At 6-6, the Patriots are mired in mediocrity.
An anemic offense and questionable teaching have dragged down their elite protection and top-10 particular groups. After a nasty loss to Buffalo final week, the hole between the Patriots and the AFC’s elite is obvious and apparent. Questions in regards to the group’s current and future abound.
Is Mac Jones adequate to raise the Patriots again to competition? What about his weapons and the offensive line? Will the entrance workplace have a fast repair out there this offseason?
The Herald posed these questions and extra to an NFL front-office govt whose group confronted the Pats this season and spoke on the situation of anonymity.
The ensuing Q&A with the manager has been edited for brevity and readability.
Q: After 27 profession begins, do you consider Mac Jones is a franchise quarterback?
NFL govt: “I can’t confidently say in some way. I imply, in the event you put (Dolphins receivers) Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle and all that (Dolphins quarterback) Tua (Tagovailoa) has round Mac, perhaps it’s a unique story. But they’ve bought a first-time offensive play-caller with a quarterback who’s in his second 12 months, and he’s not surrounded by elite expertise. So it’s not stunning that their outcomes aren’t as nice as what different groups are getting with their quarterbacks.
“Mac’s just not gonna go out there and take the game over. If he had more talent around him, then probably from a team aspect, you’d be OK. I can see how people would say one way or the other on Mac, but it’s too hard for me. It’s still a projection.”
Q: What is the Patriots’ chief drawback offensively?
“There’s just not a lot there that scares you. And that’s really it. Rhamondre (Stevenson), he’s taken a big step. But other than that, there’s not a lot there. I mean, (wide receiver Devante) Parker’s a good player, but from a personnel standpoint, if you’re comparing them to the upper echelon of the AFC offensively, they’re not in that class. And this isn’t news-breaking or anything, but they don’t have anything like those teams do.”
Q: Have their prime draft picks, offensive guard Cole Strange and vast receiver Tyquan Thornton, flashed sufficient on tape to indicate they may turn into above-average starters?
“Not sure about Thornton yet. Strange had a really nice game against (Steelers defensive tackle) Cam Hayward, and that impressed me. As far as how he’s progressed, I don’t think he’s had as good a game since. But he’s a good young player, he’ll develop and I’m sure he’ll be fine.”
Q: Do you consider the Patriots’ protection is nice sufficient to hold them the remainder of the season, if crucial?
“Well, they’ve got a good front, between (Matt) Judon and Deatrich Wise having career years. They’ve got better speed on the back end and a great safety group. I just think ultimately, it’s an offensive league with rules that are set for offense. And outside having completely dominant players everywhere, you can’t win consistently like that. New England’s defense is certainly good enough that if their offense was putting up points, they’d compete at a high level. But teams have also had some success against them in the run game, which matters in December and January, and that’s what their season might come down to if the offense can’t pick it up.”
Q: The Patriots at the moment sit final within the division standings. Does their roster expertise additionally rank final within the AFC East?
“Yes.”
Q: Looking forward, the Patriots may have the third-most cap area subsequent offseason. Do you see a fast repair for them to return to competition?
“No. Not to get to a talent level that’s going to match and allow them to go toe for toe with the upper echelon of the AFC. Talent-wise, I don’t think they’re that close.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com