Breaking down the biggest sequences in the Patriots' 25-20 loss to the Eagles using analysis of the coaches' film. The plays/discussion points:
- Mac Jones not patient enough on pick-six, and route spacing/timing not ideal to cause an awful start;
- Pressure/more route issues on 4th and 3
- Jones and Kayshon Boutte both come up short on final sequence.
2-5-PHI 42 (5:16) (No Huddle, Shotgun) M.Jones pass incomplete short middle to D.Douglas.
3-5-PHI 42 (5:12) (Shotgun) M.Jones pass short right intended for K.Bourne INTERCEPTED by D.Slay at PHI 30. D.Slay for 70 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
- Immediate pressure/Demario Douglas being a little too casual on his route led to an excused high throw;
- On the pick-six, Jones was wrong according to an informed source.
This was not a new route, it's an old combination — Y shake with slot return route if they cover the shake. Jones was too quick. He has to let Gesicki clear first — if he doesn't just put it on him (It was open) — if he's deadset on going to Bourne. That being said, I don't love Bourne's impatience and the spacing overall on this route combination. It was sloppy all the way around.
1-10-PHI 24 (11:18) (No Huddle, Shotgun) M.Jones pass short right to J.Smith-Schuster to PHI 19 for 5 yards (D.Slay).
2-5-PHI 19 (10:52) (No Huddle, Shotgun) R.Stevenson right guard to PHI 17 for 2 yards (M.Williams).
3-3-PHI 17 (10:13) (Shotgun) E.Elliott right guard to PHI 17 for no gain (F.Cox).
4-3-PHI 17 (9:39) (Shotgun) M.Jones pass incomplete short right to E.Elliott [H.Reddick].
- Smith-Schuster doesn't break a tackle because he has little juice at this point.
- The interior offensive was just overwhelmed on the next two downs.
- On the final play, the big issue is the immediate pressure and then Haason Reddick being there to finish it off. The secondary issue was, again, more route issues. O'Brien makes another great call against the correct defense (man-to-man). He has Boutte and Bourne each running crossers. One should be open provided the protection is good enough, and it was not. Another issue: both receivers almost run into each other, slow down and nearly pick each other off.
If this was a buttoned-up operation — and it's only the first week in a new offense with the line in shambles — Bourne is open for an easy conversion and he might turn it up for a touchdown. Execution all the way around was just poor.
ANOTHER UPDATE ... The other thing that I did not note in the video, and might be the biggest issue. Smith-Schuster runs an out instead of an in-breaking route on the Patriots' traditional slot option route. We've seen Julian Edelman run this countless times out of short motion. And Jones is open to the left, ready to throw to Smith-Schuster but he turns out, which causes the breakdown and the pressure becomes too much. At then end of the day, don't love the routes by all three receivers on this play.
1-10-PHI 19 (1:02) (Shotgun) M.Jones pass incomplete deep left to K.Boutte.
2-10-PHI 19 (:58) (Shotgun) M.Jones sacked at PHI 22 for -3 yards (J.Carter).
3-13-PHI 22 (:51) (Shotgun) M.Jones pass short left to R.Stevenson to PHI 20 for 2 yards (C.Elliss; R.Blankenship)
4-11-PHI 20 (:29) (No Huddle, Shotgun) M.Jones pass short left to K.Boutte pushed ob at PHI 8 for 12 yards (J.Jobe).The Replay Official reviewed the pass completion ruling, and the play was REVERSED.(No Huddle, Shotgun) M.Jones pass incomplete short left to K.Boutte (J.Jobe).
- I don't know why Jones did not give Boutte a chance to make a play on first down. He had a step. To me, that indicates he has no confidence Boutte was going to win. Still, a potential TD was there and Jones threw it 5 yards out of bounds. If that's DeVante Parker, Jones definitely throws it.
- No chance on the sack.
- Hated the screen call, but not every call is perfect.
- On 4th down, Boutte was slow down the field, rounded the top of his route ... it just wasn't fast enough, any of it. A good receiver is waiting at the sideline with plenty of cushion and easily falling out of bounds with two feet down.