20 Questions about the 2017 Pats

Patriots training camp opens one week from today! Finally we can put the superficial rankings and arguments about superficial rankings behind us and focus on real football.

There’s no secret that the 2017 Pats look stacked and could be an efficiency nightmare for their opposition, but there are still plenty of questions that I have about the team. Luckily we’re not the Jets so the questions are not — will we win five games? No, our questions are much more specific and often focus on back up jobs and role players, but they’re interesting questions to us nonetheless.

Let’s list them off, quick hit style.

1. How do the running backs divvy up snaps? Who gets goal line carries? Blount is gone, Gillislee looks like the guy, but they sure do seem to see something in Burkhead and Lewis is somehow under the radar and considered (by some, not me) trade bait. We know what James White brings and how he’ll be utilized in the passing game, but after that things are murky but full of exciting potential.
2. What does the “starting” defense look like? Who is the 11th defender who plays the most? The slot corner (see below) or Harmon? They were in sub defense (which shouldn’t be called sub defense anymore) 88 percent of the snaps in 2016, the highest rate with five or more defensive backs under Belichick. My guess:
   • 97-90-98, 50-51-54, 21-23-32-24-30
3. Who is the TBD CB? Cyrus Jones? Jonathan Jones? Justin Coleman? Or does Eric Rowe just come on with Butler sliding inside like Ryan used to?
4. How do they replace those slot snaps Ryan gave them? The answer is not apparent on paper. This is one of the things I’m most curious about.
5. How do rookies Wise and Rivers fit in? Can they help replace Chris Long and Jabaal Sheard? Will they be able to contribute on early downs or will they be eased in solely on passing downs?
6. Does the pure pass rush front (everyone’s favorite package) look like this?
   • 95-93-98-94, 54-53, 21-23-30-32-24
7. Is rookie Tony Garcia ready to step into the swing tackle role? Can he beat out Cam Fleming? Does he look good enough that the Pats can defer on giving Nate Solder an extension?
8. Does Jacoby Brissett take a big step in his second season? Can he make Garoppolo expendable next offseason? His performance this preseason is something to closely monitor.
9. Who will the early down run stopping MLB be, Roberts or Freeny? Roberts is younger, has a lot of pop to his downhill hits, but Freeny is a Belichick boo, perhaps more for his off field leadership than on field play.
10. How does Lawrence Guy fit into the scheme? His interior pass rush is critical, but where will he line up on early downs? With all the talent added this offseason Guy is under the radar but I think he could have a big role on defense.
11. How will Josh McDaniels tweak that Patriots offense to fit Brandin Cooks? How many unique ways will they find to get the ball in his hands?
12. Chris Hogan played 74 percent of the snaps in 2016, how much will that drop with Cooks on the team?
13. Will Cyrus Jones put his punt return problems behind him? He’s an explosive and shifty player with the ball in his hands and could take some pressure off of Edelman and Amendola. But the coaches will never let him on the field in a meaningful situation if he doesn’t earn their trust this summer.
14. Is Shea McClellin on the bubble? He needs to make a jump in his second season with the team. He’s athletic and seems to be in position, but the lack of impact plays is concerning. He barely saw the field in the Super Bowl. That says something.
15. How many times will Josh Augusta have to take the conditioning test?
16. The trio of undrafted safeties are among the most promising of the rookies. Can one of them take Jordan Richards‘ roster spot?
17. Does Gostkowski show any signs of decline? He’s had a few misses that were uncharacteristic for most of his career. The Pats have a contract out on him next offseason, he should play with something to prove.
18. Does Kyle Van Noy take on an expanded role? Does he continue to be their primary passing down linebacker? He was thrown into the fire in 2016 and carved out an important role replacing Jamie Collins. A year in the system plus a full offseason could mean significant strides.
19. Can Dwayne Allen effectively replace what Martellus Bennett did? Would he be a suitable Gronk fill in if Gronk gets hurt? And who wins the third tight end job behind him? Lengel? O’Shaugnessy?
20. And finally, the biggest question of all — can the Pats’ 2016 run of good health continue in 2017? If they avoid critical injuries it’s hard not to see this team in the Super Bowl. But, like every other team in the NFL, they’re just a couple critical injuries away from being beatable, with notable depth concerns at linebacker and along the offensive line.

What are your biggest questions about the 2017 Pats? Hit me up in the comments. Any of these is easily expandable to a full article.