Cory Bailey, a Wrentham native and former Xaverian Brothers standout, will be providing some film analysis for BSJ this football season. A former captain at Fordham as an offensive lineman and long snapper, Bailey signed as a free agent with the Giants and played a season in NFL Europe. A former coaching intern with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Bailey has had a long career as a college coach with stints at Dean and Iona before becoming the head coach at Assumption and, most recently, as the recruiting coordinator and defensive line coach at Coastal Carolina the previous six years. A former Patriots ballboy in the 1980s, Bailey recently relocated his family back to Massachusetts.
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OFFENSE
Quite simply put, the Patriots are trying to find an offensive identity. They have been in and out of different personnel groupings. They have attempted to utilize different players in different roles. The strengths offensively have been in their downhill run game (counter, power, lead, wham). The play-action pass game off of the downhill-run looks has been very effective. The gadget plays have also been effective and I think they should include that it every game plan. Their struggles have been in the one back run game and their traditional option routes.
Quarterback
Tom Brady
Offensive line
Dante Scarnecchia
Joe Thuney, David Andrews, Shaq Mason
Marcus Cannon
Trent Brown
Ted Karras
LaAdrian Waddle
LT Trent Brown:
LG Joe Thuney
C David Andrews
RG Shaq Mason
Marcus Cannon
Backups Ted Karras and LaAdrian Waddle
Tight end
This position is one of the biggest question marks on the team. On one hand, you have the best tight end in the league, on the other, you're better off not even using a tight end at all.
Rob Gronkowski
Josh McDaniels
Dwayne Allen
Jacob Hollister
Wide Receiver
This group does have talent. The challenge is, how can McDaniels get them all on the same page as Brady. The lack of working together through the off-season has no doubt affected the continuity of this group. They have the pieces here but they need to be on time and in rhythm.
Julian Edelman
Chris Hogan
Phillip Dorsett
Josh Gordon
Cordarrelle Patterson
Running Back
This group, although small in numbers, is talented. The challenge they have as a group is staying healthy. It is evident that the Patriots have a mold as to what they are looking for. If healthy, this group is good enough to win at a high level.
James White
Sony Michel
Rex Burkhead
Cordarrelle Patterson
James Develin
DEFENSE
Unlike the offense, I think the defense is very clear in terms of what they want to do. In studying the defense, one thing that surprised me has been the amount of zone coverage they've played this season. I've also been blown away by their run-fit challenges specifically with the linebacker position. In general, I think the defense is about as good as its going to get. They have talent deficiencies relative to the rest of the league.
Defensive Line
I really believe this group may be the weakest in terms of talent on the team. They are better at the defensive end spot and have some things they can do to make that group more effective verse the pass. Their defensive tackle position is below average. At both DE and DT they have attempted to fill this talent void with free agent signings that have not panned out. In the Patriots scheme, the defensive line is very controlled in a lot of situations. I think this has something to do with the value the Patriots place here.
DE Trey Flowers
DE Adrian Clayborn
DE Keionta Davis
DT Danny Shelton
DT Malcom Brown and Lawrence Guy
DL Adam Butler
DE Deatrich Wise Jr.
Linebacker
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This seems to be the second weakest position on the team in terms of overall talent. It absolutely hurt losing Ja'Whaun Bentley. He could run and was physical. As I look at this group, I think the NFL game has passed a lot of these players by. The prototype linebacker in the Patriots defense used to be the bigger type players that could hold a gap in the box, stop the run, and occasionally rush the passer. The game has evolved and the better NFL defenses have linebackers that might not be as big but can absolutely run. I believe the Patriots have realized this and are now trying to find guys that fit the new mold. The younger players are much more athletic.
Dont'a Hightower
Kyle Van Noy
Elandon Roberts
John Simon
Secondary
This is the best group on the defense. I think by playing a little more zone coverage, the Patriots have taken some pressure off this group. They are a smart group that always seems to be at least close to where they are supposed to be. They could really benefit from some more pressure up front. They are also active verse the run and are often asked to be primary fitters.
CB Jason McCourty
CB Stephon Gilmore
S Devin McCourty
S Patrick Chung
S Duron Harmon
CBs J.C Jackson and Jonathan Jones
SPECIAL TEAMS
Ryan Allen
Stephen Gostkowski
OVERALL
- Get an identity on offense
- Find the timing and rhythm in their pass game (plan for having Gronk and not having Gronk)
- Find ways to pressure the quarterback in the pass game on defense
- Continue to mix and disguise zone and man coverage on defense
Eliminate big plays on special teams
Tom Brady
Bill Belichick