be the Steeler’s offensive ignitor on Thursday — and on Sundays to come.
There’s always the chance the Patriots will give Brown the “LeBron James’’ treatment, and shut down everyone but him, challenging Brown to single-handedly beat them. But it seems far more likely that they’ll look for the Super Bowl hero (Butler) to prove he’s not a one-game wonder.
If the Patriots secondary struggles to limit Brown, they could also try to stifle the guy throwing Butler the ball with an aggressive pass rush. The Patriots have quietly acquired touted pass-rushers Jamie Collins, Dont’a Hightower and not-so-quietly developed them into well-rounded linebackers, using them sparingly as pass-rushers. But that doesn’t mean they can’t still chase the quarterback. The Patriots also combined incumbent defensive ends Chandler Jones and Rob Ninkovich with new acquisition Jabaal Sheard and rookies Trey Flowers and Geneo Grissom. The Patriots have a litany of options to disrupt and fluster Roethlisberger.
5. The Patriots offensive line needs to hold it together
None of the good stuff in keys No. 1 and No. 3 will be possible without the men in the trenches.
Remember the first four games of 2014? The offensive line was abysmal, and the sky was falling in New England. Well, there’s a chance history repeats itself.
Second-year center Bryan Stork, who was a part of the solution for the Patriots’ offensive line in 2014, will not play until at least Week 8, as he was placed on the IR-designated to return with a concussion. That leaves undrafted rookie David Andrews as the only remaining center on the roster. Rookie guard Shaq Mason has yet to assert himself as the starter at left guard, as the Georgia Tech triple-option product is a shaky pass-protector, which means veteran guard Ryan Wendell could start ahead of Mason or ahead of Andrews at center. Fourth-round selection Tre’ Jackson is a plug-and-play right guard, but every rookie has growing pains.
The interior of the offensive line needs to develop chemistry and, frankly, block bettter than they did in the preaseaon. The Patriots offense depends upon it.
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