When Rob Gronkowski was carted off the field in Week 14, it appeared that New England’s playoff chances were severely damaged. There is no doubt that the Patriots will miss Gronk, but not all hope is lost. As long as #12 is taking snaps, the Pats will always have a shot at the Lombardi trophy, and this season is no exception. However, Brady can’t do it all on his own. Here’s what each player in the New England offense must do for the Pats to contend for the title:
The running backs
Stevan Ridley: When he has the ball in his hands, Ridley is one of the premier backs in the NFL. His combination of power, elusiveness, and vision are hard to find. If he can hang on to the ball, his workload should increase in the absence of Gronk.
LeGarrette Blount: If Ridley’s fumbling issues arise again, Blount will be counted on to pick up the slack. In the meantime, the former Buc must continue to run strong downhill and pick up first downs.
Shane Vereen: As good a back as Vereen is, he will have to take on the majority of Gronk’s touches. While he has dropped a few easy passes this season, Vereen is very sure-handed and shifty in the open field.
James Develin: Develin’s rushing style is very Gronk-like, so expect the Pats to turn to him more often in short-yardage situations.
The wide receivers
Julian Edelman & Danny Amendola: These two guys are paired together because both must become trusted possession receivers for Brady on third down. Amendola has been somewhat disappointing in his debut season as a Patriot, but he can silence his critics with a strong finish to the regular season and by making big plays in January.
Josh Boyce: In recent weeks, Boyce has emerged as one of the best playmakers for the Pats. In the open field, the TCU product is very difficult to bring down. He will need to make guys miss with his speed and agility as opposed to Gronk’s power.
Kenbrell Thompkins: Nickle-and-diming opposing defenses will only go so far for the Patriots in the playoffs. They will need Thompkins to step up as a legitimate threat on the outside to stretch secondaries.
Aaron Dobson: Dobson has been going through injury issues in recent weeks, so the best thing he can do right now is get healthy in time for the playoffs. Dobson is a step above Thompkins in overall ability, so he will sorely be needed without Gronk in the lineup.
The tight ends
Matthew Mulligan: Opportunity knocks for this fifth-year veteran, who has only two receptions so far this season. The good news regarding Mulligan is that defenses have no idea what to expect from him, but the bad news is that the Patriots have no idea what to expect from him.
D.J. Williams: The Pats re-signed the former Packer immediately after placing Gronk on injured reserve. To have any success in his second stint, Williams will simply need to be where Tom Brady expects him to be, especially on third down.
Michael Hoomanawanui: Hooman, as he is referred to in the locker room, will make the biggest impact in the run game, as he is an excellent blocker. When he does catch the ball, he is a straight-line runner, but hard to stop.
And last but not least… the offensive line
It’s no secret that the key to beating the Pats is to pressure Tom Brady, so the offensive line will be counted on immensely for the remainder of the season. If Brady is given enough time, he will find the open man, even if it’s not Gronkowski. However, if Brady is pressured early and often in playoff games, the Pats will have a hard go of it.
