OFFENSIVE NOTES
Personnel breakdown: 46.7% of snaps in 12 personnel, 40% in 11 personnel, 9.3% in 21 personnel, 2.7% in 10 personnel and 1.3% in jumbo personnel. Pressure rate allowed: 42.5% Yards per carry: 4.2
Third downs: 11-16
Red-zone efficiency: 1-4
Broken tackles: Damien Harris 6, Kendrick Bourne, Rhamondre Stevenson, Jonnu Smith.
Sacks allowed: Team 1.
QB hits allowed: Shaq Mason 2, Isaiah Wynn 2, David Andrews, Damien Harris.
Hurries allowed: Team 3, Justin Herron 2, Michael Onwenu, Jonnu Smith, Mason. Run stuffs allowed: Team 2, Wynn. Drops: Jakobi Meyers.
As expected, the Patriots ran their offense through new tight ends Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith, deploying 12 personnel on 68% of their snaps over their opening three drives.
But after a scoreless opening quarter, offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels pivoted to more 11 personnel (three-receiver sets) on the team’s fifth series and found success. Jones also hit two first-down passes that drive and found Nelson Agholor for his first passing touchdown.
Agholor ultimately keyed the offense’s shift to more spread personnel because, had he been ineffective or sidelined by his ankle injury, the Patriots would’ve been forced to turn to Gunner Olszewski, who isn’t taken seriously yet as a receiving threat.
On the ground, Trent Brown’s calf injury undercut the Pats’ plans to bulldoze Miami, but it’s hard to imagine one O-lineman, no matter how massive he is, making a significant difference.
Play-calling also factored in here. McDaniels repeatedly called for crack tosses — basically sweeps — which are effective against heavy man-blitz teams like Miami. The problem was he never quite nailed the timing.
The Dolphins’ defensive front looked much improved against the run, and held Damien Harris to 2.95 yards per carry after his first carry.
Last note on Harris: the essence of his game is still hard, bruising running, but his jump cut has added an extra dimension. He’ll break long runs soon, provided the fumbles stop.
The Pats’ inability to hit explosive plays silently hindered them. Their 14-play drives in the second half both stalled out in the red zone because inevitably that’s what happens to 14-play drives, especially with a rookie quarterback at the helm.
Now freed from facing one of the NFL’s toughest cornerback duos, look for the Patriots to be more aggressive downfield and target Agholor specifically.