Patriots Only Used 2TE Offense for 18% of Snaps This Season

[DropKickFlutie]

"Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith spent only a fraction of their snaps on the field together: according to Pro Football Focus’ Doug Kyed, New England used the two-tight end offense on just 18.6 percent of its offensive snaps.

What was the problem? That is one of biggest questions about the Patriots’ 2021 season, and one only the coaching staff will truly be able to answer.

One reason for that appears to be... evidenced by their usage. Smith was the team’s primary in-line option, aligning there on 71 percent of his snaps. Henry, for comparison, played in-line on just 39 percent of his own snaps: he was used more as a receiver, whereas Smith was the number one blocking option.

Why New England used them that way is anyone’s guess..."

Patriots’ use of 2-tight end sets was one of the biggest surprises of the 2021 season

New England invested considerable money to upgrade its tight end group, but the two players they brought in rarely shared the field.

www.patspulpit.com

Jonnu Smith signed for $50M/4yrs with $32M guaranteed:

Jonnu Smith to sign with Pats on four-year, $50M deal

The Patriots are set to land their first quality free agent in tight end Jonnu Smith.

www.nbcsports.com

 

[FortressX]

Having 2 TEs would be a nice start.

 

[DropKickFlutie]

Jonnu Smith scored 8TDs on the Titans but here got 0 targets, 1 target, 0 targets the last 3 games. Josh McDaniels has no clue how to use 2TEs beyond treating the 2nd TE as a Dwayne-Allen blocker or a 6th OLineman. Team needs a new OC committed to 2TE power run football. Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith are signed to expensive contracts: use both of them.

 

[DropKickFlutie]

 

[amfootball]

Smith was lost all year. He was a bust signing.

 

[DropKickFlutie]

Smith was lost all year. He was a bust signing.

His contract is huge. And a massive cap penalty to get rid of him. This is going to look even uglier next year. Why sign big$ to a guy and have zero clue how to use him, or even try to. Jonnu isn't a great blocker but the OC just throws him in there as an extra blocker.

 

[DropKickFlutie]

Titans highlights below of Jonnu Smith. Jonnu scored 8TDs. Jonnu is so good after the catch, one of the best in the league at this. Pats OC didn't even try to target Jonnu this year.

 

[amfootball]

His contract is huge. And a massive cap penalty to get rid of him. This is going to look even uglier next year. Why sign big$ to a guy and have zero clue how to use him, or even try to. Jonnu isn't a great blocker but the OC just throws him in there as an extra blocker.

Smith is on Bill not Josh.
Henry had a nice season. Smith had no clue not unlike other FAs who have signed especially at the skill spots.

 

[DropKickFlutie]

Smith is on Bill not Josh.
Henry had a nice season. Smith had no clue not unlike other FAs who have signed especially at the skill spots.

I don't think his buddy Ziegler signs Jonnu and Agholor without his buddy McD weighing in. But yes the buck stops with BB. I think BB is getting old and not on top of everything anymore.

 

[amfootball]

I don't think his buddy Ziegler signs Jonnu and Agholor without his buddy McD weighing in. But yes the buck stop with BB. I think BB is getting old and not on top of everything anymore.

Given all the FAs we brought in a few were bound to be a bust. The issue is we can't get out from under these contracts easily given how back loaded they are. That was always the risk of spending the type of capital we did in week one and overpaying for players because the roster was so weak and had so many holes.

 

[DropKickFlutie]

Josh McDaniels takes blame for Jonnu Smith's lack of offensive involvement.

Josh McDaniels takes blame for Jonnu Smith's lack of offensive involvement

Josh McDaniels spoke about getting Jonnu Smith more involved.

patriotswire.usatoday.com

 

[DropKickFlutie]

Zach Cox, NESN:

"Since catching nine passes on 10 targets over his first two games as a Patriot, Smith has just 18 catches on 34 targets for 204 yards and one touchdown.

...Yet the numbers show Smith actually has been effective when he has the ball in his hands. He’s fourth in the NFL and second among tight ends in yards after catch per reception (8.1), per NFL Next Gen Stats.

That’s long been Smith’s greatest strength. He was third among tight ends in YAC per reception last season (6.3) and second in 2019 (8.4). And offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels still believes he can be a weapon for the Patriots. McDaniels said Tuesday that he needs to find more ways to get Smith involved.

“There's no question about that: He’s a player that can do some things with the ball in his hands,” he said. “We know that. Very talented guy, works really hard. I’ve got to do better to get him the ball.”

... The Patriots have mostly used Smith as a run blocker to this point (despite him being one of Pro Football Focus’s lowest-graded run-blocking tight ends). He’s run routes on just 32.5% of his offensive snaps, per PFF. "

 

[DropKickFlutie]

Brian Hines: "Smith's usage is still confusing, especially after he was used all over the field and dominated while doing so throughout training camp... the Patriots can't afford to pay him all that money to be used as Dwayne Allen"

 

[TheRazorsEdge]

How could we know Jonnu Smith "didn't get it" if he wasn't used in that capacity? Are you 100% certain he wasn't used as the receiver because Henry was a significantly worse blocker?

I've defended the Jonnu Smith signing in my circles using the same thing : He's just plain not being used to his strengths..how can that be his fault. He's being asked to block almost full time. If it's a playbook thing only...explain Nkeal Harry to me please and why you wouldn't try Jonnu there given the price tag?

If THIS was their plan all along ..pay him that to become Dwayne Allen 2.0..its a colossal bust (self inflicted )I have a really hard time believing you'd sign Jonnu Smith for JUST that, however. Holding out hope for some improvements from coaching and player in 2022.

 

[203Pat]

Jonnu just didn't look like a fit all year. Every time he got the ball it seemed like it had to be a schemed up play designed for him and not any part of the natural flow of the offense. He ended up as a very expensive blocker most of the time he was on the field. Speaking of blocking HH was billed as a solid blocker coming in but that didn't look to be the case but at least he was a red zone threat and ended up having a solid year after a slow start. I don’t think they can get out of the Jonnu Smith contract without getting killed on the cap so they need to find a way to get him naturally involved in the offense next season. Hopefully another year in the system and another offseason will help him build some chemistry with Mac.

 

[TheRainMaker]

The dreaded Jonu screen out of the backfield was very predictable. That’s how he got the ball 99.9% of the time.

 

[Scotty]

Titans highlights below. Jonnu scored 8TDs. Pats OC didn't even try to target Jonnu this year. Jonnu is so good after the catch, one of the best in the league at this.

Nothing wrong with Smith in those clips thats for sure

 

[denverpatsfan]

Shameful. Maybe time for a new offense. Can't keep bringing folks in that "don't get it". The dude can play. Get him the ball.

 

[DropKickFlutie]

How could we know Jonnu Smith "didn't get it" if he wasn't used in that capacity? Are you 100% certain he wasn't used as the receiver because Henry was a significantly worse blocker?

I've defended the Jonnu Smith signing in my circles using the same thing : He's just plain not being used to his strengths..how can that be his fault. He's being asked to block almost full time. If it's a playbook thing only...explain Nkeal Harry to me please and why you wouldn't try Jonnu there given the price tag?

If THIS was their plan all along ..pay him that to become Dwayne Allen 2.0..its a colossal bust (self inflicted )I have a really hard time believing you'd sign Jonnu Smith for JUST that, however. Holding out hope for some improvements from coaching and player in 2022.

Agree. Jonnu was always not a good blocker but a good yards after catch guy. So the Pats play him.... as a blocker. Same old idiocy like benching Onwenu for 9 weeks, or playing Durant/Cajuste at RT. The team does a lot of dumb stuff that makes no sense. Can't just assume "BB knows best" as the reason anymore. Seems like BB is getting old and his mediocre staff is doing dumb things.

.

 

[DropKickFlutie]

Nothing wrong with Smith in those clips thats for sure

Looks like a weapon. But for the Pats hey let's use him at his worst skill, as an in-line blocker. Terrible offensive coordinating.