Offense in tough spot
Chiefs ‘D’ will test Edelman-less Pats
FOXBORO — There’s been so much hype surrounding the Patriots offense this year and just how much it was going to terrorize opposing defenses. That view didn’t change all that much even after Julian Edelman went down to a season-ending injury.
PATRIOTS BEAT Karen Guregian
Tom Brady certainly looked like he was ready to put up a ton of points after his preseason cameos, and while he had the offense clicking, that was a watered down version of what we’re likely to see tomorrow night.
Let’s just say, against the Chiefs in the season opener, we’ll have a much better feel for how this offense looks, and if it might possibly live up to all the hype and expectations.
More important, we’ll have a better idea how great the problems will be without Edelman.
That’s because the Pats didn’t draw a cream puff defense out of the gate. Between the Chiefs, and the Texans in Week 3, the latter being the best defense in the AFC, we’ll pretty much know how good the offense is, and how they’re going to cope without Edelman.
Will they get by without Brady’s most trusted receiver, the player who made the offense work, or will this be a potential deal-breaker on a possible repeat championship?
Granted, it’s going to take a bit of time to acclimate newly acquired receiver Phillip Dorsett with Brady, and make whatever adjustments to account for the Edelman void, but the Pats have had nearly two weeks to essentially map out how the offense is going to handle the loss. They’ve been in Plan B mode.
So what better way to see how it’s going to work than put it to the test against the Chiefs, one of the league’s stingier defenses.
Tight end Rob Gronkowski certainly sounded pumped up to show off this edition of the Patriots offense, and once again be a participant. He can’t wait to get going, contribute and collectively do the job without Edelman.
“We’re excited as an offense, as a whole, (to show what we can do),” Gronkowski said yesterday. “We’d be excited if Julian was there, or if Julian wasn’t there. I’m excited to be out on the field, and be able to help out again. “Let’s go!”
Maybe we’ll see some similar plays to last year, or maybe offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels will come at the Chiefs with a completely different look. He certainly has a ton of speed now with Brandin Cooks, Dorsett, Chris Hogan and Malcolm Mitchell. He also has a slew of running backs who can catch the football, be it James White, Rex Burkhead, Dion Lewis, Mike Gillislee or even Brandon Bolden.
And let’s not forget Gronk, the most formidable weapon in Brady’s arsenal. He changes the dynamic.
That’s what the Chiefs are up against, but again, they’re going to be a feisty opponent. Last season, they led the league with 18 interceptions and 15 fumble recoveries. They also weren’t too bad at getting to the quarterback, as they were fourth in sacks (28).
“Yeah, they have playmakers,” Brady said on Monday. “Derrick Johnson is one of the best linebackers in the league. He does so many things for that defense. You can tell it really hurts them when he’s not out there. And Eric Berry is a big time playmaker. Marcus Peters — more interceptions than anybody since he came in the league. (Justin) Houston and (Dee) Ford, I mean, they strip sack the quarterback. So, they’re very explosive and really force the ball out of your hands quick because they get a good rush.”
The Chiefs aren’t going to be intimidated by Brady. They have an established veteran defense that’s gone a few rounds with the Patriots quarterback, and won on occasion, too. So the Pats know the Chiefs defense can make life miserable for No. 12.
“They’ve got all the intangibles, especially defensively,” receiver Danny Amendola said. “They’ve got good cornerbacks that can cover, they’ve got safeties that can tackle, they have linebackers that can run, D-linemen that can rush, so everybody’s going to be tested, and it’s right out of the gate. So we’ve got to jump in. We can’t just dip our toe in the water.”
No doubt the Chiefs will key on the likely places Brady will go to counter for Edelman’s loss, whether it’s Gronkowski, Hogan, Amendola, Cooks, Burkhead or White.
“It’s just going to take a group effort. Julian made a lot of plays,” said Amendola. “It’s up to some new guys to make plays, and step up. And some guys who have been around to step up, and make plays.
“Progression is the key. We’re going to do things that work one week. Then we’re going to do things that work off of that the next. We’re going to have to build. It’s also going to change off of who we play. Those are the variables that each week brings.”
The dress rehearsals are over. Time to see this offense plugged in. If the Chiefs can’t stop them, watch out.