New England Patriots links 9/06/18 - Pats’ unconventional offense could be advantage vs. Texans TEAM TALKErik Scalavino shares the news Irving Fryar Jerseys 2019 , notes and locker-room buzz from Wednesday at Gillette: Hightower anxious for opener.Don Banks notes ex-NFL ref Gene Steratore shared memories of calling games involving Tom Brady and the Patriots, including the broken nose he got digging Brady out of a pile of Jets players.Press Conference transcript: Bill Belichick.Conference Call transcript: J.J. Watt.Angelique Fiske reports Patrick Chung lands on the cover of Improper Bostonian.Press Pass: Players react to excitement surrounding Week 1. (1.38 min. video)LOCAL LINKSBill Burt explains this time the Texans are on the offensive and are coming here to win.Karen Guregian senses how the receivers all have big chips on their shoulders.Kevin Duffy points out Josh McDaniels will need to be extra creative and that the unpredictable nature of the offense could work in the Patriots’ favor.Evan Lazar says that finding the Texans pass rushers may prove to be nearly as difficult as blocking them.Andrew Callahan talks about how the Texans’ multiple, high-pressure defensive front could give the Patriots trouble.Darren Hartwell notes Phillip Dorsett may have familiarity with the Texans from his years playing in the AFC South.Doug Kyed finds Jacob Hollister isn’t feeling pressure, despite his likely increased role.Ryan Hannable hears Bill Belichick admit that Sony Michel is indeed a little behind.Matt Vautour notes Bill Belichick expects facing Tyrann Mathieu will be a challenge.Evan Lazar writes the focus on defense is on keeping Houston quarterback Deshaun Watson in the pocket.Chris Blackey (DiehardBostonSportsFans) Patriots defense – Top five players to watch In Week 1.Zack Cox notes Dont’a Hightoweer is appreciative of Brian Flores’ ‘easier’ defense.Ryan Hannable reports Dont’a Hightower changed his offseason routine to help prevent injuries.Steve Balestrieri (PatsFans) Patriots-Texans Week 1 key matchups: Who has the razor’s edge?Doug Kyed gives us nine Patriots bold predictions: Who leads Patriots in rushing TDs?Kevin Duffy gives us Wednesday’s practice report: Sony Michel, Rex Burkhead participate in drills.Kevin Duffy Patriots Notebook: RB Rex Burkhead appears ready for the opener; Injury update; More.Zack Cox Patriots Notes: Pats wary of “Good at everything” DeAndre Hopkins.Karen Guregian highlights J.J. Watt singing the praises of Brady and Belichick. Ryan Hannable mentions the Patriots reportedly worked out eight players yesterday.Ryan Hannable passes along Jon Gruden indicating how Tom Brady was part of the reason he returned to coaching.WEEI posts a quiz: How well do you know the 2018 Patriots?Mike Cole’s 2018 NFL preview: Division breakdowns White James White Jerseys , season odds, award predictions and more.Mike Reiss notes Tom Brady acknowledged parts of the past couple of seasons were a struggle for him ...while acknowledging that he’s dealing better with media reports of drama surrounding the team.Tom E. Curran sums up ‘Tom vs. Time’ as an inside look at a mild midlife crisis. /I see it more as finding work/family life balance, not a crisis by any means.Steve Buckley says Tom Brady leaves no doubt that his time isn’t up yet.Jerry Thornton (Barstool Sports) Fact: NFL TV ratings are down because America misses Peyton Manning.Marcus Kwesi-O’Mard reports Dunkin Donuts apologizes for using Super Bowl cups in New England. /Get your cities straight.NATIONAL NEWSAlbert Breer (SI) Game Plan: 32 notes, 32 teams ahead of 2018 NFL season kickoff. Patriots: I believe they’ll be able to get a little something more out of WR Cordarelle Patterson on offense than Oakland or Minnesota did. Given the state of the receiver position in Foxboro, the Patriots could use the help.Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) PFT’s 2018 season predictions. The Ringer staff (The Ringer) 2018 NFL season predictions.Bryan Knowles and Andrew Potter (Football Outsiders) Scramble for the ball: 2018 Awards and stat predictions.The Ringer staff (The Ringer) What we’re most excited to watch this season.Kevin Seifert (ESPN) Your guide to NFL rule changes for the 2018 season.Danny Kelly (The Ringer) How the first month of NFL action could affect the postseason picture.John Clayton (WashingtonPost) The NFC is filled with talented QBs James White Jerseys 2019 , leaving Eagles, other favorites with little room for error.Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Tom Brady’s restated goal: Five more years.Andy Benoit (SI) How many NFL teams really have a franchise QB?Jay Busbee (Yahoo! Sports) NFL’s top preseason jerseys show surprising turnover from 2017. /Except (of course) Tom Brady.Charean Williams (ProFootballTalk) Patriots work out Kendall Wright, Kenjon Barner.Game Previews (NFL.com) 11 Things to watch in Week 1. (3.09 min. video) 6. J.J. Watt and Deshaun Watson returning to the field vs. AFC champs.Michael Lombardi (The Ringer) The genius of Bill Walsh.Billy Feola (12Up) 12 Funniest memes from the new Colin Kaepernick Nike ad.Ian Rapoport (OMNY) Rapsheet + Friends Podcast: Bill Belichick and the time Tom Brady almost fell off a cliff hitting a meaningless golf shot. (40.32 min.)Which Patriots will have their playing time most affected by the return of Julian Edelman? New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman is back from his suspension and he should take the field on Thursday Night against the Indianapolis Colts. It’s fair to wonder how much Edelman will play on Thursday and how the other players on offense will be affected by his return.Head coach Bill Belichick spoke about the return of Edelman on Tuesday morning.Belichick’s highlighting of the short week suggests that Edelman probably won’t be a 100% snap player in his first game back, but that it could take some time for the squirrely receiver to get back into the swing of the offense.There are two factors when looking at how Edelman’s return will impact other receivers: 1) the players that play the same role as Edelman; and 2) the players that benefit from a trickle-down effect with Edelman’s return. Chris Hogan has primarily slotted into Edelman’s role as a 50-50 split player both inside in the slot and as a movable piece on the outside. Hogan has been extremely inconsistent in his contributions and it’s not entirely his fault; he just doesn’t have the same skill set at Edelman. Edelman is able to generate separation with a few quick steps on the inside, while Hogan is best when asked to be a target deep down the field. Hogan will benefit from kicking back outside White Dont’a Hightower Jersey , while Edelman should take his role back in the offense.Meanwhile, Phillip Dorsett has taken over for Hogan’s 2017 role on the outside, which included fewer deep passes than Hogan’s 2016 season (thanks to the prowess of Brandin Cooks).Cordarrelle Patterson is a gadget player and it’s too early to make any sweeping claims about Josh Gordon’s role in the offense. Patterson should continue to be a gadget option, while Gordon’s role is still being defined.Hogan leads the Patriots with 90.1% of the offensive snaps played, the most of any non-lineman or quarterback on the offense. He’s followed by Dorsett with 80.8% and Patterson with 39.3%. Gordon played 22.2% in his debut.I would expect that Edelman will eventually Dont’a Hightower Jersey 2019 , within a couple weeks, be an 80-90% snap player like he was from 2013-16. Chris Hogan is also an 80-90% snap player when fully engaged, so his playing time shouldn’t change much due to the introduction of Edelman. Hogan’s playing time is more likely to be jeopardized by the continued development of Josh Gordon than by the return of Edelman.Dorsett and Patterson are the two players most likely to see a decrease in their playing time with the return of Edelman. Dorsett is more likely to see his snaps cut in half to fall in line with his playing time down the final stretch of 2017- and I say this while also believing that Dorsett played well enough in the first four games of this year to warrant siphoning away some time from Hogan, regardless of Edelman’s return.And then Patterson, who played 21.3% of the snaps in the season opener and then saw his playing time spike to 46.3% over the past three games White Donald Trump Jerseys , should see his playing time cut back down to that original 20% as he continues to produce in gadget roles. This exercise isn’t to set playing time in stone either; players can obviously still improve or decline and lead to additional changes in playing time. Patterson could make another huge play this week and that could get him more time. Gordon or Dorsett could eat away from Hogan based on their own performances. Edelman probably won’t be an 80% snap player in his first game back from a suspension.But if we’re only looking at the return of Edelman and how he changes the receiver environment in the coming weeks, Dorsett and Patterson should have their playing time affected the most.