FOXBORO — No matter which method you slice it, the Patriots aren’t about to morph into an edge-of-your seat, high-powered, rip-off-30 points-at-will-type of offense over the second half of the season.
They’re not going to be Kansas City, Buffalo or Miami. They don’t have the personnel to be as explosive as these groups.
But that doesn’t imply they’ll’t be higher with the gamers they do have on the roster.
Coming off a bye week, the Patriots must step it up offensively to present themselves a shot at a playoff berth. Mac Jones & Co. want to enhance throughout the board, most notably at quarterback.
If not, it’s on Bill Belichick. He’s the conductor of this orchestra of dysfunction. And he must do no matter potential to vary the narrative, and make the offense work at a extra aggressive degree, even when it means calling the performs himself.
As everybody is aware of, Belichick one way or the other thought it was a good suggestion to interchange Josh McDaniels, the offensive coordinator who coached Jones via an historic rookie season, with former coordinators who coached protection and particular groups.
He was satisfied one of the best ways for Jones to make a Year 2 leap was to have a few coaches who had been novices when it got here to dealing with an offense and calling offensive performs, take over the offense.
This had failure written throughout it, even when the good Belichick was the mastermind behind the transfer.
And proper on cue, first-time offensive play-caller Matt Patricia and quarterbacks coach Joe Judge have despatched the unit right into a tailspin, beginning with Jones.
During the latest break to kind out the mess, it behooved Belichick and his two cohorts to attempt to repair what’s damaged. There had been simply so many issues incorrect, so many areas to appropriate previous to Sunday’s essential assembly with the Jets. Time will inform in the event that they bought the job performed.
It begins with Jones, who seems to be misplaced beneath middle. It continues with a swiss cheese offensive line in cross safety, which Patricia coaches, and a set of high-priced tight ends and receivers, a lot of whom are underperforming.
Add in pedestrian play design and play-calling, and it’s led to having an offense that’s ranked twenty sixth total, twenty eighth within the pink zone, twenty first on third down, twenty first in sack price and thirty second in interception price.
Outside of working again Rhamondre Stevenson, who’s having a breakout season, and Jakobi Meyers, who improves yearly and continues to be their most dependable receiver, there’s actually nothing to hold your hat on.
And but, whereas it looks as if mission not possible, enhancements could be made just by placing Jones in higher positions to succeed, and catering to his skillset, somewhat than attempting to force-feed a brand new offense the coaches favor.
Well, time’s up. Because it’s now or by no means to fix the offense.
The Patriots must beat the Jets to maintain within the playoff hunt. Let’s simply say they gained’t be capable of survive Gang Green and the remainder of their second-half opponents if the successful method stays counting on stellar protection and the unflappable Nick Folk alone.
Getting a learn on the state of affairs from a few of the gamers this week, they’re prepared to use the entire changes made throughout the bye, and see the place that takes them.
Meyers felt just like the practices the group had previous to taking a break had been productive. So they’re hopeful they’ll flip it round.
“We had some good practices where we stepped back and looked at what was working, what wasn’t working, tried to fix it, and if it didn’t work, it didn’t work. We got rid of it,” he stated. “I feel like the practices we had during the bye week were definitely helpful for the offense moving forward.”
If these practices concerned letting Jones do what he does finest, then they’re on to one thing.
Based on the statistics at hand, Jones fares a lot better when he’s working out of the shotgun with unfold formations. Just about every part else has led to stress, turnovers, unfavorable performs, and opposing gamers understanding what’s coming forward of time, due to some predictability relating to Patricia.
On Wednesday, Belichick as soon as once more tried to downplay that, saying he believes the offense is different sufficient, and having opposing gamers get a beat on their play calls is a part of soccer. Funny, it wasn’t such a blatant situation with earlier offenses.
In any case, you possibly can wager the farm that was addressed throughout the bye. You also can wager changes had been made.
Jones, who threw seven picks within the six video games he began, acknowledged as a lot throughout his Wednesday media session.
“I think every staff around the league … they’re working through things during the bye week,” he stated. “You clearly have your identification and what you wish to be, and how one can get there, there’s some issues you possibly can enhance throughout the bye week.
“We want to continue to improve every week … I felt good about the progress we made. We just have to apply it on Sunday.”
So perhaps we’ll see Mac again within the shotgun the place he’s comfy. Maybe we’ll see extra RPO’s, which labored nicely towards the Jets.
After such a depressing first half, Belichick is aware of the gamers must have faith in what they’re doing, with the scheme, and recreation plans going ahead.
Jones, who was chatting with Kendrick Bourne within the locker room about how a sure play labored nicely in observe, appears to be in a greater place. Meyers additionally sounded upbeat.
“Confidence is definitely a big thing,” stated Meyers. “Just being a football player, being an athlete in general. You want to know that you have faith in what you’re doing. If not, I don’t want to go out there and put some craziness on TV or film.”
There was definitely some craziness on show at factors throughout the first 9 video games. The Patriots can’t afford to have any extra of that throughout the ultimate stretch.
Changes will little doubt must be made throughout the offseason if Jones & Co. proceed to backslide.
Source: www.bostonherald.com