The Patriots' offense, directed by Matt Patricia, still has a long way to go.
It still lacks much imagination. They went from two personnel packages against the Dolphins, to one against the Steelers — but at least they mixed and matched personnel a bit more.
There still isn't nearly enough deception through playaction (five plays, 13 percent) or screens (two, or 5 percent) to find some cheap, easy yardage.
Patriots are always going to lack much individual talent, so the margin for error is slim and Jones is often having to throw into very tight coverage. Every dropback is a battle, and Mac Jones is normally outgunned. High-level passing concepts? Yeah, don't even bother looking for them.
The Patriots, who ranked sixth in the NFL with 27.2 points by the end of last season, scored 20.5 in the first two games of Jones' career. The 2022 Patriots have averaged 12.0 points, which has them tied for 29th in the league with the Seahawks, just ahead of the Cowboys (11.5) and the Colts (10.0). The Texans and Bears (14.5) have outscored New England.
And in this game, pressure was a very real factor, even though Jones was hit just four times. Despite the Steelers blitzing just once in the first half, Jones was pressured on 59 percent of his dropbacks before halftime. For the game, it was 42.5 percent. That is the highest mark of his career to date.
That's a lot, and it does have a cumulative effect in a game, especially on a young QB and one who has to operate from the pocket. Probably did in this game, no question.
But here's the thing: Patricia put together a good enough gameplan to beat the Steelers going away. It wasn't pretty, it was clunky, but he did dial up some concepts and plays — probably with the help of Bill Belichick, who was much more involved with Jones and the offense after the opening mess in Miami — that put Jones in position to make plays and score more points.
Jones just failed to deliver, in one of the worst games of his young Patriots career by some measures.
Jones' Completion Percentage Above Expectation by NextGenStats was +0.3 in the opener, meaning Jones did what was set up for him in that game (not much). In this game, Jones was -5.8. That means Jones left plays on the field. It was the third-worst mark of his career behind the second regular-season game vs. the Bills, and the win over the Chargers (by comparison, Jones opened last season +4.9 and +2.9).
Make no mistake, Jones did make plays in this game. We had him for seven plus plays, although two of his best throws were wiped by penalty, and even with nine minus plays (five decisions), this wasn't one of Jones' games via our imperfect grading.
But there's little question Jones left a lot of plays on the field in this game that would have delivered the Patriots a much easier victory. Yes, I think pressure is a bigger factor than most analysts. When a QB gets sped up, even one as great as Tom Brady, they have a hard time overcoming that.
Could you excuse Jones' performance due to the pressure factor? Absolutely. Do I think the back issue he suffered against Miami factored into some of this and he's dealing with something? Yes I do (and for his and team's sake, I hope that is the guess because it means he can and will be better in the future).
But at the end of the day, I did not think Jones' performance in this game can be excused. Below, we lay out eight plays backed up by the coaches' film that a good NFL quarterback has to make. In this game, more than any other, Jones flinched at the pressure as he threw early and/or off his back foot, and didn't see or anticipate wide-open receivers. If this team is to do anything this season, Jones is going to have to stand in and be tougher in the pocket
Here are eight plays where Jones failed to meet the standards of a good NFL quarterback:
FIRST QUARTER
3-13-PIT 20 (7:30) (Shotgun) M.Jones pass short right to N.Agholor to PIT 9 for 11 yards (R.Spillane, M.Fitzpatrick)
This is the final play of the opening drive, after the delay of game penalty — the type of bad play that is tough for the Patriots to overcome where they are right now with coaching and talent.
Jones has great protection on this play but despite that, he checks it down in 2.62 seconds to Nelson Agholor and it leads to a field goal. Jones had deeper options.
The Steelers start in split safety coverage but quickly rotate into Cover 3. Not sure if Hunter Henry was confused by the coverage, but he runs a Cover 2 route against Cover 3. The Patriots might not do sight adjustments anymore, so I can't yet find him at fault. But if he ran a clear-out vertical, Jakobi Meyers would have been more open. Still, Jones had Meyers (possibly for a touchdown) and Devante Parker on in-cuts against the Steelers' zone coverage. But Jones doesn't give them time to develop. He should have. This might be pressure accumulating. On his previous seven pass attempts on this drive, he was pressured on four of them (57 percent).
The bottom line is: the Patriots had options against this coverage and Jones bailed on them.
1-10-NE 39 (1:38) M.Jones pass incomplete short middle to R.Stevenson (C.Heyward).
3-5-NE 44 (:53) (Shotgun) M.Jones pass deep middle intended for D.Parker INTERCEPTED by M.Fitzpatrick [A.Highsmith] at PIT 21. M.Fitzpatrick ran ob at PIT 34 for 13 yards (H.Henry).
This is right after the Mitch Trubisky interception and the Patriots try to go for a big play — bang playaction to Humphrey — on the first play. It's a Patriots staple, and they sell the run action by having Jonnu Smith pull and run block to suck in the linebackers. It works perfectly, but Jones doesn't see a completely uncovered Humphrey running down the middle of the field. Could he not see over the offensive linemen? Whatever the reason, this is a big opportunity missed.
On the interception, the Steelers convert from single high to Tampa 2 after the snap. The unblocked rusher allowed by Trent Brown (his only mistake in the game) causes Jones to panic and throw the ball up. Meyers should be the intended target against this coverage but Jones doesn't have enough time to let it develop. Still, if he threw it up for Meyers instead of Parker, it would not have been an interception.
THIRD QUARTER
2-7-PIT 43 (11:43) (Shotgun) M.Jones pass incomplete deep middle to K.Bourne.
3-8-PIT 34 (9:26) (Shotgun) M.Jones pass incomplete short left to J.Meyers. Coverage by 20-Sutton
On both of these plays, especially the first one, Jones fails to stand strong in the pocket and deliver a good, catchable pass against pressure — perceived on the first one, because Mike Onwenu does pick up the line game; real on the second pass.
The first pass is very similar to the interception in the first half, where Jones panics seeing pressure and just throws the ball up for grabs on his back foot. He's lucky this one wasn't picked off as well. Don't have a problem with the decision, just his fortitude standing in. I know, it's easy for me to say, but this is a requirement to be a good QB in the NFL.
On the third-down play, don't hate the decision — even though Parker, who could have run a better route, was probably the better option — but Jones fails to even give Meyers a chance with another lazy, back-foot, panicked throw. If he stands strong and throws a bullet, Meyers has a chance to convert. Just a completion would have likely meant three points because Nick Folk missed a 52-yarder on the next play.
2-9-NE 43 (4:18) (No Huddle, Shotgun) M.Jones pass incomplete short left to J.Meyers.
3-9-NE 43 (4:12) (Shotgun) M.Jones pass incomplete deep left to J.Meyers (C.Sutton) [M.Reed]. Coverage by 20-Sutton
This was the near interception and again, Jones fails to spot a wide-open receiver (Meyers) and then panics. No idea what Jones was seeing, it appears he wanted to go to Bourne initially but felt he was covered. The play was nearly a disaster, and it should have been an easy pitch and catch.
On third down, Jones does hang in and take a hit (Onwenu), but he was still a little panicky seeing the free rusher. If he steps into the throw a little bit more, he delivers a better ball to Meyers for a first down.
FOURTH QUARTER
3-2-PIT 42 (8:14) (Shotgun) M.Jones pass incomplete short left to J.Smith (T.Edmunds).
This is the penultimate drive of the game, and the Patriots are just outside of field-goal range. Again, the Patriots have a good route concept against anticipated coverage (man to man) but Jones again misses a wide-open receiver.
Patriots have bunched trips to the left of Jones against man coverage. The Patriots use a typical route combination with one of the receiver (Bourne) going vertical on a clearout after engaging the first corner as a little pick. Smith runs a quick hook, and Meyers goes underneath to the flat. Two Steelers defenders go to Bourne, and leaves Meyers completely uncovered. There is no rush. The pocket is clean. Jones just hurries and forces the ball when Meyers is uncovered. Another costly mental mistake.
Here are the positional ratings against the Steelers:
OFFENSE
Quarterback (1 out of 5)
In the issue of fairness, the plays we liked from Jones:
- Throw to Meyers on 3rd and 4 on opening drive;
- 3rd and 16 throw for 14 to Meyers that was wiped out by Wynn's holding;
- 3rd and 26 throw to Meyers that picked up 24;
- 2nd and 6 throw to Bourne for first down;
- Decision on TD to Agholor (not the throw)
- 3rd and 9 throw to Meyers for 15 early in fourth.
- Third down scramble on final drive
Probably the best thing Jones did in the game was get the Patriots into the right running plays, especially on the final drive of the game. He's excellent at that, Just have to get him more settled in the pocket.
Running backs (4 out of 5)
Thought both Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson played well and got what was there. Stevenson's third down run conversion was big.
Receivers (3 out of 5)
Why did Lil'Jordan Humphrey start and play more snaps than Kendrick Bourne? Patriots tried to be a little sneaky ... Humphrey is technically a WR, but he's about the size of a TE and blocks well. When the Patriots put Humphrey on the field, the Steelers treated it as 11 personnel and matched with nickel, which gave New England an advantage in the running game. If the Patriots did 12 personnel with Jonnu Smith and Hunter Henry, the Steelers would have answered with base — and they likely have an advantage. Patriots got away with it this week, but might not in the future against smarter teams. ... Speaking of Henry, he ran some routes into the coverage leverage (if a defender is to your left, you go right) that he would not have under Josh McDaniels. Have the Patriots taken out sight adjustments? ... Parker has no burst on his crossing routes. Agholor and Bourne's legs look good. ... Meyers was great again, but had a drop and a legit holding penalty.
Offensive line (2.5 out of 5)
Cole Strange did not get matched up with Cam Heyward as much as we anticipated because to make up for the absence of TJ Watt, the Steelers played their DT a lot more at defensive end. In their matchups later in the fourth quarter, Strange largely held his own but Heyward (3 QB pressures, 4 stops overall) did get him a few times. Strange was once again solid most of the day, but he had some issues in pass pro (3.5 pressures) and the running game. He wasn't bad in this game, but he was our lowest-rated lineman overall (PFF agreed). ... Besides getting faked out allowing a hit on the interception, Trent Brown played a totally clean game which was a great comeback from a week ago and a good sign for his buy-in. ... Isaiah Wynn was good in the run game but had a tough time in pass protection (6.5 pressures) — most against Alex Highsmith (led Steelers with 4 pressures). ... David Andrews had a great power block on Harris' TD. Mike Onwenu was solid but for the second time this season his "help" cause a pressure when he shoved Highsmith into Wynn and into Jones' space. ... The line run blocked well overall (just one stuffed run), but the Patriots allowed way too much pressure, especially early (59% in first half, 43% overall) — and the Steelers only sent nine true blitzes and eight were in the second half. ... After conferring with a couple people who know way more about line play than I do, the final two Patriots runs, even if they had power elements with a pin/pull technique were technically wide zone: "it is the open side (no TE) wide zone play that they are pulling the center because of ver spacing." But it is not the wide zone they tried and failed to run in camp. And Jones likely had a lot to do with getting them into this play, which took advantage of the Steelers' alignment.
(Getty Images)
DEFENSE
Defensive line (4 out of 5)
The Steelers' offensive approach, Trubisky and offensive were as porous as I expected, to the point that it's impossible to gauge how good the Patriots were in this game. Defense certainly did its job, that's for sure. But Trubisky is a one-read, checkdown QB and being handled with kid gloves. A truly terrible offense. ... Another dominating game for this unit (against a weak Steelers offensive line) which bodes well for Baltimore. ... Matthew Judon was a beast again, and Deatrich Wise (one 18-yard edge) and Lawrence Guy were also strong. ... Christian Barmore (knockdown/half-sack) got on the board and drew a lot of double teams. ... Guy caused Jahlani Tavai's sack.
Linebackers (2.5 out of 5)
Mack Wilson made a great play reading Trubisky's eyes tipping the Jalen Mills interception, and Wilson definitely deserved to get more time over Raekwon McMillan. But Wilson also had a few mental errors and missed a tackle. ... Ja'Whaun Bentley didn't stand out.
Secondary (3 out of 5)
Patriots played very conservative in the back end and were content to have Trubisky throw underneath and then tackle. Largely did a good job tackling. ... Mills was often too lax in his coverage, even in Cover 3. Didn't play with much urgency. ... Adrian Phillips was kind of left in no man's land on the touchdown. ... The coaches were frustrated Myles Bryant didn't get to the flat on a 3rd and 10 conversion but otherwise played well. Belichick wasn't seen immediately on the sideline to challenge the 3rd and 17 completion. He walked up late. ... Jabrill Peppers was impactful for the first time subbing for Kyle Dugger, who they need against Lamar Jackson.
FIVE UP
Matthew Judon: Dominated all game again and made a great adjustment on the final play for the Steelers.
Nelson Agholor: Pulled that play out of his rear end and might have the game.
Trent Brown: Huge bounceback game from him. He has not gone AWOL yet.
Jonathan Jones: Quiet in games, but that's only because he's playing outstanding coverage. Been very impressed with him. Smart move by the coaches to move him outside.
Jabrill Peppers: Didn't play many snaps, but was impactful.
FIVE DOWN
Jake Bailey: Had two bad touchbacks for a terrible 31.5 net average.
Mac Jones: Needs to play tougher in the pocket.
Jalen Mills: Looked like he was going through the motions.
Isaiah Wynn: If there was one player responsible for getting Jones sped up, it was Wynn and his 6.5 pressures. Highsmith owned him.
Cole Strange: Held his own, made some plays and was far from a liability, but he was sloppy blocking run and pass.
