FOXBOROUGH - After a recent uptick, the Patriots' offense has come back down to earth the last couple of training camp practices. But one thing has become very evident: the quarterbacks will have a lot more freedom at the line of scrimmage. When you consider the big brains on both Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe, it makes all the sense in the world.
“Yeah,” responded Zappe on Monday. ”Every quarterback loves that offense to where he has the freedom to do the things he sees fit. The coaches can see from the sidelines but they can’t see as well as you do when you’re on the field. You see it first-person so to be able to have that ability to check in and out of plays and get the offense into the best possible situation is every quarterback’s dream.”
One of the biggest pluses about Mac coming out of Alabama was a brain that was described as computer-like. His ability to absorb tons of information, both from what you’re trying to do as an offense and what the defense is trying to do to you, made him someone that seemed ready-made for the way the Patriots have traditionally run their offense.
It showed under Josh McDaniels as a rookie: 3,801 yards, a 67.6 completion percentage and 22 TDs. Last year, as has been well-documented, was the opposite of that, a true debacle. Perhaps the real coaching malpractice that took place with the Matt Patricia/Joe Judge combo platter was that they restricted some of Mac’s ability to adjust at the line of scrimmage. Thus, he feels like this offense is night and day from what he just experienced.
“I do think that this system allows a quarterback – puts a lot on their plate – but it also allows us to know what to do to play really fast,” he said last week. “So, I think it's a great system.”
Whether it is or isn’t remains to be seen, but in letting the 24-year, and his brainy backup use their noggins, O’Brien has already got this unit off to a significantly better start than the nonsense we witnessed a season ago.
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Trent Brown had his helmet on to start practice Monday. Normally, that wouldn’t be a necessary note, but to this point in camp, Brown has been a bystander, at times not even wearing any football armor.
I reported this weekend that Brown was dealing with an undisclosed injury, and the big man didn’t dispute that.
“I’m getting better,” he said. “Doing everything I can to get back out there with my team.”
The mammoth left tackle admitted there’s been some frustration but he’s following the team’s program and feels as though there have been some strides made. That’s positive, I guess. It will be even more so when Brown’s actually out there protecting his quarterback and opening up some of those holes we’re accustomed to seeing from him.
It should be noted that, based on his lack of participation, there has been speculation that Brown was following Matthew Judon’s lead and conducting a “hold in.” It would make sense. Brown is being paid right tackle money, and has just $4 million of his deal guaranteed this season (per Spotrac). The soft-spoken veteran however laughed off that notion.
“Nah. Nah. Not at all,” he insisted.
The offensive line has struggled mightily this camp, which makes sense with Brown and Mike Onwenu (PUP) not out there, and Cole Strange falling prey to an injury that has sidelined him for several days now as well. It makes you wonder if the Pats will have enough time to build the necessary continuity that comes with repping together play after play, day after day, week after week. As for himself, Brown says he’s as engaged as he can be.
“Even though I’m not practicing, I’m still doing everything I can to prepare for that,” he said, before adding, “but there is nothing like full-speed reps.”