Bedard: Patriots lacking physicality, polish as run game lags behind to start season

Go through the NFL rankings, where the 2-0 Patriots with a 76-3 cumulative score to this point are top 10 in just about every category, and it kind of sticks out like a sore thumb.

Team rushing
25. New England 3.25 yards per attempt

Even last year, the Patriots' vaunted rush offense that "carried the team," only finished 20th in the league in yards per attempt. But at least the average was a respectable 4.26 yards. Last year's Patriots lived off volume, as their 127.3 per-game average ranked fifth in the league. This season they've dropped to 13th (112.5).

So what's going on with the rush offense? There are several factors why the Patriots are sluggish on the ground to this point, and the first quarter against the Dolphins kind of brought it all home as New England sputtered to 33 yards on 10 carries (10 coming on one play), while Tom Brady completed all five of his pass attempts.

Let's go through those plays and illustrate the issues that also show the Patriots aren't all that far away from getting their groove back.

Play No. 1: Michel right guard for 3 yards



At the snap, former Dolphins safety Minkah Fitzpatrick drops into the box, giving Miami eight players around the line of scrimmage. The Patriots have seven, with TE Matt LaCosse and FB James Develin. That means Miami has the numbers advantage and this is a bad look to run into. It's not terrible (the RB is responsible for making the extra man miss), but the offense has the advantage when it's hat-on-a-hat (one blocker for every defender). Normally Brady checks out of this play. I'm going to chalk this up to being the first play — likely a script — and they're dealing a new right tackle in Marshall Newhouse and LaCosse. I don't think the Patriots are even close to their normal execution level. It's like a preseason game.

In any event, Develin gets pushed back a little, Newhouse never gets off his double team to pick off LB Jerome Baker. Michel did not help himself by hesitating and thinking about cutting it back. His best chance at success was running off Develin's right hip.

A little of everything didn't go well on this play. That's been the story to this point.

Play No. 2: Edelman left end for 1 yard

This play was tough to execute from the start, and Miami did a nice job. The Patriots were obviously expecting RE Charles Harris to go screaming up the field, which would allow both Develin and Michel to act as lead blockers for Edelman off the butt of LT Isaiah Wynn. The problem is, Harris plays it perfectly — he slow plays the play and stays home, which bumps everything outside and now Michel can't get onto safety Bobby McCain. If Harris goes up the field, this is a big play. Tip o' the cap to him.

Play No. 3: Michel left guard for 10 yards

This was perfect, starting with the fact that the Patriots had a hat on a hat. That leaves Michel one-on-one with a secondary player to make it a really big play.



This time Harris comes up the field just enough for a huge hole while Wynn and Thuney play their assignments perfectly.

Terrific.

Play No. 4: Michel right guard for 4 yards

The Patriots don't have numbers here, but all they need is a small crease. This play was there except new guy Newhouse is, understandably, off with his timing and is late stepping into the B gap. That allows 94 Christian Wilkins to get a step on him and he gets a piece of Michel to keep it going for a touchdown. Good job falling forward by Michel. Everything else was blocked well.

Play No. 5: Michel middle for 1 yard

This is a nice little power play, with the left side of the line blocking down, and Shaq Mason pulling with Develin behind him. Mason delivers his kick-out block, but Kirkpatrick goes low and takes Develin and then Michel out. Low man wins, and Develin wasn't ready for that attack from a safety. Not sure it would have gone for a score because Baker read it well.



Play 7: Michel left guard for 1 yard TD

We skipped the fullback dive — the play was there, surprised Develin didn't bowl his way in — but on the touchdown there was great team execution, especially by LaCosse, who had to reach Harris and stand him up. LaCosse did that. Great block.

Play 8: Michel right tackle for 7 yards

Patriots have hat on a hat (again without the fullback) and then run one of their usual wham plays. Wilkins, a rookie, falls for the fake and LaCosse executes the Gronk Block without 87's normal flair. Would have gone for more had Ted Karras executed a difficult double block on both linebackers, but it was there. Good play.

Play 9: Michel middle 2 yards

Another good run look that should have gone for more but Mason is too aggressive on the initial double team, and can't seal off the linebacker. Michel sees that, hesitates and it's over. Mason is off to a disappointing start. He normally makes that play with ease.

Play 10: Michel middle for 3 yards



This is a 3rd and 5 play. The Patriots have to like the look for them to run in this spot. And they do. Considering the left outside linebacker and cornerback are really out of the play from the start, the Patriots really have eight blockers for six defenders. This should pick up the first down if it's executive properly

It is not. The main offenders were Develin, who gets pushed back a little, but mostly Mason, who loses Baker on what should really be an easy block for a player of Mason's caliber. Edelman also doesn't have a great block, but Mason is the main culprit. He should kill a player he outweighs by almost 100 pounds.

IN CONCLUSION

Here's the video for the running plays on the first series



Here is the second series



So, really, when you take a look at this play by play, it's not terrible. It's just really inconsistent. Obviously having new players tossed into the mix isn't helping. As you can see, Karras is not an issue, and neither is Thuney, who has been superb to this point.

Really, the Patriots just need a lot more polish, and they could use some more physicality, especially with Develin, when he's on the field. He needs to start blowing people up. Too often he's giving ground, even if it's a few inches.

The big thing is the Patriots need Mason to start playing like Mason. Not only did he allow a sack in this game, but you can see from just these first two series, he's stuggling a little in the run game as well. He's the team's best run blocker, so how he goes is how the running game does.

Mason has been below average to this point and the rushing game has been as well. And hope is far from lost. Even the advanced analytics at FootballOutsiders.com have the Patriots as 18th in rushing offense, which isn't terrible. I think it goes to show the Patriots have also opened up with two fairly good defensive lines (certainly in Pittsburgh's case). They'll face another in the Jets, but they're dealing with huge injury problems there.

I don't expect this to continue for the Patriots.