FOXBOROUGH - The Patriots receivers don't separate. Not individually or through scheme (I illustrated some of those issues in the film study on Wednesday morning). The Cowboys were the latest defense to dare the Pats to beat them up top or toward the sidelines, and the results have been predictable.
Mac Jones and this offense are seeing a ton of man coverage, and the results have been predictably bad. So, I'll keep beating this drum because the tape doesn't lie, and the stats marry what my eyeballs are seeing. Per Next Get Stats, the Pats are bad to quite bad when challenged one-on-one.
- Completion Percentage: 46.5% (28th in league)
- Pass Yds/Att: 4.8 (28th)
- EPA/Dropback: -0.49 (30th)
- Passer Rating: 66.5 (29th)
The Pats QB hasn't proved very insightful regarding what's happening with the passing offense, and part of that is undoubtedly an unwillingness to spotlight the collection of receivers, none of whom creates concern in opposing defenses. His tight end, Hunter Henry, was asked about their struggles and offered this assessment.
"We gotta run good routes," Henry said. "All of us have to take pride in running good routes, be on the same time with Mac. Everything works hand-in-hand on offense. All 11 guys. That's the beauty of good offensive football; you really need all 11 guys. It can't be just nine guys doing the right thing while two guys take the play off. Ten guys, one guy. We all gotta be one heartbeat, in a way, run a good route, hit our back foot, good protection, everybody in spacing, whatever it is. That's the biggest thing we gotta do."
Henry does believe spacing - a massive issue last year - has improved; however, "It's not good enough. We definitely got to be better in a lot of ways."
Henry leads the Pats with 17 catches for 176 yards and a pair of scores, but to underscore their troubles, this is the first time this franchise hasn't had a receiver with over 200 yards through the first four games since, gulp, 2006. Remember what happened in the offseason that followed? Trade for Wes Welker, trade for Randy Moss, sign Donte Stallworth, and make it rain. Of course, Tom Brady was the triggerman, but you don't need me to remind you. Perhaps, with the amount of money the Pats have heading into 2024, we might see a similar spending spree. A man can dream.
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Let's stick with a theme - offensive struggles. If there is one thing I was sure of this year, the Pats would be able to run the ball. I'm a big believer in Rhamondre Stevenson's talent, was OK with adding Ezekiel Elliott, and projected that the offensive line could run block.
So about that… it's all been a big mess. The line has been so incredibly powerless, and just when you thought improved health would lead to improved play, it didn't. Mike Onwenu would like any free agent suitors in the offseason to skip over this tape. He had three penalties in the game, the only player last week in the league to do so, but also just got worked over repeatedly by the Cowboys defensive line. As for right tackle Vederian Lowe, the less said, the better.
That's created a trickle-down effect that has impacted the running backs, particularly Stevenson. But that's not the only aspect that's put the run game in a bad spot.
"I think it's just been tough," said Elliott. "I feel like as a running back, the more touches you get, the better you're going to get, the more of a feel you're going to get. I just feel like we've been playing from behind so much that we haven't been able to grind it out, grind out a team. I don't think Rhamondre has had 20 carries in a game yet (His high was 19 vs. the Jets). I think once we stop playing from behind and can really lean on those defenses and get those rushing attempts, I feel like me and Rhamondre will get in a much better rhythm and get more comfortable. That's been tough when we haven't been able to run it that much."
Elliott had a nice day against the Jets and leads the team with 4.1 yards per carry. On the other hand, Stevenson is picking up just 2.7 yards per pop, a far cry from where he was last year when he carried the offense as a runner and pass catcher. Stevenson showed up on the injury report Wednesday, limited because of a thigh problem.
A week ago, the 3rd year RB put some of the onus on himself, saying, "I just have to get back to making people miss and breaking some more tackles. I didn't break a couple of tackles I think I should've run through."
Perhaps there has been some of that, but the coaching staff - from Bill Belichick to running backs coach Vinnie Sunseri - have rejected the notion that Stevenson has been more of a pitter-pattered than in years past when he took great joy and had great success in snatching souls by powering through contact.
It's hard to discern if this is a chicken or egg situation, but the bottom line is that the Pats need more from their top back and the group of guys blocking in front of him. Or else the ground game will remain generally ineffective, only placing more of a burden on a passing attack that can't singlehandedly elevate that unit.
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Josh Uche did a great job expressing what the absence of Matthew Judon means to this football team when he stepped to the podium yesterday.
"That's my brother. One of my close friends," he said, noting that Judon's injury "affects us - the morale, the energy and stuff, but it's all about the next man up."
Despite not being a captain, the edge rusher put his stamp on everything - from his musical selections in the locker room to his interactions with teammates to the willingness to absorb more attention and accountability to - in my view - lesson the load on some of his younger, more soft-spoken teammates.
“Judon is unique,” said Uche. "He brings his own personality, his own style to the team. I don't know if you can replicate it specifically. But there are other captains on the team as well, and it's time for everyone to step up, rally as a team, and execute."
That will be challenging to accomplish, especially considering how much attention Judon attracted from opposing offenses. Uche becomes someone who will need to command more respect to help free up others, like rookie Keion White, who Jerod Mayo said will get more snaps in the future. The Saints' offensive line has been porous from the jump this year, so there should be opportunities to get to the quarterback on Sunday.