1. Will Devin McCourty play at Cornerback or Safety and will he play well? Can he return to his 2010 form or will he continue to struggle as he did in 2011?
I would personally like to see McCourty start at Safety along side Pat Chung with Kyle Arrington, Ras-I Dowling and Sterling Moore as your primary Cornerbacks. I think after watching last season that McCourty is likely to become a better Safety than Cornerback at this point. The Patriots did sign Safety Steve Gregory in Free Agency so that in addition to the Draft selection of Tavon Wilson could put McCourty back in the Cornerback Mix.
2. Will Chandler Jones make an Immediate Impact? Can he become the Starting Defensive End by the start of the Season or will he just be a Situational Pass Rusher?
I think there is a good chance Jones will be just a Situational Pass Rusher to start the Season but by Mid Season he will become this Teams Starting Defensive End. I look for Chandler Jones to make a Huge Impact this Season. I believe he will match if not surpass the Production Mark Anderson had last season.
3. Who will win the Running-back Battle between Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen?
I think Danny Woodhead will be a Big part of this Team but I left him off this Question because he will not start, he's the 3rd Down back on this Team. My Question is who will start? I'd lean toward Stevan Ridley but I wouldn't count out Vereen. The Patriots did Draft Vereen higher than Ridley last season and he only missed out on reps in 2011 due to injury. I think it will ultimately become more of a Running-back by Committee but I think Ridley will be at the Top of that Committee.
4. Will Brandon Lloyd become the #1 Receiver we think he's gonna be?
I absolutely believe Lloyd is gonna be a Stud Receiver for the Patriots. He is the anti-Ochocinco. He knows the Playbook and the system. He makes Plays, Big Plays! He's a Dynamic WR who will go and get the ball unlike anyone Brady has ever had a WR, including Moss. I expect him to fit in Perfectly with Tom Brady and the Patriots Offense. Early on in Camp we will see a great connection between Brady and Lloyd.
5. Will Brian Waters and Andre Carter be on this Team?
We are 1 day away from Camp and Brian Waters future is still up in the air and Andre Carter has yet to be resigned. I think the Patriots need Waters more than Carter but both would be welcomed additions. Both Players were Pro Bowlers last Season. With Mankins starting Camp on the PUP List, if Waters doesn't return the Patriots will be playing with 2 new starting Guards to start the Preseason. I think the Patriots have done a solid job picking up some new DE during the Offseason but it would be nice to have Carter in the Mix competing. The Patriots will be a better Team with Waters and Carter.
6. Can Brandon Spikes and Pat Chung stay healthy?
Both Spikes and Chung have dealt with Injuries the last 2 Seasons. I think Spikes is a Beast and a difference maker on this Defense when Healthy. Just look back at the Playoffs last year, he was the Best Defensive Player on the Field for the Patriots. Pat Chung can be a Stud Safety in this league if healthy. He is also a big difference maker for this Defense. The Patriots Defense played it's best football in the Playoffs last season and I don't think it was a coincidence that both Chung and Spikes were Healthy.
7. What will happen in the Wide Receiver Competition between Deion Branch, Jabar Gaffney, and Donte Stallworth?
One of those guys are not gonna make the Team. With Welker, Lloyd, Edelman, and Slater Locks in my mind, it comes down to at the most 2 more spots at WR. I think Stallworth is gonna be the odd man out. Gaffney is gonna step in and be the Patriots #3 WR. He has a lot of good football left in him. I mean back in 2007, 5 years ago, Gaffney got more playing time then Stallworth, there is no way now in 2012 Stallworth will beat out Gaffney. I think Branch has the edge over Stallworth strictly based off his knowledge of the system and the Patriot Way as well as his relationship with Brady.
8. How different (better) will the Offense look now that Josh McDaniels is back at Offensive Coordinator?
I understand that Billy OB basically ran the same offense as McDaniels but I think McDaniels calls a much better game. McDaniels uses the Screen Pass a lot more than Billy OB and with guys like Woodhead and Vereen on this roster it will be nice to see a few more screens this season. I think McDaniels runs more "Trick" Plays and opens up the offense more. I think McDaniels will commit to the run more and stay with it when it's going good. I thought Billy OB gave up on the run too fast in games. Brady and McDaniels have a much better relationship than Brady and Billy OB as well. McDaniels will utilize versatile players like Hernandez and Edelman much better then in past years.
9. Is Nate Solder ready to become the Patriots Left Tackle?
Solder played great last season but most of the time it was at Right Tackle. Now with Matt Light retiring Solder is forced to play Left Tackle and protect Brady's Blind side. I expect Solder to be fine but he still has a lot to prove.
10. Will Ryan Mallett continue to Develop and Improve?
First and foremost I go back to #8 and note that with Josh McDaniels back in the Organization I have no doubt Mallett is gonna get a lot better. McDaniels is one of the Best QB developers I've ever seen. Mallett is now working with Brady and McDaniels, it can't get any better then that. Mallett has all the tools to be a great QB. I'm looking forward to seeing him in Camp and in Preseason.
I would personally like to see McCourty start at Safety along side Pat Chung with Kyle Arrington, Ras-I Dowling and Sterling Moore as your primary Cornerbacks. I think after watching last season that McCourty is likely to become a better Safety than Cornerback at this point. The Patriots did sign Safety Steve Gregory in Free Agency so that in addition to the Draft selection of Tavon Wilson could put McCourty back in the Cornerback Mix.
2. Will Chandler Jones make an Immediate Impact? Can he become the Starting Defensive End by the start of the Season or will he just be a Situational Pass Rusher?
I think there is a good chance Jones will be just a Situational Pass Rusher to start the Season but by Mid Season he will become this Teams Starting Defensive End. I look for Chandler Jones to make a Huge Impact this Season. I believe he will match if not surpass the Production Mark Anderson had last season.
3. Who will win the Running-back Battle between Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen?
I think Danny Woodhead will be a Big part of this Team but I left him off this Question because he will not start, he's the 3rd Down back on this Team. My Question is who will start? I'd lean toward Stevan Ridley but I wouldn't count out Vereen. The Patriots did Draft Vereen higher than Ridley last season and he only missed out on reps in 2011 due to injury. I think it will ultimately become more of a Running-back by Committee but I think Ridley will be at the Top of that Committee.
4. Will Brandon Lloyd become the #1 Receiver we think he's gonna be?
I absolutely believe Lloyd is gonna be a Stud Receiver for the Patriots. He is the anti-Ochocinco. He knows the Playbook and the system. He makes Plays, Big Plays! He's a Dynamic WR who will go and get the ball unlike anyone Brady has ever had a WR, including Moss. I expect him to fit in Perfectly with Tom Brady and the Patriots Offense. Early on in Camp we will see a great connection between Brady and Lloyd.
5. Will Brian Waters and Andre Carter be on this Team?
We are 1 day away from Camp and Brian Waters future is still up in the air and Andre Carter has yet to be resigned. I think the Patriots need Waters more than Carter but both would be welcomed additions. Both Players were Pro Bowlers last Season. With Mankins starting Camp on the PUP List, if Waters doesn't return the Patriots will be playing with 2 new starting Guards to start the Preseason. I think the Patriots have done a solid job picking up some new DE during the Offseason but it would be nice to have Carter in the Mix competing. The Patriots will be a better Team with Waters and Carter.
6. Can Brandon Spikes and Pat Chung stay healthy?
Both Spikes and Chung have dealt with Injuries the last 2 Seasons. I think Spikes is a Beast and a difference maker on this Defense when Healthy. Just look back at the Playoffs last year, he was the Best Defensive Player on the Field for the Patriots. Pat Chung can be a Stud Safety in this league if healthy. He is also a big difference maker for this Defense. The Patriots Defense played it's best football in the Playoffs last season and I don't think it was a coincidence that both Chung and Spikes were Healthy.
7. What will happen in the Wide Receiver Competition between Deion Branch, Jabar Gaffney, and Donte Stallworth?
One of those guys are not gonna make the Team. With Welker, Lloyd, Edelman, and Slater Locks in my mind, it comes down to at the most 2 more spots at WR. I think Stallworth is gonna be the odd man out. Gaffney is gonna step in and be the Patriots #3 WR. He has a lot of good football left in him. I mean back in 2007, 5 years ago, Gaffney got more playing time then Stallworth, there is no way now in 2012 Stallworth will beat out Gaffney. I think Branch has the edge over Stallworth strictly based off his knowledge of the system and the Patriot Way as well as his relationship with Brady.
8. How different (better) will the Offense look now that Josh McDaniels is back at Offensive Coordinator?
I understand that Billy OB basically ran the same offense as McDaniels but I think McDaniels calls a much better game. McDaniels uses the Screen Pass a lot more than Billy OB and with guys like Woodhead and Vereen on this roster it will be nice to see a few more screens this season. I think McDaniels runs more "Trick" Plays and opens up the offense more. I think McDaniels will commit to the run more and stay with it when it's going good. I thought Billy OB gave up on the run too fast in games. Brady and McDaniels have a much better relationship than Brady and Billy OB as well. McDaniels will utilize versatile players like Hernandez and Edelman much better then in past years.
9. Is Nate Solder ready to become the Patriots Left Tackle?
Solder played great last season but most of the time it was at Right Tackle. Now with Matt Light retiring Solder is forced to play Left Tackle and protect Brady's Blind side. I expect Solder to be fine but he still has a lot to prove.
10. Will Ryan Mallett continue to Develop and Improve?
First and foremost I go back to #8 and note that with Josh McDaniels back in the Organization I have no doubt Mallett is gonna get a lot better. McDaniels is one of the Best QB developers I've ever seen. Mallett is now working with Brady and McDaniels, it can't get any better then that. Mallett has all the tools to be a great QB. I'm looking forward to seeing him in Camp and in Preseason.
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