The New England Patriots will look like a new team in 2020, here is a blueprint for winning in their first season since 2001 without Tom Brady.
As the 2020 NFL Draft approaches, it’s time to forego all the rumors and smoke surrounding the New England Patriots and lay out a plan of how the reigning AFC East champs can actually win in 2020.
A team in obvious transition, the Patriots are now bereft of their greatest asset, so how can they fashion a new team and especially a new offense to win in 2020?
To win in 2020, assuming that they actually will be trying to win and not try to win the “race to the bottom” to secure the draft rights to Trevor Lawrence, the Clemson wonder quarterback, how must the Patriots proceed the rest of the offseason?
It ain’t going to be easy. But with Bill Belichick still at the helm, it can be done. Here’s how.
The Patriots so far in the free agency phase of offseason team-building have not earned good grades, which is highlighted in a previous article.
So far this offseason has been largely a dud. Boring and frankly rather inconsequential. Such a performance leaves observers justifiably wondering if they are on the way “to the tank” to try to glean the NFL’s No. 1 draft pick in 2021. I can’t blame them at all.
But there is a possible plan still available to New England even at this stage of the offseason.
There remains the draft, undrafted free agency (a sometime really bright spot for the personnel operation), trades and signing lower-cost free agents who are later released by their teams.
Opportunity still exists. Here’s what they have to do.
The Blueprint to New England Patriots winning in 2020
In my opinion, the team as currently assembled (and assuming the usual New England Patriot-like moves hereafter) is a 5-11 team at best.
Past dismal off-seasons were only bailed out by the brilliance of that new Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ quarterback.
Yes, I fall squarely into the coterie of people who think it was the brilliance and sheer will of No. 12 that was the key force leading the Patriots to 6 Super Bowl titles and numerous other successes.
This, despite, yes despite the oftentimes dismal performance of the team in providing the supporting cast he needed.
Had they done so, I firmly believe that during his time leading the team, they could have/should have won a minimum of 10 Super Bowls, if not more.
That option has now “Left the Building” with Tom Brady. So, with that reality in mind, how can the New England Patriots be a factor in 2020 if not a challenger for a title?
Change the New England Patriots’ entire offensive philosophy
The New England Patriots employed basically a static offensive system for 20 years.
It made sense since it was hugely dependent on a basically static quarterback, the engine that makes the offense go.
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In Tom Brady, the team had a quarterback who was essentially bereft of running skills, immobile but very shifty and canny in the pocket with a lightning release that made up for his general immobility.
What became known as the Patriots’ dynasty built their offense around those attributes.
Now with No. 12 departing for Tampa, the Patriots need to entirely scrap that offensive system and construct a new system or systems based upon more flexibility and adaptability to the new NFL.
The new system as I have written before must be based on mobility. It thus will depend on a mobile quarterback to implement this strategy both in conventional and in a not so conventional format.
This strategy cannot be implemented by a pure drop-back quarterback or even a relatively mobile one. It needs a true multi-threat quarterback. I’ve suggested in the past (as has colleague Will Hyland) that Jalen Hurts is the preferred draftee. I wouldn’t wait and would select him in the first round of the draft on April 23. He would be the key
In a conventional offense, Hurts would able to use not only conventional plays but could carry out a host of unconventional plays from different formations from both under center and in the shotgun formation.
The inncreased mobility and running ability of Jalent Hurts will provide an instant challenge to any defense as could be seen emphatically by the Baltimore offense under the dynamic Lamar Jackson.
No one may be a shifty as Jackson, but Hurts can run for big yardage, something the Patriots’ successful offense in the past could never get from their former quarterback.
Hurts addition is only one piece of the offensive puzzle. I have charted out previously that additional pieces that fit the new system would have to add.
The New England Patriots already have one in place with the inimitable Julian Edelman. But they’d need one or maybe two more similar type multi-role, versatile offensive skill players to fill in the necessary roles. Run, catch, pass, throw options.
Players like Lynn Bowden II from Kentucky who can both catch, run and throw also fit that system. In short, this new offensive system will be defined by its unpredictability. Total unpredictability. Players with multi-role abilities like Hurts, Bowden and Edelman are essential to make this work.
The best place at this point in the offseason to secure those players is in the draft.
The New England Patriots No. 1 priority later this month should be to stock the offense with this type of player. And if it means letting go of current receivers and/or running backs, then go for it.
Move to a muti-faceted offensive formation
With the new offense so-constructed, the New England Patriots will then be able to also integrate a blast from the past type of offense. The use of the wing T or a similar formation.
Football-tutorials.com explains it this way,
"The Wing-T has a classic offensive line setup, with 2 guards, 2 tackles, a center, and the quarterback behind center. It’s characterized by having a wingback just off of your tight end on the strong side, and a split end lined up on the weak side. The tailback and the fullback can move around a little bit, but are generally split, and can often end up offset to the strong or weak sides as well."
Here’s how they outline its strengths:
"Wing-T Offense Strengths Counters Reverses Bootlegs Short Passing Plays"
“Counters. Reverses. Bootlegs, Short Passing Plays”.
Bingo. You have to love the sound of it. This would fit the new Patriots offense to a T (pun intended.) How and why?
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First, a mobile quarterback like Hurts is a threat to run from this formation on any play.
Second, the wing back, Bowden or a similar player, can easily be put in motion to provide a change of direction of the flow of the play when the quarterback totes to the right for a pitch, pass or run.
This type of offense, or one similar in function if not configuration, will perfectly provide the new Patriots with maximum offensive flexibility, if, and it’s a strong if, they draft and or otherwise obtain players who fit this system.
For decades the Patriots offense has been predictable but due to the brilliance of a certain No. 12 no one could do anything about it anyway. That option no longer exists. So, to implement a similar system with their current quarterbacks and receivers who are not extremely talented (Julian Edelman excepted) is a prescription for an NFL football season debacle and its concomitant 5-11 record. If that.
Conversely, a multi-functional offense consisting of multi-role skill players will create a new dynamic for the New England Patriots offense, and a nightmare scenario for opposing defenses. Think of the great viewing pleasure seeing opposing defenses having to adapt to an ever-changing and malleable Patriots offense for a change, on every play. And, being stung by big plays a la the Ravens dynamic offense last season with Lamar Jackson.
Sound good?
That’s it, the prescription for a winning season this season. 2020. It’s based on total offensive change. It centers on multi-role versatile and dynamic offensive players. And it depends on play formation and innovation by the offensive coordinator and acumen by the new players to make it work.
But, after losing our cornerstone for the past 2 decades, wouldn’t it be exciting to see a newly formulated Patriots’ flexible offenses ripping opposing defenses to shreds and ringing in the next generation of New England Patriots success with an 11-5 or so season?
You bet it would.