2012 Two-a-Days: New England Patriots and New Orleans Saints

By Andrew Marcus
Sportswriter for Montgomery Media

Follow me on Twitter @amarcus515

To help pass the time between now and the start of the 2012 NFL season I am going to be giving a look to two teams a day. I will give you their impact players on offense and defense, a breakout, and the biggest question as they open training camp.

Offense
QB - Tom Brady
WR - Wes Welker
WR - Brandon Lloyd (acquired in free agency)
TE - Rob Gronkowski
TE - Aaron Hernandedz

Defense
DE - Rob Ninkovich
DT - Vince Wilfork
DE - Chandler Jones (rookie)
OLB - Jerod Mayo
OLB - Dont'a Hightower (rookie)

Rob Gronkowski TE

Breakout: Stevan Ridley - He is not going to be your typical workhorse back, but he will be on the field enough to make his impact felt. Ridley can catch passes out of the backfield and also has enough strength to find the end zone against a goal line defense. Ridley should be able to reach 1000 total yards and a handful of scores.

Training Camp Question: There is nothing to worry about on offense as long as Tom Brady is upright, but that must improve if they want to get back to the Super Bowl. The Pats went defense heavy in the draft and Chandler Jones and Dont'a Hightower have a chance to make an immediate impact.

Last year's record: 13-3

Projected finish: 12-4 (First in the AFC East)

Offense
QB - Drew Brees
RB - Darren Sproles
RB - Mark Ingram
TE - Jimmy Graham
WR - Marques Colston

Defense
DE - Cameron Jordan (rookie)
DE - Will Smith
MLB - Curtis Lofton (acquired in free agency)
OLB - Scott Shanle
S - Roman Harper

Jimmy Graham TE

Breakout: Curtis Lofton - The middle linebacker has already quietly put together an impressive resume with a few 100 tackles seasons with the Falcons. But if Lofton can replace the suspended Jonathan Vilma and keep the Saints in the playoff hunt, he could not only became loved in NOLA, but well-known around the country.

Training Camp Question: I am under the opinion that it is unfortunate the Saints are hit with these harsh penalties. I get if you get caught committing a crime, you do have the pay the time, but I also believe this happen on more teams and over a longer period of time than these Saints. However, they have to deal with no Vilma and no Sean Payton and I for one are very interested to see how they respond.

Last year's record: 13-3

Projected finish: 9-7 (Second in the NFC South)


**Check back tomorrow for the Giants and Jets**