Fifteen days. That’s on a regular basis that’s left to repair what’s damaged on the Patriots offense.
Throughout coaching camp, the preseason, joint practices, and video games, there’s been no enchancment.
None.
Just continued frustration, with Friday night time’s 23-6 preseason loss to the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium solely offering extra angst.
Patriots quarterback Mac Jones tossed his pill after the third sequence produced one other three-and-out.
He chucked his wristband containing the playcalls after the ultimate sequence, when the Patriots needed to accept a discipline aim after Jones needed to throw the ball away below stress.
No, these aren’t the sort of scenes you wish to see two weeks earlier than the common season begins.
What particularly must be fastened?
Basically, the entire options related to the “new” elements of the offense. It’s been a horror present getting the offensive line to adapt to the stretch, outdoors zone runs.
After 5 weeks, there are nonetheless communication issues, and points getting individuals blocked. The unit nonetheless hasn’t been capable of make the required corrections with the Dolphins on faucet for the opener Sept. 11.
Whether that’s as a result of offensive line coach Matt Patricia has been dividing his duties between the road, and calling performs, or the actual fact he’s instructing one thing that’s not in his wheelhouse, it’s been a catastrophe.
The errors simply hold repeating.
The three outdoors zone runs the Patriots utilized with the beginning offense went for unfavourable yardage (minus-2). And this couldn’t be blamed on having a rag-tag line.
While Jones didn’t have all of his starters in opposition to the Panthers, Trent Brown, Cole Strange, David Andrews, Michael Onwenu and Isaiah Wynn began and performed the primary 4 sequence. And struggled in opposition to second-and-third string gamers from the Raiders.
“You just have to flush it, and move on,” Andrews stated of the efficiency after the sport, chalking up the offensive line points to “fundamental execution.”
The play-action passing sport?
Jones threw a choose on the lone drop again utilizing a play-fake.
Pass safety?
Jones, who went 9-for-13 for 71 yards, was sacked twice, and hurried on nearly each go try through the 4 sequence the starters performed in opposition to Raiders subs.
Jones simply doesn’t appear to belief the offensive line. He’s not comfy with what’s occurring, and that’s disconcerting.
“We all wish we played better. At this point, we just have to evaluate the film so we can do better. We’re trying to get it all together,” Jones stated after the sport. “It’s going to happen … we’re going to go out there and execute better. That’s what it comes down to. Individually, I think we can all play better. Once that happens, collectively, it’ll look a lot better.”
The solely time the offense acquired into any rhythm was when Jones operated from the shotgun, a staple of the outdated offense. They moved the ball nicely within the hurry-up with Jones in empty formations.
So possibly they need to simply put Jones within the shotgun and let it fly. Now there’s a thought.
As for the working sport, the one time there was daylight had been on man-blocked runs, together with a crack toss that Rhamondre Stevenson took for 16 yards, together with runs that featured a pulling guard. Again, one other characteristic of the outdated offense.
Surely, Bill Belichick needs to be on the level the place he both has to scrap the “new” offense, and persist with what works, or discover higher individuals to show it to the offensive line.
At the very least, he must dump the stretch run. Why hold beating your head in opposition to the wall? After that, it’s crucial to get the safety fastened.
Having Jones out of kinds, pacing the sidelines after each sequence, and a bit skittish with the shortage of safety, shouldn’t be what you’re searching for with Miami on deck Week 1.
The Dolphins, a heavy blitz workforce, will come after him each play.
Said Jones: “Just not a good enough effort from us, from me. Obviously, I have to do a better job. It’s one game, one day. You can look at it and dwell on it, or learn from it and move on.”
Granted, it’s the preseason. There’s loads of experimenting occurring. But it’s nonetheless worrisome at this stage. Making issues worse, they misplaced Ty Montgomery, who figured to tackle the third-down again function, with an ankle harm.
It’s uncertain Belichick wished to depart the offense in for 4 sequence, however he was making an attempt to squeeze out one thing optimistic, after ending with a very good follow on Wednesday. It by no means occurred.
“We gotta coach better, we gotta play better,” Belichick stated, utilizing a well-known chorus after a foul sport. “I don’t think it’s any big mystery.”
Without the standard fourth preseason sport, there’s an added week earlier than the primary sport. So that’s a morsel of excellent information.
It’s simply laborious to flee the truth that the weather of the “new” offense haven’t appeared good from soar. For no matter cause, it hasn’t clicked. The gamers haven’t tailored.
Will that narrative change in two weeks?
That’s what Belichick in the end has to resolve.
Source: www.bostonherald.com