It’s laborious to imagine at this level, however there was as soon as hope for this 2-8 Patriots group.
The 2023 Patriots confronted a troublesome schedule in a seemingly loaded AFC East, however there was motive for optimism after Bill Belichick made important adjustments to his teaching workers over the offseason.
Instead, the Patriots have hit all-time low this season, and Belichick’s future with the group appears tenuous. So, let’s recap the whole lot that has not gone in line with plan by means of 11 weeks.
1. Mac Jones’ rebound
It would have been troublesome to foretell Jones being worse this season than he carried out in 2022, however that has been the fact. Offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien was supposed to repair Jones, and now the 2021 first-round decide isn’t even assured to start out Week 12 in opposition to the Giants. Jones has already been benched 3 times as he’s continued his decline. O’Brien has introduced some modernity to the Patriots’ offense, however it has not helped Jones’ decision-making.
2. Bill O’Brien didn’t settle offense
The Patriots have elevated their utilization of play motion and RPOs as O’Brien has changed Matt Patricia and Joe Judge because the group’s prime offensive thoughts, however the offense has moved from twenty fourth in anticipated factors added (EPA) per play in 2022 to twenty ninth in 2023.
3. Rhamondre Stevenson’s continued ascent
There are extenuating elements concerned, however Stevenson has not been the identical working again this season. His yards after contact per try has dropped from 3.81 in 2022 to 2.66 this season. He had 15 carries of 15-plus yards final season and simply two to this point in 2023. He’s pressured simply 20 missed tackles this season in comparison with 40 in 2022.
4. JuJu Smith-Schuster changing Jakobi Meyers
The Patriots believed that free-agent addition Smith-Schuster could possibly be higher than the departing Meyers, and that plan has outright failed.
Meyers was the Patriots’ most reliable broad receiver for 3 seasons, and earlier than accidents ravaged the group, Smith-Schuster had been benched for Kendrick Bourne and rookie Demario Douglas. Smith-Schuster has simply 22 catches for 149 yards with one landing in his first season with the Patriots. Meyers has caught 46 passes for 512 yards with 5 touchdowns in his first season with the Raiders. He had 235 receptions for two,758 yards with eight touchdowns in 4 seasons with the Patriots.
5. The Tyquan Thornton decide
It’s most likely untimely to name Thornton a bust, however it’s trending that means for the speedy 2022 second-round pick of Baylor. He started his second straight season on injured reserve and has caught simply three passes for 15 yards whereas seeing his enjoying time diminished for Douglas, Smith-Schuster, Kayshon Boutte, Jalen Reagor and DeVante Parker.
6. A Mike Gesicki bounceback
The Patriots signed Gesicki, who was franchise tagged with the Dolphins final season, to a one-year, $4.5 million contract with one other $4.5 million obtainable in incentives. It regarded like a sensible contract on the time, however he’s not a fantastic match for the offense and being misused as a run blocker. The undersized broad receiver/tight finish is enjoying the very best proportion of run block snaps in his profession. The Patriots have additionally struggled to get manufacturing out of tight finish Hunter Henry because the first two weeks of the season.
7. The preliminary (lack of a) plan at proper sort out
The Patriots signed Riley Reiff and Calvin Anderson and drafted Sidy Sow hoping that a type of three gamers may begin at proper sort out. Reiff was virtually instantly demoted, Anderson handled an sickness all summer time, and Sow was moved again to protect for Week 1.
Trading for Vederian Lowe and Tyrone Wheatley didn’t work out, so the Patriots moved Mike Onwenu from proper guard to sort out about seven weeks too late.
8. Injury luck
The Patriots’ protection regarded prefer it had the potential to be a prime unit within the NFL till they misplaced exterior linebacker Matthew Judon and cornerback Christian Gonzalez — arguably their greatest two gamers — in the identical week. It definitely hurts to have Marcus Jones and Daniel Ekuale on IR, as effectively.
9. Replacing Gonzalez
After Gonzalez suffered his season-ending harm, the Patriots acquired J.C. Jackson in a commerce with the Chargers, hoping that him, Jack Jones, Jonathan Jones and Myles Bryant may nonetheless make a formidable cornerback group. Jackson didn’t journey to Germany in Week 10 for private causes and Jack Jones was waived in the course of the bye week. That’s led to lots of enjoying time in latest weeks for Bryant, Shaun Wade and Jonathan Jones.
10. Replacing Devin McCourty
There appears to be extra miscommunication than standard for the Patriots this season as they tried to position Devin McCourty by committee. Jabrill Peppers has performed effectively in an elevated position, however Adrian Phillips, Jalen Mills and Marte Mapu have been non-factors. Kyle Dugger additionally hasn’t been making as many huge performs this season as he’s seen his position at free security improve.
Source: www.bostonherald.com