Being the offensive coordinator of the Patriots is the easiest job in the league, they say.
As for reasons, you can pretty much start and stop at, "Well, he's got Tom Brady." In previous years you could add Rob Gronkowski, Randy Moss, Wes Welker and Julian Edelman to the mix of great players to work with. Guys like James White weren't far off, and there were always plenty of clutch bodies around to help push the offense forward in times of distress.
But as the 2019 Patriots enter the stretch run, there should be little argument that offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels faces one of the biggest challenges of his Patriots career, if not the biggest.
Sunday night's lineup against the Cowboys should be an anomaly with Phillip Dorsett (concussion) likely out, and Mohamed Sanu a game-time decision, according to sources. This is what the Patriots could be left with:
WR — Julian Edelman, N'Keal Harry (second game), Jakobi Meyers (rookie), Matthew Slater (special teams).
TE — Ben Watson (38-years old), Matt LaCosse (sixth game), Ryan Izzo (seventh game).
RB — Sony Michel, James White, Rex Burkhead, Brandon Bolden, Damien Harris (rookie).
The Patriots might very well be pressed into activating either Devin Ross (signed Oct. 19) or Quincy Adeboyejo (signed Tuesday) from the practice squad.
This should be temporary. And considering the Cowboys' defense, don't be surprised if the Patriots go skinny at receiver, use all three tight ends and put Burkhead in a receiver role.
That's for one game. But is it really all that much better for the rest of the season?
Not really. Why do you think the Patriots had a parade of guys all season — let's trot them all out: Michael Roberts, Maurice Harris, Dontrelle Inman, Demaryius Thomas, Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Lance Kendricks, Cam Meredith, N'Keal Harry, Josh Gordon — and quickly dove into the Antonio Brown pool?
What you saw against the Eagles — some 15 deceptive plays, including nine screens — is just a taste of what is to come. McDaniels might as well put on a Dumbledore costume because it's smoke and mirrors time.
In a best-case scenario, this is the main group of weapons McDaniels will have at his disposal in the postseason:
RB Sony Michel: He is what he is at this point, which is the type of back that will get what is blocked and no more.
Pass back James White: As good as they come, but without a speed threat on the outside or a Gronkowski to take coverage and spread out the defense, his impact is going to be less than it was in the past.
Slot Julian Edelman: When fully healthy, there's no slot receiver you'd rather have in a foxhole than No. 11. But he's already dealing with a chest injury, and added a shoulder ailment against the Eagles — forget the mileage on his 33-year-old body. Remember this: Wes Welker was the same age his final season in Denver.
Z WR Mohamed Sanu: A functional professional receiver at 30, but brings little breakaway ability and is averaging career-lows this season in yards per reception and yards per target. And now he may be dealing with a high-ankle sprain for the balance of the season.
X WR N'Keal Harry/Phillip Dorsett: Your guess is as good as mine. Harry was drafted in the first round, but doesn't scream No. 1 wideout, which is fine. Being a complimentary piece is OK — when you have dangerous targets around and you can exploit individual matchups. Maybe he gets there this season, but the early returns shouldn't lead to optimism. ... Dorsett, he is what he is. He's a 4th or 5th WR who is great in depth situations relative to his role.
TE1 Ben Watson: Looked better against the Eagles when it appeared Brady realized he's going to have to throw the ball to Watson. But he's still 39 and can be timed by a sundial. Great hands so he can help move the chains.
TE2 Matt LaCosse: Another member of the high-ankle club. He's still trying to get back and may never be healthy this season. It's too bad, I think he's better than what he's shown so far.
So, yeah, the cupboard is a little skinny. And any conversation about the offense has to include the defense and Jake Bailey. We're dealing on a sliding scale here. The 2007 Patriots, they obviously don't need to be.
But can this offensive group eclipse the 2013 and '15 versions — which saw their seasons end at Denver? Even with a great defense, these Patriots are going to have to score into the 20s to secure victories against teams with a decent defense and a capable offense. Those Patriots teams scored 16 and 18 in their final games at Mile High. Is this year's unit better?
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I would make the argument that this group is in the same discussion with '13 for the worst assortment of the most recent Brady Era. The '15 Patriots were the Greatest Show on Turf compared to those teams.
Edelman was younger, and while Sanu and Amendola are basically the same player in different packages, Amendola could break tackles and produce a big play. Plus, he was Playoff Amendola.
Collie and Martin cancel each other out. So do Dobson and Harry, although at least, Dobson played most of the season and didn't miss most of training camp and the first eight games.
Watson gets a small nod over Hoo-man, but no one is breaking any land-speed records. White has the edge over Vereen.
I'll take Michel over Jackson every day.
Let's also not forget that you're talking about a 36-year-old Brady at the helm, not the 42-year-old version. And if you needed a bigger indication about how far off this group is from the Patriots' norm, Brady's passer rating of 90.1 is his lowest since ... his 87.3 in '13.
But the thing is, we all knew that '13 group had no chance when it went to Denver because injuries ravaged that team. Right now, entering Week 12, this is the best the Patriots have for the balance of the season. Plus, the loss of center/captain David Andrews continues to reverberate through the entire offense and has limited the effectiveness of screens. And the expectation is another Super Bowl title.
No pressure, Josh.
TUA AND THE PATRIOTS?
Looked at the NFL future of Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa for the Las Vegas Review-Journal this week. In a nutshell, as long as there wasn't damage to the artery supplying blood to that area of the body — the issue Bo Jackson had — then he likely won't drop all that much. Probably from top 3 to top 12, because he's that good and quarterbacks are that valuable.
I do think that would put him in play for the Patriots, if they identified him as a top prospect. I think they would. While he has great athletic ability, he's more of a pocket and scheme passer ... along the lines of a young Drew Brees. Tagovailoa would very much fit what they do.
As part of the story, I got the opinion of Dr. Thomas Gil, the Patriots' former team doctor. He related that former linebacker Rosevelt Colvin suffered the same injury early in the 2003 season. While he wasn't the same impact player after the injury, he still played five more seasons in New England — Bill Belichick wouldn't have kept Colvin around if he thought he was done — including 67 consecutive regular-season and postseason games immediately after his return from surgery.
What's interesting is that Colvin told Gil coming off the field that his leg suddenly felt longer.
"I had never heard that from an athlete before," Gil said.
Turns out a piece of bone had gotten loose and lodged into the hip socket, pushing Colvin's leg out slightly.
BELICHICK AND THE TOP 100
If you didn't see the first installment of NFL Network's Top 100 players countdown, make sure you find it and watch the rest of them because it's Bill Belichick as we never get to see and hear him.
The best part is Belichick breaking down film of players from the NFL's earliest days — and he really knows what he talks about when he breaks down their strengths and weaknesses. It's a treat.
Bill Belichick's knowledge of the game is unmatched.
He breaks down the film of #NFL100 All-Time Team RB Steve Van Buren.
?: #NFL100 All-Time Team on @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/Aq2oS6oPLV
— NFL (@NFL) November 23, 2019
Line: Patriots by 6. O/U: 44.5. Season: 8-2, 5-4 ATS.