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  4. title => "Film review: Hogan versatility should mesh with Patriots"
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  6. article_body => "<p>When the Patriots signed Brandon LaFell before the 2014 season, he was touted as a versatile receiver who can play both outside the numbers and inside if the need arose. He was a competitive player, a willing blocker, and someone who may even be able to contribute in the kicking game.<\/p>\n<p>Two years later, the Patriots have released LaFell and <a href=\"http:\/\/origin.csnne.com\/new-england-patriots\/report-patriots-will-sign-hogan-three-year-offer-sheet\">reportedly added another receiver<\/a>&nbsp;who checks many of those same boxes.<\/p>\n<p>Restricted free-agent wideout Chris Hogan has good size and has shown an ability to succeed in different roles for the Bills over the course of the last three seasons. After a review of his tape from 2015, here&nbsp;are a few notes on what he could bring to the Patriots in 2016 and beyond.<\/p>\n<p><strong>VERSATILITY STANDS OUT<\/strong><br \/>\nAt 6-foot-1, 220 pounds, Hogan isn't built like a typical slot receiver, but his quickness off the line and his ability to change direction allow him to project well in that role for the Patriots.&nbsp;<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\nHe was a bit of a matchup issue for several teams in that his size made him hard to handle for nickel corners, but his speed required a defender who could keep up. Working over the middle of the field, he was consistently able to find soft spots in opposing defenses, and his frame helped him wall off his man in coverage.<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n&nbsp;On the outside, Hogan often got clean releases off of the line of scrimmage -- his length and strength make him a difficult candidate to jam -- which helped him then work into his route.&nbsp;<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\nFor the Bills, Hogan played in a variety of spots along the line of scrimmage. On one snap, he might have been working as the inside man in a tight bunch formation, and on the next he may have been outside the numbers.&nbsp;<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\nFor a good indication of his versatility, consider these numbers: According to Pro Football Focus, he played 56 percent of his snaps in the slot, which was down from 72 percent in 2014. However, he was more than just an underneath threat as he was targeted 20 yards or more down the field on 18 occasions, reeling in five of of six catchable passes for 177 yards and a touchdown.&nbsp;<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\nOne of Hogan's longest receptions came against the Patriots in Week 11 when on a second-and-12 play in the fourth quarter, he lined up outside the numbers with safety Patrick Chung in coverage. Using a quick head-and-shoulder fake at the line, Hogan got an outside release and picked up a step on his man. Floated a perfectly-thrown pass from Tyrod Taylor before safety help could arrive, he picked up a 42-yard gain.&nbsp;<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\nIt also appears as though Mohamed Sanu was not the only free-agent wideout in this year's class who can throw the football. The Bills also trusted Hogan to attempt a pass on a fake reverse in a Week 17 game against the Jets, but with no receivers open, the southpaw tucked and ran for a gain of four yards.&nbsp;<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\nAccording to a report out of Buffalo, the Patriots have also looked into Hogan's ability to serve as a backup punter. Hogan hasn't recorded a punt during his time in the NFL.&nbsp;<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<strong>CREATES SPACE WITH ROUTE-RUNNING<\/strong><br \/>\nHogan exhibited that he's able to run a variety of different routes, both vertically and horizontally. He ran out-routes as well as inward-breaking ones for the Bills. Stop-routes, comebacks, shallow crosses and go-routes were all in his repertoire.&nbsp;<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\nHis ability to get off the line and then use his speed (he ran a 4.47-second 40-yard dash at his pro day workout in 2011) helped him create separation against the Patriots in that Week 11 contest. On a third-and-four play in the second quarter, while lined up against Chung -- perhaps New England's best slot defender last season -- Hogan jabbed inside and worked to Chung's outside shoulder, streaking up the field between the numbers and the boundary. Hogan had a step on Chung, and safety Duron Harmon had a long way to go from the middle of the field to help out. A better throw from Taylor might have resulted in a touchdown, but the pass was underthrown, allowing Chung to break it up.<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\nIn Week 2 against the Patriots, Hogan ran an interesting sort of \"whip\" route out of a bunch formation. When the Bills faked zone run to the right, Hogan planted, turned and sprinted in the opposite direction for a roll-out pass from Taylor. It picked up 10 yards on a second-and-eight play from the Patriots 13-yard line. For a player of Hogan's size, his ability to change direction -- which was required in this instance to sell the play-fake -- was impressive.&nbsp;<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<strong>HISTORY OF DURABILITY<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Hogan has played in all 16 regular-season games for the Bills in each of the last three seasons, despite dealing with the hazards of often working over the middle of the field. (Patriots defensive end Rob Ninkovich introduced himself to Hogan relatively forcefully late in Week 11.) Hogan dealt with a wrist injury at the end of last season that reportedly required surgery but otherwise has avoided major injury in recent years. In a Players' Tribune article from last summer, he explained that an injury he suffered while with the 49ers before the 2011 season helped derail his rookie year.&nbsp;<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<strong>SPECIAL TEAMS EXPERIENCE<\/strong><br \/>\nHogan worked as a gunner for the punt team in Buffalo. His size and speed make him a relatively natural fit there although it's unclear as to whether or not the Patriots -- who have one of the best gunners in the NFL in Matthew Slater and a talented up-and-comer in Brandon King -- would plan to use him in that role as well. Hogan also spent some time working with the team's kick-coverage units and was a member of the Bills hands team.&nbsp;<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<strong>ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT<\/strong><br \/>\nHogan recorded five dropped passes out of a total of 41 catchable balls thrown his way in 2015, according to Pro Football Focus. That's a 12.2 percent drop rate. He also averaged 3.0 yards after the catch in 2015, which ranked near the bottom of the league in terms of receivers who played at least 25 percent of their teams' snaps. Hogan would have ranked fifth on the Patriots in that category last season behind Brandon LaFell (6.4), Julian Edelman (5.2), Danny Amendola (4.0) and Keshawn Martin (3.1).&nbsp;<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<strong>BOTTOM LINE<\/strong><br \/>\nWith the versatility to play various roles, Hogan provides the Patriots with a player who can be a presence on the outside as well as insurance for New England's more established inside receivers. In an offense that likes to throw the football, and with a quarterback who still rates as one of the best in the league, Hogan should see his productivity (36 catches, 450 yards, 2 touchdowns in 2015) trend upward.&nbsp;<\/p>\n"
  7. author => "Phil Perry"
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Patriots

Patriots

When the Patriots signed Brandon LaFell before the 2014 season, he was touted as a versatile receiver who can play both outside the numbers and inside if the need arose. He was a competitive player, a willing blocker, and someone who may even be able to contribute in the kicking game.

Two years later, the Patriots have released LaFell and reportedly added another receiver who checks many of those same boxes.

Restricted free-agent wideout Chris Hogan has good size and has shown an ability to succeed in different roles for the Bills over the course of the last three seasons. After a review of his tape from 2015, here are a few notes on what he could bring to the Patriots in 2016 and beyond.

VERSATILITY STANDS OUT
At 6-foot-1, 220 pounds, Hogan isn't built like a typical slot receiver, but his quickness off the line and his ability to change direction allow him to project well in that role for the Patriots. 
 
He was a bit of a matchup issue for several teams in that his size made him hard to handle for nickel corners, but his speed required a defender who could keep up. Working over the middle of the field, he was consistently able to find soft spots in opposing defenses, and his frame helped him wall off his man in coverage.
 
 On the outside, Hogan often got clean releases off of the line of scrimmage -- his length and strength make him a difficult candidate to jam -- which helped him then work into his route. 
 
For the Bills, Hogan played in a variety of spots along the line of scrimmage. On one snap, he might have been working as the inside man in a tight bunch formation, and on the next he may have been outside the numbers. 
 
For a good indication of his versatility, consider these numbers: According to Pro Football Focus, he played 56 percent of his snaps in the slot, which was down from 72 percent in 2014. However, he was more than just an underneath threat as he was targeted 20 yards or more down the field on 18 occasions, reeling in five of of six catchable passes for 177 yards and a touchdown. 
 
One of Hogan's longest receptions came against the Patriots in Week 11 when on a second-and-12 play in the fourth quarter, he lined up outside the numbers with safety Patrick Chung in coverage. Using a quick head-and-shoulder fake at the line, Hogan got an outside release and picked up a step on his man. Floated a perfectly-thrown pass from Tyrod Taylor before safety help could arrive, he picked up a 42-yard gain. 
 
It also appears as though Mohamed Sanu was not the only free-agent wideout in this year's class who can throw the football. The Bills also trusted Hogan to attempt a pass on a fake reverse in a Week 17 game against the Jets, but with no receivers open, the southpaw tucked and ran for a gain of four yards. 
 
According to a report out of Buffalo, the Patriots have also looked into Hogan's ability to serve as a backup punter. Hogan hasn't recorded a punt during his time in the NFL. 
 
CREATES SPACE WITH ROUTE-RUNNING
Hogan exhibited that he's able to run a variety of different routes, both vertically and horizontally. He ran out-routes as well as inward-breaking ones for the Bills. Stop-routes, comebacks, shallow crosses and go-routes were all in his repertoire. 
 
His ability to get off the line and then use his speed (he ran a 4.47-second 40-yard dash at his pro day workout in 2011) helped him create separation against the Patriots in that Week 11 contest. On a third-and-four play in the second quarter, while lined up against Chung -- perhaps New England's best slot defender last season -- Hogan jabbed inside and worked to Chung's outside shoulder, streaking up the field between the numbers and the boundary. Hogan had a step on Chung, and safety Duron Harmon had a long way to go from the middle of the field to help out. A better throw from Taylor might have resulted in a touchdown, but the pass was underthrown, allowing Chung to break it up.
 
In Week 2 against the Patriots, Hogan ran an interesting sort of "whip" route out of a bunch formation. When the Bills faked zone run to the right, Hogan planted, turned and sprinted in the opposite direction for a roll-out pass from Taylor. It picked up 10 yards on a second-and-eight play from the Patriots 13-yard line. For a player of Hogan's size, his ability to change direction -- which was required in this instance to sell the play-fake -- was impressive. 
 
HISTORY OF DURABILITY

Hogan has played in all 16 regular-season games for the Bills in each of the last three seasons, despite dealing with the hazards of often working over the middle of the field. (Patriots defensive end Rob Ninkovich introduced himself to Hogan relatively forcefully late in Week 11.) Hogan dealt with a wrist injury at the end of last season that reportedly required surgery but otherwise has avoided major injury in recent years. In a Players' Tribune article from last summer, he explained that an injury he suffered while with the 49ers before the 2011 season helped derail his rookie year. 
 
SPECIAL TEAMS EXPERIENCE
Hogan worked as a gunner for the punt team in Buffalo. His size and speed make him a relatively natural fit there although it's unclear as to whether or not the Patriots -- who have one of the best gunners in the NFL in Matthew Slater and a talented up-and-comer in Brandon King -- would plan to use him in that role as well. Hogan also spent some time working with the team's kick-coverage units and was a member of the Bills hands team. 
 
ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT
Hogan recorded five dropped passes out of a total of 41 catchable balls thrown his way in 2015, according to Pro Football Focus. That's a 12.2 percent drop rate. He also averaged 3.0 yards after the catch in 2015, which ranked near the bottom of the league in terms of receivers who played at least 25 percent of their teams' snaps. Hogan would have ranked fifth on the Patriots in that category last season behind Brandon LaFell (6.4), Julian Edelman (5.2), Danny Amendola (4.0) and Keshawn Martin (3.1). 
 
BOTTOM LINE
With the versatility to play various roles, Hogan provides the Patriots with a player who can be a presence on the outside as well as insurance for New England's more established inside receivers. In an offense that likes to throw the football, and with a quarterback who still rates as one of the best in the league, Hogan should see his productivity (36 catches, 450 yards, 2 touchdowns in 2015) trend upward.