It’s fairly clear what Patriots followers are most involved about two weeks into the season primarily based on this week’s mailbag questions: offensive line play and the staff’s playmaking capability.
Let’s dive closely into these two matters on this week’s mailbag:
@littleashtag
Do you assume the OL can get their act collectively so Mac has time to throw and join together with his receivers. Can the OL lastly enable the run sport to get going? What will it take to make these very important adjustments,
I believe they will, nevertheless it may take some time. And the hope is that it’s not too late within the season by the point the offensive line does spherical into form.
If left deal with Trent Brown performs this week, will probably be the primary time this season that Brown, left guard Cole Strange, middle David Andrews and proper guard Mike Onwenu could have performed collectively this season. But Strange and Onwenu may nonetheless be entering into sport form after lacking all summer season with accidents. And the best deal with place may very well be a large number till Riley Reiff returns. And it may even prolong previous that point. Reiff is not any assure to come back in and settle the place. He’s 34 years outdated and shall be coming off of a knee damage.
An offensive line unit with Brown, Strange, Andrews, Onwenu and Reiff shouldn’t be dangerous or at the least among the many NFL’s worst teams. But everybody has to get wholesome and jell. And that most likely gained’t occur instantly.
@combustman1
Think any of the “starters” on the o-line find yourself getting swapped out this week? Strange/Onwenu/Anderson for any of the rookies or different backups?
I believe it’s doable that we may see some motion at proper deal with, however I don’t know that. Calvin Anderson has struggled at proper deal with since returning off of the non-football sickness checklist, and the staff has Vederian Lowe and Tyrone Wheatley Jr. behind him.
If Anderson continues to wrestle, I’d put some consideration into transferring Onwenu to proper deal with and beginning rookie Atonio Mafi at proper guard.
@Gch2015C
Is Cole Strange one in every of Bill’s worst first spherical picks? There are so many dangerous ones it’s exhausting to decide on.
Let’s give Strange just a few extra weeks after getting back from the knee damage he suffered in coaching camp earlier than we write him off. I do assume Strange lacking nearly all of coaching camp was an nearly worst-case situation with a brand new offense and offensive line coach, nonetheless, after he struggled as a rookie.
@HalloedBThyName
Hi Doug, what’s happening with ju-ju. There had been reviews that he wasn’t seen as a #1, 2, or third receiver on the staff. Is there any fact to that? Also do you’re feeling the shortage of enjoying time in preseason may very well be affecting the gamers when it comes to growth?
The report, from the Boston Herald’s Andrew Callahan, was that a number of staff sources believed JuJu Smith-Schuster was “not presently among the team’s five most effective pass-catchers.” So, that features working backs and tight ends.
And yeah, snap counts have mirrored that with Hunter Henry, Kendrick Bourne and Rhamondre Stevenson enjoying extra by means of two weeks, and DeVante Parker enjoying each offensive snap in Week 2. That fifth spot comes all the way down to Smith-Schuster, Mike Gesicki and Demario Douglas now.
@byanruckley
It’s nonetheless early, nevertheless it’s a little bit of a priority how slowly the offense begins the sport, after which has to ramp it up as a result of they’re down. How do they repair this going ahead?
One half is simple. They must cease turning the ball over early in video games.
I additionally surprise how a lot of the ramp-up is because of groups taking massive leads over the Patriots and letting off the gasoline pedal on protection in an try to empty the clock within the second half of the sport.
The Patriots’ early-game points are fixable. But I’m undecided if the staff we see within the second half can be an correct illustration of the offense.
@mkwhit18
How lengthy will Pop Douglas be in Bill’s doghouse. Will he be a scratch on Sunday?
Ultimately, that’s Bill Belichick’s name. I personally assume one week is one other to show Demario Douglas a lesson for fumbling, however the Patriots did bench Rhamondre Stevenson for a Week 1 fumble throughout his rookie season till Week 5. Stevenson did additionally wrestle in cross safety in that sport.
It’s slightly bit damning to say this, however the Patriots want Douglas on the sector. And they clearly cherished what they noticed from him this summer season.
He’ll probably at the least be energetic to return punts with Marcus Jones on injured reserve.
@MikeyV1960
How many occasions will Matt Corral be signed and waived right now?
If I needed to guess, I’d say we’re finished with the Matt Corral saga after the Patriots signed Will Grier to their 53-man roster.
What an odd scenario. He was claimed, left the staff with out discover and placed on the exempt checklist, was waived, cleared waivers, and the staff initially was set to signal him to the apply squad (which is why he was in Wednesday for a “visit”) earlier than plans modified.
Now he’s a free agent.
@chaosduck86
Is Mac the reply
That’s a very powerful query that the Patriots must reply this season. My take: Mac Jones has already performed higher this season than he did in 2022. He’s been higher underneath stress, he’s transferring the offense, he appears to be like extra comfy. But it’s nonetheless too early to know if he’s “the answer.” His points scoring on the finish of video games in pivotal moments have gotten routine.
The Patriots should resolve whether or not or to not decide up Jones’ fifth-year possibility on the finish of the season. It’s not a decisive sure proper now.
@RiceMike12
Do you assume a loss this weekend will make the pats to surrender on the season and tank for Caleb or Maye within the draft? X
No, I don’t assume something would trigger them to do this even when it would appear to be a good suggestion at a sure level.
Source: www.bostonherald.com