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New England Patriots: 5 offseason needs in 2019

By Russell S. Baxter

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - FEBRUARY 03: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots looks on prior to Super Bowl LIII against the Los Angeles Rams at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 03, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - FEBRUARY 03: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots looks on prior to Super Bowl LIII against the Los Angeles Rams at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 03, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /
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FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – JANUARY 13: Malcom Brown #90 of the New England Patriots reacts with Adam Butler #70 during the second quarter in the AFC Divisional Playoff Game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Gillette Stadium on January 13, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – JANUARY 13: Malcom Brown #90 of the New England Patriots reacts with Adam Butler #70 during the second quarter in the AFC Divisional Playoff Game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Gillette Stadium on January 13, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

2. Address interior of defensive front

At times in 2018, the New England Patriots’ defense didn’t look much better than the unit that struggled with consistency one year earlier and was severely exposed in the Super Bowl LII lost to the Philadelphia Eagles. Yes, quarterback Nick Foles was special that day in his Birds’ 41-33 conquest of Bill Belichick’s team at Minneapolis. But led primarily by Jay Ajayi and LeGarrette Blount, the Birds gashed the Patriots for 164 yards on the ground.

Late in ’18, most notably in consecutive losses to the Miami Dolphins and Pittsburgh Steelers in Weeks 14 and 15, respectively, New England’s run defense was once again having its issues. The team fell on that wild last play of the game at South Florida (34-33). But that afternoon, the Pats surrendered a disappointing 189 yards rushing. One week later at Heinz field, Mike Tomlin’s club rolled up 158 yards on the ground in his team’s 17-10 conquest of the eventual Super Bowl LIII champions.

With free agency looming, Patriots’ interior defenders Danny Shelton (obtained in an offseason trade with the Cleveland Browns) and four-year pro Malcom Brown, the latter the team’s first-round draft choice in 2015, could hit the open market. Will the organization decide to bring one or both of these players back? And what will new defensive coordinator Greg Schiano bring to the table this upcoming season?

Next: No. 1

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