Generally, you sound pretty stupid when you try to critique a Super Bowl winner. Lucky for me, I don't mind sounding stupid.
The New England Patriots are a team with few holes. Bill Belichick has put together a well-balanced roster and proven time and time again that he can just plug players in and squeeze out production. But if you want to nitpick the Patriots, you could say that the offense needs to improve its downfield passing game.
"The Patriots ranked fifth overall in passing DVOA [defense -adjusted value over average], but only 16th on deep throws," Andrew Healy of Football Outsiders wrote. "On throws that traveled more than 15 yards in the air, the Patriots were closer in DVOA to last-place Cincinnati than they were to any of the four teams ranked ahead of them in overall passing offense (Pittsburgh, Green Bay, Denver and Dallas), each of which had a legitimate deep threat. Consider this a nice luxury item."
As Healy notes, a downfield wide receiver is not a high priority for New England. The team is rightfully more concerned with figuring out Darrelle Revis' contract situation and re-signing Devin McCourty. But if the Patriots did want to address this offensive area in free agency, Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Torrey Smith could help.
"Smith's 1,074 stretch-vertical [passes that travel 20 or more yards] receiving yards over the past three seasons ranks 10th among wide receivers," ESPN NFL Insider KC Joyner wrote.
The Patriots are actually $4.7 million over the salary cap right now, but that number could level out if the team works out a new deal with Revis. Let's say New England has a few extra bucks lying around, free agent Smith could be the ideal home run threat for Tom Brady. Brandon LaFell filled this role admirably last season, but Smith's career 16.9 yards per catch outdoes his mark of 13.9.
This may not be a pressing need but it could be a move that helps to extend Brady's career.
