The Patriots took care of one of their glaring issues on the offensive side of the ball.
With no quality depth behind Rhamondre Stevenson, no legitimate No. 2 to take some of the load off the Patriots top back, signing Ezekiel Elliott was a must.
Even past his prime, he’s exactly what the doctor ordered. Elliott a nice complement to Stevenson given how well he can still run between the tackles, score in the red zone, and be an asset in the passing game. He’s still one of the better pass protectors in the game, and his 12 touchdowns last season, many coming in the red zone, should help a trouble spot.
It was a good first step.
But the Patriots work is not done. Armed with more cap space than most, they have a few other problems to solve on the roster.
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Running back wasn’t the only position that lacked quality depth.
While we’ve bemoaned the fact the team doesn’t have a game-changing type threat at receiver, that unit has more depth than others on that side of the ball. Plus, with DeAndre Hopkins landing in Tennessee, that ship has pretty much sailed.
Looking past receivers, and with the running back room getting a boost, offensive tackle and tight end also need attention. Specifically watching tight end Mike Gesicki leave Monday’s practice with some type of right arm/shoulder injury was not a good sign.
Losing him for any amount of time provides a great illustration of the depth issues plaguing that side of the ball. Gesicki and Hunter Henry are certainly a good one-two punch, and as Henry said Monday, Bill O’Brien loves to utilize his tight ends.
“It’s a very tight-end friendly offense in a lot of ways,” said Henry. “He’s been with some really good tight ends, and I think that history helps a lot . . . he’s seen a lot of different tight ends, how people move and do things, and fit into his offense.”
The problem?
The Patriots have no one who can even remotely replicate Gesicki’s role if he gets dinged up, or worse. They don’t have another tight end/receiver hybrid type who is a red zone threat, and also a terror on seam routes. After a slow start, Gesicki has come on, and we’ve started to see his value. He made a pair of leaping one-handed catches in the end zone during recent practice sessions. And that’s just a snippet.
If Gesicki is down for any period of time, O’Brien would likely have to blow up a good chunk of the offense.
From what we’ve seen, their red zone plan is built around a 12 personnel package with two tight ends.
Can Anthony Firkser (6-foot-2, 245 pounds) or Matt Sokol (6-foot-5, 258 pounds) replicate what Gesicki does? Not likely. They’re not built like Gesicki, who is a 6-foot-6, 245-pound unicorn, and don’t have the same skillset.
If Gesicki winds up being sidelined for any amount of time, O’Brien will have to flip to sets with more receivers, and less tight ends. So it behooves the Patriots to be on the look out for a comparable backup. Otherwise, it’s back to the drawing board, with three receiver sets.
As it is, they had to overspend for Elliott (1-year, up to $6 million) to land him. They weren’t willing to go the extra mile for Hopkins, but desperation seemed to move their hand with the running back.
They’ll be in the same boat if Gesicki’s injury turns out to be serious. And if left tackle Trent Brown is out for any period of time, or not engaged, that’s another predicament that would pretty much cripple the offensive line.
So their work is not done. After locking up Elliott, it’s only just begun.
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