How the Patriots offense will change

mgteich · Nov 17, 2015

BobDigital said:
With Edelman now out along with Lewis how will the Patriots offense change?

I think it is more than just "someone needs to step up". I think it is going to cause a lot of changes to how the Patriots run their offense over the rest of the regular season. Here are the changes I think are made

#1 Blocking to replace Edelman - There is more than one solution to a problem. Obviously Amendola, Gronk & Lafell's loads will go up and other skill players will be asked to do more. However I think an even stronger possibility than putting Dobson on the field is putting another blocker on the field. If you don't have a skill player really worth putting out there then don't do it that much. I think we will try to add an extra OL man in more to set Gronk free and to find Brady a little extra time to find his top 3 targets. Better to have 2.5 seconds with them than 2 seconds when you add in a Dobson or Martin or Chandler much of the time IMO.

#2 Scheme change... More is more - The Patriots have done the surgical short passing offense very well this year but that will have to change some now IMO. The fact is without Edelman is will be harder to put drives of 10+ plays together. He was your best chain mover and most trusted 3rd down converter. I think the Patriots will look for bigger chunks more often. Though it is riskier I just don't think they have much of a choice. The Patriots need to look for more of those bigger 20-30 yard chunk plays to get scores. Luckily they have reasonably good personnel to do this in Gronk and Lafell who both go deep reasonably well. Also if they do add in an extra blocker they will probably have more time to try it.

#3 Run the ball - I am not one to say this often as I don't generally believe running tends to do much for you most games. However I think expect Gronk, Amendola and Lafell to hold up to many 50 attempts games with lots of targets and hits is not the best idea. The Patriots need to run the ball as long as it not being completely stuffed. Also their OL is more built for it anyway right now. IT will shorten games and give you less offensive plays which is probably for the best right now. If the run is completely shut down then you have no choice but to get away from it but otherwise they should commit to 20-25 carries a game unless you need to score for sure.

#4 Pass more to RBs - The Patriots don't have Lewis but their RBs have shown me they are pretty sure handed. Bolden with a big catch last week. Blount/White going 3/3 for 16 yards. Though the YAC won't be their as much as long as the RBs can catch and get you a successful down they should look to it. I especailly think they need to pass to Blount a bit more often. He should be in their more anyway as a pass blocker and showing our commitment to running a bit more (like they did vs the Giants). As long as he catches the ball and gets you 5-6 which he seems to why not go to it more if they leave him open in the flat.

#5 Dobson - This is my pick for the main WR replacement for Edelman for a lot of reasons. He is the most proven here of all the guys. More snaps with Brady than Chandler/Martin and he is also a deep option which ties into what one of my other predictions here. I think they need to go for bigger chunks of yards and Dobson certainly has the tools to do this. Time to throw him out there and either he proves he needs to be off this team or earns a spot for next year. He does not need a ton of catches but he needs to make the ones that are there to make in the intermediate to deep parts of the field.

Obviously, our game plan depends on our opposition. Against some teams, we try to run more. Against others, we go into the shotgun for almost the whole game.

However, I do believe that it is truly "next man up".

LEWIS is not replaceable. White can be the 3rd down back and receiving back. In fact all the running backs can catch the ball.

EDELMAN is out. LAFELL is now back at 100%. We are clearly much worse off for the trade. We have two #4 WR's who could certainly step up. Both have shown flashes this year.
=========
The MUCH MORE SERIOUS problem is the health of the OT's. Having one of the OT's come back would make a huge difference. We are fine at OG with Stork, Mason and Kline. IMHO, we should keep Barker on the roster until we add TWO healthy linemen.

PatsFan2 · Nov 17, 2015

"IF" Dobson ever lives up to his skill set this Offense would be on another level. Everytime I see WR Michael Floyd: Arizona I keep a saying how comes Aaron Dobson doesn't play like that??? Very similar player in statue with speed to boot I think If Dobson doesn't turn the corner pretty soon his days in this league are numbered. Come on Dobson make it happen you're getting another opportunity to prove your worth.

Tuck · Nov 17, 2015

BingoBrown · Nov 17, 2015

Who's going to pick up Amendola's return duty?I doubt the team will
have him do both.

patfanken · Nov 17, 2015

Now if I'm the DC of a team that has to go against the Pats here is the basic plan. I double Gronk and Amendola, and put my best cover guy on Lafell one on one (with Buffalo that would be Gilbert). That would mean I'd have to put a LB on the RB, and 6th best DB on Dobson/Martin (whomever is out there). So basically I'm forcing Brady to throw to double covered receivers, my best cover guy, or try and beat me with his 4th and 5th options.

THEN I try to make him uncomfortable with that patchwork OL. I also try and scheme (ie, overload to Gronk's side), so that Gronk has to stay in an help. That frees up 2 cover guys. That is as good a basic plan as you can hope for. The rest would revolve around disguising and change ups to keep Brady on his toes.

What the Pats have to do is challenge the man to man coverage. like Eli did. So what if he's covered, more good can happen than bad. Throw the back shoulder fade. Let Gronk go after some 50-50 balls as well, even into double coverage. And LOTS of pick plays.

PatsFan2 · Nov 17, 2015

BingoBrown said:
Who's going to pick up Amendola's return duty?I doubt the team will
have him do both.

I think Key Martn doubles as a returner also *Chis Harper* on our PS he did it alot in the *Preseason*. Lets hope Amendola saw his last days as a returner until we get Edelman back.

Dagg · Nov 17, 2015

Run the ball more!! If the defense fears the run, lesser receivers can get more open.

micronin127 · Nov 17, 2015

Brady can only get rid of the ball fast if the receivers can uncover fast. His 2 best man-to-man coverage beaters Lewis and Edelman are out. Another way to beat man and provide a quick option is formations, they can stack receivers in bunches of 2 or 3.

They can design more screens, either quick out or traditional, especially against teams that are overpursuing or blitzing, like the Bills are likely to do.

They can get Brady more time (mentioned previously) by either playing a 6th lineman or Mike Williams who is big enough to be a lineman.

Get Gronk moving or line him up in the backfield to avoid him getting jammed or held up at the line.

Put Gronk out wide by himself on one side (where he may command safety help over the top), then set up a 3 receiver bunch on the other side and see if you get a mismatch where you can get them all blocked and throw a quick out screen. If Gronk is singled up, that is a great matchup against any defender.

Also, running the ball just enough so that play-action passes work can get you a decent chunk play.

The Patriots are so creative, let's see what they come up with.

BradyFTW! · Nov 17, 2015

I think the biggest change is that Amendola is going to start catching 10 balls a game, almost entirely as a slot receiver. I also wouldn't be shocked if LaFell starts seeing some snaps in the slot, which is something he did in Carolina but hasn't done much of here.

But most of the time I think LaFell will be lined up on the same side as Amendola, because the Pats are going to want to use his blocking to spring Amendola on screens, rubs, etc. That should also pull safety help away from Dobson's side, so I could see Brady bombing the ball his way a couple times per game if he gets a step or two of separation deep.

Hopefully this is the week that Vollmer and Cannon come back, because keeping Gronk in to block a ton is a luxury that we can't really afford anymore. In the absence of Edelman and Lewis, he and Amendola need to become the feature options in the passing game.

Lastly, if Chris Harper has any shot at establishing himself as an NFL-caliber WR, this is it. He's been figted the ideal chance to prove what he's worth over these next seven weeks, although I think it's a long shot and that Dobson/Martin will get pretty much all of the reps.

Rhodey · Nov 17, 2015

PatsWickedPissah said:
This is a great opportunity for one of these guys to become NFL receivers.

Indeed!

Rhodey · Nov 17, 2015

BradyFTW! said:
I think the biggest change is that Amendola is going to start catching 10 balls a game, almost entirely as a slot receiver. I also wouldn't be shocked if LaFell starts seeing some snaps in the slot, which is something he did in Carolina but hasn't done much of here.

But most of the time I think LaFell will be lined up on the same side as Amendola, because the Pats are going to want to use his blocking to spring Amendola on screens, rubs, etc. That should also pull safety help away from Dobson's side, so I could see Brady bombing the ball his way a couple times per game if he gets a step or two of separation deep.

Hopefully this is the week that Vollmer and Cannon come back, because keeping Gronk in to block a ton is a luxury that we can't really afford anymore. In the absence of Edelman and Lewis, he and Amendola need to become the feature options in the passing game.

Lastly, if Chris Harper has any shot at establishing himself as an NFL-caliber WR, this is it. He's been figted the ideal chance to prove what he's worth over these next seven weeks, although I think it's a long shot and that Dobson/Martin will get pretty much all of the reps.

We'll see.

I'm done trying to guess what BB is going to do. And I can appreciate- as a non-coach -what other teams must go through in this regard.

But whatever he does do...I'm looking forward to the show.

SlowGettingUp · Nov 17, 2015

Why not some more 2- and 3-TE packages? Don't see why that has to only be a red zone option. Helps with pass protection, runs, play-action.

Obviously would help a lot if Chandler can find a pair of hands someplace - the contrast between his drop of an easy ball and Gronk's shoestring catch was pretty dramatic.

Deus Irae · Nov 17, 2015

Belichick, on replacing Lewis and Edelman:

"That will definitely be challenging," Belichick said. "Aside from all the X’s and O’s and all that, just the amount of timing that those players have with each other, with the quarterback, with Josh the offensive coordinator, and being able to have experience in doing a lot of those things, that’s really hard to replace. I mean, you just can’t do it.

Belichick on replacing Edelman, Lewis: 'You just can't do it'

Common sense from the HC of the NEP

How the Patriots offense will change

mgteich

PatsFans.com Veteran

PatsFan2

Hall of Fame Poster

Tuck

Rotational Player and Threatening Starter's Job

BingoBrown

Third String But Playing on Special Teams

patfanken

PatsFans.com Supporter

PatsFan2

Hall of Fame Poster

Dagg

Rotational Player and Threatening Starter's Job

micronin127

Third String But Playing on Special Teams

BradyFTW!

Goodell sucks

Rhodey

Third String But Playing on Special Teams

Rhodey

Third String But Playing on Special Teams

SlowGettingUp

2nd Team Getting Their First Start

Deus Irae

PatsFans.com Retired Jersey Club

Similar threads