It’s nonetheless considerably stunning to listen to simply how far the bar has lowered for anticipated quarterback play with the Patriots during the last 4 years.
Bailey Zappe was 13-of-25 for 141 yards after lastly relieving Mac Jones because the Patriots’ beginning quarterback in Sunday’s 6-0 shutout loss to the Chargers. He additionally carried the ball 4 instances for 16 yards however was sacked 5 instances.
Among 27 quarterbacks with no less than 27 snaps in Week 13 up to now, Zappe ranked twenty second with a -11.2 completion proportion over expectation and twenty sixth in anticipated factors added (EPA) per play.
Belichick was principally complimentary of Zappe’s efficiency whereas talking on WEEI’s “The Greg Hill Show” on Monday morning, nevertheless.
“I thought he did some good things,” Belichick stated. “Obviously, we didn’t produce any points offensively, so that wasn’t good. That wasn’t just him. That’s everybody. We’ve just got to do a better job there. No turnovers at the quarterback position. There were some positive plays. We just need to make more.”
Belichick was requested a follow-up about power on offense and talked about, “We had some productive plays. We had a couple of explosive plays. Just obviously didn’t have any points.”
Belichick wouldn’t but identify Zappe because the Patriots’ beginning quarterback for the group’s upcoming recreation towards the Steelers on Thursday evening.
“Yeah, we’ll talk about the game plan here today,” Belichick stated.
There have been 4 shutouts within the NFL this season, and the Patriots have been on the offensive finish of two of these, each of which got here at residence. Sunday’s offensive efficiency wasn’t only a middling displaying, it was one of many worst of your entire 2023 season.
Belichick wouldn’t pin the offense’s incapability to attain on only one issue.
“First of all, when we get there, we have to do more with it,” Belichick stated Monday morning on a video convention name about being in scoring vary. “We had a few detrimental performs in these conditions that put us out of — that we weren’t in a position to convert on. We have been on an extended subject, in order that’s all the time arduous to maneuver the ball an additional 30 or 40 yards. But once more, look, that’s what it’s. And if we get the ball there, we nonetheless should do extra with it. But we’ve bought to — there was one drive that was (13) performs and went down from someplace across the 10 to the 30. That’s an excellent drive, however nonetheless not likely inside scoring vary.
“I’d say a combination of not having enough explosive plays, not being able to do enough when we were able to get the ball into the plus territory and playing on a long field always makes it just statistically harder to make long drives compared to short ones. Those are some of the things. But again, when we get there, we just have to do more with the opportunities that we have when we get the ball in the scoring area.”
When requested in regards to the sacks that Zappe took, Belichick chalked them as much as a “combination of things,” together with safety breakdowns, blitz pickup, and eliminating the ball quicker.
Zappe has now accomplished 50% of his passes this season for 299 yards with no passing touchdowns and two interceptions. He ranks useless final amongst 49 certified QBs in each EPA per play and completion proportion over expectation. But it appears possible that he’ll get one other begin in Week 14 towards the Steelers.
“Again, we’re always looking to increase our production on everything — passing game’s a part of the function of the quarterback, function of the receivers, protection, the plays and the way they match up against coverages,” Belichick stated. “Just try to keep moving forward and try to maximize every one of those areas the best we can.”
Jones was actually not the reply for the Patriots at quarterback, however Zappe has regularly carried out worse now in 5 appearances.
Source: www.bostonherald.com