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Whereas it’s powerful to argue along with his whole physique of labor, Bill Belichick had a fairly powerful 2020. After Tom Brady left the New England Patriots, all eyes have been on the veteran head coach. Might he lead his group into the playoffs with out the star quarterback? As we now know, he couldn’t.
With that disappointing marketing campaign within the books, it’s now as much as Bill Belichick to show issues round. Whereas there are nonetheless loads of shifting elements, it looks as if he may very well be plotting to repair one in all his largest errors in a two-part deal.
Invoice Belichick has struggled to construct a potent Patriot offense
It goes with out saying that the 2020 NFL marketing campaign was one thing of a battle for the New England Patriots. Whereas it’s powerful to assign blame to at least one particular particular person, Invoice Belichick has to shoulder an honest quantity of the blame.
Though most soccer followers in all probability consider Belichick because the Patriots’ head coach, he’s additionally the team’s general manager. Which means he’s answerable for protecting the membership’s cabinet stocked with gifted gamers. In 2020, although, the cabinets have been fairly naked.
Once Brady left town—we are able to debate how accountable Belichick was for that divorce—the Patriots have been left with no true alternative at quarterback. As we no know, the Cam Newton experiment failed; Jarrett Stidham and Brian Hoyer in all probability wouldn’t have faired a lot better, although, had they been given the prospect.
The issues weren’t restricted to the quarterback room, although. For the previous few years, the Patriots have lacked expertise at each extensive receiver and tight finish; as soon as Julian Edleman went down injured, the offense was primarily useless within the water.
All of that mixed to create an anemic unit. In line with ESPN’s group stats, the Patriots had the NFL’s sixth-worst offense by way of whole yards, solely outperforming groups just like the Jets and Jaguars.
Drafting N’Keal Harry was a serious mistake, and the Patriots could also be prepared to maneuver on
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On paper, N’Keal Harry seems to be like a fairly good extensive receiver. In actuality, although, issues have been fairly a bit totally different.
In 2019, Invoice Belichick snagged Harry with the Thirty second-overall decide of the NFL draft. Whereas that appears to counsel he was one thing particular—the Patriots, for higher or worse, hardly ever choose receivers that early—things haven’t panned out. By the primary two seasons of his skilled profession, the Arizona State alum has solely pulled in 45 passes for 414 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Issues solely worsen once you have a look at the receivers who the Patriots left on the board. Whereas hindsight is 20-20, Belichick handed up of D.Ok. Metcalf, A.J. Brown, and Deebo Samuel. That actuality, mixed with Harry’s stats, make his choice seem like a fairly terrible mistake.
In mild of that underperformance, it appears there’s an opportunity Harry may very well be on the transfer this season. In line with an NFL.com report, groups have been calling the Patriots to inquire in regards to the receiver’s availability; the piece additionally notes that Belichick hasn’t been afraid to maneuver somebody who he deems surplus to necessities.
Might Invoice Belichick change N’Keal Harry with JuJu Smith-Schuster?
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Regardless that N’Keal Harry hasn’t set the world on fireplace throughout his time with the New England Patriots, shifting him will nonetheless create a gap within the depth chart. If Bill Belichick does transfer the receiver, it seems that JuJu Smith-Schuster may very well be a possible alternative.
Smith-Schuster is ready to hit free company this offseason and, by the Steelers website’s own admission, he’ll in all probability be priced out of a return to Pittsburgh. In line with NFL Insider John Clayton, who not too long ago appeared on the Metal Metropolis’s 93.7 The Fan, the Patriots may very well be one of many groups within the hunt for the receiver’s companies.
Whereas there are nonetheless loads of shifting elements—it’s unclear if Belichick needs to maneuver Harry, is keen to tolerate Smith-Schuster’s TikTok dances, and may really make each offers occur—the enchantment is obvious for the Patriots. Not solely would they get one thing in return for a struggling receiver, however they’d deliver a official offensive expertise to Foxborough.
Lately, Bill Belichick hasn’t done his best work as a general manager. If he can change N’Keal Harry with JuJu Smith-Schuster, although, that shall be a serious step in the precise course for his New England Patriots.
Stats courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference
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