The New England Patriots are 10-1, best in the NFL. However, despite a gaudy record, they are far from perfect, especially on the offensive side of the ball.
Houston Texans defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel recognizes that.
Crennel, who was the Patriots’ defensive coordinator from 2001-04 during the club’s first of three Super Bowl wins in four years, sees talent in Tom Brady’s wide receiver unit — Julian Edelman, Phillip Dorsett, Mohamed Sanu, N’Keal Harry and Jakobi Meyers.
“Well, Edelman, he’s himself, he’s kind of special. Dorsett has speed, Sanu has some size and can make catches. So, he’s (Tom Brady) got guys,” said Crennel on Wednesday.
Yet, Crennel won’t mince words discussing the unit. Brady lacks the go-to pass catcher he once had, such as Deion Branch, Randy Moss, or Rob Gronkowski.
“I don’t think that’s — when you look at it overall, he doesn’t have the guy — he doesn’t have Randy Moss,” said Crennel. “I think that that’s what he would like to have, if he could get that ability, that playmaking style, because that’s kind of what he’s used to.”
Edelman leads the Patriots in receiving, with 76 receptions for 809 yards and four touchdowns. Dorsett trails with 26 receptions for 332 yards and five scores. Meyers, an undrafted rookie out of N.C. State, has amassed 19 catches for 253 yards.
Dorsett was limited in Wednesday’s practice with a concussion.
The Patriots spent their first-round selection on Harry. He missed the first 10 games of the season due to his placement on the injured reserve (ankle). In his two games since, the 6-4 Arizona State product has four receptions for 28 yards and a touchdown.
New England, before the trade deadline, sent a second-round pick to the Atlanta Falcons for Sanu. He did not play in Week 12 due to an ankle injury and was limited in Wednesday’s practice. In three games in Foxborough, he has 14 receptions for 108 yards and a touchdown.
Sanu previously scored a touchdown on the Texans while wearing a Falcons uniform in Week 5.
On Sunday, the Patriots will roll with their patchwork group of wide receivers and an unproductive Gronkowski-less tight end group. One can assume that they will run their offense through tailbacks Sony Michel, James White and Rex Burkhead — with White and Burkhead acting as receiving threats.