Whether Bill Belichick will admit it or not, the third preseason game is a big one for the New England Patriots. Each team plays their starters deep into the game, serving as a final tune-up for the regular season. And if there’s one position that needs tuning up, it’s the wide receiver position. The New England Patriots wide receivers are in rough shape, especially following the release of Kenny Britt. With Julian Edelman suspended, Chris Hogan will be the only receiver on the Week One roster with any type of serious history with Tom Brady. All eyes should be on the New England Patriots wide receivers to see if a potential starter emerges.
All Eyes on New England Patriots Wide Receivers
Barring an injury, Chris Hogan is the Week One starting wide receiver. However, it’s anyone’s guess who lines up next to him. Right now, the frontrunner appears to be Cordarrelle Patterson. Patterson has shown moments of brilliance in the preseason, most notably catching a juggling pass in Week One and juking a defender for a touchdown in Week Two.
However, Patterson’s biggest issue has been consistency. While he’s always had fantastic athletic ability, Patterson has struggled to harness his talents on a regular basis. Fortunately, Josh McDaniels is one of the best in the league at scheming guys open, and Patterson is almost impossible to take down in the open field. Even if Patterson can’t find his consistency, his production can be maximized by smart playcalling.
For what it’s worth, it appears as though Patterson and Brady are still working on their timing. Early in the second preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Brady targeted an open Patterson on a post route. Despite the play design working, the pass fell incomplete. The film shows Patterson slowed his route at the top, while Brady led him, never expecting the receiver to slow down. These issues can be resolved in time but could be a major problem early in the season.
Phillip Dorsett
Based on nothing other than experience, logic dictates that Phillip Dorsett would have the next-best shot at taking a starting job. Dorsett spent the entire 2017 season in New England, recording 12 catches for 194 yards. Even though his production was limited, Dorsett still had an entire year to learn the playbook and earn Brady’s trust.
He’s reportedly looked good out of the slot during practice, but those results have yet to transfer to the game. Through two preseason games, Dorsett has just one reception for four yards. Dorsett has always been best near the bottom of the depth chart, so he probably won’t respond well to extensive snaps.
The Other Receivers
While Patterson and Dorsett are the most likely guys to earn a starting spot, this depth chart is still very unsettled. Because of this, players like Devin Lucien, Braxton Berrios, Riley McCarron, and Eric Decker have a chance to see serious time with the offense.
Devin Lucien has the best preseason stats of the grouping but also has the lowest ceiling. He’s not really a slot receiver like the other trio, and his athleticism leaves a lot to be desired. Still, he’s shown a knowledge of the offense, and he could stick around if he earns Brady’s trust.
Berrios and McCarron appear to be fighting for the same roster spot, and right now the duo is about as close as it could be. While McCarron appears to have the edge right now, either player could earn the job with a strong Game Three. With Edelman gone and nobody really standing in their way, these young players could play a big role on the 2018 Patriots.
Eric Decker looks less and less likely to make an impact on this team. The longtime NFL veteran has struggled with drops, both in camp and in the field. He no longer has the speed to separate from defenders and doesn’t have the hands to consistently bring in contested passes. Truthfully, he might not even crack the roster.
Other Passing Game Options
Even if the offense is slow against the Carolina Panthers, there’s no reason for long-term worry. The Patriots have several talented pass catchers capable of making up for the lack of production at wide receiver.
Rob Gronkowski is the best tight end in football and is the closest thing to an unstoppable force in the game. As long as he’s healthy, the Patriots offense will be fine. Additionally, tight end Jacob Hollister has had a great camp and should be a serviceable option in the passing game. He’s added size and appears to be a better blocker than he was last year. He’s shown a great ability to catch contested passes, and he could have a 30-40 catch season.
Similarly, the running back depth chart is stuffed with talented pass-catching backs. James White owns two of the top-five receiving seasons for a Patriots running back and is absolutely electric in the open field. Likewise, Rex Burkhead saw a lot of targets during 2017. In just 10 games, Burkhead recorded 30 receptions for 254 yards and three touchdowns.
Despite the success of all these groupings, don’t expect to see much of them on Friday. Outside of Hollister, each of the previously mentioned players are already well-established in the offense. They don’t need any extra snaps to get on the same page with Brady. Additionally, Gronkowski and Burkhead both have a serious history of injuries. There’s no need to put them in harms’ way over a meaningless preseason game.
Last Word on Preseason Week Three
While the third preseason game is the closest thing to a regular season matchup, don’t expect it to be the same thing. The Patriots still have a lot to sort out at wide receiver, and it’s best for the team if the receivers see as much of the action as possible. The tight ends and running backs are already on the same page with Brady, so there’s no point in risking an injury.
No matter how good the tight ends and running backs are, eventually a wide receiver not named Chris Hogan will need to make a play. Game Three’s primary goal should be finding that receiver.
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