When you look at the New England Patriots draft selections, it’s very evident that there was a specific focus on improving blocking on the offensive line and at the tight end position. The focus on the line might also give us a glimpse into the future of the New England Patriots offense.
By not drafting another quarterback to compete with Jarrett Stidham and Brian Hoyer, and by not drafting any wide receivers, New England looks like it is going to favor the running game for the foreseeable future.
They started their offensive line approach in the fifth round, selecting Michael Onwenu from Michigan. The theme of drafting linemen continued just 13 picks later, as they selected offensive tackle Justin Herron from Wake Forest. Finally, the offensive line theme ended with the selection of Dustin Woodard from Memphis.
When it came to their selections at tight end, Devin Asiasi and Dalton Keene, they are two of the best blockers in their draft class. That may not be saying much, with this year’s class looking lackluster. Still, it was a clear emphasis for New England.
When you take a look at the lineman that are currently on the roster, many of them are seasoned veterans. Shaq Mason, Marcus Cannon, Joe Thuney, and David Andrews are all players that have been through the rigors of the National Football League for a couple of seasons now. Having an experienced line will certainly help whoever is under center in 2020.
Nevertheless, Cannon is about to enter his tenth season. Mason is about to enter his sixth season, while Thuney and Andrews are both about to embark on their fifth seasons. Although they are not old in actual age, they have a lot of miles on them football -wise.
New England still does not know what they’re going to get from Yodny Cajuste. The West Virginia product missed his entire rookie season with a quad injury. However, Doug Kyed reported a little more than a month ago that Cajuste should be ready to go once training camp begins. The bottom line is, the Patriots have a talented group of lineman right now. They are also stockpiling the position for the future.
Their draft strategy of focusing on the line makes sense that given that the Patriots are entering a quarterback situation where they could potentially have to start a second-year player. With that being the case, why not run the ball more? Stidham certainly has talent, and it’s important to note that he is not being undermined here. However, he is certainly going to need to adjust to the starting role. Establishing a solid running game, beginning with the line, is going to be crucial for the organization moving forward.
New England took the first steps toward a more conservative gameplan this weekend. If anything, Patriots fans may see a team like the one that won the Super Bowl in 2001. Running first with an occasional mix of passing the football may be the key ingredient to stabilized success both for the season and the future. It may be different than what some fans are used to, but it could help Stidham gain confidence and adjust to the starting role.
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