{Numbers in braces are Approximate Value, other stats labeled as appropriate.}
Year II was a disaster for Boston, a playoff team in Year I. Year III will go a long way to determining which season was the fluke.
Key Additions: Jack Butler from IST; Jamaal Charles from RIO; Elvis Dumervil from IST; Jake Long from LOM; Reggie Nelson from ROM.
Key Departures: Chris Ivory {6, to TOK}; Curtis Martin {4, to AAA}; Tim Wright {4, to LON}
Rookies To Watch: Shaq Mason
We need to mention the blockbuster trade with IST here as well.
QB
It remains all about Tom Brady {13} at QB for Boston, although a repeat of the team’s Year II performance–regardless of how Brady does–would probably change that. Two newcomers, Tommy Kramer and Steve Grogan, will serve as his backups.
RB / WR / TE
RB has always been an issue for Boston, and they turn to Jim Brown’s perennial backup, Jamaal Charles {5}, as a solution. Charles has shown enough to warrant a starting role, with much-hyped Freeman McNeil as his primary backup.
At WR, there is a group that could be among the league’s best, if you were to take Don Maynard‘s {3} Year I performance, pair it with Irving Fryar‘s {16} Year II numbers, and sprinkle in the contributions of Rob Moore {3} and Louis Lipps {6}.
As always, Rob Gronkowski‘s {7} health will determine a lot: the gap between him and Tony Romeo is significant.
OL
The OL was the site of most of the preseason battles, and quite a bit of churn occurred, mostly driven by Marshal Yanda {8} looking more set for duty at G than stepping into a starting T spot as expected. Nick Mangold {7} returns at C, but Shaq Mason stepped up to earn a starting spot at G opposite Logan Mankins {5}, and Bruce Armstrong {9} and Jake Long {5} will handle the T duty.
DL
Clearly, the key to evaluating the trade will be how Elvis Dumervil {17} performs opposite Mark Gastineau {12} on the DL: there is potential here to be the most devastating pass rush in the league, and when you add Richard Seymour {7} and Vince Wilfork {10} clogging up the middle, the Bulldogs are quite strong up front.
The changes push both Larry Eisenhauer {4} and Jason Babin {5} to reserve roles.
LB
The move to a 4-3 simplifies some things here. Standouts Andre Tippett {12} and Nick Buoniconti {9} are flanked on one side by Mo Lewis {6}, with Joey Porter {2} and the impressive-looking Rosevelt Colvin ready if Lewis should falter.
DB
Plagued by injuries in Year II, health will again be an issue for the Boston secondary, with Mike Haynes {2} and Darrelle Revis {1} at CB and Jack Butler {3} and Reggie Nelson {2} at S.
ST
Nick Folk returns as K, with Jake Bailey taking over at P. Rookie Danny Amendola will handle most of the KO returns, while Haynes is set to try his hands at PR.
