It’s been a tough go for the Patriots offense.
Two offensive touchdowns of their final three video games. Sacks galore. Poor run-blocking that’s left Rhamondre Stevenson ending with extra dashing yards gained after contact than he has whole in sure video games.
What can they do? For starters, be glad the Jets’ elite protection is now not on the schedule. And transfer ahead with their best performs, particularly man-blocked runs, play-action passes and fast timing throws.
“Just like every team, you kind of pick your plays that you do well and continue to do those,” Mac Jones stated this week. “So it varies, like you said, week-to-week. Obviously, there’s a shorter time. But we still get everything in. That’s what I love about this place, it’s all about the work.”
Beyond that, right here’s how the Patriots offense can revive itself with an upset win at Minnesota:
1. Attack exterior
It’s a uncommon week the place the Patriots ought to look out extensive and smile.
Because whether or not it’s DeVante Parker or Jakobi Meyers, the Pats may have a matchup benefit throwing at Vikings cornerbacks not named Patrick Peterson. Rookie Akayleb Evans missed final weekend’s begin versus Dallas and was in concussion protocol as lately as Wednesday morning. Meanwhile, his substitute in that 40-3 loss, first-rounder Andrew Booth Jr., missed observe this week with a sore knee.
If each are sidelined Thursday, hybrid security/cornerback Duke Shelley ought to begin reverse Peterson. Shelley has performed eight snaps in protection this season, per Pro Football Focus. And within the slot, opposing quarterbacks have produced a passer ranking of 115.8 when concentrating on nickelback Chandon Sullivan.
Is it any marvel the Vikings protection is a bottom-10 unit in opposition to No. 1 and No. 2 extensive receivers by DVOA? Time to sling it exterior and within the slot.
2. Help Yodny Cajuste at RT
Before Jones can drop again 35 instances at Minnesota and assault exterior, he’ll want safety.
Reliable go safety has been amiss for many of the Patriots’ season. The essential offender? The proper deal with place.
Last Sunday, Yodny Cajuste allowed one sack and three hurries round a holding penalty. In the Patriots’ final sport earlier than the bye, he additionally allowed 4 pressures. The week earlier than that, Marcus Cannon, since positioned on injured reserve, gave up one sack, a QB hit and three hurries.
So going through Pro Bowl edge rushers Danielle Hunter and Za’Darius Smith, the Patriots should plug the opening on the suitable facet of their offensive line. Slide safety to Cajuste, chip with operating backs and maintain a good finish in to dam.
“They’re elite, elite, elite pass rushers (and) football players,” Jones stated this week. “This is a great group up front and then obviously a great defense. They have great experience at each level. They do a lot of different stuff.”
3. Go no-huddle
In one of many Patriots’ two landing drives since-mid-October, they went no-huddle.
The purpose was to tire out a vaunted Jets go rush, and jump-start an offense that had scored simply six factors within the first half of an eventual 22-17 win at New York. Coming off a three-point outing final Sunday, it’s time to hit the fuel once more.
Because of the quick week, the Patriots won’t be carrying a sport plan into Minnesota with the identical breadth of performs they might usually holster for an enormous sport. So in the event that they’re going to work from a smaller menu, they need to flip tempo to their benefit. Force the Vikings to maintain tempo, and hit them with a mixture of their finest runs and quick passes to negate the go rush.
The Patriots’ small pattern of no-huddle dropbacks is encouraging. In 38 hurry-up snaps, they’ve accomplished 68.4% of their passes at 8.4 yards per try with zero sacks taken.
Source: www.bostonherald.com