22-year old WR Brandon Tate will battle 24-year old WR Julian Edelman for the kickoff return job in 2010.  The Patriots would like to see Tate win the job because Edelman will likely have a big role on offense.  Tate played in only 2 games for the Patriots last season and he returned 4 kickoffs for 106 yards (26.5 avg).  He has big play ability due to his speed when he’s healthy.  Edelman played in 11 games for the Patriots last year and he returned 11 kickoffs for 241 yards (21.9 avg). 

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE PATRIOTS KICKOFF RETURNERS in 2010:  C+

With left guard Logan Mankins holding out and right tackle Nick Kaczur likely done for the year due to a back injury the Patriots are going to need some guys to step up in 2010.  The LT will be Matt Light who is still a solid performer but he has had issues with speed rushers so Tom Brady won’t be safe at all times in 2010.  Dan Connolly and Rich Ohrnberger will battle for the RG guard job while Mankins holds out.  I think Connolly will win out.  Center Dan Koppen is a decent technician but he can be beaten as either a run or pass blocker.  RG Stepen Neal is a nasty dude who plays until the whistle blows and he excels at run blocking.  The RT will be 2nd year man Sebastian Vollmer.  Vollmer was outstanding as a rookie for the Patriots last year as he’s a solid run and pass blocker.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE PATRIOTS O-LINE in 2010:  B

58-year old Bill Belichick was won the AFC East in 9 of his 10 years in charge of the Patriots (including the current nine in a row).  He led the Patriots to a 10-6 record during the regular season but they lost their only playoff game.  Belichick has a record of 112-48 (70%) during the regular season in his 10 years with the Patriots.  He also is a stunning 14-4 (77.8%) in the post-season for the Patriots and has led them to three Super Bowl wins in 2001, 2003 and 2004.  Belichick has been a head coach in the NFL fifteen years now in which he is 148-92 (61.7%) during the regular season and 15-5 (75%) in the post-season.  The AFC East has gotten much tougher but Belichick is still the best coach in the division and he will have his team ready to excel in 2010.

26-year old Stephen Gostkowski is a good weapon for the Patriots as he has a pretty strong and accurate leg.  He played in 16 games for the Patriots last season and he connected on 26 of 31 (83.9%) field goal attempts.  He also hit all 47 of his extra point attempts to finish with 125 points.  He has now played in 64 games in his career with the Patriots and he has nailed 103 of 121 field goals (85.1%).  Gostkowski has also converted 204 of 205 extra points as he has 513 points in his NFL career to date.  The Patriots don’t leave a lot of points on the field with Gostkowski kicking for them.

PROJECTED GRADE OF THE PATRIOTS KICKERS IN 2010:  B+

It all starts with 33-year old, 7-time Pro Bowler, Randy Moss.  Moss played in 16 games (all starts) for the Patriots last season and he caught 83 passes for 1,264 yards (15.2 avg) with 13 TD catches.  He has now played in 186 games (180 starts) in his 12 years in the NFL and he has caught 926 passes for 14,465 yards (15.6 avg) with 148 TD grabs.  Moss has also carried the ball 25 times for 159 yards (6.4 ypc) in his career.  The Patriots need Moss to stay focused and motivated in 2010 as those areas were questioned about his game last year.

29-year old Wes Welker injured himself pretty bad in the regular season finale last season.  The Patriots hope he will be ready to go by Week #1 in 2010 but that might be a bit optimistic.  Welker played in 14 games (13 starts) for the Patriots last season and he caught 123 passes for 1,348 yards (11.0 avg) with 4 TD grabs.  He also carried the ball 5 times for 36 yards (7.2 ypc) last year.  Welker has now played in 93 games (43 starts) in his six years in the NFL and he has caught 442 passes for 4,809 yards (10.9 avg) with 16 TD grabs.  He also has carried the ball 13 times for 101 yards (7.8 ypc) in his career.  Welker is Tom Brady’s go to man over the middle of the field as he is tough as nails and the Patriots would really miss him if he’s not ready to go in 2010.  He has made 2 Pro Bowls in his NFL career so far.

24-year old Julian Edelman was outstanding as a rookie for the Patriots last season.  He played in 11 games (7 starts) for the Patriots last season and he caught 37 passes for 359 yards (9.7 avg) with 1 TD grab.  Edelman also carried the ball 2 times for 5 yards (2.5 ypc) last year.  Edelman is like a poor man’s Wes Welker as he definitely is not shy about going over the middle or fighting for an extra yard.

34-year old Torry Holt (a 7 time Pro Bowler) might be on the downside of his career but the man can still play.  Holt played in 15 games (12 starts) for the Jaguars last season and he caught 51 passes for 722 yards (14.2 avg) but he didn’t catch any TD passes.  Holt has now played in 173 games (159 starts) in his 11 years in the NFL and he has caught 920 passes for 13,382 yards (14.5 avg) with 74 TD grabs.  His playing time will likely depend on how much Welker plays in 2010.

The Patriots are really high on second year WR Brandon Tate.  The 22-year old Tate didn’t catch any passes as a rookie.  He played in 2 games (1 start) for the Patriots last season and he had 1 carry for 11 yards.  The Patriots hope to get Tate more involved in the offense this season as he is a great mix of size and speed.

35-yaer old David Patten faces long odds in making the opening day roster for the Patriots.  He has not played since the 2008 season with the Saints.  He has played in 147 games (73 starts) in his 12 years in the NFL and he has caught 324 passes for 4,715 yards (14.6 avg) with 24 TD grabs.  Patten has also carried the ball 13 times for 106 yards (8.2 ypc) with 1 TD run in his career to date.

The Patriots used a 3rd round pick on WR Taylor Price.  He is a big target at 6′0″, 212 pounds but he will likely be a developmental project for the Patriots who have a lot of talent above him on the depth chart.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE PATRIOTS WRs in 2010:  A