Looking At The Patriots 2022

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Phil Elliott said:
My apologies if this has been posted already, but Jakobi Meyers signed a one year tender for about $4 Million. Good news.
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I'd been wondering what was taking him so long. I can imagine he was hoping to get an extension, but the team would have roughly zero motivation to get that done. If he hadn't signed, he's stuck with no RFA salary level, signing either with the Patriots if they can agree on a number or another team that is willing to ship the pick compensation.

And given what appears to be depth and logjam at WR, that wouldn't be the worst thing in the world.
 
Speaking of WR, I see a lot to be happy about. A wide variety of strengths and weaknesses to leverage matchups and a "4 2s" kind of roster where 2 of the guys are really strong 2s, possibly weak 1s. One is a strong 3 or weak 2, and the other could be anything from a weak 1 to a 3.

Bourne and Parker are both excellent players, and either could pop into a real problem to deal with.
Meyers is reliable and complementary, fills his niche well.
Agholor has to prove himself, but has the tools to be productive and a matchup concern, and some history that suggests he can deliver.
Ty Montgomery is flexible and gadget-y. He could be WR5 and RB4/5. If we end up trading Damian Harris (doubtful but not totally far-fetched) and/or James White is healthy, his chances of making the roster improve.
Thornton, Nixon, Wilkerson have all flashed something (or are a high draft pick that it's not unreasonable to expect something from), and provide really impressive competition for WR5. Thornton and Nixon would be our fastest and 3rd fastest WRs, I think.
Perry & Harry have a big hill to climb. Doubt we'd get anything for Harry in a trade.
Slater is the x-factor, as always.

But no matter how you slice it, unless we're slammed with injuries or none of the four WR5 prospects impress for some reason, we're going to end up cutting people we'd prefer not to cut, and/or trading Agholor/Meyers.

I'm a little concerned that between these guys, the 2 TEs, and the RBs there just aren't enough snaps and targets to go around.
 
Food for thought....

Mac Jones spent almost everyday during the past off season at Gillette with the trainers. When he wasn't there, he was working with Tom House on his delivery mechanics. He lost every bit of his body fat, has actually grown a half inch and is stronger than 2021. During the mini camp last week, he was dead nuts accurate on all of his long passes.

Here's the cherry on top. The best WR in camp last week was Tre Nixon who did not miss or drop a pass and caught two 50+ bombs from Mac. Even BB was impressed with the work he's done on his game.

Marcus Jones was promoted from the backups to the starting team at CB. The 4th Round pick in 2022 had an INT and a forced fumble on the final day. Malcolm and J. Jones have some real competition. He also returns punts and kickoffs.

N'Keal Harry has just about been sent to clean the toilets. expect a trade for a box of Krispy Kremes and a 2045 eleventh round pick.

Dalton Keene couldn't stay on the field last year. The third round TE is already on the boo-boo list and will be cleaning the showerheads.

Watch for trades:

Josh McDaniels wants Damien Harris. Look for Bill to make a deal that will also include Nelson Agholor. Don't know what Bill will get in return but me thinks OT Brandon Parker and a third or fourth round pick would be a starting point. That would give him the cap space to sign the 2022 draft and bring back Tre Flowers.
 
BigKen said:
Food for thought....

Mac Jones spent almost everyday during the past off season at Gillette with the trainers. When he wasn't there, he was working with Tom House on his delivery mechanics. He lost every bit of his body fat, has actually grown a half inch and is stronger than 2021. During the mini camp last week, he was dead nuts accurate on all of his long passes.

Here's the cherry on top. The best WR in camp last week was Tre Nixon who did not miss or drop a pass and caught two 50+ bombs from Mac. Even BB was impressed with the work he's done on his game.

Marcus Jones was promoted from the backups to the starting team at CB. The 4th Round pick in 2022 had an INT and a forced fumble on the final day. Malcolm and J. Jones have some real competition. He also returns punts and kickoffs.

N'Keal Harry has just about been sent to clean the toilets. expect a trade for a box of Krispy Kremes and a 2045 eleventh round pick.

Dalton Keene couldn't stay on the field last year. The third round TE is already on the boo-boo list and will be cleaning the showerheads.

Watch for trades:

Josh McDaniels wants Damien Harris. Look for Bill to make a deal that will also include Nelson Agholor. Don't know what Bill will get in return but me thinks OT Brandon Parker and a third or fourth round pick would be a starting point. That would give him the cap space to sign the 2022 draft and bring back Tre Flowers.
Click to expand...

I'm happy Tre Nixon made a lot of progress during the teaching phase of camp but there's a lot camp with pads on coming up soon. That's when the competition really begins.

Jonathan Jones is our best slot CB. I don't think he is who Marcus Jones would be replacing. Besides, Marcus will be busy with STs as a return guy. BB loves his STs! If he can win the nickel CB job, I'll be happy.

I'd be very surprised if BB trades Damien Harris before knowing what Pierre Strong brings (in pads) and knowing for certain the status of James White's health in game conditions. Currently he's being projected to begin the year on PUP. Besides, Harris has thrived in his limited role platooning with Stevenson as our gap specialist in the zone scheme. PFF gave him a hefty 85 grade in each of the last 2 seasons. With White injured last year, Harris stepped up with 930 yds rushing & 15 TDs after a total of 700 yds and 2 TDs his previous 2 years. He added another 132 yards receiving. Stevenson is a good player but asking him to be the bell cow back after 1 year of platooning is asking too much, imo. Stevenson backed up by rookie Strong isn't sound planning. For those reasons, Harris, imho, isn't likely to be going anywhere until White at least proves he's fully back. This is, however, the last year of his rookie contract and we know how that goes for players of devalued positions.

McD may like Harris but he already has Josh Jacobs who has 3100 yds rushing and another 750 yds receiving in 3 years.
Compare that to Harris who has 1600 yds rushing and <200 yds receiving in those same 3 years.
McD also has Kenyan Drake for platooning & McD signed Brandon Bolden as his 3rd down back and STs guy. Plus he signed Ameer Abdullah, another veteran.
McD trading for Harris, while not out of the question, doesn't seem prudent.
 
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BigKen said:
Food for thought....

Mac Jones spent almost everyday during the past off season at Gillette with the trainers. When he wasn't there, he was working with Tom House on his delivery mechanics. He lost every bit of his body fat, has actually grown a half inch and is stronger than 2021. During the mini camp last week, he was dead nuts accurate on all of his long passes.

Here's the cherry on top. The best WR in camp last week was Tre Nixon who did not miss or drop a pass and caught two 50+ bombs from Mac. Even BB was impressed with the work he's done on his game.

Marcus Jones was promoted from the backups to the starting team at CB. The 4th Round pick in 2022 had an INT and a forced fumble on the final day. Malcolm and J. Jones have some real competition. He also returns punts and kickoffs.

N'Keal Harry has just about been sent to clean the toilets. expect a trade for a box of Krispy Kremes and a 2045 eleventh round pick.

Dalton Keene couldn't stay on the field last year. The third round TE is already on the boo-boo list and will be cleaning the showerheads.

Watch for trades:

Josh McDaniels wants Damien Harris. Look for Bill to make a deal that will also include Nelson Agholor. Don't know what Bill will get in return but me thinks OT Brandon Parker and a third or fourth round pick would be a starting point. That would give him the cap space to sign the 2022 draft and bring back Tre Flowers.
Click to expand...

Nice post.

I've been a believer, maybe the only one, that Marcus Jones is not just a slot corner on D. He's got a lot to learn playing on 2 phases and I expect he'll take snaps on offense once he gets comfortable. I know he's short, but he's so explosive he can get after bigger WRs. He's also a decent hitter with a powerful frame. I don't expect instant stardom for him, but he's going to be an extremely entertaining guy to watch with that speed and elusiveness. I cannot wait to see him get rolling. He could be Mr. AllThreePhases one of these days. I've had quite enough of "good hands/no speed" kick returners. There is nothing wrong with having a guy who can make big plays and find open spaces and it's been frustrating for me that Bill hasn't seemed to care as long as we retain possession.

I would hate to lose Damien Harris because he's an excellent Patriot in every way, but I understand the reality of his situation and your proposed deal makes sense. We'd have to tempt somebody with Harris to move Agholor's contract. I happen to believe we are reasonably well set at OT and don't love Parker, but there is going to be somebody on that roster than could help us. The cap space squeeze will be addressed and the only way to do it is to lose somebody(s) of value.
 
chevss454 said:
I'm happy Tre Nixon made a lot of progress during the teaching phase of camp but there's a lot camp with pads on coming up soon. That's when the competition really begins.

Jonathan Jones is our best slot CB. I don't think he is who Marcus Jones would be replacing. Besides, Marcus will be busy with STs as a return guy. BB loves his STs! If he can win the nickel CB job, I'll be happy.

I'd be very surprised if BB trades Damien Harris before knowing what Pierre Strong brings (in pads) and knowing for certain the status of James White's health in game conditions. Currently he's being projected to begin the year on PUP. Besides, Harris has thrived in his limited role platooning with Stevenson as our gap specialist in the zone scheme. PFF gave him a hefty 85 grade in each of the last 2 seasons. With White injured last year, Harris stepped up with 930 yds rushing & 15 TDs after a total of 700 yds and 2 TDs his previous 2 years. He added another 132 yards receiving. Stevenson is a good player but asking him to be the bell cow back after 1 year of platooning is asking too much, imo. Stevenson backed up by rookie Strong isn't sound planning. For those reasons, Harris, imho, isn't likely to be going anywhere until White at least proves he's fully back.

McD may like Harris but he already has Josh Jacobs who has 3100 yds rushing and another 750 yds receiving in 3 years.
Compare that to Harris who has 1600 yds rushing and <200 yds receiving in those same 3 years.
McD also has Kenyan Drake for platooning & McD signed Brandon Bolden as his 3rd down back and STs guy. Plus he signed Ameer Abdullah, another veteran.
McD trading for Harris, while not out of the question, doesn't seem prudent.
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Hate to see Mac's boo being traded
 
Damien Harris
New England Patriots · RB
I had to get at least one running back on this list because, generally speaking, RBs are underpaid and undervalued. Harris gets the nod here after tying for second in the NFL last season with 15 rushing touchdowns. That alone should earn him a raise from the $965,000 he's scheduled to make in 2022.

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Terry McLaurin, Deebo Samuel among seven NFL players who deserve a raise RIGHT NOW

We've seen plenty of mega deals handed out this offseason, but certain players remain underpaid. Jim Trotter spotlights seven veterans who deserve a significant raise RIGHT NOW, including a pair of dynamic wide receivers.
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www.pff.com

The New England Patriots' new-look offense is shaping up under Mac Jones, but the team's playcaller remains a mystery | NFL News, Rankings and Statistics | PFF

The New England Patriots are changing things up for QB Mac Jones heading into the 2022 NFL season after several coaching staff changes this offseason.
www.pff.com www.pff.com

Doug Kyed


FOXBORO, Mass. — New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick was unusually hands-on with his offense over the first three weeks of his team’s offseason workout program practice sessions. And while Belichick wasn’t exactly verbose when asked about his role as a center or scout-team linebacker in practice, the eight-time Super Bowl champion delivered some quips last week.

“We didn’t have shotgun (at Wesleyan University),” Belichick said when asked about snapping to quarterback Mac Jones during an individual drill. And, “I'd like to be matched up against a couple of (Patriots players),” Belichick joked about dropping back into coverage.
It was notable then that one day before sending Patriots players home and off for summer vacation early from spring practices that Belichick let “offensive assistant” Joe Judge and “senior football advisor” Matt Patricia mostly run the show with help from tight ends coach Nick Caley, running backs coach Vinnie Sunseri and wide receivers coach Troy Brown in Wednesday’s practice while the head coach spent most of the session talking to Utah State defensive coordinator Ephraim Banda.
Judge and Patricia possess vague job titles, but they have more clearly defined roles in practice. Judge works with Jones and the quarterbacks, and Patricia spends most of his time with the offensive line. On a team that cares more about titles, Judge might be called a passing game coordinator while Patricia could be a deemed a run game coordinator. Evan Rothstein, who came with Patricia from the Lions and whose job title currently is “research and analysis/coaching,” helped out with quarterbacks, keeping most of his attention on rookie Bailey Zappe. He appeared to be in an assistant QB coach position.
“Matt and Joe have a tremendous amount of leadership, as do the other coaches on the offensive side of the ball, too,” Belichick said before Wednesday’s practice. “Ross (Douglas), Troy, Nick, Billy (Yates), Vinnie, they all bring a good level of experience, playing experience, coaching experience, experience in our system. It's a good group.”
Between his distant approach to Wednesday’s practice and his decision to wipe the Patriots’ last three spring sessions off the slate, it seems that Belichick was content with the work his team put in before training camp begins in late July.
Players are saying all the right things in public about the team’s offensive staff following an offseason departure of offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, wide receivers coach Mick Lombardi, offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo and assistant quarterbacks coach Bo Hardegree and the retirement of running backs coach Ivan Fears (who continued to watch practice from afar last week). But they are less certain about the team’s offensive approach, with a former special teams coach and ex-defensive coordinator running the show, in private.
At least one prominent offensive player felt the coaching staff was unprepared at the start of the offseason workout program. The team hosted visits from Alabama offensive coordinator (and former Patriots OC Bill O’Brien) and Arizona head coach (and former Patriots QB coach) Jedd Fisch this offseason. The only reason why O’Brien isn’t currently New England’s offensive coordinator might be that Belichick didn’t want to pluck him away from his good friend Nick Saban and leave the Alabama head coach in the lurch looking for a new play-caller.
Belichick himself has more experience calling offensive plays than Judge or Patricia, and it’s currently unclear who will be taking on the task when the season starts in September.
“If you're asking about game plans, we're months away from that — months,” Belichick said late last month when questioned about who would call offensive plays for New England this season.
“Months away. Months. What plays are we calling? Mini-camp plays?”
When plays were called during 11-on-11s, it appeared to be Patricia handling the duties. While Patricia was away working with offensive linemen during 7-on-7s, it appeared to be Judge.
Both Patricia and Judge have head-coaching experience — Patricia with the Lions from 2018 to 2020 when he accumulated a 13-29-1 record and Judge with the Giants from 2020 to 2021 when he went 10-23 — but limited work exclusively on offense.
Patricia, a college offensive lineman, began his NFL coaching career as an offensive assistant in 2004 and assistant offensive line coach in 2005 before moving to defense permanently in 2006 and beyond. He was the Patriots’ defensive coordinator for six years before taking the head coaching job with the Lions, and he worked in an advisory role last season in his return to New England.
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Jamal Agnew, who played both wide receiver and cornerback under Patricia in Detroit, said the coach “let the offensive staff do their thing.”
“I will say Matty P is one of the smartest football brains I’ve been around,” Agnew told PFF. “He can literally coach any position group at a high level in my opinion.”
Judge, a college quarterback, was a special teams coach for most of his eight-year coaching tenure with the Patriots, though he also coached wide receivers in 2019 before leaving for the Giants. In New York, Judge split his time on the practice field between offense, defense and special teams before last season when it became clear that the Giants needed more help on the offensive side of the ball.
Patriots players, like most people in the building, are left in the dark about the team’s offensive plans in 2022. Belichick has a small circle of trust inside Gillette Stadium, and Judge and Patricia are included in it.
Mike Lombardi, a confidante of Belichick’s and former front-office staffer in New England, challenged the idea that Patricia would call plays this season.
“I don’t buy it at all,” Lombardi said on his podcast, “The GM Shuffle.” “I don’t know how an offensive line coach can call plays. … You’re not seeing the game from above the stadium. You’re seeing the game from the end-zone level. So, it’s impossible to focus on that and then call plays.
“If Matt Patricia was the line coach and there was a line coach that really handled — they have Billy Yates there, but (Patricia is) the guy coaching them. And when they come to the sideline, he’s gotta go over and spend all of his time making sure they understand it. Who’s sitting with Mac Jones? That’s the key guy. That’s the guy that’s gonna call plays because on Monday through Saturday, that personal relationship between the quarterback the play-caller manifests itself on Sunday. … And as the play-caller, you never want to put that guy in an uncomfortable position. You don’t want to give him something that he’s not comfortable with. How can Matt Patricia coach the line and those eight or 10 guys he’s gotta coach and then develop a relationship with the quarterback? It doesn’t make any sense to me.”
Lombardi believes Judge will call plays, though, “Belichick just doesn’t give away titles and jobs.” The offensive play-caller will likely have to earn the role in training camp and preseason. And if no one can?
 
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Belichick called offensive plays in his previous tenure as head coach of the Cleveland Browns, and people around the NFL believe he could even take over those duties in New England this season. That would put more on the plate of inside linebackers coach Jerod Mayo and outside linebackers coach Steve Belichick on the defensive side of the ball. The elder Belichick’s attention on offense during OTAs and minicamp this spring represented a shift from previous seasons when he had McDaniels to trust run the offense. We’ll find out sometime before training camp begins whether anyone inside Gillette Stadium will officially be given a coordinator title.
Most teams have succession plans for when a coordinator leaves. When McDaniels departed to become head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, along with him went Mick Lombardi, Bricillo and Hardegree. The mass exodus of ring-holders extends beyond the offensive coaching staff over the last half decade in New England. Former directors of player personnel Nick Caserio and Dave Ziegler are NFL general managers now. Quarterback Tom Brady is with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia and wide receiver Julian Edelman have retired, like Fears. Rob Gronkowski is currently unsigned, but if he’s playing anywhere in 2022, it’s probably with his buddy Brady. The Patriots also traded right guard Shaq Mason and let offensive lineman Ted Karras leave in free agency this offseason. There aren’t many people left inside of Gillette Stadium who have mastered the old Patriots offense.
For years, New England’s offense was predicated on familiarity. It ran from Caserio in the coaches booth to McDaniels with the play call and play sheet on the sideline to Brady holding the ball and delivering passes to Edelman and Gronkowski running option routes. It didn’t matter much who else was around that core, because they’d all figure it out enough to keep picking up AFC championships and Super Bowl titles. McDaniels hung around two years past Brady, but with the longtime OC now in Las Vegas, Belichick made a smart move to “streamline” things on offense this offseason.
Players have spoken about different and simpler terminology. We could see the Patriots eschew a versatile rushing attack and hone in on outside zone runs based on what they showed this spring. New England doesn’t have a fullback. There was nary a guard pulling in practice last week. And the Patriots shuffled their offensive line to balance the beef with 380-pound left tackle Trent Brown playing next to 305-pound rookie left guard Cole Strange and 350-pound right guard Michael Onwenu playing next to 310-pound right tackle Isaiah Wynn with 300-pound veteran center David Andrews in the middle. Wynn is new to right tackle. Brown hasn’t regularly played left tackle since 2018. They started at opposite positions in New England last season.
Fisch spent two years coaching under Sean McVay with the Los Angeles Rams. During those two seasons, the Rams led NFL teams in rushing attempts from an outside zone primary run concept. Only 10.3 percent of the Patriots’ rushing plays last season used an outside zone primary run concept as the team leaned more heavily on man, pull lead and power blocking schemes. Since PFF began charting primary run concepts in 2014, outside zone runs account for 17.8 percent of New England’s carries, second behind man (19.7 percent) and just ahead of power (16.7 percent) and inside zone (10.3 percent). Strange, the Patriots’ 2022 first-round pick, and running back Pierre Strong, a 2022 fourth-round pick, are tailor-made for an outside zone scheme.
Simplifying run concepts would help New England’s less experienced running backs, blockers and coaches. The same can be said for their passing game concepts since only Caley, quarterback Brian Hoyer and running back James White predate 2019 among coaches, quarterbacks and pass-catchers. The Patriots’ offensive playbook had become unruly anyway and was excessively complicated for young players to learn.
O’Brien and Alabama used a run-pass option on 34.6 percent of their offensive plays last season. Jones also ran RPO on over 30 percent of Alabama’s offensive plays in 2020, and one source indicated before the spring that New England could implement elements of the Crimson Tide offense to help the young QB. Meanwhile, PFF only charted 15 Patriots plays last season with RPO concepts. Jones had success in minicamp taking more deep shots downfield with precise deep completions to wide receivers Tre Nixon and Nelson Agholor and tight end Jonnu Smith. Nixon was the beneficiary of three deep completions from Jones, who only attempted 70 deep passes as a rookie, ranking 17th among NFL quarterbacks.
In some ways it feels the deck is stacked against Jones as he enters his second season. He has a defensive-minded head coach, a former special teams coordinator and an ex-defensive coordinator currently molding his career. And while New England has a solid offensive line and deep stable of running backs, they certainly don’t have an above-average corps of pass-catchers compared to the rest of the NFL even after adding Hunter Henry, Jonnu Smith, Kendrick Bourne, DeVante Parker and rookie Tyquan Thornton over the last two offseasons. But McDaniels’ departure and a “streamlined” offense could be a blessing in disguise if New England is able to transform its offense around Jones’ strengths.
As is their modus operandi, the Patriots are not revealing too many details about their new-look offense. But the combination of McDaniels’ departure, Jones’ ascent and O’Brien’s unavailability forced change inside the walls of Gillette Stadium. Time will tell what the offense looks like and if a patchwork approach to offensive coaching will result in a sturdy quilt.
 
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