During Super Bowl week, there are a lot of NFL people — in and out of the game — saying a lot of things on radio row and in TV appearances promoting a variety of products and programs. The Patriots, with an early playoff exit, were no exception.
Jerod Mayo was promoting mayonnaise. Matthew Judon praised the Black Women's Health Imperative. Mac Jones was making the rounds ... for whatever, for the second-straight week following the Pro Bowl.
There were soundbites that made you feel better about the Patriots' future. There were others that have to signal some level of concern with how the Patriots will fare in the immediate future.
The good, bad and "Huh?" of the Patriots' making the rounds...
THE GOOD
“We’re going to look to get faster, more explosive and put more playmakers on the field," Mayo told Zolak & Bertrand.
Halle-freaking-lujah. If there was one thing I heard all week that made me sit up and say, "Now we're talking," it was Mayo saying this. I mean, I don't think the Patriots have ever really talked that way about defenders ... like ever. Of course, he also said they covet versatility and smarts (gag), but I'm taking this quote and running with it. It means, in some semblance, that the Patriots saw what many of us did all season, in that the Patriots can't matchup up athletically with the better offensive teams, and they lack the necessary playmakers to create the type of negative plays that make it easier to get off the field. It doesn't mean the Patriots are actually going to do something about their issues, but at least we heard them acknowledge them. It's a start.
“I think those guys are definitely physical,” Mayo said in the same interview. “Were there times where it did look like we got soft? Absolutely. But overall, I would not call us a soft defense. At the end of the day, it’s about points and how many points we gave up.”
This was Mayo replying to Rodney Harrison calling the Patriots' defense soft on Tom Curran's podcast. I agree with Mayo. They were not soft overall, but they were definitely soft at times, and the middle of their defensive line played really soft way too often. But the defense as a whole is not soft.
"I don't know if Joe Judge is calling plays," Julian Edelman told Curran. "But they'll figure something out. I don't ever bet against Bill Belichick."
The former Patriots' receiver, who was coached at receiver by Judge, did not give a ringing endorsement of his former position coach. Thank goodness. Edelman knows what's going on and for him to say this allowed me to breathe a little easier. I think Judge will be more in a managerial, plug-the-gaps type of role while he gets more training with offensive football.
“We just played some good teams, and we weren’t playing our best ball. You can’t do that at the end of the season,” Judon to Felger and Mazz. “It’s really no excuse. I wish I could be like, ‘Well, this person got hurt...’ But it wasn’t that.
“It was just [that] we weren’t playing good football, and I think after like two games everybody tried to start making a play. Like, ‘I’m going to be the player that does this, I’m going to be the player that does that,’ instead of just playing within the defensive scheme and stuff like that. I think that’s what happened.
“We have a system, we have a scheme, and it wasn’t a breakdown in that. It was just execution, honestly. You go back and look at the film and look at the big plays we were giving up: if this guy was just in this gap or this guy did this, a lot of those plays shouldn’t have happened. It’s as easy as that."
Well, at least he's not making some sort of excuse for the Patriots' defensive demise — plenty have tried to do that. Judon realizes the Patriots just weren't good enough, and they didn't play well enough, which is why I took the defense to task down the stretch. They just played terribly.
Now, the stuff about just trying to make plays and out of structure of the defense — while definitely true – it would have been nice for him to acknowledge that he was one of those players. My rankings of players who resorted to doing their own thing and leaving others exposed:
1. Davon Godchaux
2. JC Jackson (last couple of games only)
3. Christian Barmore
4. Carl Davis
5. Matthew Judon
6. Kyle Van Noy
7. Jamie Collins
“If I’m out there, I’m supposed to make plays. That’s what I’m paid to do. That’s who I am,” Judon said. “I should have made more plays coming down the stretch. So I have to get back in the lab. I’ve got to be more in shape because knowing that, all right, I’m going to get chipped, I’m going to have an extra guy I’ve got to get around — any of that. I’ve just got to be ready.”
Judon telling the truth about his lack of production, but calling one fib or exaggeration here — he did not have all that many bodies around him. I don't deduct for that in my grading. He just played very poorly after the bye.
Judon to Merloni & Fauria: "(Mac Jones is) not a scared rookie, he just doesn’t say a lot. He honestly doesn’t say a lot. But when you do talk to him, when you do kind of crack him, he’s a great dude. Great dude. Very professional. Great leader. I think he has all the intangibles to be a great quarterback in this league for a long time. I think he’s showing that. [I think] him next season, he’s going to be 100 times better.”
For a veteran who has been around to say that about Jones without flinching, that's a great sign for Jones' future. And not unexpected.
Mac Jones to Phil Perry on his podcast: “I know I have the capability to take the offense to the next level,” Jones said. “It starts with me, and I’m going to. I’m going to trust the coaches, obviously, and learn from them, and work together. That’s what it comes down to. I’ve always been a guy that does exactly what the coach tells me to do, and that’s how I’ll always play the game.”
“I just leave it up to Coach,” Jones said. “He does a good job picking the right people, and he’s done that for however many years he’s been a head coach. That’s why I’m really happy to be with him, because he always has a plan. Similar to college: we always had a plan for when somebody else got hired; we brought somebody in, the relationship builds, you earn the trust and then you can just keep moving forward.”
While everyone in New England panics over who is going to hold Jones' hand now that Josh McDaniels is in Las Vegas, QB1 was as cool dealing with the departure as he is facing a blitz. I can't understate this enough: Jones is no ordinary rookie and that he played in a baptism by fire, gave him the education of Jimmy Garoppolo after three seasons. Jones has more than the basics down, will have input on what is going on, will have Belichick involved, probably in twice weekly meetings, plus the other coaches. This will not be a big issue. Am I worried about playcalling? Yes, but that's about 30 percent of the actual game week. Plus, no one is going to love the playcalling anyways ... lol. My joke there.
THE BAD
"No, I'm fully healthy," Judon said. “I’m football injured, but nothing that I need surgery on. Nothing that I’ve got to hold back on. It’s just a long season, so you have nicks and nags here. But I don’t have any injury."
Every Patriots fan badly wanted to believe that Judon's production nosedived because of injury — heck, I did too — but that obviously wasn't the case when he participated in the Pro Bowl, and said as much this week.
That his struggles really weren't injury-related... that's problematic. He talked about not being in good enough shape ... not great. So what was it, and how do we know his struggles are not going to come against in the final five weeks of next season? At least Judon is on the spot now, and he knows it. A lot of guys wouldn't admit that.
HUH?!
“If you zoom out and look at the season as a whole, we ended up third in scoring defense and seventh in yards,” Mayo said.
The Patriots allowed 13 points or fewer to ... the Jets (twice), Falcons, Panthers, Browns, Jaguars, Bills (in a windstorm ... that definitely does NOT count), and the Titans missing every good player on their offense (Patriots forced 23 turnovers in those games).
In the other 10 games — no small sample size — the Patriots allowed an average of 29 points per game, 367 total yards, 140 rushing yards and forced just seven turnovers.
So, come on, let's deal in reality. Didn't Belichick once say stats are for losers? Scoring and yard stats in all games — while ignoring the games against good teams that you need to beat to go anywhere — is for losers.
The Patriots better not be clutching onto their overall points and yards because that defense is not going to get much better next year, and we could be seeing many of the same players, who failed in 2019, 2020 and 2021. But points!!!!
TOP SUPER BOWL MATCHUPS, PICK
I'm not huge on breaking down this matchup due to the lack of a local hook here — it's really weird not having the Patriots and/or Tom Brady in the big game — but I'll be watching a few key matchups in this game.
When the Rams have the ball: WR Cooper Kupp vs. Slot CB Mike Hilton
Not many have talked about the job that Hilton did against Tyreek Hill in the AFCCG, but it definitely caught my attention. Hilton, who was not great with the Steelers, has been one of the key players in the Bengals' surprising run. He is obviously well taught, and watches a ton of video because he shutdown Hill for much of that game, and often beat him to his spots.
"I’m confident in what I can do. I know it’s going to be a big matchup between us both," Hilton told reporters this week. "Personally, I feel like we’re probably the best two slots in the game. What bigger stage [is there] to go out there and prove it? Me against him in the Super Bowl, can’t be a bigger moment.”
When the Bengals have the ball: RGs Hakeem Adeniji & Jackson Carman vs. Aaron Donald/Von Miller
Last year when the Chiefs took on the Bucs in the Super Bowl, I didn't give KC much of a shot due to their offensive line. I wouldn't be surprised if the same thing happened this year (cue o-line talk rules). The Rams have a huge, huge advantage against the Bengals two RGS, who often split time, and RT Isaiah Prince. Donald usually lines up at RDT and Von Miller LE, but both stunt and twist so much that they will get matched with the Bengals' weakest links. I love Joe Burrow, but I don't know if he can face that the entire game. This could be like Peyton Manning against the Seahawks' defense in the New York Super Bowl. Miller absolutely dominated late against the 49ers.
PICK
Rams favored by 4 at betonline.com, 48.5 over/under.
The Rams are the better, more talented team, but nothing ever seems to go smoothly for LA, and I do think Matthew Stafford helps keep the Bengals in the game. If the Bengals can get this game to the fourth quarter, I like Burrow over Stafford down the stretch.
Bengals 23, Rams 20.
NICKEL PACKAGE: MCDANIELS RAIDS PATS STAFF FOR RAIDERS
1. Well, so much for raiding the staffs of your former mentors. Josh McDaniels had already taken QB coach Bo Hardegree to Las Vegas, and Saturday brought word that Patiots receivers coach Mick Lombardi and offensive line coach Carm Bricillo will also be joining McDaniels. Adam Schefter reported Lombardi will be the Raiders' offensive coordinator, a position he probably wasn't going to get with the Patriots. That's just a stunning amount of departures, especially when you consider Ivan Fears is likely to retire. Why would those assistants go, or be allowed to leave? Usually it happens when their contracts have run out, and it's often that they decide to let them run out. It's usually for more pay, and if they don't think they will get certain opportunities with the Patriots. All of that could be the case here.
2. This is all a huge blow to the Patriots, but they do have backups:
- Joe Judge coached receivers his final season here, and Troy Brown has been on staff.
- Billy Yates was Bricillo's assistant.
- Vinnie Sunseri was assistant RBs coach.
Still on staff:
- TE coach Nick Caley
- Offensive assistant Tyler Hughes
Caley is almost certain to have more duties, but not having an experienced QB coach or playcaller as offensive coordinator — right now — is very concerning. Belichick will have to push for Bill O'Brien to return to make this all work. One former offensive name that has not surfaced in Vegas is former QBs coach Jerry Schlupinski. He would be a natural to return and resume his role.
3. Not sure what to make of McDaniels taking three Patriots assistants. You'd think he'd show deference to Belichick but the Raiders must be willing to pay well. It's not like McDaniels would likely be returning to Belichick's staff before he retires, so maybe McDaniels figures you only live (or coach) once.
4. Cross one receiver off many of your wishlists: NFL Network reports Saints WR Michael Thomas "is back in New Orleans and in a good place - finally - health-wise ... and why the Saints won't deal him." So no trade for Thomas.
5. I don't have any arguments with the five players elected to the Hall of Fame: Richard Seymour, Tony Boselli, LeRoy Butler, Sam Mills and Bryant Young. All five of those players were dominating in their era and great players. They should be in. I am disappointed that Zach Thomas was not elected. I would have put him in, slightly, before Mills. But Mills was damn good too. Hard to have a beef.