With Tom Brady leaving the New England Patriots, these players will have to step up in 2020.
This is the world we live in now. Tom Brady is no longer a member of the New England Patriots.
I think we can all agree that is a major blow to New England’s roster. Losing the greatest NFL player of all-time isn’t something that you can fix in one day or with one signing.
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But Patriots fans shouldn’t be prepared to go 0-16. We do have Bill Belichick as our head coach. Let’s have a little bit of faith in the organization that has brought us so much joy.
With Tom Brady no longer leading the offense there will definitely be some players who need to step up. If the offense performs like it did last season, it will be difficult to watch.
The Patriots offense still has some important weapons. It’s not like the offense is a complete wasteland. The defense can still be one of the best in the NFL.
We are in unchartered waters. The New England Patriots haven’t been in a position like this in a long time. Ever since the early 2000s, we knew that Tom Brady would be the quarterback headed into the season.
Now we have no idea how well the team will perform. For all we know, New England could win the division or go 8-8.
If the Patriots want to perform well these 5 players will have to step up.
Julian Edelman
Now that Tom Brady is gone, the face of the offense has to be Julian Edelman. Tom Brady’s best buddy will have a lot to prove this season.
A lot of people around the NFL believe Edelman’s success is due to having Tom Brady as his quarterback. Brady is known for making his teammates much better players.
But I think by himself Edelman is a great wide receiver. He finds ways to get open and is a great route runner. Also, Edelman has an impeccable ability to hold on to the ball when hit hard.
2019 was an interesting season for Edelman. He was by far the Patriots best pass catcher. He had 100 receptions, 6 touchdowns, and a career-high 1,117 yards. The problem was he dropped a lot of passes.
Whoever is the quarterback for the New England Patriots will heavily rely on Edelman. He is without a doubt the best wide receiver on New England’s roster.
This is the time for Julian Edelman to show the rest of the NFL that he is truly one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. The rest of the NFL can’t make excuses anymore.
Sony Michel
Last season was a disaster for Sony Michel. After an impressive rookie season that ended with Michel being a major reason New England won the Super Bowl, He took a step back.
Michel did put up similar numbers to his rookie season but one stat shows why it was so disappointing.
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Anyone with eyes saw how Michel continued to get stuffed at the line. He rarely broke off for big gains and more routinely was only gaining a yard or two. Michel averaged less than 4 yards a carry. It’s hard to move the ball when your runningback is putting up those numbers.
This season we will see Michel get the ball more. The Patriots offense will be much more balanced. The days of throwing the ball 60-70 percent of the time are long gone. Expect Michel to carry the ball 20 times a game at the minimum.
If Michel is getting stuck at the line again the Patriots offense will be in trouble. You could even see Rex Burkhead take over the starting job.
So in 2020, we need to see a much improved Sony Michel running the ball.
James White
Last season we saw James White continue to be a dual threat in the New England Patriots offense. This season he will have to take things to the next level.
Along with Julian Edelman, White was one of the Patriots best options when throwing the ball. Last season he had over 70 receptions for 645 yards and 5 touchdowns.
The problem for White and the Patriots was that he struggled on the ground. He saw a rather steep drop in carries and yards.
New England isn’t expecting White to run for over 1,000 yards (if he does that would be amazing). If White manages to get at least 500 yards rushing that would put the Patriots in a good position.
White will definitely be relied upon in the passing game. Whoever is the new quarterback can use White as a failsafe if he runs out of time in the pocket. When he gets open space, White can be extremely dangerous.
If the Patriots offense is going to be successful they need White to be dangerous on the ground and in the air.
David Andrews
Last season it was pretty obvious how much the New England Patriots missed David Andrews. The offensive line was less than stellar. Andrews might not have fixed the entire problem but he definitely would have made a difference.
Andrews is one of the best offensive linemen in the NFL. Having him back in 2020 would be a big help for New England’s starting QB.
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Last season Andrews missed the season due to a blood clot. All signs point to him returning when the 2020 season begins.
Now that Brady is gone, Andrews has a chance to prove that he is a leader. Being a former captain this is a great opportunity for Andrews to establish himself on and off the field. He seems to be a player that everyone loves to be around so it seems like it will be a seamless transition.
Next season we will see how great David Andrews truly can be.
Ja’Whaun Bentley
The New England Patriots defense is made up of some of the best players in the NFL. Stephon Gilmore, Devin McCourty, and Dont’a Hightower are returning to what was one of the best defenses in the NFL.
Of course I’m expecting great seasons from these guys, but I want to see one player step up. I think Ja’Whaun Bentley can become a major part of the defense.
Bentley had a great start to his career in 2018, but it was cut short due to injury. In 2019 he was never able to get his footing.
Now that Elandon Roberts and Kyle Van Noy are gone, Bentley has a great chance to show what he can do. Bentley is solid in coverage but also can be a quality pass rusher. Ever since I first saw him play in New England I was impressed with his skill.
Now Bentley needs to step up and prove that he can be relied upon for an entire season. If he does he could be the future of New England’s defense.
If these guys step up New England will have a great 2020 season.