New England Patriots: Josh Gordon showing early signs of impact

After joining the New England Patriots following a trade with the Cleveland Browns, wide receiver Josh Gordon is doing a good job of picking up the system. 

Tom Brady and the New England Patriots need some help at wide receiver and they need it bad.

Help appears to be on the way.  Although it isn’t coming from a very dependable source, what the talent and size of Josh Gordon could provide as a target for Brady is limitless.  That is, of course, if he is able to pick up and adapt to an offensive system many other veteran wide receivers have failed to do.

While neither Bill Belichick or Tom Brady have opened up much about the progress of Gordon since joining the team last week, Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels didn’t hold back.  What he had to say during his weekly phone conference was encouraging.

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"“He’s doing a really good job of working hard at that [picking up the system] and trying to get himself caught up so that he knows what to do when he’s out there and can do it at a dependable level,” McDaniels said.  “I think he’s really doing a good job of that, and then we’ll see as he progresses this week, if he gets any closer to being able to be active.  I don’t know exactly how close or -you know, it’s hard to put percentages on that.”"

With the final decision on whether he will be active against the Miami Dolphins lays in the hands of Bill Belichick, it is good to see that Josh Gordon is making strides.  There may be a physical issue (hamstring) or perhaps a deeper issue (substance abuse relapse) that could further delay his New England Patriots debut, but as far as picking up the system, he is showing he has a high IQ.

McDaniels is actually confident enough in Gordon’s ability to adapt to the system that he doesn’t feel the team needs to dumb anything down for him or for that matter anyone else on the offensive unit.

"“We don’t always start the season exactly where we want to be,” McDaniels said in regard to simplifying things.  “We want to try to improve and make progress each week.  And I’m not worried at all about Josh’s ability to pick up our system.  He’s already demonstrated an ability to do that.  I think he’ll be fine, and the guys we have are doing the same thing.”"

Josh McDaniels did take responsibility for some of the play calling in the last two games, but it does look as though the New England Patriots will get some help in Josh Gordon.

Whether that comes this Sunday against the Miami Dolphins is the question.  Let’s also not forget any off-the-field issues that could get in the way.

In all, the Patriots or fans shouldn’t rely to heavenly on Josh Gordon saving this offense, but boy if he is healthy, remains sober and locked-in, watch out NFL.  This dynasty isn’t over just yet.