Running on empty

With an iffy ground game, Bledsoe must produce for Pats

Without a strong running game, Drew Bledsoe has to play an even more dominant role in the Patriots' offense. Al Bello/Allsport

The New England Patriots, who underachieved and fell to fourth in the AFC East in '98, open their 1999 training camp at Bryant College in Smithfield, R.I., on July 30. Here are a few questions from Sports Illustrated's Dr. Z, followed by CNNSI.com's perspective on some of the issues facing the Patriots this season.

Dr. Z wants to know:

1) Without Curtis Martin, the running game dropped to 27th in the league last year. Now rookie Robert Edwards is out, replaced by committee -- Lamont Warren, rookie Kevin Faulk, you name it. How much pressure will this put on Drew Bledsoe and the pass-catch game?

2) Is it the ankle that wide receiver Terry Glenn is recovering from? Or the hamstring? Or the knee? Forgive me, I get confused.

3) How many fans from Hartford will drive up to Foxboro to watch the Patriots play? Or to boo them, since New England fans boo just to keep in practice?

4) I'm reading that the Sept. 12 opener at the Jets will be the biggest game for the Patriots since their last Super Bowl. Don't you think it's time we get off this revenge-against-Parcells kick and go about playing a season?

The Patriots can make the playoffs if: Three key guys in particular -- Bledsoe, Glenn and defensive end Willie McGinest -- can stay healthy. Bledsoe must find ways to rally his team as he did with last-second heroics against Miami and Buffalo in '98. Glenn must be the playmaking weapon Bledsoe needs and force opponents to double-team, creating opportunities for tight end Ben Coates and other receivers. McGinest must key the defense from the right side, allowing the Pats to develop a pass rush without sending six or seven defenders at the opposing quarterback.

Patriots Facts 1998 record: 9-7 (fourth in AFC East) Coach: Pete Carroll (25-23, 19-13 in two season with Patriots) Stadium: Foxboro Stadium (60,292, grass) 1998 rankings: Offense -- 27th run, fifth pass, 11th overall. Defense -- seventh vs. run, 25th vs. pass, 20th overall. Depth chart 1998 results 1998 player statistics 1999 schedule CNN/SI Projection: 9-7

Pivotal games: Sept. 12 at New York Jets; Dec. 26 vs. Buffalo. As noted by Dr. Z, the Pats open with another shot at the Big Tuna. They also host the Jets for a Monday night contest on Nov. 15. A relatively easy early schedule should allow the Pats to get off to another quick start (New England has started 4-1 the past two seasons), but trouble always lurks when they face AFC East foes -- which they'll have to do eight times.

On the hot seat: Head coach Pete Carroll. Although he has led this team to two consecutive playoff appearances, the rap against him is that he's too laid-back and soft on discipline. Carroll's teams seem suffer from a lack of mental toughness and consistency. Granted, his '98 squad was plagued by untimely injuries to key players -- Bledsoe, Glenn, Ben Coates, Ted Johnson and McGinest. But is he the right guy to lead this cast, or do they need a drill sergeant like Parcells? Pats owner Robert Kraft is getting antsy. The pressure is also on Bledsoe, who showed his teammates some toughness last season when he played with a broken finger, but still needs to prove he deserves that "franchise player" tag.

Up-and-comers: Damien Woody. The Pats hope this big (6'3", 319 pounds), athletic rookie can step in and replace center Dave Wohlabaugh, who signed with Cleveland as a free agent. Woody, the team's first draft pick, is projected to start right away -- but he has been less than diligent with offseason workouts and was even caught cheating on a strength test at minicamp. Tebucky Jones, a second-year defensive back, is expected to make a run at Steve Israel's starting cornerback job. While Jones still needs work on his cover skills, he's been tearing it up in practice and could also be a great addition on special teams.

Player Movement Unrestricted Free Agents Restricted Free Agents Players Lost Henry Thomas, DT, re-signed Larry Whigham, S, re-signed Tedy Bruschi, LB, re-signed Heath Irwin, G, re-signed Lovett Purnell, TE, re-signed (Traded to Bal.) Chris Sullivan, DE, re-signed Adam Vinatieri, K, re-signed Dave Wohlabaugh, C, Cle. Tom Tupa, P-QB, NYJ Scott Zolak, QB, NYJ Mark Wheeler, DT, Phi. Todd Collins, LB, Stl.

1999 Draft Picks Round Overall Pick Player Pos School 1 17 Damien Woody C Boston College 1 28 Andy Katzenmoyer ILB Ohio St. 2 46 Kevin Faulk RB LSU 3 91 Tony George S Florida 5 154 Derrick Fletcher OG Baylor 6 180 Marcus Washington CB Colorado 7 227 Michael Bishop QB Kansas St. 7 241 Sean Morey WR Brown