Patriots Position Breakdown: Will Special Teams Kick Bad Reputation?

Welcome to Patriots Position Breakdown, a 10-part series on NESN.com where we dive deep into each of New England’s position groups prior to the start of training camp.

Chad Ryland actively lost games for the Patriots in 2023, so there really isn’t anywhere to go but up, right?

New England sure hopes so!

Ryland has been put in an incredibly difficult situation in his sophomore season, which is partly his own doing but the result of outside factors, as well. The NFL introduced a completely new kickoff rule that he’ll be contending with, all while Joey Slye is breathing down his neck looking for his job. It’ll be an interesting training camp for Ryland, Slye and the rest of the specialists.

The Patriots’ reputation in the third phase has taken a hit in recent seasons, and they’re being relied upon to restore former glory.

Roster Overview

– Bryce Baringer
– Chad Ryland
– Joey Slye
– Joe Cardona
– Brenden Schooler

It’s tough to add much more than we’ve already said, especially considering how small the list is. Schooler is here because… well, let’s all be serious for a moment. He isn’t playing defense outside of an emergency.

Biggest Question(s)

– Can Brenden Schooler lead the unit?
Schooler is an interesting case, because you can’t really argue that he was the most productive special teamer in New England last season. He just wasn’t Matthew Slater.

Slater’s ability to lead the entire unit is what made him so valuable in the later seasons, and keeping Schooler’s emotions in check were one of the things he was tasked with doing. We know Slater will still be around following his retirement, but it’s now the responsibility of Schooler to keep things moving from a down-to-down basis. Is he up for that challenge?

– Who wins the kicking battle?
Ryland clearly has talent, but inconsistencies plagued his rookie season. You won’t find too many kickers with a 64% success rate hold onto a job, but the talent is there for him to eventually figure things out.

It just has to be at some point over the next month.

– Who will find success with new kickoff rule?
Schooler’s job won’t change much, but the type of player surrounding him probably will with the NFL implementing a new kickoff rule that puts focus on bigger, stouter coverage players. New England has a ton of options to fill that kind of role.

Patriots running backs coach Taylor Embree already said he believes special teams will be a big part of his units job this season, with Kevin Harris, Deshaun Fenwick and Terrell Jennings all looking like special teams will be their best way of making the team. Steele Chambers, Christian Elliss and Jontrey Hunter, young linebackers on the outside looking in, can say the same.

Grade

– C+

Cardona might be as consistent a player as you’ll find in the NFL, but he’s the only example of consistency in this unit. It’s hard to pick any other grade than one right in the middle, with room to move in either direction.