There's been a lot of discussion about why the Patriots' offense has been so inefficient, especially at the end of drives, through the first two games. Josh McDaniels, Mac Jones and the players have been, at various times, in the bullseye among impatient Patriots fans who want more and more points.
Putting aside the first game, we went back and watched the end of every drive against the Jets to see if we could discern a pattern and asked the question ... Was it playcalling, a conservative QB or errors that ended each drive?
Yes, a pattern did emerge and we go deeper in our video analysis.
FIRST QUARTER
2-3-NYJ 29 (10:10) J.White up the middle to NYJ 30 for -1 yards (S.Lawson).
This was a really good play call and it should have been a draw that went for serious yardage, but the Jets' end didn't go up the field, Isaiah Wynn and David Andrews didn't adjust so Mike Onwenu got caught up in the trash and couldn't make the one block needed to spring James White.
3-4-NYJ 30 (9:33) (Shotgun) M.Jones sacked at NYJ 40 for -10 yards (M.Maye)
This is just Yasir Durant not being good enough. No chance for Jones and this play.
Playcalling, conservative QB or errors?
VERDICT: Definitely errors/good or fortunate plays by the Jets.
1-10-NYJ 24 (6:30) (Shotgun) M.Jones pass short left to J.Meyers to NYJ 25 for -1 yards (M.Carter II).
Really nice play by the defensive back to not go for any fakes. Jones couldn't get a good read on him, it caused a delay and a negative play.
2-11-NYJ 25 (5:49) (Shotgun) PENALTY on NE-I.Wynn, False Start, 5 yards, enforced at NYJ 25 - No Play.
Not even close.
2-16-NYJ 30 (5:31) M.Jones pass short left to N.Agholor to NYJ 28 for 2 yards (B.Echols).
Wynn blocks down too hard and it delays his ability to get out and block for the screen. The play was there if Wynn makes his block.
3-14-NYJ 28 (4:55) (Shotgun) M.Jones pass incomplete short middle to J.Smith.
Sorry, but this is a drop by Smith and if he catches it, they have a chance at a first down. A good low-risk play that could have gained the necessary yardage for the first down or at least would have kept the team on pace for a field goal to get on the board.
Playcalling, conservative QB or errors?
VERDICT: Poor execution by the Patriots.
SECOND QUARTER
2-8-NE 40 (4:53) (Shotgun) M.Jones pass short left to J.White to NE 39 for -1 yards (Qu.Williams).
For some reason, Jones was in a wicked hurry to get in and out of the huddle to run this play, as he gave the lasso/toro sign to hurry things up. Didn't think it was all that great a personnel advantage but, in any event, in my opinion, Hunter Henry didn't run this play properly. Patriots have been running this play — TE hitch picks off linebacker covering RB — for years, and Henry appeared to run this route a yard or two too far. So there was no pick, and White got flattened. Not a great Jones pass, but the execution was the issue, in my opinion.
3-9-NE 39 (4:13) (Shotgun) M.Jones pass incomplete deep left to J.Meyers.
This was the play where Jakobi Meyers was held. I didn't think the ball was catchable, and Jones needs to put this on Meyers. Poor pass.
Playcalling, conservative QB or errors?
VERDICT: Poor execution by the tight end and quarterback.
1-10-NYJ 29 (:33) (Shotgun) M.Jones pass incomplete short left.
Wynn gives up fairly quick pressure and Jones reacts really quickly, and nothing develops.
2-10-NYJ 29 (:26) (Shotgun) M.Jones pass short right to J.Meyers ran ob at NYJ 21 for 8 yards (B.Hall).
Good, safe play out of bounds with time running out.
3-2-NYJ 21 (:22) (Shotgun) M.Jones pass incomplete short middle. NE-J.Herron was injured during the play. PENALTY on NE-M.Jones, Intentional Grounding, 10 yards, enforced at NYJ 21.
Mike Onwenu gets beat almost off the snap and Jones, who looked like he wanted to give time for this play to develop, gets flushed and grounds the ball. Not smart. We'll never know, but it felt like the Patriots wanted to go for a play here. It was a shot play situation.
Playcalling, conservative QB or errors?
VERDICT: Poor execution because the blocking was bad on two of the three plays.
SECOND HALF
1-10-NYJ 14 (2:33) J.Taylor up the middle to NYJ 13 for 1 yard (S.Rankins; S.Lawson).
Wynn falls down and can't make his block.
2-9-NYJ 13 (1:56) (Shotgun) M.Jones pass incomplete short right to H.Henry (M.Maye).
Not much open here. Wouldn't mind trying to throw the post-corner route to Agholor in the top left corner of the end zone, just to try something. Henry wasn't open.
3-9-NYJ 13 (1:52) (Shotgun) M.Jones pass short right to J.White to NYJ 14 for -1 yards (M.Maye).
Mason does not pick up the looping linebacker and Jones has a free runner coming at him. He has no choice but to get rid of the ball.
Playcalling, conservative QB or errors?
VERDICT: Mostly poor execution but a little bit of the QB being conservative on the second-down throw. The protection was just brutal in this game.
FOURTH QUARTER
1-10-NE 48 (12:42) M.Jones pass short left to J.Smith to NE 49 for 1 yard (C.Mosley).
Patriots looking to run clock ... called screen and Mason misses his block.
2-9-NE 49 (12:04) (Shotgun) D.Harris right guard to NE 48 for -1 yards (S.Lawson).
No one picks up the looping end on what should have been a promising play.
3-10-NE 48 (11:26) (Shotgun) M.Jones pass incomplete short left to H.Henry.
Wynn, Herron and Taylor all give up pressure.
Playcalling, conservative QB or errors?
VERDICT: Completely a lack of execution.
1-10-NYJ 25 (4:31) Yardline difference due to change of possession D.Harris left guard to NYJ 20 for 5 yards (J.Guidry).
2-5-NYJ 20 (3:56) D.Harris right tackle to NYJ 22 for -2 yards (B.Hall).
3-7-NYJ 22 (3:19) D.Harris right guard to NYJ 10 for 12 yards (M.Maye). R16
PENALTY on NYJ-M.Maye, Horse Collar Tackle, 5 yards, enforced at NYJ 10. X17
1-5-NYJ 5 (3:11) Y.Durant reported in as eligible. D.Harris left tackle to NYJ 2 for 3 yards (C.Mosley, A.Colbert).
2-2-NYJ 2 (2:30) Y.Durant reported in as eligible. D.Harris up the middle to NYJ 3 for -1 yards (D.Phillips).
3-3-NYJ 3 (2:24) Y.Durant reported in as eligible. D.Harris left end to NYJ 8 for -5 yards (S.Lawson; Qu.Williams)
Playcalling, conservative QB or errors?
VERDICT: Coaching decision.
Bill Belichick obviously gave orders to run every play. Take it up with the HC.
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I understand the want/need to score more points and some of the frustration that's there due to the lack of production, but if you take it on a play by play basis, most of the issues against the Jets with the drives stalling had to do with poor execution on the part of the Patriots. Actually, the end of every drive had issues. Specifically, the pass protection and blocking from the offensive line has been wretched, especially for a group that is mostly veteran in nature.
I didn't really see any overly conservative playcalling — there's a reason why Josh McDaniels installs certain plays against specific teams and situations. Every play, maybe outside the incompletion to Henry, looked like it was going to be successful against that defense, and it just didn't work out.
To me, it looks like an offense that just needs a lot more game-action reps together. The execution is very poor at this point.