ONE. FINAL. RUN.

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This is my 2015 Patriots "chise". I played through the 2014 season and when Brady didn't retire I decided to make a "journal" of the 2015 season. This is on Madden 15 on XBox One.

 

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​

BRADY, BELICHICK TO RETURN
By Tim Honks, Staff Writer

Tom Brady stared at the scoreboard and cursed as Joe Flacco and the Ravens took a knee to run out the clock.

After a 12-4 regular season this wasn't how it was supposed to end. A first round playoff exit at home was unacceptable.

"We certainly expected to make a much deeper run in the playoffs. To win a football game you need everyone to do their job, that's even more true in the playoffs. Anyone who watched that game surely knows that didn't happen for us." Coach Bill Belichick said following the loss.

It was pretty clear that the group he was referring to was the offensive line. Brady was sacked six times in the loss. He was hit or hurried on nearly every pass attempt.

Despite the addition of Mackenzy Bernadeau via a preseason trade the offensive line was still the Patriots glaring weakness. Brady was sacked and hit more than he had been in a number of years. At 37 years old it made for a long season.

"You know I'd be really sore for a lot of the week leading up to Sunday. Ten years ago I'd be good by Tuesday, Wednesday at the latest. This year it's closer to Friday before I feel one hundred percent. It wears on you." Brady said mid season.

The hits and the early exit led many to speculate that Brady, along with Belichick, might be heading for retirement.

After a couple weeks to clear his head Brady spoke with Belichick, they both decided they weren't ready to walk away.

"There's still a lot of desire there for both of us. Last year left a bad taste in our mouths and neither of us wanted to go out like that. We know this team can be something special and neither of us were ready to walk away from it just yet." Brady said last month.

With most of their pieces still in place many familiar with the situation feel the Patriots could be just a few pieces away from being the top team in the AFC, if not the entire league.

With Darrelle Revis and Patrick Chung being the biggest potential departures the Patriots will likely have to open their checkbook to keep the band together.

The team already extended Stevan Ridley during the season. The Patriots also dealt Shane Vereen to the Jaguars last season when a deal couldn't be reached.

 

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REVIS ISLAND STAYING IN NEW ENGLAND
By Tim Honks, Staff Writer

Coming into the off-season the Patriots had one player above all others that they wanted, maybe even needed, to resign. Darelle Revis originally came to the Patriots on a one year deal that was friendly for both sides. If Revis under performed the Patriots weren't locked into a long term deal. If Revis wasn't happy in New England he could bolt.

Both sides were very happy with how things worked out and that mutual happiness has led to a contract extension. The deal is rumored to be another single year contract worth about what the 2014 version was. When asked why a longer contract wasn't agreed upon a spokesperson for the team simply said that both sides were comfortable with the deal that was put in place.

Another player whose contract was up was safety Patrick Chung. After a period of negotiating the two sides have decided to part ways. New England has Duron Harmon waiting in the wings and the coaching staff feels he will not be much of a downgrade, especially with the likes of Revis, Brandon Browner, Devin McCourty, Kyle Arrington and Logan Ryan accompanying him in the defensive backfield.

Perhaps the biggest surprise is long time special teamer Matthew Slater leaving New England. The seldom used receiver is seeking a bigger offensive role elsewhere.

Fullback James Develin also signed an extension, terms were not made public as of yet.

 

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NO NEWS IS GOOD NEWS?
By Tim Honks, Staff Writer

Following another 12-4 season and a quick playoff exit the Patriots were expected to be somewhat active in the early stages of free agency. They weren't. Not even a little bit. With the draft set to kick off tomorrow the Patriots have not come to terms with a single new addition to the roster. Rumors circulated that the team made offers to Mike Pouncey and a few other offensive linesman but they ducked out when the price got too high. The Patriots are not known for getting into bidding wars for the most part so it should come as no surprise that they haven't made any big moves.

"We're very confident in our scouting department and our ability to fill our needs through the draft and from our younger players getting the opportunity to step up." Coach Belichick said when asked about the lack of moves.

 

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RUN FOR THE DESERT
By Jamal Martin, Staff Writer

"This will be the biggest move you'll see in years in the NFL. This could change the balance of power in the entire NFC." One GM said after learning that DeMarco Murray had officially signed on with the Cardinals. Murray inked a 6 year 54 million dollar deal to play in Arizona. The Cowboys were unable to retain their star after retaining Dez Bryant on a 1 year deal worth over 12 million.

"It's unfortunate but we obviously couldn't keep them both. We felt it was in the teams best interest to keep Bryant and we're confident that we will be able to come to terms on a long term contract with him during the season." A Cowboys representative stated yesterday.

The arrival of Murray in Arizona should help ease the transition from Carson Palmer to Ryan Mallett or a rookie should they go that route in the draft.

Murray ran for 1,032 yards and 10 touchdowns on just 186 carries in 2014, he missed 6 games due to a hamstring injury. Murray says he is "back and stronger than ever."

Murray's relatively low number of career carries makes most experts confident that he will bounce back.

Major Free Agent Moves
QB C. McCoy - Bills
QB M. Sanchez - Bills
WR P. Garcon - Bills
HB A. Ellington - Browns
QB R. Mallett - Cardinals
HB D. Murray - Cardinals
WR J. Kearse - Chargers
WR H. Douglas - Dolphins
HB J. Stewart - Falcons
WR M. Colston - Falcons
QB M. Cassell - 49ers
QB R. Fitzpatrick - Giants
WR D. Amendola - Giants
TE J. Cameron - Giants
HB R. Mathews - Giants
SS P. Chung - Giants
QB A. Davis - Jaguars
C S. Wisniewski - Jaguars
HB A. Bradshaw - Jaguars
HB S. Vereen - Lions
HB J. Starks - Panthers
HB K. Moreno - Raiders
DE C. Jordan - Raiders
HB F. Gore - Ravens
WR H. Nicks - Seahawks
WR C. Shorts III - Seahawks
QB M. Moore - Titans
HB R. Helu Jr. - Titans
WR M. Wallace - Titans
HB C. Spiller - Vikings
HB D. McFadden - Vikings
WR W. Welker - Vikings
LB B. Irvin - Vikings

 

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PATRIOTS DRAFT RECAP
Round 1 Pick 24

Onaje Asante
OL Wisconsin
6-03 303
21 Years Old​

The Patriots addressed their biggest need in the first round of the 2015 Draft by taking versatile offensive lineman Onaje Asante. The former Wisconsin Badger played all five positions on the line during his time at Wisconsin. Primarily a left tackle in college Asante projects as a Guard or Center in the NFL, New England's two biggest weaknesses. Asante's run block skills were among the best in the draft and his pass blocking is not far behind. He is very strong and possesses quick feet. Asante will likely start for New England from day one.

 

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PATRIOTS DRAFT RECAP
Round 2 Pick 24

Lamar Walden
DL Florida A&M
6-04 270
20 Years Old​

With Vince Wilfork approaching the twilight of his career the Patriots used their second round pick to acquire who they hope could be a potential replacement. Walden, who played both inside and outside at FAMU, possesses good strength despite his smaller stature. He got high marks for power moves and finesse moves and showed an ability to beat his opponent with either. Doesn't tackle quite as well as you would like to see but that should be an easy fix. Has linebacker speed and safety agility and acceleration. Walden could beat out Alan Branch and start alongside Wilfork.

 

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PATRIOTS DRAFT RECAP
Round 3 Pick 24

Stefan Thompson
LB Georgia
6-02 237
22 Years Old​

In need of depth at linebacker the Patriots selected Stefan Thompson from Georgia. Thompson is a solid tackler with decent speed and strength. He runs down plays well. Good in zone coverage. He projects as a middle linebacker in the NFL but could function on the outside if needed.

 

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PATRIOTS DRAFT RECAP
Round 4 Pick 24

Nolen Baldwin
OG Kentucky
6-04 300
22 Years Old
​

Baldwin was brought in to further the Patriots rebuild of their offensive line. He is a raw player who will need coaching to excel at the NFL level. Has solid strength and above average speed. Needs to polish blocking techniques.

 

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PATRIOTS DRAFT RECAP
Round 5 Pick 24

Lenny Buchanan
SS Vanderbilt
6-02 210
24 Years Old​

When the Patriots chose not to resign Patrick Chung they knew they would need to add a player to fill his spot in the secondary. Buchanan comes in and is expected to battle Duron Harmon for the open spot at Strong Safety. Buchanan is better than most safeties in man coverage but does lack a little in zone defenses. He reads plays well and does well in press coverage. Tackles well. Has trouble getting off blocks. Hits like a linebacker. Has WR caliber hands. Decent speed, great acceleration and agility. Came to Vandy as a runningback and does well with the ball in his hands.

 

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PATRIOTS DRAFT RECAP
Round 6 Pick 24

Treyvon Ford
WR New Hampshire
6-06 232
24 Years Old​

At six foot six and 232 pounds Treyvon Ford looks shockingly similar to Lions superstar receiver Calvin Johnson, who is listed at six foot five and 236 pounds. Ford, who chose UNH over bigger schools to be able to continue playing basketball, came to the program as a quarterback. After his sophomore season he was asked to move to receiver where he excelled, breaking nearly every Colonial Conference receiving record in just two seasons. Ford has solid but not great hands and can get the ball in traffic. Not a great route runner. Excellent release. Great vertical. Not a burner but above average speed for his size. Not the most elusive guy but he will run over defensive backs. Doesn't fumble.

 

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PATRIOTS DRAFT RECAP
Round 7 Pick 24

Josh Diaz
DE/OLB North Texas
6-05 264
21 Years Old​

Diaz was picked in the seventh round to add depth at the defensive end and outside linebacker spots. Diaz played both spots in college and could play either in the Patriots 4-3 defense. Diaz gets off blocks well and pursues plays well. Very strong player. Does get tired late in games.

 

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WELCOME BACK
By Tim Honks, Staff Writer

After just one season away in Buffalo linebacker Brandon Spikes has rejoined the Patriots. Signed to a one year deal at just over five million Spikes was brought in to provide insurance if Hightower's injury lingers. Spikes was in New England from 2010-2013 before signing with Buffalo last year. Spikes recorded a career high 103 tackles with Buffalo in 2014. He cited a desire to "come home" as his main reason for returning to New England.

Spikes will wear number 52 as his old number, 55, is worn by Akeem Ayers.

The Patriots also signed quarterback Scott Tolzien and wide receiver Tiquan Underwood, who was with the Patriots in 2011.

 

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MORE REINFORCEMENTS ARRIVE
By Tim Honks, Staff Writer

The Patriots and Packers agreed to a trade today that sends Packers center J.C. Tretter to New England in exchange for the Patriots 2016 3rd round pick. Tretter should get a chance to crack the starting lineup in New England.

The Patriots also announced they had signed several undrafted free agents:
QB Denolious Crawford - Western Michigan
HB Marcos Briscoe - Purdue
HB Spencer Greer - Navy
FB Acey Darman - Georgia
WR Jorian Clayton - Eastern Michigan
WR Arryn Hickman - Florida Atlantic
TE Anthony Diaz - Buffalo
G Jerron Conley - UCLA
G Jesse Orr - USF
DT Alani Pleasant - UCLA
OLB Aevry Shepherd - Wyoming
MLB Cotton Hunt - Drake
DB Margarito McGee - South Carolina
S R.T. Mullins - South Carolina
K Jesse Barker - USC
P Barry Ferrell - Memphis

 

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Patriots Training Camp Roster Analysis

Offense

Quarterbacks
##|Player|Age|HT|WT|College|EXP
12|Tom Brady|38|6-04|225|Michigan|15
15|Denolious Crawford|24|6-02|236|Western Michigan|R
10|Jimmy Garoppolo|23|6-02|226|Eastern Illinois|1
16|Scott Tolzien|28|6-02|213|Wisconsin|4

Brady returns for a 16th season and he's made it clear he wants another ring. Garoppolo was drafted last year in the hopes that he could be Brady's eventual replacement. Tolzien was signed to add depth and experience behind Brady. If Garoppolo outplays Tolzien it is unlikely they will keep three. If Tolzien wins the backup job expect them to keep those three. Crawford has a slight chance of sticking around on the practice squad.
In: Brady, Garoppolo
Bubble: Tolzien, Crawford

Runningbacks
##|Player|Age|HT|WT|College|EXP
29|Legarrette Blount|28|6-00|250|Oregon|5
21|Marcos Briscoe|20|5-11|205|Purdue|R
35|Jonas Gray|25|5-10|230|Notre Dame|2
23|Spencer Greer|22|5-11|207|Navy|R
22|Stevan Ridley|26|5-11|220|LSU|4

Ridley and Blount split the bulk of the work last season with Shane Vereen being traded early on. Gray made a few spot appearances but didn't do much when he did get a shot. Greer and Briscoe were both signed as undrafted free agents. It's unlikely that anyone will do enough to change the Ridley and Blount duo form getting the bulk of the work. Either Greer or Briscoe has an outside chance of making the roster but not both.
In: Blount, Ridley
Bubble: Gray, Greer, Briscoe

Fullbacks
##|Player|Age|HT|WT|College|EXP
44|Acey Darman|22|6-03|242|Georgia|R
46|James Develin|27|6-03|255|Brown|5

Develin saw the field more than any other fullback in the NFL last season, he proved to be a very important piece of the Patriots offense by blocking in the run game. Develin scored a pair of rushing touchdowns as well. Darman is a better ball carrier but is well behind Develin in terms of blocking. Expect Darman to be an early cut.
In: Develin
Bubble: Darman

Wide Receivers
##|Player|Age|HT|WT|College|EXP
82|Josh Boyce|23|5-11|205|TCU|2
86|Jorian Clayton|24|6-04|210|Eastern Michigan|R
17|Aaron Dobson|24|6-03|200|Marshall|2
11|Julian Edelman|29|5-10|198|Kent State|6
88|Treyvon Ford|24|6-06|232|New Hampshire|R
18|Arryn Hickman|22|6-01|212|Florida Atlantic|R
19|Brandon LaFell|28|6-02|210|LSU|5
14|Tiquan Underwood|28|6-01|185|Rutgers|6

The arrival of Brandon LaFell in 2014 gave the Patriots the best second receiver they have had in a long time. Edelman once again was the teams top receiver but LaFell wasn't far behind. Dobson showed enough last year for the Patriots to feel confident cutting ties with Danny Amendola. Ford could be a huge addition to the receiving corps and has impressed so far at OTAs and in camp. Boyce will have to separate himself from UDFAs Clayton and Hickman. Underwood is a long shot to make the roster as the team is more likely to keep the less expensive rookies if they are anywhere close in ability.
In: Edelman, LaFell, Dobson, Ford
Bubble: Boyce, Clayton, Hickman, Underwood

Tight Ends
##|Player|Age|HT|WT|College|EXP
83|Anthony Diaz|21|6-03|263|Buffalo|R
87|Rob Gronkowski|26|6-06|265|Arizona|5
47|Michael Hoomanawanui|27|6-05|260|Illinois|5
81|Tim Wright|25|6-04|220|Rutgers|2

Tim Wright came over in the Logan Mankins trade with Tampa Bay and proved to be a valuable piece albeit in a limited role. Hoomanawanui is primarily a blocker. Not much needs to be said about Gronkowski, who may regard as the best tight end in the league. Gronk caught 121 passes for 1,159 yards and ten touchdowns. Anthony Diaz, whose cousin Josh was drafted by the Patriots, is primarily seen as a training camp body and could have a short stay in New England. The Patriots will most likely keep all three holdovers as they frequently use multiple tight end sets.
In: Gronkowski, Wright, Hoomanawanui
Bubble: Diaz

Offensive Line
##|Player|Age|HT|WT|College|EXP
70|Onaje Asante|21|6-03|303|Wisconsin|R
69|Nolen Baldwin|22|6-04|300|Kentucky|R
63|Mackenzy Bernadeau|29|6-04|333|Bentley College|7
61|Marcus Cannon|27|6-05|335|TCU|4
68|Jerron Conley|20|6-03|303|UCLA|R
71|Cameron Fleming|22|6-06|218|Stanford|1
67|Jesse Orr|22|6-02|291|USF|R
77|Nate Solder|27|6-08|320|Colorado|4
66|Bryan Stork|24|6-04|300|Florida State|1
53|J.C. Tretter|25|6-04|307|Cornell|2
76|Sebastian Vollmer|30|6-08|320|Houston|6

Vollmer and Solder are arguably two of the top offensive tackles in the league and showed no signs of decline in 2014. Bernadeau helped the line immensely when he came in and took over at LG. Center and Right Guard were both train wrecks in 2014. The Patriots looked to remedy that by drafting Asante in the first round, Baldwin in the 4th and by snatching Tretter off the trade block from Green Bay. They also signed UDFAs Orr and Conley, who are both longshots but possible practice squaders. The Patriots should have one of the top offensive lines in the league if the starting unit can mesh. The team is likely to keep nine but could drop another if they have enough versatility in the top eight.
In: Solder, Bernadeau, Asante, Tretter, Vollmer, Baldwin, Cannon
Bubble: Conley, Fleming, Orr, Stork

 

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Patriots Training Camp Roster Analysis

Defense

Defensive Ends
##|Player|Age|HT|WT|College|EXP
99|Michael Buchanan|24|6-06|255|Illinois|2
93|Josh Diaz|21|6-05|264|North Texas|R
74|Dominique Easley|23|6-02|288|Florida|1
95|Chandler Jones|25|6-05|265|Syracuse|3
90|Zach Moore|24|6-06|285|Concordia|1
50|Rob Ninkovich|31|6-02|260|Purdue|9

Chandler Jones is one of the top defensive ends in the league and creates problems for any offensive linesman he faces. Ninkovich may have shown a slight decline last season but also spent a lot of time out of position with all of the injuries New England had. Expect to see Easley, Moore and possibly even Diaz play substantial roles off the bench.
In: Jones, Ninkovich, Easley, Diaz
Bubble: Moore, Buchanan

Defensive Tackles
##|Player|Age|HT|WT|College|EXP
97|Alan Branch|30|6-06|325|Michigan|8
94|Anthony Pleasant|22|6-02|342|UCLA|R
72|Joe Vellano|26|6-02|300|Maryland|2
92|Lamar Walden|20|6-04|270|Florida A&M|R
75|Vince Wilfork|33|6-02|325|Miami|11

Wilfork and Branch both missed substantial time battling injuries last season. Walden was drafted to provide immediate depth and to eventually replace Wilfork. Walden is small for a defensive tackle but more than makes up for it in other areas. Vellano struggled filling in last season and Easley and Moore's ability to play inside or out could make him expendable. Pleasant would have to have an outstanding showing early in the preseason to beat out the veterans.
In: Wilfork, Branch, Walden
Bubble: Pleasant, Vellano

Outside Linebackers
##|Player|Age|HT|WT|College|EXP
55|Akeem Ayers|26|6-03|253|UCLA|4
91|Jamie Collins|25|6-03|250|Southern Miss|2
54|Dont’a Hightower|25|6-03|270|Alabama|3
56|Aevry Shepherd|23|6-03|239|Wyoming|R
58|Stevenson Sylvester|27|6-02|231|Utah|5

New England’s group of outside linebackers is one of the best in the league. Hightower and Collins have both developed into some of the top players at their positions. Ayers and Sylvester could be starters on a number of teams in the league. Shepherd won't beat out any of the holdovers for a spot but could make the 53 man roster if he excels on special teams.
In: Ayers, Collins, Hightower, Sylvester
Bubble: Shepherd

Middle Linebackers
##|Player|Age|HT|WT|College|EXP
59|Cotton Hunt|24|6-03|241|Drake|R
51|Jerod Mayo|29|6-01|250|Tennessee|7
52|Brandon Spikes|27|6-02|255|Florida|5
96|Stefan Thompson|22|6-02|237|Georgia|R

Jerod Mayo is amongst the best middle linebackers in the NFL. Brandon Spikes isn’t far behind. Thompson was drafted before Spikes rejoined the team but expect the Patriots to keep all three as they like to rotate their front seven frequently. Hunt will have to show he can contribute on special teams if he hopes to make the roster.
In: Mayo, Spikes, Thompson
Bubble: Hunt

Cornerbacks
##|Player|Age|HT|WT|College|EXP
25|Kyle Arrington|29|5-10|190|Hofstra|7
29|Brandon Browner|31|6-04|221|Oregon State|5
37|Alfonzo Dennard|25|5-10|200|Nebraska|3
33|Margarito McGee|20|6-02|191|South Carolina|R
24|Darrelle Revis|30|5-11|198|Pittsburgh|8
26|Logan Ryan|24|5-11|195|Rutgers|2

Revis proved last season that he was still the best cornerback in the NFL, Browner played very well across from him, giving the Patriots one of the best starting cornerback duos in the league. Logan Ryan showed huge progress last season and could be the best nickel corner in the league. Add in Arrington and Dennard and the group has incredible depth as well. McGee will have an uphill battle as the Patriots are likely to keep an extra safety or linebacker over a sixth corner.
In: Revis, Browner, Ryan, Arrington, Dennard
Bubble: McGee

Safeties
##|Player|Age|HT|WT|College|EXP
43|Lenny Buchanan|24|6-02|210|Vanderbilt|R
36|Kanorris Davis|25|5-10|207|Troy|2
30|Duron Harmon|24|6-01|205|Rutgers|2
32|Devin McCourty|28|5-10|195|Rutgers|5
31|R.T. Mullins|20|6-02|21|South Carolina|R
27|Tavon Wilson|25|6-00|215|Illinois|3

The fact that the Patriots had no qualms in letting Patrick Chung walk should tell you a lot about how they feel about Duron Harmon and Tavon Wilson. Chung was allowed to walk even before the Patriots had drafted Buchanan, who has been one of the biggest surprises in OTAs and training camp thus far. McCourty will lock down the free safety position while Harmon, Buchanan and Wilson will battle for the strong safety position. Mullins is likely to be one of the first defensive backs released unless he makes a huge splash early. Davis could be the odd man out if the Pats run out of roster space.
In: McCourty, Harmon, Wilson, Buchanan
Bubble: Davis, Mullins

Specialists
4|Jessee Barker(K)|23|5-08|187|USC|R
3|Stephen Gostkowski(K)|31|6-01|215|Memphis|9
6|Ryan Allen(P)|25|6-02|215|Louisiana Tech|2
9|Barry Ferrell(P)|21|5-11|182|Memphis|R

Gostkowski continues to be one of the most reliable kickers in the league, giving Barker almost no chance of making the team. Ryan averaged just 35.2 yards per punt last season so the Patriots brought in UDFA Barry Ferrell to provide some motivation. Ferrell is a long shot to supplant Allen, though he did show a slightly stronger leg in camp.
In: Gostkowski, Allen
Bubble: Barker, Ferrell

 

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PATS RELEASE INITIAL PRESEASON DEPTH CHART
By Tim Honks, Staff Writer

The Patriots have released their initial preseason depth chart in preparation for their preseason opener against the Seattle Seahawks. This is merely how they intend to play in this game and may not actually reflect perceived depth.

<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" /></head><body><table cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1" class="osdyn" width="575"><tr class="masthead_alt"><td bgcolor="#0D254C" colspan="5"><span style="color:#D6D6D6">Patriots PreSeason Depth Chart Depth Chart - 2015</span></td></tr><tr class="stathead"><td align="center"colspan="5">Regular Offense</td></tr><tr class="stathead"><td width="8%"></td><td width="23%">STARTER</td><td width="23%">2ND</td><td width="23%">3RD</td><td width="23%">4TH</td></tr><tr class="oddrow"><td>WR</td><td>Edelman</td><td>Dobson</td><td>Boyce</td><td>Clayton</td></tr><tr class="evenrow"><td>TE</td><td>Gronkowski</td><td>Wright</td><td>Diaz</td><td>Hoomanawanui</td></tr><tr class="oddrow"><td>LT</td><td>Solder</td><td>Cannon</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr class="evenrow"><td>LG</td><td>Bernadeau</td><td>Conley</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr class="oddrow"><td>C</td><td>Tretter</td><td>Stork</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr class="evenrow"><td>RG</td><td>Asante</td><td>Orr</td><td>Baldwin</td><td></td></tr><tr class="oddrow"><td>RT</td><td>Vollmer</td><td>Flemming</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr class="evenrow"><td>WR</td><td>LaFell</td><td>Ford</td><td>Underwood</td><td>Hickman</td></tr><tr class="oddrow"><td>QB</td><td>Garoppolo</td><td>Tolzien</td><td>Crawford</td><td></td></tr><tr class="evenrow"><td>FB</td><td>Develin</td><td>Darman</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr class="oddrow"><td>HB</td><td>Gray</td><td>Blount</td><td>Greer</td><td>Briscoe</td></tr></table></body></html>

As you can see Ridley and Brady are not on the list. We're told Brady will not play at all, just like in 2014. Ridley should see a few snaps but is not expected to make a long appearance. Two big surprises are UDFA TE Diaz ahead of Hoomanawanui and UDFA G Orr ahead of Baldwin.

<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" /></head><body><table cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1" class="osdyn" width="575"><tr class="masthead_alt"><td bgcolor="#0D254C" colspan="5"><span style="color:#D6D6D6">Patriots PreSeason Depth Chart Depth Chart - 2015</span></td></tr><tr class="stathead"><td align="center"colspan="5">Base 4-3 Defense</td></tr><tr class="stathead"><td width="8%"></td><td width="23%">STARTER</td><td width="23%">2ND</td><td width="23%">3RD</td><td width="23%">4TH</td></tr><tr class="oddrow"><td>LDE</td><td>Ninkovich</td><td>Diaz</td><td>Buchanan</td><td></td></tr><tr class="evenrow"><td>LDT</td><td>Wilfork</td><td>Vellano</td><td>Pleasant</td><td></td></tr><tr class="oddrow"><td>RDT</td><td>Branch</td><td>Walden</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr class="evenrow"><td>RDE</td><td>Jones</td><td>Easley</td><td>Moore</td><td></td></tr><tr class="oddrow"><td>WLB</td><td>Hightower</td><td>Ayers</td><td>Sylvester</td><td></td></tr><tr class="evenrow"><td>MLB</td><td>Mayo</td><td>Spikes</td><td>Thompson</td><td>Hunt</td></tr><tr class="oddrow"><td>SLB</td><td>Collins</td><td>Ayers</td><td>Shepherd</td><td></td></tr><tr class="evenrow"><td>CB</td><td>Revis</td><td>Ryan</td><td>Dennard</td><td></td></tr><tr class="oddrow"><td>SS</td><td>Harmon</td><td>Buchanan</td><td>Wilson</td><td></td></tr><tr class="evenrow"><td>FS</td><td>McCourty</td><td>Wilson</td><td>Mullins</td><td></td></tr><tr class="oddrow"><td>CB</td><td>Browner</td><td>Arrington</td><td>McGee</td><td></td></tr></table></body></html>

Not many surprises on the defensive side of the ball. Harmon, Wilson, Mullins and Buchanan should all get plenty of reps at both safety positions.

<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" /> </head><body><table cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1" class="osdyn" width="575"><tr class="masthead_alt"><td bgcolor="#0D254C" colspan="5"><span style="color:#D6D6D6">Patriots PreSeason Depth Chart Depth Chart - 2015</span></td></tr><tr class="stathead"><td align="center"colspan="5">Special Teams</td></tr><tr class="stathead"><td width="8%"></td><td width="23%">STARTER</td><td width="23%">2ND</td><td width="23%">3RD</td><td width="23%">4TH</td></tr><tr class="oddrow"><td>K</td><td>Gostkowski</td><td>Barker</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr class="evenrow"><td>P</td><td>Allen</td><td>Ferrell</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr class="oddrow"><td>KOS</td><td>Gostkowski</td><td>Ferrell</td><td>Barker</td><td></td></tr><tr class="evenrow"><td>PR</td><td>Mullins</td><td>Hickman</td><td>Clayton</td><td>Briscoe</td></tr><tr class="oddrow"><td>KR</td><td>Clayton</td><td>Hickman</td><td>Mullins</td><td>Briscoe</td></tr><tr class="evenrow"><td>LS</td><td>Tretter</td><td>Asante</td><td>Bernadeau</td><td></td></tr></table></body></html>

The biggest surprise here is the absence of Edelman, but that could be to give the UDFAs a chance to show how they could possibly contribute more immediately.

Expect most of the starters to play a very limited number of snaps.

 

[djp73]

Patriots Preseason Report

Position Battles
By Joe Swansonson, Staff Writer

With the majority of the key positions already essentially decided for the Patriots there may seemingly be little to watch for this preseason for New England fans. However, that's not entirely true. While many starters are likely to be the same as last season there are several backup roles that are still up for grabs.

Here are some of the position battles to keep an eye on during this preseason.

QB2
Jimmy Garoppolo vs Scott Tolzien

After seeing Garoppolo in a limited role last season the team decided they should bring in a little competition. Scott Tolzien was signed before training camp on a one year deal. If Tolzien outplays Garoppolo he will likely be listed as Brady's backup. The team has much more invested in Garoppolo so the job should be his to lose. If he keeps the job Tolzien may get cut.

HB3/4
Marcos Briscoe vs Jonas Gray vs Spencer Greer

While the Pats may not have a clear number one back it's quite obvious that Blount and Ridley will get the bulk of the touches. The third and possibly fourth spots on the depth chart are up for grabs. Jonas Gray didn't do much with his limited touches last year and his contract expires after 2015 so he has no advantage over the two UDFAs. The team is likely to keep only three total unless they are overly impressed with two of the players listed here.

FB
Acey Darman vs James Develin

Darman is nowhere near the blocker that Develin is but he does bring another potential weapon to the passing game. This is a long shot but if Darman has a great preseason he could get the nod.

WR 3/4/5
Josh Boyce vs Jorian Clayton vs Aaron Dobson vs Treyvon Ford vs Arryn Hickman

Edelman and LaFell are the clear 1 and 2 receivers for the Pats, after that it's wide open. Dobson may have the inside edge based on his tenure and contributions from last year. The team is very excited about Ford and will likely give him ample opportunities in the preseason. Boyce didn't do much last year and will need a good campaign to hold off Clayton and Hickman for the 5th spot on the depth chart and possibly even a roster spot as the team is likely to keep five at the most.

LE2/RE2
Michael Buchanan vs Josh Diaz vs Dominique Easley vs Zach Moore

Chandler Jones and Rob Ninkovich are locked in as the starters at the defensive end positions. Behind them there is competition for the backup roles. Though it's likely that whoever is left on the 53 man roster will get playing time those who impress the most in the preseason will receive more playing time. Easley and Buchanan both contributed last season and the team is high on Diaz. Moore's battle for playing time could be an uphill one.

DT2
Alan Branch vs Lamar Walden

Branch played well aside from Wilfork last season and may have the inside track to the job again this season. Walden has been very impressive in camp and may be able to steal the job with a great preseason campaign.

CB4
Kyle Arrington vs Alfonzo Dennard

Arrington and Dennard may be the two most closely matched players among all the position battles. A small mistake or big play by either could be all the coaching staff has to go on when making their choice here.

SS
Lenny Buchanan vs Duron Harmon vs Tavon Wilson

Patrick Chung was not retained by New England, showing that they had plenty of confidence in the players they had. They added Buchanan in the draft and now the position is up for grabs. Harmon is perceived to have the inside track due to experience and performance but there's not a big gap between the three.

P
Ryan Allen vs Barry Ferrell

Allen struggled and posted a very low average yards per punt last season as well as struggling with ball placement. Ferrell has shown to have a slightly stronger leg and accuracy on par with Allen's. The Pats aren't afraid to go with an untested rookie here as evidenced by Allen supplanting Zoltan Mesko before the 2013 season.

 

[djp73]

New England Patriots 2015 Preseason Schedule

DATE - OPPONENT
Aug 7 - at Seattle Seahawks
Aug 16 - vs San Francisco 49ers
Aug 22 - at Houston Texans
Aug 29 - vs Baltimore Ravens​

 

[djp73]

Patriots @ Seahawks
Century Link Field – Seattle, Washington
Friday August 7th, 2015 10:00pm

TIQUAN UNDERWOOD HAULS IN A TD PASS FROM JIMMY GAROPPOLO IN THE SECOND QUARTER

<table border=1><tr><td></td><td>1st</td><td>2nd</td><td>3rd</td><td>4th</td><td>Final</td></tr><tr><td>New England Patriots [0-0]</td><td>0</td><td>14</td><td>7</td><td>21</td><td>42</td></tr><tr><td>Seattle Seahawks [0-0]</td><td>3</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>14</td><td>17</td></tr></table>​

Patriots steamroll Seahawks in PreSeason opener

The Patriots offense rolled despite a night off for Tom Brady, scoring 42 points in a lopsided win over the Seahawks. The New England defense allowed just 10 points in the win.

Several young players contributed in the effort, including wide receiver Treyvon Ford, who led all receivers with 122 yards.

Rookie defensive linesman Lamar Walden recorded four sacks in the victory.

Josh Diaz was injured in the game, reportedly an abdominal tear. He will be evaluated this weekend.

HB Jonas Gray fumbled early in the game and despite a scowl from Coach Belichick he did return to the game.

Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
SEA S. Hauschka 23 Yd FG
2nd Quarter
NE L. Blount 1 Yd run (S. Gostkowski kick)
NE T. Underwood 9 Yd pass from J. Garoppolo (S. Gostkowski kick)
3rd Quarter
NE M. Briscoe 2 Yd run (J. Barker kick)
4th Quarter
NE S. Greer 1 Yd run (J. Barker kick)
SEA C. Shorts III 102 Yd kick return (S. Hauschka kick)
SEA C. Helfet 74 Yd pass from C. Palmer (S. Hauschka kick)
NE S. Greer 2 Yd run (J. Barker kick)
NE T. Ford 18 Yd pass from D. Crawford (J. Barker kick)

Key Player Stats

J. Garoppolo 15/20 155 Yds TD
D. Crawford 7/11 117 Yds TD
S. Greer 8 car 36 Yds 2TD
J. Gray 8 car 34 Yds
M. Briscoe 6 car 24 Yds TD
T. Ford 8 rec 122 Yds TD
J. Boyce 3 rec 47 Yds
T. Underwood 3 rec 33 Yds TD
L. Walden 4 tkl, 4 sck
J. Diaz 2 tkl, 1 sck

C. Palmer 16/27 171 Yds TD
C. Michael 6 car 21 Yds, 5 rec 38 Yds
C. Helfet 6 rec 78 Yds TD
M. Lynch 3 rec 51 Yds
K. Pierre-Louis 12 tkl, 3 sck
J. Beason 7 tkl
J. Hill 1 tkl, 1 Sck
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Current Record: 1-0
Next Week: vs. San Francisco 49ers (1-0)