5 Patriots Who Could Break Out Tonight

After six long months (and change), the New England Patriots football team finally takes the field once again tonight to start their journey on the 2016 campaign. Ah, it felt good to write that. And I can’t lie, the loss in last seeason’s AFC Championship to Denver is still really chapping my ass. Maybe that’s because it’s the second time in three years that’s happened (along with a Super Bowl win of course), or more likely it’s because I still can’t believe the Patriots lost to that anemic offense, that they missed a gaddam extra point that cost them at least overtime and that Peyton beat Brady the last time they’d play.

Whatever. The new season is here and it’s time to really turn the page. The Patriots have certainly evolved this offseason, though half of that battle was just getting some of their important pieces back fully healthy. Still, there are plenty of new veterans, young players looking to make their mark and rookies who are about to get their feet wet for the first time.

While we can’t read too much into any preseason game, there’s always something special seeing our favorite team take the field and bang heads with an opponent.

With that in mind, here are five Patriots I’ll be most curious to see.

5. Trey Flowers

Flowers was a fourth-round pick in 2015, but barely got on the field as a rookie. Now in his second year, Flowers has been standing out early on in training camp. From Doug Kyed of NESN.Com, Bill Belichick had this to say about Flowers:

“That was a strength of his at Arkansas, and for not a tall guy, he has long arms, he has some length as a player even though his stature is not exceptionally long, but he has long arms and he plays the run well.”

There’s no question, the Pats (and every other team) need edge players to develop in their system. It’s a vital role and with Rob Ninkovich expected to miss some time, players like Flowers are even more important. With three of the Pats’ top defensive ends — Ninkovich, Jabaal Sheard and Chris Long are slated to hit free agency next offseason. So if a player like Flowers can rise up in Ninkovich’s absence and look like he belongs, he could become an important cog for the future.

Tonight I’ll be curious how much Flowers plays in conjunction with Shea McClellin, Long and Sheard, with the expectation that we’ll see a ton of Flowers in this game. It’s a huge opportunity for him to pick up where he left off last preseason.

4. Shea McClellin

Along those same lines, I’m really curious to see how McClellin looks playing defensive end. Most of us expected him to stay at linebacker where he found a stride with the Bears, but it appears he’s been inserted into the hybrid DE/OLB role that Ninkovich plays. McClellin started his career at defensive end, but really didn’t find his stride until he moved to middle linebacker.

I really have no idea how much McClellin will play in this game. Could be the entire game. Could be just the first series. They certainly have the depth to protect him if they want to. There just haven’t been many mentioned of McClellin through two weeks of practice and you’d expect there to be since he was their second-highest paid external free agent this year. So curious to see how he fits in.

3. Kamu Grugier-Hill

Grugier-Hill was a sixth round pick this year and usually you don’t expect much out of a sixth-round rookie, but based on the camp reports, there’s something interesting with this one. What’s clear is that Grugier-Hill should immediately step into a role on special teams, but what I’m most curious about is how the Patriots might use him on defense. Now, disclaimer, he might not play much defense at all, even in this preseason game. But if he does, is he a safety? Do they use him at linebacker? And if he’s at linebacker, where does he play?

There’s no question, linebacker is the thinnest spot for depth on the defense, and if Grugier-Hill is playing linebacker, there’s a chance he could be seeing defensive snaps this season. Especially if injuries strike. Most of all, Grugier-Hill sounds like an aggressive and fun player to watch. I’m excited to see him.

2. Malcolm Mitchell

Another year, another rookie we’re praying can click with Tom Brady. It feels like a yearly ritual. And yet, Malcolm Mitchell feels like, based on the reports out of training camp, he could be someone who does click. And with Julian Edelman unlikely to play, there’s a good chance that we’ll see Mitchell early and often tonight.

I’m most curious how he’s used. In college he ran many of the same routes the Pats ask of their X-receiver to run on outside — comebacks, digs, wide receiver screens. But the Patriots also ask their receivers to move around a lot. Will they do the same of Mitchell? Or will he be like Brandon LaFell and stick primarily to the outside? Most importantly, is he seeing the defense the same way Brady and Garoppolo do. Is he in the right place at the right time? Hope are high for Mitchell.

1. Tyler Gaffney

There isn’t another player who could dynamically change my outlook on the offense this season than Gaffney. Yes, he’s missed his first two years with injuries and we don’t really know what to expect out of him. But what I can tell you is THERE’S NO ONE ELSE AT RUNNING BACK ON THE ROSTER. Gaffney has been getting a ton of work this summer and it would seem like the Pats are at least as curious about him as I am.

But if he does step in and show a great burst and the ability to generate consistent yardage against heavy fronts, he’ll play a huge role in this offense. He can take the heat off of LeGarrette Blount, who does better as the late-game hammer anyway, as well as Dion Lewis when he returns. I was shocked the Pats didn’t draft TWO running backs this season, and guess what, they drafted NONE.

So this puts it all on Gaffney to be the man. If he gets hurt again or isn’t up to the task the Pats will be forced to roll with the same running backs as last season, with a prayer that they don’t all get hurt again.