5 reasons the Patriots are dangerous regardless of QB concerns
By John Buhler
It doesn’t matter who is quarterbacking the New England Patriots. Here are five reasons they are still dangerous regardless of who lines up under center for them.
Most NFL teams can’t handle starting a fourth-string quarterback. However, most NFL teams aren’t the New England Patriots. Before star quarterback Tom Brady’s four-game Deflategate suspension is over after next weekend’s game, New England will have to start with a four-stringer against the Buffalo Bills in Week 4.
Brady’s backup Jimmy Garoppolo has an injured AC joint in his shoulder. He didn’t play in the Patriots’ Thursday Night Football win over the Houston Texans. New England’s No. 3 quarterback Jacoby Brissett suffered ligament damage in his thumb and will undergo surgery.
Is panic in the air with the Patriots entering Week 4? Absolutely not. They are 3-0 and will have 10 days to prepare for one of the most dysfunctional franchises in the NFL in the Bills next Sunday. Buffalo is totally capable of beating itself under head coach Rex Ryan.
Brady will come back in Week 5 and put out this Patriots quarterback fire to clobber the Cleveland Browns. Does New England start wide receiver Julian Edelman at quarterback in Week 4? Does it really matter? Here are five reasons the Patriots are still a dangerous football team regardless of who is playing quarterback for them.
5. Offense is always evolving
During the entire Bill Belichick era in Foxboro, the Patriots offense is always evolving. There is not a particular offensive system that New England stays overly attached to. The Patriots usually make do with the players they have on that side of the ball and still find ways to crush opposing defenses.
Outside of Randy Moss, the Belichick Patriots have never had a reliable vertical threat. Besides Corey Dillon, they haven’t had a Pro Bowl caliber running back as long as Belichick has been the head coach. The offensive line play is rarely elite and Brady isn’t the most athletically gifted player at the quarterback position.
More NFL coverage from FanSided
Each team’s best draft pick of all-time
Heisman winners with best NFL careers
30 best NFL coaches of all-time
New England’s offense changes week by week. It has more to do with the team it’s playing than anything else. The Patriots will pound the rock when the weather is bad or the opposing run defense can’t get it together.
They’ll throw quick bubble screens when going against an elite pass rush to neutralize its effect. If New England is up against a shaky linebacker corps, Brady will throw slants on play-action to whatever Patriots tight end is open, usually Rob Gronkowski.
Since New England isn’t predictable on offense from week to week, it is immensely difficult for opposing defenses to plan ways to stop the Patriots ever-changing offense. New England loves to keep teams in the dark, especially when it comes to their offensive game plan.