Position Preview: Will The Same Crop of Receivers Produce the Same Spoiled Results?

Before we bash the Patriots’ receivers and profile this year’s crop of wide outs, let’s just get this out of the way: Last season, the Patriots’ offense actually graded really well compared too others around the league. Most should feel happy they ranked 3rd in points, 7th in total yards and 10th in passing yards. However, during the Brady/Belichick era, Patriots’ fans have grown accustomed to feeling there is always room to improve extraordinarily quickly.

Last year’s squad struggled mightily to gain rapport with all-world Tom Brady. How many times did we want to chuck our beer at the TV screen because a receiver ran the wrong route or dropped a majestically thrown ball? It seemed like more than the norm, and it absolutely killed everyone’s football mojo. How are we supposed to brag that New England has the greatest professional football team in the universe when its receivers look like they’d be cut from a JV squad? And nothing against regional JV teams. You deserve more respect than that.

Last year’s unit labored to get in sync more than any other previous unit in the past eight years. So, what was their problem? From what I remember, dropped passes were the talk at the water cooler; yet, this was hardly their problem. While the drops appeared untimely, one of the main reasons Brady’s always efficient machine lacked power was because his receivers lacked experience.  

Since 2009, their receivers have actually ranked in the top 10 for most dropped passes, while many of the offenses' other key statistics such as red zone scoring efficiency, third-down conversions, and average yards after the catch, to name a few, have stayed the same. Those drops have factored little into the Patriots’ overall success. During that span, the Patriots still managed to play in two AFC Championship games and one Super Bowl.

So, let’s forget about dropped passes and instead look at more important statics that better emphasize how the unit’s inexperience hurt the team. These statistics include Tom Brady’s overall quarterback ratings and the numbers associated with him being under pressure. The Patriots’ baby receivers were notorious for running routes incorrectly and had difficulty separating themselves from defenders. They often lined up in the wrong place or ran their route a yard or two above or below the actual spot they were supposed to be. As a result, what would have been an accurate pass sailed over their head, or Brady was simply sacked. The more time Brady stood in the pocket waiting for the play to develop meant the greater chance he’d throw under pressure.

Last year, opponents sacked Brady 40 times compared with 16, 25, 32 and 27 times from 2009-2012.  During the same time , his passer rating stood at 96.2, 111, 105.6 and 98.7 respectively. Last year, he held a sad 87.3 passer rating. Brady felt more pressure last season than in previous seasons, facing the heat only 25 percent of the time in 2012 compared to 32.6 percent of the time last season.

So, what do these numbers say? Brady was spending more time looking for receivers to throw too and continuously had to look off his first read to his second and even third. Further, the offense managed to convert only 37 percent of their third downs.

Brady was pissed off. His coaches were pissed off. I was pissed off. In all, Patriot nation felt like every Sunday was their most stressful day of the week. Give me my lone Monday blues back! So, this year, the offense must improve. The receivers have to grow up because reinforcements aren’t arriving. During his Patriots’ tenure, Belichick has never drafted a receiver in the first round and the last time they brought on board a big time receiver was 2007.

A much improved defense may provide the offense with more opportunities to score; however, the offense still has to actually drive the ball down field. New addition 6-foot-2-inch Brandon LaFell may carve out a role as a red-zone threat. Josh Boyce, if healthy, may be able to showcase his speed. Aaron Dobson may purchase a new set of hands. And the list goes on. The doubt goes on and we still wonder, will this same unit produce the same spoiled results?