1) Will Belichick name a DC? If so who?
Belichick will not name a coordinator. He will continue to let things play out as is. The Patriots coordinators have been a hot commodity lately. Patricia in Detriot, Flores in Miami, McDaniels almost went to the Browns. I expect Mayo to get offered a better position elsewhere if the Patriots have the same success on defense this season. With that, I believe Steven Belichick will get the job by default in 2021.
2) Who are the new positional coaches & who's doing double duty?
The Patriots brought in Jedd Fisch to be the quarterback coach. Ivan Fears is still the running back coach. Mike Lombardi will be the receivers coach. Nick Caley is the tight end coach. Cole Popovich is going to work on the offensive line with Carmen Bricillo.
Cam Achord is rumored to be the new special teams coordinator. Brian Belichick seems like the obvious candidate to replace Bielema as Defensive line coach. Steven Belichick is the secondary and safeties coach. Jared Mayo is the inside linebacker coach. DeMarcus Covington is the outside linebacker coach. Lastly Mike Pellegrino is the cornerback coach.
Unless something changes between now and week one, this should be the Patriots coaching staff for 2020. I don't believe anyone is really doing double duty besides Steven Belichick and Mayo, who are co play callers.
3) How many quarterbacks will the Patriots keep?
Unless the Patriots really see something in their two undrafted rookies, the Patriots should only keep Hoyer and Stidham. Who starts between the two is up for debate, I am on the fence about the subject. As unpopular as it sounds, I am leaning towards Hoyer early on.
4) Will The Patriots keep more than 4 RBs?
The Patriots are going to rely on their running game. That is the one thing majority of fans can agree on. The question is how many backs will they keep. Honestly, I think the Patriots keep only four. The Patriots have a deep staff. Michel and White are locks. That leaves four backs and two positions. The Patriots spent a huge value on Harris with a 3rd round pick and unless something happens, he should be a gimmie.
That leaves JJ Taylor, Rex Burkhead, and Brandon Bolden. Bolden is like a lower grade version of Burkhead but his special teams value is more than Burkheads. I dont know what Taylor brings besides return ability. So I have Bolden taking the final running back spot.
5) Who wins the fullback spot. This is a touch one. The Patriots like their traditional fullback. While Vitale gives them more options, I think Johnson wins this as the Patriots want a blocking back majority of the time. The Patriots are going to have a new look, so this might change.
6) Will the Patriots keep 5 or receivers, and who is 3-6? Not including slater.
Edelman and Harry are the only Patriots I am giving locks to. The number three spot I believe will go to Jakobi Meyers and I am crowing the number four spot to Will Hastings. I believe the Patriots will only carry five receivers plus Slater, whom I think will be involved in the passing game finally as the number six receiver. I am not sure who takes the number five spot but I like Lee for the position.
7) Who will be the Number 3 tight end?
There will be a battle between Izzo and Lacosse but in the end, Izzo was the better tight end in 2019 and should be able to beat out Lacosse for that spot. Plus he saves the Patriots money.
I just wrote an article on Izzo. In weeks 5 and 6, Izzo was starting to come into his own. He was targeted 6 times, catching 4 passes for 70 yards and a touchdown. Izzo suffered a concussion that kept him out weeks 7-9. Week 10, Izzo was suffering from an unknown illness which still could've been a side effect from the concussion. Belichick redshirted Izzo after week 10. If you look at Izzo's stats per game he out played both Watson and Lacosse. The only downside is he had a bad year as a blocker but so did most of the Patriots offensive line.
8) who are going to be the 3 backup O-Lineman?
This one to me is a no brainer. I have Froholdt, Eluemunor, and Cajuste making the roster. They ability makes It really is theirs to lose. Cajuste and Froholdt were considered steals of the 2019 draft and that is enough to make me think they have it. Eluemunor in my opinion is the next best blocker the Patriots have under contract.
9) How Many DTs does Belichick keep & Who?
The Patriots will keep Guy, Butler, and Cowart for sure. I think Courtney Wallace makes the roster, beating out Murray. Nick Coe is versatile and I think he is kept on to float on the line.
10) How many end/OLB edge rushers & who?
This is an area my knowledge is not so good. I have three locks; Simon, Uche, and Winovich. Rivers has earned another year and Calhoun is too versatile not to keep. They will finish the edge again. Coe will also be floated in. I can see the Patriots using Dugger occasionally on the outside, plus I have a feeling about another player to be named later.
11) How many linebackers does Belichick keep & who?
Hightower and Bentley are locks. I like Harris and think he makes the core. I am also adding Jennings and Maluia to the team. Dugger will also play this position and I foresee the Patriots running more of a 3-2-6 defense than usual. Playing more safeties to spy and cover.
12) How many DBs & Who?
This is one of the easiest questions to answer. The team has several locks. Gilmore, Jones, Jackson, Bethel are almost certain guarantees. Williams & J-Mac will float between corner and safety and may even play that Nickelback-Linebacker position.
Chung, D-Mac,.and Dugger will make the roster. Brandon King has been around forever and always seems to find a home with the Pats. King will make the roster.
By my calculations adding in Cardone, The Rohrwasser and Bailey, the Patriots have 52 men that should make the roster. That leaves one position.
13) Does Belichick resign Gostkowski?
That depends on the new kicker. If Justin Rohrwasser is as inaccurate as he was in college, only really being good at twenty yard kicks; than the Patriots will bring back Gostkowski. Well that is providing he doesn't sign with another team by then. Honestly, I don't think this new guy is accurate enough. I wrote an article on him earlier this offseason. By week three, I believe Gostkowski will be back on the roster.
14) Who is the 53rd player to make the roster.
By my count that is 52 players that should make the roster. What that means is there is room for one player to make the roster. That final spot will go to a versatile player. It will be an undrafted free agent. That player is Rashod Berry.
The Patriots have listed Berry as a linebacker but he played tight end in college. We know Belichick likes versatility and will be need the depth at both linebacker and tight end. Especially since Keene may have to play that H-Back (fullback) role. Having Berry will allow the Patriots to run 4 tight end sets, while keeping depth at the Linebacker position.
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