With the return of Bill O’Brien to New England as offensive coordinator, several offensive concepts that we were accustomed to seeing through the years could make a return this upcoming season.

Sure, O’Brien will update the offense by bringing in some new concepts and ideas but it will be great seeing some staples of the offense that the Patriots used to run under O’Brien and Josh McDaniels back in the offense.

Here are some plays, formations and concepts that we could see again this upcoming season.

Wham: I love wham. For years, teams would run wham exclusively against 30 fronts but the Patriots proved in recent years that you can run it against any front you want. Expect more wham out of 21 and 12 personnel as the Patriots emphasize more man-gap blocking schemes this upcoming season.

Empty passing game: The Patriots did not throw enough out of empty last season. Expect more of an empty passing game this season regardless of what the defense lines up in. Sure, the offensive line struggled last season but empty actually helps the offensive line because it forces a defense to take a rusher out of the equation and they have to cover down. The Patriots could once again use empty to get the ball out of Mac Jones hands quick.

2-Back Running Game: Matt Patricia turned the Patriots into a one back, 11 personnel team last season. It didn’t work. The Patriots were always at their best when they were a multiple personnel offense that blended groupings and concepts. I would suspect you will see more two back running and pass plays in the offense this season. You might even see a fullback on the roster. We’ll see.

2-Back Play-Action: Along with their two back running game, we could see more two back play action off that running game. Now more than ever, defenses are geared towards matching up and stopping spread offenses. If the Patriots can run their 21 personnel running game and passing game effectively, it will make this offense tough to stop once again.

Jet Sweep: The Patriots ran a fair amount of jet sweep last season but I would like to see them run it more consistent and run plays off it like jet flip or even a play-action pass.

Play-action slant pass: A oldie but a goodie in the Patriots offense that goes back to Charlie Weis. The Patriots ran this play and a backside slant off frontside toss from the mid-2000’s all the way to two years ago. Two simple yet effective concepts that have worked well for the Patriots in the past. We could more this concept this season.

Bootlegs, Nakeds and Sprint Outs: The Patriots didn’t run a lot of bootlegs and naked with Tom Brady but they ran a fair amount of sprint outs. Moving the pocket for the quarterback is essential at every level. It balances things out between the passing and the running game and it gives the defense another look. Jones is far from an athletic quarterback but he can run plays like this effectively.

Emphasize the slot receiver more: The Patriots reinvented the slot receiver position with guys like Wes Welker, Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola. They need to get back to their roots and emphasize the slot receiver again. Find the right guy, put him in the slot and just run some option routes and out cuts with him. The slot receiver was so effective for this team for years. It can be again.