8 thoughts on Tom Brady’s departure with the dust clearing

Trudging through the good, the bad and the ugly from Tom Brady’s departure.

8. The pressure moves to Julian Edelman, Sony Michel, N’Keal Harry and Mohamed Sanu

The offensive line will come into focus, too — at least internally. But inside and outside the organization, folks will focus on how well the skill players can support the next quarterback in New England. Edelman will be a trooper, no matter what. He’ll find ways to be reliable. James White is probably in the same boat. Though there may be some question as to how productive they’ll be now that Brady is gone.

The rest of the skill players are facing uncertainty and scrutiny. Harry had a disappointing rookie season — he struggled hugely to beat press coverage and separate downfield. Sanu seemed plagued by an ankle injury. And Michel’s slump was a bit puzzling, perhaps as a product of center David Andrews’ season-ending blood clots diagnosis.

If the Patriots offense is going to hum in 2020, it will be because Harry, Sanu and Michel play significantly better than they did in 2019.

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