In past years, when the Patriots were low on defensive backs, they shifted guys like Troy Brown and Julian Edelman over from offense. Sometimes it worked, sometimes (like when Edelman tried to cover Anquan Boldin) it didn’t.
Now, the Pats are hurting on offense, with multiple pass catchers injured. Tonight against the Jets, receiver Danny Amendola, tight end Rob Gronkowski, tight end Zach Sudfeld, and running back Shane Vereen are each out.
Meanwhile, Wes Welker, Danny Woodhead, and Brandon Lloyd are long gone. And Aaron Hernandez is wearing a different uniform.
So why not flip a defensive back over to offense? While defensive backs usually play defense because they can’t catch too well, Aqib Talib played some offense at Kansas, once catching a 42-yard touchdown pass. Besides, who knows which of his defenders can run routes and catch passes better then Bill Belichick?
At a time when the Hoodie is looking like he got hoodwinked by signing Amendola (who already is injured) and letting Welker walk, Belichick needs to re-establish his genius. There’s no better way to do it than to once again show that he has a team of football players, and that he know what each of them can and can’t do.
Unless the Pats are planning a jailbreak screen to Hernandez, using guys from defense may be the only way to move the chains consistently.