FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — One of many themes popping out of the New England Patriots’ locker room following their 23-20 additional time loss to the Seattle Seahawks was that they should transfer on shortly with a Thursday recreation at New York Jets subsequent on the schedule.
In doing so, coaches and gamers acknowledged one space the place they want a big improve: contributions from receivers. It is powerful to win when vast receivers whole three catches for 19 yards like they did Sunday towards the Seahawks.
“We undoubtedly have to start out getting the ball down the sector,” coach Jerod Mayo stated.
The Patriots have proved they’ll run the ball and are a troublesome, bodily crew. They totaled 185 yards speeding on 36 carries (5.1 common) towards the Seahawks. In Week 1, they grounded and pounded their solution to 170 yards on 39 carries (4.4) in a win over the Cincinnati Bengals.
They’ve additionally proven that their tight ends might be efficient, as veteran Hunter Henry totaled a career-high 109 yards within the loss to the Seahawks, whereas tying his profession excessive of eight catches.
However with out having the ability to soften up defenses by having extra constant success within the perimeter and downfield passing recreation, the one-dimensional offense has proven its limitations, akin to in end-of-half and end-of-game conditions when going through a protracted discipline with restricted time on the clock.
“We’ve to have the ability to pingpong between the 2,” stated Mayo, acknowledging the Seahawks took away deeper passing performs with an efficient use of a split-safety protection. “That is one thing we have to work on. We have to be a extra balanced offense and that would be the aim this week.”
That will not be simple towards a Jets protection that has allowed a median of 195.5 passing yards by two weeks — a Week 1 loss in San Francisco and a 24-17 win towards the Titans on Sunday.
Veteran Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett is 30-of-51 for 270 yards, with one landing and no interceptions over the primary two video games.
“Clearly we want extra in our passing recreation,” Brissett stated. “I’ve to do a greater job of getting loads of these guys concerned within the recreation plan and all through the sport. I take accountability for that.”
A lingering query, nonetheless, is whether or not the Patriots’ personnel at receiver is potent sufficient to ship these desired outcomes. A part of the rationale the entrance workplace pursued free agent receiver Calvin Ridley so aggressively within the offseason, after which Brandon Aiyuk in a commerce, is that New England lacks a dynamic menace who instructions additional consideration from defenses.
Within the season opener, the Patriots used speedy 2022 second-round choose Tyquan Thornton (2 catches, 27 yards) and fifth-year veteran Okay.J. Osborn (3 catches, 21 yards) as their prime receivers, with DeMario Douglas (2 catches, 12 yards) within the slot. Second-round choose Ja’Lynn Polk (1 catch, 6 yards) was the No. 4 possibility.
In Sunday’s loss to the Seahawks, Polk was elevated up the depth chart and completed with two catches for 12 yards (together with a landing). Osborn was the opposite starter and did not make his lone catch, for 7 yards, till the second play of additional time. The remainder of the receiving corps — Thornton, Douglas and 2024 fourth-round choose Javon Baker — did not register on the stat sheet.
Mayo put the accountability on himself and the teaching workers, saying one risk is to scheme up extra performs for Douglas, the shifty slot possibility.
“We’ve to get him going. He is one in every of our most explosive gamers. That is on us as coaches to place it collectively,” he stated.
Beginning middle David Andrews additionally acknowledged the crew’s shortcomings by the air, however famous that it takes everybody to enhance the outcomes. That features the offensive line, as Brissett was sacked 3 times Sunday and hit eight instances, which Andrews stated was too many.
“We have got to get extra manufacturing from our passing recreation, which is one thing I’ve at all times stated is a crew effort from everyone. It isn’t only one particular person, or one place group,” Andrews stated. “It takes a crew — all 11 guys on offense — and that is what we’ll strive to do that week.”
