Martellus Bennett Ultimate X-Factor for New England Patriots in 2016
New tight end Martellus Bennett could quickly become the offensive play-maker who the New England Patriots have been missing.
The New England Patriots mostly held serve on the offensive side of the ball this off season. They added some intriguing offensive linemen to the mix and a couple of talented receivers, but the offense is clearly going to continue to be centered around the play of Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman.
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That being said, the trade for tight end Martellus Bennett has a chance to be a real impact addition for the Patriots. Bennett is a big (6-foot-7, 248 pounds) and athletic tight end whose combination of receiving skills may only be rivaled by his teammate Gronkowski as a receiving tight end.
Bennett has not always been the perfect teammate, but he is a valuable weapon on the offensive side of the ball who can greatly impact the game on a consistent basis.
Gronkowski is the best tight end in the NFL, and he has made a living making plays in the middle of the field for the Patriots. Now, they have an even bigger tight end with similar overall receiving skills to make plays along side of him.
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I fully expected the Patriots to improve their stock of players at the running back position this off season. That being said, aside from adding the aging Donald Brown to the mix, the Patriots completely ignored the position in free agency and the draft.
With their running game led by LeGarrette Blount and an injured Dion Lewis unlikely to improve next season, the pressure will continue to be on Brady and the passing game to perform.
The Patriots know that they can count on Edelman, Gronkowski and to a lesser extent Danny Amendola. Chris Hogan was brought in to play a role for the team on the outside, and rookie Malcolm Mitchell has some nice upside, but it is Bennett who can be the real difference-maker out of all of the new guys.
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The Patriots’ offense was productive last season, but considering how they fell apart in the AFC Championship Game against the Denver Broncos, it was not good enough. Especially with Brady likely to miss the first four games of the season, the Patriots are going to be looking to the new players to add another dimension to their offense.
With all due respect to Hogan, Mitchell, Brown and other guys like Nate Washington, Bennett is that impact talent who can come in and make a massive impact immediately.
Pairing Bennett with Gronkowski is the obvious solution for a Patriots’ offense that has been looking for a new element. Whether both players line-up inline, on the outside, on the same side of the field or whatever the case may be, the Patriots are going to have the opposing defense in a tough match-up situation.
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Defending the size and athleticism of Gronkowski was difficult enough, but now you add a similar player to the mix? Yeah, good luck to the rest of the NFL on that. Martellus Bennettt is an extremely talented receiver who has a chance to be the X-factor for the New England Patriots in 2016.