Now is not a good time for injuries to ravage the New England Patriots’ roster.
Four players missed practice Thursday, and another seven Patriots are banged up. Among them are starting left tackle Marcus Cannon, starting left guard Shaq Mason, starting linebacker Dont’a Hightower, starting right guard Josh Kline, starting running back Dion Lewis, special teams captain Matthew Slater and Jabaal Sheard, who leads the team with 19 total pressures this season. That’s not ideal at any time, but it’s especially detrimental with a short week on the horizon.
The Patriots face the New York Jets on Sunday afternoon, then they have a quick turnaround, playing the Miami Dolphins in another AFC East showdown Thursday night. That could affect whether the Patriots play and how they use some of the guys who are limited in practice, like Hightower, Kline and Lewis.
Let’s get into this week’s mailbag:
@DougKyed How do you think the Jets CBs will line up against the Patriots WRs? What matchup can Brady exploit?
— @bryan_2712
It’s difficult to predict what the Jets will do, but I don’t think Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis will shadow any Patriots receiver all game. He might match up with Julian Edelman when the Patriots wide receiver is lined up outside, but I doubt he’ll follow him into the slot. If Buster Skrine is healthy, then he’ll likely cover Edelman inside. If Skrine can’t play because of a concussion, Dexter McDougle will fill in.
When tight end Rob Gronkowski splits outside, we could see either Revis or Cromartie on the big tight end. Otherwise, I expect a safety — probably Calvin Pryor — to stay with Gronk most of the game. The Jets also could put a linebacker on Gronkowski and bracket him with safety Marcus Gilchrist over the top.
If the Jets stick Revis and Cromartie on their respective left and right sides, they’ll likely would see a heavy dose of offensive lineman/tight end Michael Williams split outside. Since the Patriots have so many dangerous offensive weapons, potentially including Brandon LaFell, beginning the game by sticking Revis and Cromartie to one side apiece might be their best bet, however.
I doubt Tom Brady will pick on Revis too often, so perhaps we’ll see Cromartie, Skrine or McDougle heavily targeted. This also could be a big game for Dion Lewis if the Jets elect to match up linebackers on the shifty running back.
@DougKyed Who has been the one young player (be it rookie/second year player) that has developed most noticeably thus far in the season?
— @DnioyoTwit
Defensive tackle Dominique Easley and center David Andrews have shined and surprised through five games this season. Easley only really stood out last season in the Patriots’ Week 11 win over the Indianapolis Colts, as he was slowed by injuries. This year, he was dominant against the Jacksonville Jaguars as a run defender and last week against the Colts as a pass rusher.
Andrews has stepped in seamlessly as the Patriots’ starting center, when it seemed like he could barely transfer the ball to Brady or backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo during training camp. There were a lot of muffed snaps over the summer that sent Andrews on laps around the practice field.
Other young players who have impressively stepped up early are Mason, wide receiver Keshawn Martin, cornerback Justin Coleman and special teams ace Brandon King.
@DougKyed do you think Martin will do more to benefit the team then Dobson has/will?
— @Jared_Sylvia
Yes, and I think that’s why Keshawn Martin is playing over Aaron Dobson at wide receiver right now. Martin can play outside at “X” receiver, and he can move inside to play the slot. He offers more positional versatility than Dobson, which is even more important out of a No. 4 receiver than it is out of a No. 2.
That doesn’t necessarily mean the Patriots will release Dobson when LaFell comes back, however. The Patriots only have 22 offensive players on their roster and 27 defenders after cutting defensive tackle Khyri Thornton. The Patriots don’t need to make a roster move to activate LaFell, since they have just 52 players on their 53-man roster, but they will if they promote or sign an offensive tackle.
LaFell will be inserted back into the “X” receiver role when he returns, and Edelman will stay in the “Z” position. Danny Amendola will stay in the slot, and Martin will be in the No. 4 spot, able to play any role if the Patriots suffer injuries. That leaves Dobson at No. 5, and the Patriots will have to decide if he’s worth keeping around when Bryan Stork, Dane Fletcher and Chris Jones are ready to return.
@DougKyed when Stork comes back, does he just automatically get the start even after the superb play of David Andrews?
— @leviwilliams87
This is a really, really good question. Andrews has played every snap at center this season, and he’s been really solid and dependable for the Patriots’ offense. In fact, I’d say his first five NFL games have been more impressive than Stork’s initial five starts of the 2014 season.
The Patriots could rotate their centers, but that might be difficult for Brady. They also could potentially move Andrews or Stork to guard. Stork played some guard in college, but Andrews is smaller, more athletic and could be a better fit in the Patriots’ current offense at the position.
I think it would be really tough for Stork to lose his starting role because of concussion and neck issues, but there’s also no reason to fix something that isn’t broken. The Patriots might have to decide which player has the higher upside in their system. Stork was a fourth-round draft pick in 2014, but injuries are a major concern with the Florida State product. Andrews is an undrafted rookie, but he’s played extremely well.
@DougKyed Which play is funnier in your opinion? The Buttfumble or the WTFake Punt?
— @michaelmcd8393
Nothing will ever top the butt fumble. I mean, it was a fumble … caused by a butt.
The Colts’ fake punt was much dumber and far less excusable.
@DougKyed cheesy or saucy pizza
— @stanpanicker
I like a nice balance. I’d rather be given a cheesy pizza than a saucy pizza, though.
@DougKyed what the heck is Jimmy G up to? It’s like he disappeared from the face of the earth!
— @FeLadyNaij
I didn’t know, so I figured I’d ask the man himself.
“I don’t know,” Jimmy Garoppolo said. “Still doing the same stuff as always. I guess we’re just in season mode right now.”
There you go, @FeLadyNaij.
@DougKyed how will the Patriots win this week without Revis tho?
— @nick_underhill
I hate you, Nick.
Will they trade for a CB ?
— @BOSSMAYNE_DEE
@DougKyed you’re probably so sick of this question but who realistically do you think is a CB that BB can target?
— @curtfield13
@DougKyed If the patriots do trade for a cornerback, other than the obvious options..who could they target?
— @leviwilliams87
You guys are in luck! I wrote about this at length this week. Check it out here.
As usual, can’t wait for the trade deadline for many reasons!
@DougKyed Sup?
— @June__NYC
nm, u?
@DougKyed how much gronk could gronkowski gronk? If gronkowski could gronk gronk?
— @DanJMoran
@DougKyed with all the injuries piling up, wouldn’t trading for O-line help make more sense than CB?
— @rrwinn
If Cannon is out for a prolonged period of time, then maybe, but it might be even more difficult to find offensive line help than it would be to acquire a cornerback.
The Patriots are fine along their interior offensive line, as long as Kline and Ryan Wendell can play this week and rotate with Tre’ Jackson.
Sebastian Vollmer and Cameron Fleming are likely to start at offensive tackle. The Patriots will either need to sign Blaine Clausell off the practice squad or use tight end Michael Williams as depth if Cannon can’t go against the Jets.
@DougKyed would you like to see Moose vs Brennan Williams?
— @lobster_dog
That’s the dream matchup for me. Two former Patriots offensive linemen going head to head in the squared circle.
I think Brennan could take Moose, though. He’s bigger, younger, and he’s South Shore tough, even though he played in the Catholic Conference rather than the Hockomock League.
@DougKyed What did you think of The Shield’s “reunion” on #RAW?
— @JeffWIIM
I like it if it’s building up to something greater (like a WrestleMania triple threat), but the Shield “reunion,” plus all of the special guests on “Raw” were an obvious ploy for ratings this week, and none of it quite worked.
When you have The Undertaker, Brock Lesnar, Shawn Michaels, Steve Austin, Ric Flair, plus a Shield reunion on one episode of Raw, it should be memorable. This one definitely wasn’t.
Quite honestly, WWE is really boring between Summer Slam and Royal Rumble. There should be an offseason in wrestling, and it should come during football season. Give everyone a month or more off, and then it will seem special when it comes back, plus it will help keep the talent healthy and fresh. Week after week of three-hour Raws, two-hour Smackdowns and monthly pay-per-views get exhausting after a while. There’s a reason sports have offseasons.
Thumbnail photo via David Butler II/USA TODAY Sports Images
