FanPost

What Went Wrong With The Offense In Detroit?

I wanted to take a look at the Lions game to see if I could get a handle on the problems this team is having.

I thought the defensive issues were pretty obvious. What was more interesting to me was trying to look at what went wrong with the offense.

Is it really true that no one is getting open? Was Michel as bad as people are making him out to be?

After watching some of the key offensive plays from the game, a few things jumped out at me:

  1. It seems like the first two three and outs were poor decisions by Brady. He had guys open for easy first downs and didn't convert.
  2. After the first two possessions, more often than not, Brady truly didn't have anyone open.
  3. The Lions made a focused effort to chip James White out of the backfield. It seemed to disrupt several plays where he was probably Brady's first option.
  4. Hogan, Dorsett, and Patterson were largely ineffective against man coverage. Not surprising, but it's pretty incredible to see it on film. In one-on-one man coverage, they were consistently struggling to get even a little bit of separation.
  5. Michel was hung out to dry consistently, but he can probably to be blamed for at least one failed 3rd down conversion.

A few plays that illustrate some of the offensive struggles:



3rd and 4 – NE 48 – 1st quarter — 14:52

Brady throws late over the middle to Hogan. Had Dorsett on an in cut for the easy first down. White was probably open too. Seems like a poor decision.


3rd and 11 – NE 24 – 1st quarter — 5:11

After a 1 yard gain to Michel out of the backfield and a short incompletion to Dorsett, Pats have 3rd and 11 at their own 24. Brady pumps right and then has Dorsett open on the 15-yard in cut for another first down opportunity. He doesn’t get his feet set and throws high. Dorsett can’t make the tough catch. Incomplete. Patterson was also maybe open on the seam route.


3rd and 1 — NE 34 — 2nd quarter —13:12

After a nice completion to Burkhead for 7 yards, the Patriots have a 3rd and short opportunity to pick up a first down (would’ve been their first of the game). A'Shawn Robinson absolutely destroys Shaq Mason up the middle. A lot of people are ragging on Michel, but he has no shot at picking up a first down here.


1st and 10 – NE 35 – 2nd quarter – 3:23

Patriots finally get a first down thanks to a tough run by Michel.
1st and 10, they try to take a shot off play action. Brady has no one to throw to and dumps it away towards Devlin. Gronk is a decoy in the flat. Looks like pretty basic man-coverage with two deep safeties, and neither Hogan nor Dorsett can get open down the field.


3rd and 1 – DET 18 – 2nd quarter – 0:50

After a 6 yard pass to Hogan and a short run by Michel, Brady goes hurry up to try to quickly get the first down. Play is blown up again and not even close. It’s tough to say, but this one might be on Michel. There was pressure in the backfield right away, but it looks like he hesitates, trying to go off tackle instead of just getting a yard for the first down. Tough to say without knowing the play design.


3rd and 10 – NE 45 – 3rd quarter – 2:21

After the Bentley pick, the Patriots finally moved the ball and put together a touchdown drive, only to have the Lions respond with a touchdown of their own. They really need to score here in order to keep the game close.

The Patriots pick up a first down to start the drive, and then the two missed connections to Michel setup a 3rd and long.

There’s no one open on this play. White might have been the first read, but he gets chipped by the defensive end and is never really an option. Dorsett is maybe open, but is well short of the first down. Hogan and Patterson are both in man coverage down the field and not even close to open.

Brady chucks up a prayer to Gronk in double coverage, probably hoping for a flag. Pats have to punt.


3rd and 8 – NE 23 – 4th quarter – 11:52

The Patriots actually forced the Lions to punt for the first time, and have their last opportunity to get back in the game. After the intentional grounding penalty and a nice completion to Patterson, they face 3rd and long in their own territory.

It looks like the Lions again disrupt the play by chipping James White out of the backfield. He never really gets into his route and is never an option on the play. Hogan is probably open underneath for a second, but it’s debatable weather or not he could get the first down. Gronk is double teamed. Patterson and Dorsett are in single man-coverage and not even close to open.

Brady runs around trying to buy time, but eventually gets sacked.


2nd and 8 – NE 43 – 4th quarter — 7:39

Patriots forced another punt and were actually moving the ball after a few nice runs. They try another shot downfield off play action.

Seems like a terrible play call to me.

Hogan and Dorsett are the only two options on the play. Hogan is covered on the intermediate route. Dorsett is covered too, so it’s a poor choice by Brady, but he tosses up a prayer trying to make a play. It’s not even close.

After a good start to the drive, why send Hogan and Dorsett out on intermediate and deep routes when they’ve been struggling to get open all night? Gronk stayed in to block on the play, so it was Hogan, Dorsett, or bust.

To me, that seems like setting Brady up to fail.

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