Week Two of the 2023 NFL common season requires a little bit of perspective for the New England Patriots. In spite of everything, it has been some time since this staff has struggled out of the gate to start out a yr.
Like 2001 was the final time to start out a season 0-and-2. And what hurts most – an actual stinger – is each of this years’ losses have been at house.
However as is often the case with untenable conditions, making use of a little bit of perspective salve on the 0-2 open wound may assist uninteresting the ache:
- Robust schedule to start out the season in opposition to postseason contenders.
- Accidents and unavailability on the offensive entrance.
- Youthful gamers in key positions.
“I feel, clearly, it sucks,” QB Mac Jones stated postgame. “However, actually, while you’re shut, you simply should do extra, I feel. Weight room, movie, follow. Like, everybody simply has to do extra. And hopefully, should you try this, I imply, you probably did every little thing you can do, proper?”
Proper. Attain again for somewhat extra. However provided that you’ll be able to maintain from fumbling it, throwing it away or committing a expensive penalty.
See, what ails these Patriots continues to be largely self-inflicted. The sluggish begins and early turnovers within the first two weeks are as a lot of a purpose as any for the groups’ ‘oh-fer’ begin. And if the gamers maintain making the identical errors over once more, it says certainly one of two issues:
- Your gamers aren’t disciplined.
- Your coaches aren’t able to teaching the gamers to be disciplined.
Which is it? Most likely somewhat of each at this stage.
“Look, it’s simply a part of it. It’s a part of this enterprise,” heart David Andrews defined. “There’s accidents, there’s several types of accidents. Guys right here every week, gone every week, issues like that. It’s simply a part of it. You’ve obtained to make the most of your reps in follow; no matter you get, make the most of each alternative.”
Besides nobody is doing that, save for possibly Mac Jones…and maybe just a few of the defensive gamers. Jones isn’t, and shouldn’t be, the scapegoat for 0-and 2. Has he been excellent? No. Jones wants assist – particularly in entrance of him – which has to date been sporadic, at greatest.
“We have to be much more disciplined,” stated TE Hunter Henry. “We’ve misplaced two weeks in a row, two shut video games. We fought again and had an opportunity there. We’re placing ourselves in positions too early in video games by turning the ball over each on their aspect of the sector.”
And this.
“We’ve obtained to get it proper,” Matt Judon stated. “I feel while you come out, and also you make a giant play or one thing, one thing occurs – turnover, no matter. All people’s ready on someone. You may’t wait.”
No, you’ll be able to’t wait. Now’s the time…for all to be accountable and get rid of controllable errors. Similar to Week One in opposition to Philadelphia. Hey, numbers received’t lie – roughly 10% of groups to start out a yr 0-2 attain the postseason.
Appears loopy to even say the phrase “postseason.” However that was the hope, if not the expectation for this Patriots’ staff, even when the fact is one thing completely different.
Holding the road?
Extra like…holding on the road. Truly, penalties weren’t the actual situation Sunday evening.
Blocking the blokes carrying the completely different coloured jerseys within the trenches was the issue. Early within the recreation, the Miami defensive entrance overwhelmed flotsam and jetsam up entrance for New England, stopping a promising opening drive that reached Dolphins’ territory.
On the opposite aspect of the ball, whereas the Patriots’ defensive plan actually included slowing down receivers Tyreek Hill and/or Jaylen Waddle…they couldn’t overlook about RB Raheem Mostert. And simply after rookie nook Christian Gonzalez claimed his first profession NFL interception…giving his staff actual momentum…the offensive line couldn’t maintain Jones clear. A punt, then Mostert and Miami’s line dominated that aspect, too.
For a 43-yard, near-back breaking TD run. The Dolphins have been harder within the trenches. Interval.
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Pop’s doghouse residence
You knew it was coming. Invoice Belichick has handled youthful gamers for years with a common lack of compassion for his or her errors. Name it instructing a tricky lesson, placing their noses to the wall in a nook, going to mattress with out their supper.
DeMario Douglas caught a 29-yard plass from Mac Jones on the finish of the primary quarter and tried to do extra with the ball…solely to have it stripped from behind. The following fumble stopped one other promising, early New England drive and led to Douglas discovering pine time for a lot of the sport.
Did the punishment match the crime? Maybe. Applaud the hassle at instituting self-discipline, positive, and making gamers accountable.
However when you have got an offense sorely missing big-play capabilities, and Douglas clearly has these…is it actually what’s in one of the best curiosity of the staff to swat the participant on the nostril and put him within the nook?
So that you’re saying…
…there’s an opportunity? They’re shut? The final time the Patriots started with an 0-2 begin to a yr, Mac Jones was solely three years previous. Nevertheless it was a season during which Drew Bledsoe was at quarterback for that begin, took a depraved hit from the Jets’ Mo Lewis…and the remaining, as they are saying, is historical past.
Welcome to the legend of Tom Brady. However one factor Brady (and Bledsoe, too) discovered to do is convey the staff from behind to win video games, one thing that has eluded Jones to date in his profession. Jones isn’t the rationale New England misplaced in Week Two. However it’s truthful to surprise if he has that somethin’ somethin’ that may assist flip good gamers into nice gamers.
He’s shut. However getting shut…solely counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.
