The Patriots' offensive film was about as you would expect - kind of all over the place.
I really wish there were one or two major things that I could point to and say, 'Well, if they do X and Y,' then this should get a lot better quickly.
It was a lot of little things by a lot of players, especially by Drake Maye. He needs to play better. They all need to play and coach better.
And I think they will. I'm just not going to panic about it, at least not yet.
Why?
Have you taken a look at what's happening around the league in Week 1 for most teams?
The Patriots had 336 yards (12th in the league) and 13 points (22nd in the league). Certainly not a great performance, and you can say some of the yardage came in garbage time. Totally valid. Let me point out a few more teams:
Bengals 141 yards, 17 points
Dolphins 211 yards, 8 points
Lions 246 yards, 13 points
Buccaneers 260 yards, 23 points
Texans 265 yards, 9 points
Rams 296 yards, 14 points
You see where I'm going with this?
I think this is kind of the new/old reality in the NFL - since not much live work is going on during the preseason out of fear of injury, players and coaches really can't learn much until the season starts.
What I see is a Patriots offense that has all new coaches and a new offensive system, 13 new players including six that play a lot, four new starting offensive linemen, and a quarterback who is really a rookie, having started just his 10th game, and was going through his first-ever season opener as a starter. And they've barely played together.
You also have to give credit to the Raiders. They played better, especially on the defensive line with some stunts that surprised the Patriots and caused issues in the run game, than I anticipated. The Raiders played fast on defense and flew to the ball, probably better than the Patriots. And the Raiders were obviously cognizant of Maye's legs as they played all zone outside of the handful of times they brought all-out pressure.
But there were some good things. Maye did make some good throws. The pass blocking was better than anticipated, and Morgan Moses more than held his own against Maxx Crosby. Garrett Bradbury was better than anticipated. Kayshon Boutte was a legitimate outside receiver. Hunter Henry can still make plays down the field.
Obviously there's a lot to clean up, and Sunday didn't meet expectations. Now it's on the coaches to get these players to improve every week. I think they will. Just give them some time.
Taking a look at the offensive performance:
First series
- On the first play of the game, Maye looks to his right to Mack Hollins and Hunter Henry, but there are three defenders over them. On the other side, Kayshon Boutte (deep), Stefon Diggs (intermediate), and Rhamondre Stevenson (short) have three defenders over them. The Patriots have better numbers on that side. Maye's poor decision to stay focused on the right side of the field leads to a QB hit.
- The first third-down throw high to Demario Douglas was just terrible mechanics by Maye. It was a layup throw and he just pitter-pattered his feet.
Second series
- No issue with the scramble on first down. It was a two-man route, and there was nothing there.
- I don't know what happened on the aborted screen to TreVeyon Henderson. It didn't fool anyone, as Germaine Pratt was in Henderson's lap the entire time. Something seemed off about Henderson's route.
- Really wish Maye's playfakes were better, like on the incomplete pass deep right to Henry on the play after the long gain (which wasn't thrown all that well, but it was under pressure). I'm surprised Maye hasn't gotten better at this being around Jacoby Brissett and Josh Dobbs, who are good at it (you really notice the difference in practices when Dobbs gets his chance). These are the little things that make a difference and Maye has not improved in a lot of these areas.
- Maye did a good job reading the correct half of the field on the deep in cut to Boutte, and his ball placement was good, slightly behind to keep him away from the safety.
- Liked Maye on the boot action to Austin Hooper, but the playfake still wasn't great.
- Took Maye too long to get off Diggs before the end zone incompletion to Douglas.
- Made up for on the TD (although Hollins was wide open and an easier throw) against an all-out blitz.
Third series
- Good timing and placement to Boutte for 14 yards.
- Not a good decision on the ridiculous catch by Hunter Henry, as Douglas was wide open in the middle.
- The floated incompletion deep to Henry (which was nearly picked off) was designed to be a quick hole shot to either Boutte or Henry, depending on which way Jeremy Chinn went. This was not a good decision by Maye.
- Good rip to Boutte, but it was a tad late with an extra hop in a clean pocket. Calm yourself.
- And then things went to crap for about seven straight plays over two possessions.
- Bradbury and Ownenu whiffed on a -2 run.
- Maye had Diggs in the left flat on the deflected pass to Douglas.
- Then a delay of game by Maye.
- Henderson didn't go up the field on a 3rd and 17 screen pass.
- Missed field goal.
Fourth series
- Hooper holds on a Henderson run.
- Onwenu doesn't block anyone on a screen that goes nowhere.
- Maye finds Boutte for 22 yards, but it wasn't well thrown as he aimed it and guided it.
- Poor run block by Onwenu
- Hollins doesn't execute the crack toss as Morgan Moses fails to seal the backside on 3rd and 1.
- On 4th and 1, Patriots bailed out by a DPI.
- Screen to Douglas stopped by a good play by Jamal Adams.
- The read option to Henderson could have been better if Maye held the ball a little longer.
- The 3rd and 9 throw to Diggs for 7 yards was a little late, and better placement might have allowed him to get the first down. Instead, Patriots settle for a field goal.
Fifth series
- Maye RPO keeper - he needs to ride the mesh a little bit longer.
- Swing pass to Stevenson was fine, but Douglas was open immediately. It was a wash.
- 3rd and 1 ... Onwenu was just awful getting beat off the line.
SECOND HALF
- Looks like the Patriots decided to spread the field and open things up a bit.
- Good timing to Henderson (6), Boutte (10), Stevenson (7), Diggs (10) ... now they're in a little rhythm.
- Patriots cut the ends, so the ball is supposed to come out quick, likely to Douglas. Maye doesn't throw it, possibly due to trap corners, and scrambles for 3.
- Thought Maye was a little late ripping the in-cut to Diggs on the interception. Yes, there was pressure but if was just a tad earlier...
Second series
- Easy seam drive starter to Henry, and Maye missed him.
- Maye double-clutches and throws late in the flat to Henderson, and now the safety is on him for a 1-yard loss. Gotta get him the ball quicker.
- 3rd and 11 ... nobody was really open. Only a 3-man route with the back out late.
Third series
- Throws slightly behind Henderson in the flat to limit it to a 1-yard gain.
- Chance was there to rip it to Douglas on third down. Sack on Jared Wilson and Maye.
Fourth series
- After Campbell's false start, Maye and Diggs do well to get 10 yards after Wilson gets tossed for a hurry.
- Maye had an opportunity deep to Douglas but doesn't see it, ends up throwing a wild checkdown to Stevenson. Henry can be seen on the film saying, basically, "Dude, calm down."
- Good third-down conversion to Diggs while getting hit.
- Had Douglas wide open on a quick-hitter, doesn't take it, and throws out of bounds to Gibson.
- Maye's pass to himself. Someone messed up by not running a hot against an all-out blitz. Not sure if it was Douglas or Maye, or a combination.
Fifth series
- Nothing really open with pretty good pressure as Maye throws incomplete to a covered Henry.
- Well-designed bubble/slant combo to Diggs for 16 yards.
- Stevenson and Campbell give up the strip sack to Koonce as the ball comes out of Maye's hand too easily.
- Awkward route/pass to Hollins. Not sure if Hollins just slipped or the pass was not accurate enough.
- Good play by Maye against pressure getting the ball to Henderson for 13 yards to give them a chance on 4th and 5 before Campbell's false start.
- Then Vrabel punted.
Here are the positional ratings against the Raiders:
OFFENSE
Quarterback (1.5 out of 5)
It was my second-lowest graded game that he completed of Maye's career (at Chicago). ... According to NextGen Stats, Drake Maye operated from the shotgun on 85.2% of his dropbacks (9th-most among qualified quarterbacks), taking pass snaps from under center only 12.2% of the time (25th). I would like to see him more comfortable under center and execute his playfakes better. It can really help to open up some plays. ... I don't yet believe he's thinking too much. The offense was pretty basic, and McDaniels kept coming back to the same concepts, just dressed up a little differently. I think most of it was nerves and he threw the ball better with more timing as the game went on. ... At one point with the offense stagnant in the second half, it appeared like Mike Vrabel shouted something at Maye, likely to lead his team. Maye got up and went down the bench fist-bumping people, ending up at the line meeting where Diggs was already providing encouragement.
Running backs (2 out of 5)
The lack of a running game really had to do with poor execution by the Patriots, and some surprisingly good line play by the Raiders (they had a bunch of guys quickly getting off the ball and going into unexpected gaps). For example, on the first running play of the game (Rhamondre Stevenson for 1 yard), McDaniels threw a different pitch by calling a wham play with Hunter Henry. The problem was, the player they wanted to wham (DT Thomas Booker) didn't go up the field, and he engaged Garrett Bradbury, who was trying to get to the second level to block LB Devin White (Jared Wilson was uncovered and took Elandon Roberts correctly). No one ended up blocking White, who made the tackle. That's no one's fault, so I put it down as a team stuff. ... Henderson ran the wrong way on a screen. The Bengals didn't bite on another screen. Some of the more collegey concepts were a little clunky as they ran them under live game situations for the first time.
Receivers (3.5 out of 5)
For the most part, I had very few negative plays in this group: a couple of run blocks by Mack Hollins, including once where he didn't crack on a toss-crack, the drop by Demario Douglas, and the hold by Austin Hooper (which was iffy). ... Kayshon Boutte was outstanding. He ran great routes and played with real strength. Hunter Henry was also very good. ... Stefon Diggs appears to be feeling his way a little bit, and I think the trust with Maye will grow the more they play together.
Offensive line (3 out of 5)
I thought the pass blocking was pretty good in this game, although it appeared fatigue was a factor as the game went on - I mean, who expects to pass block 54 times (including penalties) in the first game? ... Will Campbell and Jared Wilson weren't very successful on their double teams in the run game. ... Mike Onwenu disappointed in the run game in a few huge spots. He's not moving very well on screens and pulls, and I think conditioning is an issue. Old friend Adam Butler got him a few times. ... Campbell had a very solid debut in all respects. Wilson struggled a little bit more, but he did have a few standout blocks, including a very nice stunt pickup. He's learning. ... Garrett Bradbury didn't really stand out either way but he had a clean sheet in pass protection, which was a surprise. ... Morgan Moses only allowing 3.5 pressures is pretty good work, although he got a lot of help with Crosby.
THREE UP
WR Kayshon Boutte: Five standout catches and one of the few broken tackles for this Patriots offense. He looked the part of a legit NFL starter.
TE Hunter Henry: Three plus catches and a standout run block. He's not over the hill yet. ;)
C Garrett Bradbury: I would have projected him not allowing any pressures. Hat tip.
THREE DOWN
QB Drake Maye: Was picked off in a huge spot, fumbled again (and nearly another time), missed a handful of easy passes, and had some ball placement issues. As long as he gets better every week, I'm OK with it.
LG Jared Wilson: Led the team with four QB pressures and got tossed a couple times.
WR Demario Douglas: Huge drop, and his route running was a little imprecise. Seven targets, two catches for -2 yards, but he did have a nice snag on the TD.
