The sport plan for the Patriots over the second half of the season is straightforward sufficient from a giant image perspective.
They must forge a path towards one other playoff berth.
The Jets are first up Sunday, however then the Vikings observe subsequent Thursday night time in Minnesota, earlier than the Bills hit Foxboro the next Thursday.
That’s three video games in 12 days, earlier than the Patriots assault the remainder of the gauntlet beginning with two video games out west (Cardinals, Raiders) and ending with the Bengals, Dolphins, and Bills.
To this level, Bill Belichick’s group is about the place most figured, sitting at 5-4, simply outdoors the playoffs.
If they’ve any hopes of being one of many AFC’s playoff groups, they must proceed to beat the groups they’re purported to beat (Cardinals, Raiders) and discover a option to steal a couple of wins from the others.
What has to vary for them to perform the mission? What are the precise areas on each side of the ball that can in the end determine the season?
Here’s the components:
Find the precise offensive line mixture
The O-line has been a bother spot for a lot of the season. Patriot quarterbacks, be it Mac Jones (15), Brian Hoyer (1), or Bailey Zappe (6), have been sacked 22 occasions, one of many highest totals within the league.
That’s not going to chop it. And it’s not simply sacks, it’s strain allowed, as nicely.
Most of the difficulty has come from left guard, with rookie Cole Strange getting benched in back-to-back video games, and proper sort out, the place Isaiah Wynn has been a catastrophe, main the group with eight penalties.
Offensive line coach Matt Patricia must discover a higher beginning mixture. The destiny of the offense hinges on it.
The return of heart David Andrews, who has missed the final two video games with a concussion, will assist.
But Patricia and assistant Billy Yates must discover a more practical beginning 5. Keeping Wynn on the left aspect at guard, the place he’s extra snug and has performed the previous couple of video games, is likely to be a part of the answer, even when Strange has to sit down.
Figuring out essentially the most impactful place for Michael Onwenu, be it proper guard, the place he’s been excellent, or transferring him over to proper sort out, the place he performed and had a stellar rookie season, is an alternative choice to contemplate.
Marcus Cannon (when he returns from IR) or Yodny Cajuste are potentialities, however it might appear clever to discover having Onwenu play proper sort out, with James Ferentz at proper guard.
Patricia simply wants to search out the very best alignment. If the road doesn’t enhance, it’s laborious imagining Mac Jones or the offense bettering.
Get the outdated Mac again
The Jones we’ve seen in 2022 has barely resembled the 2021 model.
Last yr, he performed with confidence, poise and smarts en path to having probably the greatest seasons for a rookie quarterback. He processed and delivered with outstanding accuracy and pace.
Of course, he was rigorously managed by then offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who fostered nice performances from his rookie.
With a brand new offensive system, a brand new playcaller (Patricia), and a brand new quarterback coach (Joe Judge), Jones hasn’t been capable of do the identical.
He’s now one the worst-rated quarterbacks within the league.
Whatever it takes, Belichick & Co. must get some semblance of the outdated Mac again. Because proper now, Jones is taking part in scared, as in scared to make a mistake. He’s not sure and untrusting of the play name and safety. Perhaps going again to a fast short-passing sport will assist get a few of his confidence again.
Belichick mainly has to undo the injury that’s been executed, and get Jones again heading in the right direction.
More wideout involvement
The lack of manufacturing from receivers not named Jakobi Meyers has been gorgeous, particularly of late.
With DeVante Parker getting damage through the opening sequence in opposition to the Jets, and lacking basically two video games, the Patriots have gotten subsequent to nothing from Kendrick Bourne, Nelson Agholor and rookie Tyquan Thornton.
Against the Colts, operating again Rhamondre Stevenson was essentially the most focused receiver amid the 30 go makes an attempt made by Jones.
In the final three video games, courting again to the Saints, Bourne (three catches on 5 targets for 11 yards) Agholor (one catch on two targets for 2 yards) and Thornton (three catches on 11 targets for 37 yards) have been non-factors.
Bourne has gone from being probably the most productive receivers final season to just about invisible. He is their most explosive participant, and but, play caller Patricia has executed little to faucet into that explosiveness.
If the Patriots are going to predominantly make the most of three-receiver units, it is likely to be a good suggestion to make use of them extra, versus persevering with with them as window dressing.
Pass rush consistency
The Patriots haven’t had any bother producing a go rush.
They can partly thank their opponents for that.
Going ahead, they must be as efficient in opposition to a number of the higher groups and higher offensive traces. That will go a great distance towards figuring out whether or not the Patriots can stand as much as the Bills, Dolphins, Vikings, and so forth. and provides the secondary an opportunity to defend their elite receiving corps.
Thus far, Matthew Judon has been a beast, main the league with 11.5 sacks. He can’t fade down the stretch like he did final season.
Deatrich Wise, in the meantime, wants to remain the course, whereas Josh Uche must have extra video games like he did in opposition to the Colts.
Getting Christian Barmore again also needs to assist generate extra strain up the center. Bottom line, if the go rush disappears over the second half, the Pats are going nowhere.
Improve turnover differential
At the halfway level, the Patriots are second within the NFL with 17 takeaways, which implies they’re coming away with practically two per sport. Only Philadelphia has produced extra with 18.
The 11 interceptions and 6 fumble recoveries have been the good equalizer, making up for the 17 turnovers they’ve dedicated.
So whereas it behooves the Pats to proceed being good ballhawks and fumble producers on protection and particular groups, in addition they want to chop down the turnovers dedicated by the offense.
Be much less predictable on offense
It was considerably gorgeous to listen to Belichick admit that a number of opposing gamers, be it from the Colts or Jets, knew the play-calls forward of time.
No matter the play caller, the Patriots can’t have opposing linebackers calling out their performs earlier than they’re run, or leaping screens and zone run performs.
Whether Indy’s Shaquille Leonard or New York’s C.J. Mosley picked up on some tells on the line, or whether or not it’s simply apparent what’s coming subsequent based mostly on learning their habits, that has to vary.
Even if it’s commonplace for opposing gamers to choose up on tendencies, the Pats nonetheless must cease being so predictable.
Source: www.bostonherald.com