FanPost

Sorting Through Coming Up Short In Tennessee

11/12/18

The Patriots played right into the hands of the top scoring defense on Sunday.

Mike Vrabel did a wonderful coaching job of getting his players on the same page and executing a good game plan. I have to give coach Vrabel and certainly defensive coordinator Dean Peas credit for how they clicked on defense. It was well played.

But for as much credit I give the Titans and their coaching staff for a well thought out, tough, and well executed game plan. I have to take the Patriots coaching staff. And especially Josh McDaniels to task for a lazy and stagnant game plan on offense that affected other portions of the game.

The defense and special teams had their blunders too. But I keep coming back to one particular stat-11 rushes through 2 quarters. Tom Brady was sacked 3 times and hit 6 times. There were times Tom looked uncomfortable in the pocket because routes took so long to develop. And Tom did not do a good job of spreading the ball around either.

The Titans also did a great job of taking James White out of the offense by making him a blocker. Mr. White had 5 catches on 8 targets for 31 yards. But his effect on offense was minimal.

Gronk and Shaq Mason did not play. There were several offensive line players in and out of the huddle. And in some cases on and off the field for stretches of the game as to why in part the offense was unsuccessful. I keep coming back to the offensive coordinator and his game plan.

The Patriots averaged 2.1 yards per carry against the Titans. But they had so few rushes, the defense's job was easier in defending the offense. The team finished the game with 19 rushes. 11 in the first half, 8 in the second half. And a lot of that 8 came when the game was done. With Cordarrelle Patterson carrying the ball.

Tom Brady can't be Superman every game. And when the defense knows that it will be exclusively Tom Brady on offense, that seems to make their jobs easier. And it is unfair to the entire team to have weapons at your disposal and not use them.

In the three losses the Patriots have had this year, the balance on offense just hasn't been there. Two of the three losses have been to former Patriots as head coaches. But the inability to run the ball throughout those games and STAY with the running game has been clear to me.

When the Patriots have been balanced, they are much more dangerous. It means that the defense cannot key in on just one thing. Running the football helps the offensive line to dictate the game. It allows them to be aggressive and establish the tone the offense needs to build on good drives. Those 2 and 3 yard gains the offense gets in the first half turn into 4 and 5 yard gains in the second half. The kind of success that Tennessee was having because they stuck with the running game.

The other fallout of NE not maintaining drives is that the defense has to go right back on the field after not getting a rest. And playing an offense that is in rhythm. Some will say that the defense is inadequate and not a top level defense that can secure a championship. But any team that consistently puts their defense in a tough position by not maintaining drives or changing field position, cannot win games.

There has also been a lot of talk that Tom Brady is declining. And that he is struggling. Maybe he is either declining or struggling or both, I won't make excuses for his play yesterday. I don't think that decline is the case. But I noticed that at times his footwork is off.

The other thing I have seen that makes me question the coaching staff is that Chris Hogan, Cordarrelle Patterson, and Philip Dorsett have not been as much a part of the passing game since the team has brought in Josh Gordon. And these are three weapons that either don't see the field like they should. Or they aren't getting balls thrown their way. All three can in some way seriously contribute to the good of the offense. It is something the coaching staff will need to address as things march on.

Yes, Tom Brady has had a lot of success against the number 1 overall and number 1 scoring defenses in his time. But not yesterday.

My hope is that the Patriots take this bye week and rest. They have played some tough games and tough teams. They have a bunch of players who could use the rest to heal up. Because the time is coming for the real football to be played. And NE has not put together a full game yet. They have it in them to do it.

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