What I’m seeing from the New England Patriots: An undermanned protection is struggling

The stroll round a quiet and dejected New England Patriots locker room in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday felt completely different from the quiet and dejected locker rooms of final season — even when the group’s offensive efficiency evoked fairly just a few recollections.

However a 12 months in the past, these journeys to the locker room felt uncomfortable. Everybody in there final 12 months knew why they weren’t successful. Even when the protection performed effectively in 2023, the Patriots nonetheless misplaced. However this season, either side of the ball are struggling and carrying equal weight for why the group has misplaced three straight contests.

So after a second straight blowout, let’s reset with a have a look at what we’re seeing from the Patriots.

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— New England Patriots (@Patriots) September 30, 2024

The protection is struggling

Jerod Mayo’s plan for this season was a easy one: run the ball, play good protection and discover hidden yardage in particular groups.

Of these, the protection appeared the most secure guess to rely on. But 4 weeks into the season, a unit that had hopes of being a top-10 group within the league as an alternative finds itself within the backside 10.

The Patriots protection ranks twenty fifth in success price, twenty fifth in EPA/play, twenty seventh in yards allowed per play, twenty seventh in DVOA and thirty first in third-down protection. At this level, it doesn’t matter which stats you depend on to color an image. All of them say the identical factor about this group.

There are just a few points at play right here. The primary is that this was by no means a deep protection, and the Pats have been crushed by shedding three of their 4 most necessary defenders. The absence of Christian Barmore (out indefinitely resulting from blood clots) and Matthew Judon (traded when he and the group couldn’t agree on a contract extension) has meant the group’s go rush ranks as one of many worst within the NFL. Then, the lack of linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley to what’s more likely to be a season-ending pectoral tear was a troublesome break for the run protection and has compelled Jahlani Tavai to tackle a much bigger function that he thus far seems unready for. These accidents are partly in charge for the unit’s struggles.

The opposite is the elephant within the room, the half that was awkward to speak about earlier than the season when assessing expectations for this protection:

Nobody coached protection like Invoice Belichick. However he’s gone now. So maybe we must always have anticipated some regression primarily based on that alone.

And once you couple the accidents with the departure of arguably the best coach in NFL historical past, the protection has taken an enormous tumble from the lofty standing of a 12 months in the past (and most years beneath Belichick).

“Defensively, we simply haven’t tackled effectively,” Mayo mentioned. “We haven’t saved the quarterback within the pocket. There have been occasions the place we’ve coated effectively — and in addition occasions that it looks like receivers are large open. That’s one thing we simply should get higher at.”

The Pats by no means wished to begin Drake Maye earlier than mid-October

The Patriots have made clear that they don’t wish to play rookie quarterback Drake Maye till two issues are true: (1) he’s prepared for NFL motion and (2) the group round him is able to assist him.

Studying between the traces in conversations with Mayo and different gamers, I get the sense that they really feel Maye is prepared. By the tip of coaching camp, he was outplaying Jacoby Brissett and his performances in observe have impressed teammates.

However what considerations the workers is the group surrounding the quarterback. And that’s an enormous motive why Brissett stays the group’s starter.

“Jacoby is one hundred pc our starter,” Mayo mentioned Monday. “He’s one hundred pc our starter, and that’s how we’re going to have a look at this going ahead.”

Although one might argue that any quarterback goes a great distance towards figuring out the success of the gamers round him, the Patriots aren’t taking a look at it that manner. So Maye stays on the bench for now. I’d count on him to get the go-ahead someday in November.

Nonetheless, a quarterback can make an enormous distinction in the way in which an offense capabilities. It’s crucial place in professional sports activities for a motive. It appeared the Houston Texans had a less-than-optimal setup for a rookie quarterback final season till C.J. Stroud confirmed up and elevated everybody. It didn’t look like the Washington Commanders had an excellent supporting solid this season till Jayden Daniels helped flip them right into a high-flying offense by 4 video games.

Good quarterbacks can change issues rapidly. In case you’re searching for optimism, bear in mind Maye has an opportunity to do that when he takes over.

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O-line accidents stack up

The Patriots have began 4 completely different left tackles by 4 video games. Then on Sunday, third-round decide Caedan Wallace suffered an ankle damage that appeared severe. He wore a strolling boot and was on crutches within the locker room after the sport.

Middle David Andrews additionally left early Sunday with a shoulder damage, however he wasn’t carrying a sling afterward, doubtlessly a great signal for his prognosis.

The group hopes Vederian Lowe could be again from a knee damage this week, which might assist stabilize the left aspect of the offensive line. However for the reason that Patriots haven’t signed one of many remaining free-agent offensive tackles so far, it appears unlikely they may go that route this season.

Lengthy story brief, the offensive line in all probability isn’t going to get any higher. It simply is what it’s for the Pats.

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Assistance is on the way in which at WR

In a uncommon bit of excellent information for the Pats within the final couple of weeks, large receiver Kendrick Bourne is anticipated to open his 21-day observe window on Wednesday as he nears a return from the ACL tear he suffered a 12 months in the past.

Bourne can have as much as three weeks to observe whereas remaining on the bodily unable to carry out checklist earlier than the group has to activate him or place him on injured reserve.

If all goes effectively, the Patriots can have their high large receiver again by the tip of the month.

(Prime picture: Sarah Stier / Getty Photographs)