FOXBORO — The Patriots’ offensive line punched above its weight class respectfully for many of Sunday’s opener, holding agency towards probably the greatest defensive strains in soccer. But when it mattered most late, the Eagles showcased why they’re the higher unit.
The Pats have been pressured to start out two rookies in Sunday’s loss to the Eagles and probably the greatest defensive fronts in soccer, and whereas it was not the catastrophe many have been anticipating, their youth and inexperience confirmed. Costly and ill-timed penalties. Missed probabilities. Fletcher Cox imposing his will.
The Patriots’ offensive line left Gillette Stadium on Sunday evening with loads of classes to be taught from.
“You have to be your best at the most crucial moments,” Patriots middle David Andrews stated. “Penalties, various things all through the sport to wash up, however must be higher. That’s type of on us.
“Hats off to them, they’re a really good football team, really good football team, but hard to beat a good football team when you’re trying to beat yourself and we did a little bit of that.”
The Patriots knocked on the door of an upset towards the defending NFC champions regardless of their beleaguered offensive line, which definitely outperformed expectations after coaching camp raised loads of questions in regards to the unit.
With beginning guards Mike Onenwu and Cole Strange each dominated inactive previous to Sunday’s kickoff, along with as soon as projected starter Riley Reiff being positioned on injured reserve, the Pats had simply two common starters wholesome. They began rookies Antonio Mafi and Sidy Sow at left and proper guard, and Calvin Anderson – who missed all of camp with an sickness – beginning at proper sort out alongside Trent Brown at left sort out and Andrews at middle.
It was a blended bag. An up-tempo offensive gameplan that had Mac Jones throwing fast passes helped, and the quarterback wasn’t sacked till there have been lower than three minutes left within the fourth, however the Eagles pressured him for seven hits. They struggled run blocking, solely producing 76 yards on 22 carries (3.5 yards per carry), together with simply 25 yards on 12 carries for Rhamondre Stevenson.
The line had its moments. The unit deserves credit score for improved cross safety within the second quarter that helped Jones and the offense engineer two landing drives that helped make it a sport. But, as Andrews famous, they weren’t ok in an important moments.
The Patriots trailed 19-14 within the third quarter and regarded destined for factors as Jones led a drive into Eagles territory. But moments after Hunter Henry was whistled for a holding penalty, Mafi dedicated a expensive third-down holding penalty that put the Pats out of area purpose territory, and so they got here away empty-handed.
In the fourth, the Pats trailed by eight and drove into Philly’s crimson zone. But on third-and-3, Cox overpowered Sow and single-handedly stuffed Ezekiel Elliott for no acquire. The subsequent play, as Bill Belichick went for it, Jones was pressured out of the pocket and threw an incomplete cross for a turnover.
The Patriots obtained two presents late within the fourth on Eagles turnovers, however the stress lastly caught as much as Jones, who was taken down for the one two sacks of the sport, one on every of these drives, that derailed their comeback bid.
It was a suboptimal spot for the Patriots’ line. Andrews acknowledged they most likely hadn’t began two rookies since his personal first season in 2015. Sunday’s unit didn’t have a ton of chemistry, not with Anderson lacking all of camp and Sow seeing most of his reps this summer season at proper sort out, not guard.
“That’s a good point. Things happen. He did,” Andrews stated of Sow shifting positions. “That’s the reality. We weren’t having secret practices with out you. If we may, we’d. Sidy did a very good job getting moved in. But he performed guard in school, good transition. I admire how a lot they labored, all of the younger guys, Calvin coming again, working his butt off. I admire that.
“We just have to clean it up, and move on and improve. That’s the biggest thing, I think as a rookie is just improving each week, seeing all right, what did this guy do to beat you? All right, we have to take that and now we have to move on. What did I do good? What can I build on? And then what were my weaknesses and how are guys going to watch this film and attack me.”
The Patriots’ line stays a serious query mark going ahead, particularly after a shaky run-blocking efficiency and several other expensive errors. It stays to be seen when Onwenu and Strange will return and the road can discover some much-needed consistency and cohesion. But given the circumstances, Sunday may have gone a lot worse, and there are some issues for the unit to construct off of, to not point out lots to digest within the movie room.
“I thought they did a good job. A lot of reps all summer, I think that helped them,” Andrews stated. “You gotta learn the hard way, right? And so you learn by going out there and taking our licks and bumps and getting beat and things like that, so they have a lot to clean up, we all have a lot to clean up from this game. I’m proud of the way they competed, the way they entered against a really good defensive football team and arguably one of the best fronts in football. But like I said, we just have to be better when it counts.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com