Bedard's Breakdown: Patriots' offense is sluggish right now, but the reasons can be worked through

It didn't take a football genius to recognize that the Patriots' offense wasn't exactly dominating in the 30-14 win over the Jets.

Take away a few coverage busts by the Jets, two penalties that prolonged drives in long yardage, and Josh Gordon's heroics, the Patriots largely scuffled on offense. After going up 20-0, the Patriots only had one drive longer than 44 yards, and eight of 10 possessions ended with either a punt or a turnover.

Some of that, you just have to tip your cap to the Jets. After a bit of a rough start with some inexperienced players on the field due to injuries, Gregg Williams' troops settled down and played pretty well. Williams has been around, so he knows the only way to have a chance against Tom Brady and the Patriots is to vary everything, from pressures to coverage — and almost by the half. And they did that.

Williams blitzed Brady 35.7 percent of the time in the first half, but backed off to 20 percent after halftime. The Jets mixed zone and man coverage, and provided some issues with a three-deep, five-under zone with a three-man rush. At times they'd double Julian Edelman, and on occasion, they'd hold up the running backs out of the backfield.

It had the desired effect on Brady in the first half, as he got a bit sped up and rushed a few throws and decisions. But Brady settled down in the second half and played really good ball — but he was let down by the lack of execution from others.

And that's where the issues — the few the Patriots have right now, but they could be an issue come Sunday in Buffalo against a similar scheme and veteran defensive mind — really reside: with the Patriots. And those internal issues can be worked through as we go forward.

What are they? Let's go through them.

Let's first start with the drive that sort of showed all the issues, after the Patriots took a 20-0 lead.

First down: Brady completes an ill-advised screen that the Jets were all over. An incomplete pass to Rex Burkhead's feet would have been better.
Second down: Brady short-arms a throw to Edelman, incomplete.
Third down: Brady misses wide-open Gordon and gets drilled holding onto the ball. A penalty gives New England a first down.
First down: Sony Michel runs for minus-4 yards as TE Ryan Izzo gets blown up on the outside zone run.
Second down: Brady has a poor throw to Edelman
Third down: Gordon drop.

What are the biggest issues so far that need to be worked through?

The running game

Duh. The issue here, in my mind, has not been the running backs, although all of them have had some technical issues (Burkhead is dancing at times, Michel has been indecisive) that Ivan Fears will take care of because he always does.

Really, with the injuries and defections from David Andrews, Isaiah Wynn/Trent Brown, James Develin and Rob Gronkowski, the Patriots really don't know what kind of running team they are right now. You can tell that by how many different runs Josh McDaniels is trying. Everything from I-back inside zone (last year's eventual favorite), to power, outside zone and even some college-flavored split zone have been used.

Look, just because certain players aren't here doesn't mean the Patriots can't run the ball. They just have to figure out how best to do it. And that takes time. Luckily with this schedule, they have plenty of time. Ted Karras and Marshall Newhouse are obviously much different athletes and blockers than Andrews and Wynn/Brown. The Patriots just aren't as athletic. Izzo has had such a hard time to this point that I'm now very much in favor of Dwayne Allen coming out of retirement (if Ben Watson doesn't help after his suspension).

When Matt LaCosse was healthy last week, the outside zone stretch runs — where the blockers move along the line toward the sideline and the back looks for cutback lane — looked much better than with Izzo. Inside zone was easier with Develin, and now Jakob Johnson has to be thrown into the mix and the Patriots have to figure out what he can do as well.

Long story short: the Patriots are trying a bunch of different stuff in the running game and at some point, hopefully soon, McDaniels and Dante Scarnecchia will know what they can and can't run with this group. Karras being slower than Andrews has been a bit of an issue. It would not be surprising at some point — probably a long shot — if the Patriots make a deal for a more athletic center, and possibly start dominoes that end with Joe Thuney at left tackle and Karras or someone else like Jermaine Eluemunor at left guard. Karras has done a great job in pass protection; he's just limited in the run game in terms of getting out on linebackers.

Also, it should be noted that the Patriots have faced three very good defensive line/strong safety combinations in Pittsburgh, Miami and New York. If you have a good defensive line, and a safety who's a force in the running game, you should be able to hold a rushing offense down. And Minkah Fitzpatrick (Dolphins) and Jamal Adams (Jets) were terrific against the Patriots. Tip the cap.

Brady and his receivers

The Patriots thought they had the answer to their year-plus issue of not having a gamebreaker who didn't need scheme to bust a big play when they signed Antonio Brown. He was supposed to be the replacement for a prime Gronkowski, but that's over with.

Now the Patriots are back to featuring Gordon, Edelman and Phillip Dorsett, who are all good and effective, but they're largely possession-type receivers. That's fine, but it does make things a lot harder on the passing offense and Brady. The Patriots won't have many one-, two- or three-play drives.

The bigger issue is trying to get those players, and the young reserves, on the same page, and it's been a work in progress. Edelman and Dorsett are fine, but it hasn't been perfect. Gordon had some route/drop issues in the last game. Jakobi Meyers did have a terrific 20-yard route that should give him and Brady more confidence going foward, but he still had sight issues with coverage. Gunner Olszewski has more issues, and I'm sure N'Keal Harry will be a work in progress if he gets off IR.

The passing game, like the running game and the offense overall at this point, is a grind. But the hope is that it will, given time and more information for the coaches, become more efficient at some point. As long as the Patriots keep playing defense like this, it's the offense's best friend.

Here are the positional ratings against the Jets:

OFFENSE

[table id=360 /]

Quarterback (3.5 out of 5)

After the first half, I was ready to pen a column about how Brady didn't play well in this game and it was starting to look like most of last season. But then he rebounded and played very well in the second half. ... On the third play of the game, Brady had Edelman wide open but Edelman didn’t sit in the zone and it nearly led to nearly a grounding call as Brady held the ball for 5.44 seconds. … Jarrett Stidham was a mixed back. On his sack, why did no receiver run a hot route to help him out? His first pass was a nice starter by McDaniels. The interception just can't happen.

Running backs (3.5 out of 5)



Burkhead had a 1 yard run with 1:29 left in the first quarter that had more yards out there. ... Between Izzo and the lack of athletic ability from Newhouse and Karras, the outside zone runs are a bit of disaster at this point. ... That being said, Michel has to do a better job of sticking his foot in the ground on outside zone runs. On the first-and-goal run at the 4, Michel took like three steps to get moving up the field. The game is too fast for that.

Receivers (2 out of 5)

Just about every player had a highlight (two in the case of Gordon), but everyone had issues as well as they tried to sort out the varying coverages thrown at them by the Jets. ... The 18-yard reception by Meyers to start the second quarter was a straight coverage bust. … With 3rd and 1 with 45 seconds, Meyers ran a terrible route. Pretty sure he was supposed to cut across the field against the post safety. Meyers also didn't sit in a zone once. These are all issues he's going to have to work through if he wants Brady's trust. ... I meant everything I said about Gordon in this column, but overall he didn't play very well. I had him for possibly four drops and a penalty. Not sure how much the injuries factored in all that. ... Izzo had four poor run blocks, and Dorsett had two stuffs himself when he had to take on Edelman's role. ... Ouch.



 

Offensive line (4 out of 5)

There was barely any pressure on Brady in this game — and 3.5 of the 11 pressures (31.8 percent) were either on Brady or the scheme. But a stuffed run percentage of 39.3 percent was not good. However, 60 percent came from places other than the line. ... Shaq Mason got off to another poor start. First run of the second series, there was a good hole but Bolden hesitated and then Mason got shoved into the gap by Steve McClendon. On the first run of the third series, Mason was easily two-gapped by McClendon, and Mason also whiffed on the second level on a 1-yard run by Burkhead. That being said, Mason rebounded after that and played very well. Hopefully he's back to his old self. ... In order of effectiveness: Thuney/Cannon, Newhouse, Mason, Karras. First rough one for Karras against a good interior line of the Jets.

DEFENSE

[table id=361 /]

Defensive line (5 out of 5)

I had five negative plays for the entire defense. This group is just so good at this point, it's ridiculous. ... Third play of the game showed Danny Shelton’s growth. He stayed in his gap when his instincts told him to go up the field. He's done a 180 from this time last year and has been huge for the run game. ... Lawrence Guy has been the most consistently good player in this group for more than a season. He's just always in the right place and immovable. ... Kyle Van Noy (seven impactful plays) had about as good a second half as you can have.

Linebackers (5 out of 5)

Patrick Chung II, I mean Jamie Collins Sr., was just outstanding wire to wire. It's like the Patriots' coaches needed for him to leave to give some space so they could better figure out how to use him. ... Dont'a Hightower was very good. Elandon Roberts and Ja'Whaun Bentley are solid in their limited reps.

Secondary (5 out of 5)

They didn't get many opportunities thanks to Falk and the pass rush, but they were again stellar. J.C. Jackson again gave up the lone big play.

 

THREE UP

Kyle Van Noy: After watching more film after the radio show, Van Noy was the most impactful player. He dominated in the second half.

Jamie Collins: Equally dominating in the first and second half. Did everything from rush the passer (1.5 sacks), stuff the run (1.5) and get his hands on balls (pass break up). Have a first three games, Mr. Collins.

Lawrence Guy: If the Patriots are stopping the run — they had an amazing run stuff percentage of 63.2 — then Guy is at the center of it. He and Shelton are becoming quite the duo. Malcom who?

THREE DOWN

Gunner Olszewski: Had the muffed punt — which got guys like Riley McCarron and Chris Harper cut previously — but also looked lost on some of his routes.

Ryan Izzo: Had the big pass play on a coverage bust, but he looks too undersized to block the edge properly. Time for reinforcements.

Ted Karras: Had a couple of nice seals in the run game, but overall had six negative plays including a sack allowed. His first rough game.