The coaches' film was not available when we did our Breakdown on Monday. Here are some other takeaways from the opener after viewing the film.
__________________
Tom
Brady
Charlie
Weiss
Josh
McDaniels
Harry
Potter
Cam
Newton
Jedd Fisch
2ND & 7 AT MIA 32( 10:58)
(10:58) (Shotgun) J.White left guard to MIA 31 for 1 yard (C.Wilkins).
Dolphins in box
Patriots blockers
N'Keal Harry
James
White
Possible future check
Ryan Izzo
Julian
Edelman
What Brady would do
2ND & 10 AT NE 25(03:50)
(3:50) J.Taylor up the middle to NE 29 for 4 yards (C.Wilkins, J.Baker).
Dolphins in box: 8
Patriots blockers: 8 (including Harry)
This isn't terrible, and JJ Taylor does a nice job to get something with some decent blocking.
Possible future check: Newton spreads Harry out to the right and throws a slant to Harry or Damiere Byrd — maybe a go to Byrd.
What Brady would do: Same.
2ND & 5 AT MIA 48(05:16)
(5:16) (Shotgun) C.Newton pass short right to N.Harry to MIA 43 for 5 yards (E.Rowe)
Dolphins in box: 6
Patriots blockers: 6 (including JJ Taylor, who gets tossed).
This is one of the few plays where Newton actually makes an adjustment — he keeps Jakobi Meyers from going in motion to the other side of the field and sends him back to the right for a three-wide set. This actually made the play less successful. If Meyers goes to the other side of the field, that would leave Harry with much more room to run a slant against man coverage with no safety help — it would be Edelman and Harry in a 2 on 2 situation. Instead, two defensive backs converge and stop Harry with no YAC.
Possible future check: Don't change the play.
What Brady would do: Brady might have changed the play to a pick, either for Edelman or Harry. With no deep safety, this should have been a TD.
1ST & 10 AT MIA 37(10:03)
(10:03) (Shotgun) C.Newton pass incomplete short right to J.Edelman.
Dolphins in box
Patriots blockers
Joe Thuney
Possible future check
What Brady would do
3RD & 3 AT MIA 30(09:13)
(9:13) (Shotgun) R.Burkhead up the middle to MIA 26 for 4 yards (J.Baker, Br.Jones).
Dolphins in box
Patriots blockers
Isaiah Wynn
Possible future check
What Brady would do
1ST & 10 AT MIA 26(08:36)
(8:36) C.Newton scrambles left end ran ob at MIA 14 for 12 yards (J.Baker).
(8:36) C.Newton scrambles left end ran ob at MIA 14 for 12 yards (J.Baker).
Dolphins in box: 8
Patriots blockers: 7.
Patriots blockers: 7.
Newton saves this play by scrambling for 12 yards.
Possible future check: Move the receivers to give them wide splits and throw a slant to Harry.
What Brady would do: Same.
2ND & 5 AT MIA 9(07:08)
(7:08) (Shotgun) C.Newton left guard to MIA 10 for -1 yards (K.Van Noy).
(7:08) (Shotgun) C.Newton left guard to MIA 10 for -1 yards (K.Van Noy).
Dolphins in box: 7
Patriots blockers: 6 (including Taylor).
Patriots blockers: 6 (including Taylor).
The called QB draw has no chance for success due to the numbers.
Possible future check: When Edelman goes in motion to the right, his route changes to a step-back screen and he probably scores a touchdown.
What Brady would do: Same.
__________________________
As you can see, the Patriots often made something out of nothing in this game, thanks to a team in the Dolphins that was pretty shaky on defense. That will not hold against better defenses, like the Seahawks.
I would expect the Patriots to build in a few options tagged on to a few select plays — one that they showed against the Dolphins. And then progress from there.
If not, Sunday could get choppy.
Other offensive notes from that game:
First quarter
- Powerful block by Michael Onwenu on first play of the game on Elandon Roberts
- Some good, tough yards by Sony Michel on the first drive. Not much there.
- Not only was Cam Newton's first pass to Julian Edelman high, but it was late. Could have been thrown as Edelman was coming out of his break. Still a drop. Damiere Byrd easily covered.
- On 3rd and 19 checkdown, Newton should have thrown it to N'Keal Harry on a crosser. Newton hit late, should have been a penalty.
Second quarter
- On the Newton sack on 3rd and 6, Newton could have kept the play alive and thrown a ball up for Damiere Byrd.
- On deflected first-down pass to Harry, Newton made it easy on the lineman by staring down Harry the entire time.
- On 3rd and 6 run by White, Patriots had numbers but Shaq Mason and Harry didn't have optimal blocks.
- Mason stuff on 2nd and 10 and 2-yard loss by Newton.
- On 2nd and 12, the tackles cut the ends to indicate a quick pass in the flat, but Newton threw a dangerous ball to Izzo that was lucky to be tipped. Ball should have gone to Burkhead.
Third quarter
Think that's about it for new things that stood out, outside of this:
___________