Week 1: Game Balls vs Bengals

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

ESPN had the Pats at 46% pass block win rate (28th) and 70% in run block win rate (21st). I’m not a Bedard fan but I don’t think his #’s are all that far off from reality.

There is some small sample size noise but “they couldn’t block Trey Hendrickson and sometimes there were free rushers” seems like a “but other than that, how was the play Mrs. Lincoln” situation. They got lined up and it wasn’t historically bad or worst-line-in-the-league bad but it also was a below average performance.

Hendrickson is like the only player you have to block on Cincy and they struggled, albeit it was a lot of 1:1 at our weakest line spot (LT). With the free rushers, were they blitzes where they didn’t have enough blockers or were there missed assignments/checks? The one that stands out is the 3rd down after the 4th down stop where Brissett got crushed in the ribs and was slow to get up. Wilson ran free up the middle and got to Brissett untouched. Stevenson was in the backfield and went out on a route, was he supposed to stay in and chip/block?

I think that play was on.....64. Robinson. He slid to the right to double team a guy and left the gap wide open.

If the pressure is being record but it's coming from one studly guy and it's relatively easy for Brissett to avoid, that's not necessary a terrible thing.

 

[DJnVa]

I think the Pats fans being relatively happy the OL wasn't an abject disaster in week one has caused folks like Bedard to think that means we think the problem is solved. No one does.

 

[Cellar-Door]

The pressure rate might be misleading.

Bengals pressure looked a lot like this.

The line wasn't terrible, but that play is a clean blindside win, that it didn't get home was in large part because Jacoby Brissett feels it and makes the right play, it's the same pressure that becomes a strip-sack under other circumstances.

 

[DJnVa]

The line wasn't terrible, but that play is a clean blindside win, that it didn't get home was in large part because Jacoby Brissett feels it and makes the right play, it's the same pressure that becomes a strip-sack under other circumstances.

Yeah--but it's almost like that's why different positions all have to work together. OL did what they could, but one got through, and the QB has to be able to (most of the time) notice and react.

 

[Cellar-Door]

Yeah--but it's almost like that's why different positions all have to work together. OL did what they could, but one got through, and the QB has to be able to (most of the time) notice and react.

I mean... sure, but your LT consistently getting beat when they rush 4 is not sustainable. The win was great, they looked good in the run game, but the pass pro is definitely still a major concern, it was not good in CIN, but luckily the Patriots didn't need to pass much.

 

[joe dokes]

ESPN had the Pats at 46% pass block win rate (28th) and 70% in run block win rate (21st).

Thanks.

I think the Pats fans being relatively happy the OL wasn't an abject disaster in week one has caused folks like Bedard to think that means we think the problem is solved. No one does.

Also true. I don't think anyone is suffering from irrational exuberance *going forward* based on winning one heavy-underdog game. The tapes will get out there.

 

[Eric Fernsten's Disco Mustache]

The one that stands out is the 3rd down after the 4th down stop where Brissett got crushed in the ribs and was slow to get up. Wilson ran free up the middle and got to Brissett untouched. Stevenson was in the backfield and went out on a route, was he supposed to stay in and chip/block?

I don't really know, because none of us really know if we weren't in on the scheme and call for that play, but that play was clearly a f*ck up

Without having gone back and looked at the play, from memory there are three candidates for who blew their coverage...

1. Dave Andrews, at C, who blocked left on the closest DLman
2. Layden Robinson, at RG, who blocked right
3. Rham, who took off on a quick out (or swing or whatever you wanna call the route) to the right

Now, again, I dunno, but if I had to guess I'd scapegoat the rookie at RG over the vet at C. Although none of us are free of human error

 

[FL4WL3SS]

The line wasn't terrible, but that play is a clean blindside win, that it didn't get home was in large part because Jacoby Brissett feels it and makes the right play, it's the same pressure that becomes a strip-sack under other circumstances.

This post describes exactly why the line, and the offense, looked so terrible under Mac. He would never make a play like that to get the line out of trouble.

This line isn't good, but all OLs in the NFL will get beat regularly during a game and the QB needs to be able to recognize and adjust. When you have a QB that doesn't, the problems compound and you don't get an opportunity to learn and adjust. I'm hopeful the line will get better each week having a QB that can adjust and understand pressure.

If after week 4 we're still seeing bad OL play, I'll downgrade my optimism however.