4 Reasons Why Patriots QB Tom Brady Will Be Even Better in 2015
 Tom Brady will have an even better 2015 than last season's campaign. Regardless of a suspension or not, he's primed for another big campaign. (USA TODAY Images) |
It is not the easiest of things to improve upon a Super Bowl winning season but for Patriots QB Tom Brady, 2015 may be an even better season statistically than 2014.
After a slow start that saw the Patriots limp thru September with a 2-2 record, many began to question their ability collectively and personally, in terms of Brady after a debacle in Kansas City. While some media and fans called asked openly if it was time for Brady replaced by Jimmy Garappolo after the curb stomping the Chiefs put on the Patriots in Arrowhead, things changed quickly.
Brady and the team turned things around and the team would boast one of the league’s best offenses after things got settled along the offensive line and Rob Gronkowski returned to full health. Brady’s play got better as the season went on culminating with a fourth quarter for the ages in Super Bowl XLIX where he rallied the Patriots from 10 points down to bringing home their fourth title.
So while much of the football talk (besides air pressure), this off-season has centered around the losses of the Patriots on the defensive side of the ball, on offense, Brady and the unit should be poised to have an even better season in 2015.
Here are Four Reasons Why:
 A ticked off Brady is usually one performing at his best. (USA TODAY Images) |
4.Motivation, Deflate-Gate Questions a Perfect Rallying Cry: Brady always seems to play his best when he plays with a chip on his shoulder, whether or not the perceived slights by Brady are real or imagined matters not. When he’s talked about in a negative light, it lights a fire under him and brings out his best.
What better motivation when after a Super Bowl victory with a terrific performance against one of the best defenses in this generation is now looked down upon by many in the light of the air pressure fiasco. Many former players couldn’t wait to line up to cast the first stone, throwing Brady’s legacy into question.
If I’m Bill Belichick, I couldn’t be happier with some of the analysts and former players who continue to harp on Brady’s suspension and the “more probable than not” bending of the rules.
There will be drop off in intensity from #12 following a Super Bowl victory. No self-satisfaction. If anything, he’ll be hungrier than if the Patriots were stomped in that Super Bowl. The meticulous and hard-working Brady will be even more intense once the practices get real in training camp, wanting to start off the season hot, even if he has to sit initially with a suspension.
 Nate Solder shook off cancer last season to turn in a good 2014 season, now cancer free and healthy, he's playing for a big payday. (USA TODAY Images) |
3.Offensive Line is in Much Better Shape: Last season there were many questions about the state of the Patriots offensive line entering the season. Long-time offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia retired; Coach Scar always seemed to squeeze every bit of talent out of his charges. New coach Dave DeGuglielmo was an unknown.
Questions about the interior of the offensive line, at each guard position and center were compounded with the trade of veteran Logan Mankins just prior to the season. Mankins was one of the toughest players on the team and a fixture at left guard. No one knew at the time, but LT Nate Solder was suffering from testicular cancer, the resultant chemo therapy and its aftermath last summer as well.
Now Solder and RT Sebastian Vollmer are both healthy, C Bryan Stork played very well down the stretch and the team drafted two guards in the NFL Draft, Tre’ Jackson and Shaq Mason that should solidify the position for years to come. Both excel in run blocking which should immediately pay dividends for the running backs and in keeping the offense balanced.
The team has depth with Cameron Fleming, Marcus Cannon, Ryan Wendell and Josh Kline as backups with solid experience. While both rookie guards may not start immediately, they should both see plenty of playing time when the team takes the field in September.
 Julian Edelman was the sparkplug for the Patriots in 2014, he and Tom Brady have a great working and personal relationship. He and Rob Gronkowski are Brady's most trusted receivers. (USA TODAY Images) |
2.Wide Receivers Set, Stable in 2015: At the beginning of 2014 questions were also abounding along the wide receiver position. Julian Edelman turned in a fantastic 2013, but many questioned would he be able to repeat his performance? Danny Amendola played hurt thru 2013 and passed on off-season surgery to repair a torn groin muscle. Aaron Dobson had off-season foot surgery and missed all of the spring workouts and nearly all of training camp.
Last year’s free agent signing Brandon LaFell, struggled all thru the spring and the beginning for camp trying to decipher the Patriots playbook. He openly admitted his struggles and Patriots fans uttered a collective sigh…it was a scenario that had been played out before with receivers that come into Foxboro and couldn’t pick up the system and were eventually frozen out by Brady.
But everything worked out perfectly, Edelman duplicated his outstanding season from the season before. The light came on for LaFell, he studied hard, put in extra work after practice with Brady and had a fantastic season with 74 catches for 953 yards and seven touchdowns. He added 13 catches for 119 yards and two touchdowns in the post-season. With a year in the system, LaFell should be even more effective in 2015.
Amendola shook off a slow start and became a very effective third option down the stretch and most importantly into the playoffs where he caught three touchdowns during the Super Bowl run.
Now Dobson is back and healthy and ready to compete once again. He spent the off-season in Arizona, dedicating himself to being in the best shape of his career. He, Brian Tyms and Brandon Gibson will be locked into competition for the 4th WR position.
 It is no coincidence that once Gronkowski returned to health in 2014 that the Patriots offense took off. He's the most complete tight end in the NFL. (USA TODAY Images) |
1. A Healthy Gronkowski, the addition of Chandler: Last season Rob Gronkowski was another big question mark entering the season. Coming off of a myriad of nightmarish injuries, the Patriots big tight end was facing a daunting task of trying to come back from two injury plagued seasons.
Behind him were only questions; Michael Hoomanawanui is mainly a blocking tight end, and D.J. Williams, Asa Watson and Justin Jones didn’t present a viable pass catching threat.
The Patriots took the patient approach with Gronk, keeping him on the field but on the side until the final day of training camp. He appeared to be laboring a bit at times and questions began to creep in as to when if ever….the old Gronkowski would appear.
He took a month to find his feet and the Cincinnati game was the first time he showed what he could still do. Gronkowski finished the season with 82 catches for 1124 yards and 12 touchdowns. In the playoffs Gronk caught 16 more passes for 204 yards and three more touchdowns from Brady.
The team added Tim Wright in the Logan Mankins trade and although he caught only 26 passes last season, he was a big threat in the red zone and chipped in with six touchdown receptions.
During the off-season the Patriots signed tight end Scott Chandler free agent from Buffalo and he brings to the table another big (6’7, 260), target for Tom Brady to utilize in the red zone. Chandler has been effective in the past and paired with Gronk, the team will present difficult matchups for opposing defenses.
With a Super Bowl season in the books, Tom Brady and the Patriots face the difficult task of trying to repeat. The last team to do it was the 2003-2004 Patriots with Brady at the helm. Will they repeat? It is way too early for those type of predictions but with the solidified offense still in place, Brady and the players they have should have an even better 2015.
They have to find a suitable replacement for Shane Vereen in the passing game from the backfield, but with improved pieces to the offensive line, a revamped tight end core and a wide receiver group that has found good roles in the passing game, the Patriots offense shouldn’t miss a beat.
Follow me on Twitter @SteveB7SFG or email me at [email protected]
Listen to our Patriots 4th and 2 podcast on blog talk radio as the writers Russ Goldman, Derek Havens and I from PatsFans.com discuss the latest Patriots news Wednesdays at 12 noon.
