For most NFL teams, after securing a 12-4 record, having the 2nd highest point differential in the league, winning their division for an unprecedent 11th consecutive season and advancing to the playoffs for the 17th time in 21 years, that would constitue a very successful year.
However, the New England Patriots aren’t the normal NFL team….they’re not even the normal sports dynasty. With Tom Brady at quarterback, the Patriots have won six Super Bowls and advanced to the playoffs for 17 of the 19 years Brady has started.
The 2019 season didn’t end as the Patriots had envisioned, losing the regular season finale to the Miami Dolphins (thus losing a first round playoff bye) and being bounced from the playoffs at home, 20-13 by the Tennessee Titans. The offense struggled during the year, especially during the second half when the Patriots averaged only 18.3 points per game.
Of course the focal point of New England’s offensive woes has been the future Hall of Famer, Brady. Arguably the greatest signal caller the game has seen, the 42-year old Brady threw for 4,057 yards and completed 60.8 percent of his passes, with 24 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Those are extremely productive numbers, but rather pedestrian for the greatest clutch player the NFL has ever seen. The Boston and national press is almost screaming for the former Michigan Wolverine to retire.
But they have it all wrong…it’s not the gerontological-defying Brady, it wasn’t the retirement of all-pro tight end Rob Gronkowski or the lack of quality receivers…..it was the absence of former Georgia center David Andrews.
The Patriots placed the 27-year old Andrews on injured reserve in August 2019 and he missed the entire season. One of the team’s six captains in 2018, Andrews was hospitalized due to blood clots in his lungs. He returned for the preseason in street clothes and remained a spectator for the remainder of the season.
Andrews was a three-year starter and All-SEC center for the Bulldogs and became a finalist for the Rimington Trophy. The former three-star recruit from Norcross, Georgia had not missed a game in his three seasons as a starter and led Georgia to several offensive records, including season scoring records. The importance of Andrews to the Georgia offense was demonstrated during the 2014 Florida game. The No. 9 Bulldogs were heavily favored over the unranked Gators. With UGA leading 7-0 in the first quarter, Andrews suffered a severe sprained ankle and was forced to leave the game. The Georgia offense lost its momentum and the Dawgs fell to Florida 38-20. The following week, Andrews returned against Kentucky and helped lead Georgia to a 63-31 victory.
An offensive line is like a well-oiled machine with the sum of the parts greater than the individual units. Andrews was the bond that drove those great offensive lines at Georgia and was the key component to the New England line. This past season, the New England offense missed the former undrafted free agent’s leadership in the locker room as much as his on-field presence.
Andrews has anchored the Patriots’ offensive line since being installed as the full-time starter in 2016, starting 57 of a possible 59 games over the last three seasons. Without Andrews, the Patriots fell to 7th in the league in points per game, to 26.3, their lowest average output since Andrews came on board. With much the same running backs, the Pats’ rushing attack slowed to 1,703 yards (3.8 yards per carry) in 2019 vs 2,037 yards (4.3 yards per carry) in 2018. After averaging 4.5 yards per carry in 2018, lead back Sony Michel’s average carry dipped 17.8 percent to 3.7 yards. Back up James White saw his average fall 13.6 percent to 3.9 yards per carry.
In the passing game, Brady’s completion percentage dropped five percentage points to 60.8 percent. His passer rating fell 88.0 from 97.7 in 2018. Of course all of this can not be attributed to Andrews missing the season, but his absence from the team was definitely felt.
The announcement the Patriots made prior to the regualr season opening will tell you everything you need to know about David Andrews. Five days after being placed on season-ending injured reserve, by a vote of his teammates, Andrews was selected as one of the Patriots’ seven team captains for the 2019 season, retaining a title he’s held since 2017. Despite not being able to play a down during the season, the respect from his teammates speaks volumes of his character and the importance of Andrews to the team.
“He’s got a wealth of experience and knowledge,” left guard Joe Thuney said. “He knows the offense inside and out, so you can always pick his brain to see what he thinks in certain situations. He’s just a really smart guy, and he’s great to have regardless. Obviously, he’s injured, but it’s just great to have him,” told NESN during the season.
Despite not being in a position to help the team on the field, Andrews traveled with the team and spent significant time on the sidelines and in the meeting rooms. He attended every practice and worked with the offensive coaches. During the season, head coach Bill Belichick acknowledged his presence on the team. Belicheck commented that Andrews’ off-the-field leadership has been outstanding.
Speaking of Andrews and injured fullback James Develin, Belechick said, “They’ve been very helpful to me just as another kind of perspective on where we are from what they see. They see things. They’re very mature. I wish they were both out there on the field, but they’ve done all they can do and contribute a lot on a daily basis and I’m personally very appreciative of what they do for the team and what they’ve done for me personally.”
The outlook for returning for the 2020 season appears to be positive for Andrews and the team. Speaking at a Patriots Charitable Foundation event in Providence, RI on Monday, Andrews offered an optimistic perspective on what lies ahead for him: “I should have a bunch of doctors’ appointments here in February, and get all that cleared up and be good to go next year.”
“Hopefully that goes well and then we kind of see from there. Pretty optimistic and just hope everything comes back good here the next month,” Andrews told ESPN’s Mike Reiss after his remarks at the charity event. “I’m not ready to be done playing football. If there’s any chance I can go play football, that’s what I’m going to do.”
No doubt Andrews was missed. Since joining the Patriots in 2015, he has been a leader within New England’s locker room…. and true leaders are invaluable to a team. For Tom Brady and all of Patriot Nation, hopefully Andrews is cleared to play in 2020 and continue his brilliant career.