Pats still a work in progress
McDaniels says team is figuring out what to do
Over five short weeks, several factors have conspired to keep the Patriots offense from fully forming.
There’s the roller-coaster that comes with playing a rookie quarterback. Thirddown back James White is out for the season, and starting right tackle Trent Brown hasn’t played in a month.
PATRIOTS NOTEBOOK
The Pats have trailed in every game but one. And last week, they were down four offensive linemen.
Soon, though, either by circumstance or deliberate action, offensive habits will develop, and an identity will emerge.
According to offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, the Patriots are close to declaring the team they want to be.
“Schematically, I think we’re trying to settle in on some things that we feel like we know how to do. So I feel better about where we’re at,” he told reporters Tuesday.
McDaniels believes it takes six to eight weeks for an offense to learn its strengths and weaknesses. During that time, preseason expectations are either verified or disproved. The Patriots were supposed to boast one of the NFL’s best offensive lines, a notion that’s quickly been dispelled.
Their offense was also expected to revolve around free-agent tight ends Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith. While Henry has scored a touchdown in two straight games, Smith’s undeniably disappointed. The Pats have fielded Henry and Smith together on less than 25% of their offensive snaps.
McDaniels says there’s more to unlock from his two-tight end package — but the Patriots need to start faster to showcase what his star tight ends can do. They rank 26th in first-quarter points and scoring offense overall.
“If we can start better and get ahead and get the lead and play from ahead in those situations, you generally then have more choices as to what you want to be in as opposed to what you have to be in,” McDaniels said.
“So I definitely think there’s more to two those two guys being on the field together. There’s no question about it in all situations that we’re looking forward to trying to develop. And again, hopefully we can gain control of the games.”
Fumbler reputation
After five weeks, the Patriots
have at least one trait that’s become fairly obvious to their opponents: They will put the ball on the ground.
With four fumbles in the first five games, including two in the red zone by Damien Harris, word has gotten around to opposing teams to punch away because the Patriots will likely give it up.
Running backs coach Ivan Fears, always a straightshooter, didn’t argue the point when asked about it during his media session Tuesday.
“That’s our reputation right now. That’s not a secret. Now, let’s be honest. It would be crazy for anybody to think anything other than that,” said Fears. “We’ve turned the ball over in key situations going in for scores. That would have given us two games by now. That would have made the difference in two games.
“So that is a fact that we’ve got to deal with and we’re gonna have to — it’s gonna take us all year to get that out of people’s mind. All year,” he went on. “And believe me, we’re going to be working at it, it’s not something where anybody’s happy about. I don’t think the players are happy about it, we’re not happy about it. But we’ve got to — the only way you change that stat is you do it during play. That’s when you change it.”
Fears agreed one key for Harris is keeping the ball closer to his body.
As for Rhamondre Stevenson, benched three games after fumbling in the season opener, he actually needs to loosen up. He might have been a little too cautious trying not to fumble, and that affected his play against the Texans, gaining just 23 yards on 11 carries.
“He was almost very nervous to carry the ball. He can’t — we can’t play that way. He’s got to let himself play. And I think he will. I really do,” said Fears. “And I think those guys will learn some of the little things when the ball is away from their body. That’s the kind of stuff we got to break, we just got to break that habit, having the ball away from their body. They keep it in their body, they’ll be fine.”
Hightower returning to form
Dont’a Hightower is getting his groove back.
After opting out last year due to COVID-19 concerns, and returning this year, the Patriots two-time Pro Bowl linebacker hasn’t looked anywhere near himself.
He even saw a practice squad player subbed in for him Week 3 against the Saints.
But watching him against the Texans Sunday, Hightower enjoyed his best game of the season. He recorded five tackles and a hurry, and was around the ball constantly.
Linebackers coach Jerod Mayo, speaking via zoom with reporters Tuesday, thought Hightower had a “great” game.
“If you were to just look at the stat sheet, it doesn’t really pop off the stat sheet, ‘Wow, this guy had a great game,’’’ said Mayo. “But If you were to watch the film, and see his overall physicality, I would say it was by far his best game.”
The linebacking group as a whole, deemed a strength of the team at the outset, has struggled out of the gate. Having Hightower look more like the pre-2020 version should help the group moving forward.
“Honestly now, it’s all about stacking it together. Stacking these games together,” said Mayo. “(Hightower) is definitely one of our smartest guys, not only on defense, but on this football team. Now, it’s just all about, how do we keep this guy going on a down after down basis, and playing at that high level.”