With Eric Decker’s retirement, the New England Patriots are extremely weak at the wide receiver position. An unexpected pass catcher will have to step up this season.
Things just continue to get more and more interesting for the New England Patriots this preseason.
The Patriots have gotten rid of receivers like they have the plague. New England was already weak at the position and got a little weaker on Sunday when Eric Decker announced his retirement from the NFL.
I never expected Decker to make the roster. He seemed like he was declining and struggled to have any success while in New England.
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Still, this move should make Patriots fans nervous. Tom Brady has almost no one to throw to. The first 4 weeks of the season will be a big challenge for the offense.
With Decker gone it seems like some not so big players are going to have some big roles. So here are 3 receivers who will need to step it up this season.
Phillip Dorsett
Phillip Dorsett has struggled in the NFL and while with New England. In his 3 years in the league, Dorsett hasn’t topped 550 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
In his first year in New England, Dorsett didn’t play a large role. He appeared in 15 games and only had 12 catches for 194 yards. If that was for one game it would be amazing, but for a whole season, it is rather disappointing.
With the depth chart as it is right now, Dorsett looks to be the No.2 wideout while Julian Edelman is suspended.
Dorsett has great speed so I think Brady could find some success with Dorsett. He can be trusted by the sidelines and may become a deep threat if he can blow by defenders.
Riley McCarron
Riley McCarron seems to be a perfect replacement while Julian Edelman is gone. He is a short receiver who could do some damage in the slot.
McCarron had a solid senior season at Iowa with 42 catches, 517 yards, and 4 touchdowns. He has also had a solid camp meaning he could have a big role in the Patriots offense.
Tom Brady seems to have the ability to make any wide receiver great. If McCarron can get open across the middle, Brady could have a new favorite target.
At the beginning of the offseason, I would have expected Braxton Berrios to be in line to get the job. The Patriots drafted him this year and he looks like an exact copy of Julian Edelman, but Berrios has struggled so far at camp.
If McCarron and Brady can find some chemistry early in the season, the could become a dangerous duo.
(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Cordarrelle Patterson
Cordarrelle Patterson has never been a successful receiver. He has been more of a special team star than a pass catcher. This season the Patriots will need Patterson to be a reliable wideout.
Patterson has already shown some great flashes in the postseason. In week 2 he juked a defender out of his shoes before scoring touchdown.
It seems like Patterson will primarily be used in short passing situations. He has amazing speed so Brady can just take one step back, and rifle it to Patterson who will do the rest of the work. he should be deadly catching screen passes.
Patterson has been working on becoming a more well rounded wide receiver this season. He has worked on his route running so that he can become a big threat in the passing game. With Tom Brady slinging him the ball I think he will be successful.
Right now it seems like the Patriots offense is doomed, but I trust Tom Brady will make these guys stars. If these 3 guys have breakout seasons it could spell trouble for opposing defenses.