Offensive line took a major beating throughout the season

The offensive line situation was shaky from the beginning of the season. It all begin with David Andrews’ absence, when it was announced that he’d miss the entire season due to blood clots. Fortunately, he’s gained health throughout the season and could potentially return in 2020.

Next, the Patriots lost their starting left guard Isaiah Wynn for the first half of the season with a foot injury. He missed his rookie season in 2018 with a torn achilles and just barely made it to Week 1 with full health. Wynn left New England’s Week 2 matchup against the Miami Dolphins with the foot injury, and his progress in the NFL was impeded again.

The Patriots lost left tackle Trent Brown to free agency, leaving Marshall Newhouse as Brady’s blindside protector. Newhouse struggled to adapt and it didn’t help that Develin was out for the season also. So, the Patriots lost their starting fullback, their best blocking tight ends and had to replace some starters on the line with backups.

Ultimately, it left Brady with a hectic pocket and the run game struggled mightily. Sony Michel’s yards per carry dropped from 4.5 in 2018 to 3.7 in 2019. New England’s red-zone percentage also dropped significantly from 62.9 percent in 2018 to 49.2 percent in 2018.

The Patriots will have to do some major work on the offensive line, along with blocking tight ends and fullbacks. This way, they can get back to running hard and allowing the defense to make plays. Everything starts in the trenches, and the Patriots had their fair share of struggles in 2019.