Well-stocked cupboard
Pats’ diversity on offense scary
FOXBORO — On Gronk, on Cookie, on Hoges, and Danny. On Rex, on D-Lew, on Develin and Jimmy.
Tom Brady’s offense is rife with stars, but its brilliance this season has been predicated upon its depth. As Brady has proven throughout his career, he is just as capable of traversing the field with his lesser-known reindeer as the big-name ones.
That unpredictability can often make the Patriots impossible to defend.
“No question, everyone has a specific role, and everybody is trying to expand that role, too,” Danny Amendola said. “We have a lot of unselfish football players, and we all share the same mentality: whatever we can do to help the team at whatever cost it may be. So it’s pretty awesome.”
Brady has a diverse collection of skill players at his disposal. Obviously, Rob Gronkowski makes the world go ’round, and Brandin Cooks has been an electric addition as the team’s leader in receptions (51) and yards (869). Chris Hogan, who will miss his fourth consecutive game with a shoulder injury, was slated to be Brady’s “Mr. Reliable” after the previous title holder, Julian Edelman, went down in August with a torn ACL, but others have continued to step up to keep the scoring operation in rhythm.
Gronk, Cooks, Hogan, Amendola and James White have all led the Patriots in receiving yards for at least one game this season. All the while, Rex Burkhead is becoming an X-factor, and Dwayne Allen has increased his complementary value in recent weeks.
“I think coach (Josh) McDaniels does a great job of putting us in positions to execute and win,” Burkhead said. “When we have guys who can do multiple things, it helps out (the coaches), and I think it helps out the offense. Whatever the matchup is, we’re out there competing and trying to win. Whenever we get our number called, we’re going to do the best we can.”
Amendola is another interesting case because his role has been more creatively crafted over the past couple seasons to keep his knee intact. He is 10th in offensive snaps, half as many as Cooks, yet he has 44 receptions for 455 yards and two touchdowns, which puts him on pace for the best statistical season of his five-year tenure with the Patriots.
Roles evolve, too. Look no further than the group of running backs, who were led by Mike Gillislee through the first four weeks before Bill Belichick finally turned toward Dion Lewis, who has led the Patriots in rushing yards during each week of their seven-game winning streak and produced a career-best 112 yards Sunday against the Dolphins. By tomorrow afternoon, Lewis might have doubled his career high for a single season.
The Patriots’ offensive evolution keeps everyone perked up because anyone can be the guy in any given week. White proved that more than ever during his recordsetting Super Bowl performance.
All the while, Burkhead has become a dual threat. Despite missing four games with a rib injury, Burkhead is the most balanced running back on the roster in terms of run-to-pass splits. He has 43 carries for 166 yards and a touchdown and 21 receptions for 179 yards and three scores, and the former Bengal is the only player on the team with at least 20 catches and 40 carries.
“That’s why it’s important for everyone to do their job to the best of their abilities,” Burkhead said. “When we do that, it helps out the running game. It helps out the passing game. Really, execute, because if we don’t, none of that matters.
“I think all of our backs can do those things as well. It comes down to the game plan, what we’re seeing and what we’re getting. Whoever is in the best position, we’re going to try to execute that. I love being in this backfield. The guys are great. They can do multiple things, and they enjoy playing football. It’s fun to be part of it.”
Brady’s indiscriminate distribution pattern can make a defender’s head spin, and Pats safety Duron Harmon put that matter into perspective. More often than not, the Patriots defense can identify one or two skill players to target, and offenses can crumble if they don’t adjust. But that’s when Brady thrives.
“Going against that every day (in practice), you can’t double everybody,” Harmon said. “It makes you focus. The ball can come my way anytime. It’s not like that all the time (against other offenses). You get to certain games and some receivers don’t get that many targets. But when you go against our offense, anybody can get the ball at anytime. You have to be on.”