Also, the team finally has a couple of NFL starting level tight ends. I was glad to see Henry in action.
8 catches on 8 targets. I think they only had 16 catches all of last year.Also, the team finally has a couple of NFL starting level tight ends. I was glad to see Henry in action.
They had the game won if Harris didn't commit an unconscionable fumble. Given that they had a rookie in his first game at QB, I'd assign close to zero blame for this loss to the offensive game plan.I get why the offensive play calling was conservative but it’s still frustrating. Run up the middle with White on 2nd and 23? Another run up the middle on 2nd and 2 late in the game? Horseshit. Why wouldn’t you put Jonnu in the backfield with Stevenson out? Why the fuck was Bolden even on the field in the red zone? McDaniels is a good coordinator but some of his decisions are like he’s trying too hard to be the smartest guy in the room…
There was a lot of this about slants in the game thread as well.How about we stop a slant next week?
I'm upset we lost, but, fellas, we have a QB. Mac looking that good in week 1 is going to allow this offense to open the playbook up even more.
It was literally Mac’s first game ever, and it came against maybe the best secondary in the league. If they were only this conservative today, I think it‘s a safe bet they’ll open it up more fairly soon.I get why the offensive play calling was conservative but it’s still frustrating. Run up the middle with White on 2nd and 23? Another run up the middle on 2nd and 2 late in the game? Horseshit. Why wouldn’t you put Jonnu in the backfield with Stevenson out? Why the fuck was Bolden even on the field in the red zone? McDaniels is a good coordinator but some of his decisions are like he’s trying too hard to be the smartest guy in the room…
I know. Like I said, I understand the training wheels for the most part but Mac started doing wheelies once they were off. I feel about the same everyone else does overall. Sucky loss, but it felt very much like a “let’s feel some shit out” game. Not sure many teams win those.It was literally Mac’s first game ever, and it came against maybe the best secondary in the league. If they were only this conservative today, I think it‘s a safe bet they’ll open it up more fairly soon.
Stevenson fumbled last game too, and he put the ball on the turf another time on a play that was ultimately ruled incomplete. He was probably starting on thin ice.I thought the same. BB benched Stevenson and he really shouldn’t have.
Stevenson came out after the fumble, and he only went back in after Harris got hurt on one play. That was the Stevenson-getting-trucked-in-pass-pro play. So I think he got benched twice. Which is pretty impressive, considering it was his first career game.He didn't give up on him after the fumble. They kept Stevenson in and then he got run over in pass protection off play action, which resulted in Elandon Roberts hitting Mac low which the Pats are lucky was a penalty. That was the play that ended Stevenson's day.
This was right after your rookie QB, on his first drop back as a pro threw it backward when pressured. They were lucky it was 2nd and 23 and I think taking a step back and letting him regroup probably wasn’t the worst idea.I get why the offensive play calling was conservative but it’s still frustrating. Run up the middle with White on 2nd and 23?
The defense in general was weird. Forced 3 three-and-outs and a pick, but the Dolphins scored almost every other time they had the ball. This was a short game - just 8 drives for the Pats and 9 for the Dolphins vs a normal 11-12 - so both offenses played better than the final score and the defenses played worse.I'm concerned about the DL after that game, seemed to get pushed around at will by Miami's patchwork OL.
I suppose. Still annoyed by it.This was right after your rookie QB, on his first drop back as a pro threw it backward when pressured. They were lucky it was 2nd and 23 and I think taking a step back and letting him regroup probably wasn’t the worst idea.
Yup. Tough opening loss but Mac looked solid and that’s what matters most. The RBs put 2 soft fumbles on the ground, which basically cost us the game. Need to get TEs more involved but there definitely appears to be enough offensive talent here to be a decent team. Get a W next week in the Meadowlands and get back on track.How about we stop a slant next week?
I'm upset we lost, but, fellas, we have a QB. Mac looking that good in week 1 is going to allow this offense to open the playbook up even more.
The defense in general was weird. Forced 3 three-and-outs and a pick, but the Dolphins scored almost every other time they had the ball. This was a short game - just 8 drives for the Pats and 9 for the Dolphins vs a normal 11-12 - so both offenses played better than the final score and the defenses played worse.
17 points on 9 drives is 1.88, which would have ranked 26th in the NFL last year from an offensive standpoint. I’m comfortable saying it was a pretty good defensive game. Not great. Pretty good.@Super Nomario - Agree with respect to the points per drive. But NE held Miami to 3.2 yards per carry and just 6.4 yards per pass. Neither of those is very good if you’re the offense.
Well, if you neglect the 4 drives they were awesome, then yes, it's gonna seem like that.The defense in general was weird. Forced 3 three-and-outs and a pick, but the Dolphins scored almost every other time they had the ball. This was a short game - just 8 drives for the Pats and 9 for the Dolphins vs a normal 11-12 - so both offenses played better than the final score and the defenses played worse.
It was really 17 points on 8 drives though - the 9th drive, Miami's goal was to get enough first downs to run out the clock, and they did that. The Dolphins had four scoring drives and the final clock-killer, so they had five successful drives out of nine, which isn't great for the NE D. It wasn't terrible either. But the D wasn't as good as the score looks.17 points on 9 drives is 1.88, which would have ranked 26th in the NFL last year from an offensive standpoint. I’m comfortable saying it was a pretty good defensive game. Not great. Pretty good.
Right, so 2.125 would have been 13th overall last year. They played pretty good. Not good enough given the red zone issues. Pats score another TD or two and put 27 on the board no one is talking about the D.It was really 17 points on 8 drives though - the 9th drive, Miami's goal was to get enough first downs to run out the clock, and they did that. The Dolphins had four scoring drives and the final clock-killer, so they had five successful drives out of nine, which isn't great for the NE D. It wasn't terrible either. But the D wasn't as good as the score looks.
They had 3 scoring drives--their first drive of game, first drive of 2nd half, and a FG.The Dolphins had four scoring drives and the final clock-killer,
Not to nitpick too much, but they only had three scoring drives.It was really 17 points on 8 drives though - the 9th drive, Miami's goal was to get enough first downs to run out the clock, and they did that. The Dolphins had four scoring drives and the final clock-killer, so they had five successful drives out of nine, which isn't great for the NE D. It wasn't terrible either. But the D wasn't as good as the score looks.
It was 7.5 yards per pass attempt, not 6.4. 7.5 was exactly what the D averaged last year; it ranked 23rd in the NFL.By the way, 6.4 yards per pass attempt would have ranked 28th in the NFL last year (as an offense), and 3.2 yards per rush would have ranked 32nd last year.
They had 3 scoring drives--their first drive of game, first drive of 2nd half, and a FG.
Yep, I'm dumb.Not to nitpick too much, but they only had three scoring drives.
Gotcha. I saw it as 6.4 yards per attempt. Thanks for the correction.It was 7.5 yards per pass attempt, not 6.4. 7.5 was exactly what the D averaged last year; it ranked 23rd in the NFL.
6.4 was the team's *net* yards per pass attempt (includes sacks). That would have ranked about average (teams 16th through 19th all had 6.4 NY/A).
Here are all of his runs...it does not seem like he was a problem even though his YPC was low.Even ignoring the fumble, after the 35 yard run to open the game Harris averaged slightly less than 3 yards per carry.
Part of that is certainly on the offensive line and the type of runs they called, but you he was not great before the fumble.
Third (or whatever)This is where I am. If QB isn't the problem (and it likely won't be), this coaching staff will sort everything else out. They can win a lot of games if this is what we can expect from Mac Jones. Much rather lose a heartbreaker with him balling out then winning with him looking overwhelmed. Future is bright.
Yeah I mean he's an absolute tank and he got steamrolled by the blitzing defender. He's got to get better at that or he isn't going to play much.I was pretty disappointed in Stevenson's blocking ability as a 250 lb back. I realize he's a rookie, but they should bring in Kevin Faulk as a special consultant and spend an extra 2 hours together after every practice.
Certainly disappointing that he got pancaked by the blitzing defender but it was old friend Elandon Roberts who can do exactly one thing in in the NFL and that is run straight and knock things down.Yeah I mean he's an absolute tank and he got steamrolled by the blitzing defender. He's got to get better at that or he isn't going to play much.
This is also misleading.Again, if you were told before the game that they'd hold Miami to 3.2 yards per carry
...
3.2 yards per rush would have ranked 1st.
He only played 5 snaps, so being terrible on 2 of them isn't great.Stevenson didn't cover himself in glory on those two plays but maybe we give him a break since it was his first ever NFL game. On the fumble I thought he was clearly down, although not trying to cover up the ball after it was ripped out, down or not, was an error. On the block he stuck his head in there and got steamrolled. It isn't like he missed an assignment, he got physically beaten on the play. Not sure what he's supposed to do there, summon his superpowers? Obviously if he can't pick up blitzing linebackers that's going to be an issue but let's see if he fails at it more than one time before we kill the guy.
RIght, which I why I said he didn't cover himself in glory. If this is who he is, he's a bust obviously. They saw enough of him in practice and pre-season to trade Sony away. I'm willing to give him a mulligan for now.He only played 5 snaps, so being terrible on 2 of them isn't great.
Do you break down every team's games like this to see if their stats are also "misleading"?This is also misleading.
Gaskin had 9 carries for 49 yards (5.4 YPC). Obviously, that's not great.
Malcolm Brown had 5 carries for 16 yards (3.2 YPC). That looks great, but ...
- 1 yard run on 1st and 10 (great!)
- 4 yard run on 2nd and 2 for first down to set up the go-ahead TD (bad)
- 2 yard run on 2nd and 1 for first down on the final clock-killing drive (bad)
- 5 yard and 4 yard runs on the ensuring plays, setting up the final game-sealing Brissett sneak (bad)
Ahmed had 3 carries for 4 yards. They did a nice job on him.
Brissett had 2 carries for 4 yards. That looks good, but both converted short-yardage first downs, including the game-sealer.
Tua had 4 carries for 1 yard. That looks great, but that's a 3-yard TD and three kneeldowns. So it was terrible.
The D went 0-fer in short yardage and also came up short situationally at the end. It was not a good performance by the run D.
It was a weirdly un-Belichick performance on both sides. Bad mistakes (FOUR fumbles?!?!?!), bad penalties, a defense that broke every time it bent (but didn't bend that much), terrible situational play, and ineffective special teams. I guess that means we should be optimistic that's not going to happen again.
With Mac Jones almost being knocked out for the season. Still, they are going to have to give him more chances, or replace him on the active roster.He only played 5 snaps, so being terrible on 2 of them isn't great.
I'd like to see Taylor get a shot instead, give Stevenson (who put the ball on turf twice in the last preseason game, too) a couple weeks off. JJT gives them something different in terms of skill set and they can use him on kick returns. Downside is he's not a replacement if Harris is injured, which means we'd probably Bolden get a bunch of carries.With Mac Jones almost being knocked out for the season. Still, they are going to have to give him more chances, or replace him on the active roster.
I thought he was down, too, but Bill can't be happy to see the ball come out whichever side of the bang-bang play it gets ruled as.Paging CFB_Rules, replay seemed conclusive that a Rham butt cheek was on the turf before the ball came out.
I would have to watch the replay to be sure, but on first watch, it also looked like he made no attempt to get the ball back after he let it go, just counting on the call to go the right way. That wouldn't sit well with the coaching staff either.I'd like to see Taylor get a shot instead, give Stevenson (who put the ball on turf twice in the last preseason game, too) a couple weeks off. JJT gives them something different in terms of skill set and they can use him on kick returns. Downside is he's not a replacement if Harris is injured, which means we'd probably Bolden get a bunch of carries.
I thought he was down, too, but Bill can't be happy to see the ball come out whichever side of the bang-bang play it gets ruled as.
While I'm not as bearish as SN on yesterday's performance, I agree with him that the situational run defense wasn't good. Short yardage run attempts on 3rd or 4th down where the goal for the offense is strictly a first down do deflate the overall yards per carry stat. Tua's 3 yard run hurts the overall average as well, but it's not like he could have gotten more yardage on that play either.Do you break down every team's games like this to see if their stats are also "misleading"?
Don't get me wrong - I appreciate your thoroughness and you do a good job breaking things down. But you seem to be mostly interested in doing it to show that the Pats are worse than people think.