One of the biggest questions for the 2018 New England Patriots is who will emerge at wide receiver. While the tight end and running back positions feature enviable depth, the receiver position looks like one of the weakest in team history. Fortunately for New England, the team still has Chris Hogan, and the third-year Patriot will be crucial to ensuring success against the Houston Texans.
Chris Hogan the Offensive Key In Week One
As the only receiver with more than 15 career receptions from Tom Brady, Hogan will naturally see a majority of targets. However, his impact in Week One comes from more than just familiarity with Brady. The Patriots took on the Texans in Week Three of the 2017 season, and Hogan had one of his best games of the season. Hogan finished his night with four catches for 68 yards and two touchdowns.
Hogan’s two touchdowns came on essentially the same concept. On both occasions, Hogan ran a crossing pattern while a separate receiver mirrored the route. The lone deep safety didn’t know which player to follow, and Brady targeted whichever receiver came open. The Patriots ran that concept for three of Brady’s five touchdown passes on the day.
While that play worked over and over again last time, it probably won’t have the same success in 2018. For one, Brandin Cooks is gone. Phillip Dorsett possesses a similar skill set, but he’s not nearly the receiving threat Cooks is. Additionally, the Texans are sure to prepare against that very play, and now have players like Tyrann Mathieu and Justin Reid capable of defending it.
Looking Ahead to Week One’s Matchup
The Patriots, once again, will need to get creative. Hogan is great at finding open holes in zone coverage. This skill is what makes him such a great fit for New England in the first place. Any team that plays exclusively man coverage is asking for Rob Gronkowski to take over the game. Hogan will have his opportunities, and he’ll need to take advantage of them.
Additionally, even though Houston upgraded their safety depth, their cornerback depth is still suspect. They added Aaron Colvin, but Johnathan Joseph has lost a step. Additionally, former Patriots special teamer Johnson Bademosi is currently their third cornerback. These are matchups that can easily be exploited, and the Patriots have the right coordinator for the job.
Nobody is better at scheming guys open than Josh McDaniels, and Hogan has been the primary beneficiary of that in his two years in New England. Whether it’s utilizing pick plays within one yard of the line of scrimmage, sending men in motion, or just flooding a zone, McDaniels knows how to utilize a player like Hogan.
Expect that to continue in Week One. The offense will probably run through the tight ends and running backs early, but the wide receivers will still need to do something. Look for Hogan to carry the weight in the Patriots season opener.
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