FOXBORO — On the primary day of Patriots coaching camp, quarterback Mac Jones raved about how worthwhile it’s to compete in opposition to such a high quality protection in observe.
That protection — which misplaced only one starter from final season — was one of many NFL’s greatest in 2022, they usually make issues exceptionally troublesome for Jones and the offense on a day-to-day foundation.
The offense is beginning to return the favor.
The Patriots had their greatest observe of the summer season Wednesday as Jones accomplished 13-of-14 passes with spotlight landing throws to extensive receivers DeVante Parker and JuJu Smith-Schuster. The Patriots’ offense dominated 1-on-1 drills between extensive receivers and cornerbacks. And the tone is beginning to shift to how troublesome Bill O’Brien and the offense are making issues on the protection.
“Variety,” Patriots security Adrian Phillips stated when describing what O’Brien brings to the offense. “We by no means see the identical factor twice. It’s lots of selection. (O’Brien) has lots of completely different guys in several spots, and he makes use of them to the perfect of their capacity, and he simply dials it up. And you may also inform that clearly, he’s watching movie on the protection, too.
“When he sees us make a check on defense, the next day he might come out and throw a little wrinkle in there.”
The Patriots centered closely on red-zone work early in coaching camp, and the offense struggled to search out house in opposition to a protection that’s identified for being versatile and a number of.
The unit is clearly getting extra comfy working in opposition to their protection, nevertheless, as evidenced by Wednesday’s exhibiting.
“It takes time,” Smith-Schuster stated. “There’s all the time room for enchancment. I might say final week, the previous days and weeks, we’ve been putting in new performs, and now we’re lastly with the ability to go on the market and we just about know what we all know and we grasp it.
“So, this week, it was kind of like a review week. We’re stacking good days. And going into next week and the following weeks, we’ve just got to keep dialing in and mastering these plays.”
O’Brien’s offense options way more movement and optionality than final yr’s simplistic system led by inexperienced offensive coaches Matt Patricia and Joe Judge. That motion earlier than and after the snap has compelled the Patriots protection to learn and react on an virtually play-by-play foundation early in camp. The Patriots’ protection dominated Jones and the offense early, forcing a completion proportion underneath 50 p.c via the primary three periods of the summer season. Jones has accomplished over 75 p.c of his passes via the final 4 days, nevertheless.
“When you start adding shifts and motion, the hard counts, all of that stuff, it makes it that much harder,” Phillips stated. “It makes the communication that much more vital because if you don’t comm then you’ve got people popping up 40 yards down the field.”
Jones’ favourite targets early in camp have been Parker, Smith-Schuster and tight finish Hunter Henry. Wide receivers Kendrick Bourne and Tyquan Thornton have gotten out to slower begins, whereas Jones is beginning to goal tight finish Mike Gesicki extra in latest periods.
“It’s fun,” Henry stated. “So we’re getting a lot thrown at us, and we’re trying to throw a lot at our defense, too. It’s kind of a daily battle of who’s going to get to who.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com