We've previously talked about the five Patriots with the most pressure on them this season, with Bill Belichick at the top of the list with the narrow margin for error he has left himself with his roster and coaching decisions.
Let's sort of look at it from the other side.
If the Patriots are to shock the world, say like 2001, who are the top 10 players that will have the biggest say in that?
10. James White/Pierre Strong/JJ Taylor
One understated factor if not outright detriment to Mac Jones' rookie season was only getting three games and 12 catches from James White. He may no longer be the most dynamic third-down back in the league, even before his injury, but there were very few better at providing a security blanket for a young QB than the pass catcher. And not only for his receiving. White is one of the best in the league at scanning the defense and knowing which rusher to pick up. It's not that the Patriots were bad at it after his injury — they were surprisingly good — and Damien Harris, especially, showed some skills out of the backfield. But think about White in the biggest games and what he provided for Tom Brady and the team. Jones desperately could use that kind of player and production to make his life easier this season. One of those three will need to step up. It would be a surprise if that's Strong given the track record the Patriots have of sitting the likes of White and Shane Vereen for their rookie campaigns, but you never know.
9. Adrian Phillips
It's probably a surprise that a veteran like Phillips is on this list and not, say, Kyle Dugger. But Dugger is kind of what he is at this point, and that's a rush/cover player. He hasn't shown yet that he's going to be a deceptive player reading the QB. That could happen, but with Phillips here on an extension ... that's his role for the here and now, and it's a huge one in this defense. The more Phillips can impact the passing game, the better it is for the Patriots. That only happens if the big boys up front do their job better, so Phillips doesn't have to spend all game fending off guards and taking on running backs. The Patriots will be better if Phillips is freed up to read the QB. If that happens more this season, that means things are going well for this defense, which is crucial.
8. Jonnu Smith
This is well-worn territory. Everyone knows the Patriots can't afford a $12.5 million TE not producing at near a Pro Bowl level. If Smith ups his production big-time, then the Patriots have a chance to be an improved offense this year. I wouldn't hold my breath on that, but it's obviously important.
(Adam Richins for BSJ)
7. DeVante Parker
There were a lot of reasons for it last year, and most of it was personnel, but the Patriots' passing offense shrunk horizontally and vertically. In this scheme — and that of the Shanahan system, if we see more of that — it's more important if the Patriots are dangerous from sideline to sideline more than end zone to end zone. If Parker is productive enough to draw the attention of safeties, then the field opens that much more for Jones and the inside receivers/TEs. Parker has to be on the field and a factor every week.
6. Davon Godchaux
This is also pretty basic. If the Patriots don't stop the run better than they have going on three years, it doesn't matter what they have in pass rush or coverage, because the offense is going to have the down and distance advantage. They are going to have a hard time getting off the field. You might think that's not a problem, given some of the bend-but-don't-break defenses in the past, but it is, especially in today's game. The Patriots offense needed more possessions last year — let alone more short fields — and there were games when they'd only have 6-7 real possessions. That's just not enough when points are now at a premium. If Godchaux can greatly improve this season — the Patriots made no further investment at nose tackle, not even in the draft — then the Patriots can get into sub quicker, where they have at least some personnel advantages, and that should lead to more possessions.
5. Raekwon McMillan/Mac Wilson
We know Ja'Whaun Bentley is going to be one of the linebackers, for better or for worse. It might be for better if he has a running mate who can make plays chasing the ball and blitzing. The Patriots were static and plodding at linebacker last year. If they can get more of an impact there, think early Jamie Collins, then that will help the defense get off the field quicker and turn the ball over. More forced fumbles would be nice — those are often an indicator of team speed on defense.
(Adam Richins for BSJ)
4. Jalen Mills
We know the Patriots should be good at slot corner with Jonathan Jones back. Even if they are weak at No. 1 cornerback, they can cover for that with safety help ... if No. 2 is locked down nicely by Mills. He was solid last year, and if Mills takes a step up and becomes a good No. 2 cornerback, then the Patriots will be in better shape in the secondary than most think. Of course, a lot goes into that, like run defense.
3. Josh Uche
Deatrich Wise will be on the field on the edge for early downs at least, but someone is going to have to be a real threat for the sub defense to work. Both Steve and Bill Belichick have spoken well of Uche, who is looking for a real role in his third year. If he can show off his athletic ability and get to the passer to help Matthew Judon, that means a lot of things are going well for the Patriots.
2. Trent Brown
Pretty simple. If the Big Man can stay on the field and give them what he did last time at LT, especially next to a rookie in Cole Strange, Mac Jones will feel comfortable and will hang with plays longer. This is almost a must. If Brown is in and out, and left tackle is a situation every week, Jones is going to have a tough time sustaining success and the Patriots could be looking at a long season.
1. Mac Jones
They're asking a lot of the young man to deal with such a coaching departure in just his second season, but he does have some tools around him to use, if the offensive line gels. Would be a surprise if the Patriots are winning a lot of games by easy margins, which means week in and week out, Jones is going to have to make crucial plays for them to stay in the playoff chase, like early Brady. Quite simply, if Jones is a top 10 QB this season, the Patriots are going places. But he depends on everything else going right.
(Adam Richins for BSJ)
NICKEL PACKAGE
1. Interesting quotes from Robert Griffin III to Mike Reiss, as the former NFL rookie of the year seems to be one of the few optimistic about Mac Jones' situation. "The coaching setup will have a massive impact on Mac Jones in a good way," Griffin told Reiss. "Mac has already spoken about how it has been a collaborative process with the coaches and players talking in meetings, installing the offense. And I believe that will lead to more ownership from him about what is being called and how he sees the game."
Also interesting that Griffin reportedly wasn't coachable by Mike and Kyle Shanahan — two of the most QB-friendly coaches in the league — in his second season, which started his slide out of the league (which was also aided by injury, of course). Maybe he thinks Jones will handle things better than he did.
2. Congrats to Robert Kraft on making the semifinalist list for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. This has been in the works for a while and he is definitely deserving. I would be surprised if it doesn't happen.
3. There was an ESPN report that the Seahawks have done their homework on Jimmy Garoppolo, which is no surprise. It would likely only happen if he's released. I don't know how the Browns don't go after Garoppolo for DeShaun Watson security. Acquire Garoppolo, promise him he won't be franchised, and let him be the bridge to next season. The Browns can't go with Jacoby Brissett.
4. Robbie Anderson spoke on the I Am Athlete podcast and not only defended Sam Darnold, he illustrated how the most important thing for a young QB is how he is nurtured.
“I will say this with Sam though, I feel like his development was all messed up coming into the league,” Anderson said. “Look at Pat [Mahomes] and look at Lamar [Jackson], they ain’t play right away. I don’t feel like Sam should have played right away so … I feel like his career got jump-started the wrong way. ... I feel like being in the building, the coaches … it wasn’t right. So in his defense, I don’t feel like he was developed 100% correctly.”
Can you imagine if Jones came into the Patriots this season?
5. Going to be totally off for the first time since founding BSJ starting Thursday, and will be back at the end of the following week. Thanks for your patience in advance, and then we'll be hitting hard heading into YEAR SIX of BSJ after that. Appreciate all of you and your support. We literally would not be still standing without each and every one of you.