Patriots Training Camp Preview: Can Anyone Fix the Defense?

Email to a friend Permalink

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Kels Dayton, GoLocal Sports Contributor

It's that time again…when intelligent, otherwise normal people sit out in the sun on a beautiful summer afternoon and long for January. 

It can only mean one thing: football has returned.

The Patriots are back in training camp, and will begin throwing, running, and hitting each other at 1:30 Thursday afternoon at Gillette Stadium.

There are plenty of questions surrounding the Pats this season. A sagging defense, an inexperienced running game, and a one-year contract for Wes Welker will no doubt be the storylines as camp breaks.

After a second Super Bowl loss in four years, New England will also look to buck a league-wide trend.

Since 2000, six of the eleven Super Bowl runner-ups from the previous year have gone on to miss the playoffs the next season. The Pats missed the playoffs in 2008 after losing to the Giants in '07, despite an 11-5 record and terrific play from quarterback Matt Cassel, who came on after Tom Brady suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 1.  

Getting Defensive

The Patriots owned one of the worst defenses in the NFL last season, so it was no surprise when the team spent six of their seven draft picks on that side of the ball. Whether or not that will be enough remains to be seen.

New England upgraded the defensive front by taking defensive end Chandler Jones from Syracuse and linebacker Dont'a Hightower out of Alabama in the first round of the draft, then nabbing Arkansas defensive end Jake Bequette in the third round.  

The real issue, however, was the secondary, as New England ranked last in the NFL in total yards per game (411.4), last in passing yards per game (293.9), and 29th in opponents' completion percentage (62.4%).

Safety Tavon Wilson, a second-round pick from Illinois, is expected to make a major impact next season, and late-round selections Nate Ebner (CB/Ohio State, 6th round) and Alanzo Dennard (CB/Nebraska, 7th round) will compete for spots on the roster.

The team also signed veteran defensive back Will Allen in the offseason. Allen is expected to compete for a spot in the starting backfield, as is former New York Jets defensive back Marquis Cole, whom the Pats also signed. 

There's little chance of getting back to the Super Bowl if the defense doesn't improve. 

Position Battles 

Running back--Stevan Ridley vs. Shane Vereen. With last year's feature back BenJarvus Green-Ellis gone to Cincinnati, Ridley and Vereen (both 2011 draft picks) will be forced to share the load in the backfield. 

Ridley is the favorite to earn more carries, having rushed for 441 yards on 87 attempts for the Pats as a rookie last season. Vereen was plagued by a slew of injuries in 2011, but showed plenty of explosiveness when he wasn't lying on the trainer's table. 

The team also signed veteran Joseph Addai, who was once one of the best running backs in the league with the Indianapolis Colts, but has been reduced to a shell of his former self. It's not likely that he will win the job, but could become a major factor if either Vereen or Ridley fail to stay healthy. No matter who emerges as the No. 1 back, it appears that the running game may struggle this season.

Wide Receiver-- Deon Branch vs. Dante' Stallworth. This will be an entertaining camp battle, as both players will be competing for time as the fifth wideout on a team filled with possession receivers. Branch has a proven track record and has long been a favorite of Tom Brady's, so he may have the edge. 

Safety- James Ihedigbo, Sergio Brown, and Nate Ebner. All three will compete for the final safety spot on the roster. The aforementioned Ebner will likely get a long look, but the favorite has to be Ihedigbo, who started 12 games last season.

Life Without Wes?

Could this really be Wes Welker's final year in New England?

Welker has been the Patriots--and arguably the NFL's-- most productive receiver over the past five years, having caught at least 110 balls and gained 1,000 yards in a season four times since 2007.

But after failing to come to terms on a contract extension in the offseason, Welker was given the franchise tag and will play the 2012 season under a one-year tender. 

This leaves open the strong possibility that Welker may bolt in 2013. New England has been able to thrive despite constant--and sometimes unnecessary--overturn (see Branch, Deon), but letting a receiver as talented as Welker walk in the mid-to-late stages of Tom Brady's prime might turn out to be foolish.

Here's hoping a deal gets done the start before next season.

Enjoy this post? Share it with others.

Email to a friend Permalink