Content Post Idle thoughts

[VrabelJr]

Who does Orlovsky coach for?

I don't understand all this Dan Orlovsky love. He intentionally spews hyperbole to get attention, including throwing shade at Brady when he was clearly still a top player in the league. I like Mac and I want him to improve because he needs to in order for us to have any chance at going deep in the playoffs. But posters around here clamoring to have Bill O'Brien back (seriously?) or are using Dan Orlovsky's analysis as evidence are in denial.

 

[zydecochris]

I'll add BOB would have been the PERFECT choice. If he was running things the offense would've had a seamless transition from last year and on top of that they'd have a dedicated OL coach, likely someone with solid experience. The more I think about how this coaching fiasco unfolded the angrier I get. The only possible caveat might be that BB exhausted all options before settling on Patricia and Judge, but it's hard to believe there wasn't anyone versed in McDaniels' system to take the reins. I don't know enough about Caley but if he learned sufficiently under McDaniels to retain the system/playbook he might've been preferable.

You may be right, and it is hard to argue that BOB as an experienced OC would be doing worse than Patricia..

However, I will point out that BOB is probably the most vilified Alabama OC by Alabama fans in my memory, I think they would drive him to the airport. But I would be very surprised if he ends up as OC for NE or any other pro football team, I think he has his sight on a head college football coach position at one of the big schools, I think it is just a matter of time. He has a plenty of name recognition and he has rehabilitated his reputation enough at the Nick Saban School of fired coaches that I expect him to get a high profile head college coaching job next year, it should be remembered that before his truly disastrous stint with the Texans in the pros, BOB was named National Coach of the Year by ESPN and Bear Bryant College Coach of the year for his 2012 season as Penn State Head Coach.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

Mac Jones is great between the 20s. He and Zach Wilson produced 3 pts.

Let's hope this Thursday they can produce more than fgs in the first quarter and yes they deserve the criticism.

 

[Tunescribe]

I don't understand all this Dan Orlovsky love. He intentionally spews hyperbole to get attention, including throwing shade at Brady when he was clearly still a top player in the league. I like Mac and I want him to improve because he needs to in order for us to have any chance at going deep in the playoffs. But posters around here clamoring to have Bill O'Brien back (seriously?) or are using Dan Orlovsky's analysis as evidence are in denial.

Some people think Orlovsky provides insight, some think he doesn't. Some folks think Greg Bedard is insightful, some don't. There are no absolutes, everyone has an opinion and half of them are wrong.

Yes, I think BOB would be an excellent OC here ESPECIALLY with Mac compared to Patricia/Judge. Orlovsky has nothing to do with it but Bedard thinks he would be a good fit and I agree with that. Seriously. I give it a 15-percent chance of actually happening.

 

[Zuma]

The Buffalo game at home was his only real stinker in that stretch. He also could've played better vs. Indy but I wouldn't say he "really struggled and played poorly" in those five games overall. The defense was more of a culprit in the losses.

IMO it was a mistake to limit Mac as much as the coaches did in that game. I think it messed with his head. He’s a better QB then what we have seen so far this season and I think it mostly stems from that game.

 

[Pats2000]

The Buffalo game at home was his only real stinker in that stretch. He also could've played better vs. Indy but I wouldn't say he "really struggled and played poorly" in those five games overall. The defense was more of a culprit in the losses.

He threw 3 TD's to 5 INT. He is lost without a strong run game.

 

[Tunescribe]

He threw 3 TD's to 5 INT. He is lost without a strong run game.

Most NFL quarterbacks need a running game to be effective. I wouldn't say Mac would be "lost" without a strong running game because he's very accurate on short/intermediate routes. If you doubt his capability to rally the team on his arm exclusively down two scores in the fourth quarter, I'll agree he's no Josh Allen.

IMO it was a mistake to limit Mac as much as the coaches did in that game. I think it messed with his head. He’s a better QB then what we have seen so far this season and I think it mostly stems from that game.

I was referencing the home game vs. the Bills, I think you're referring to the wind game in Buffalo. I don't believe the latter bothered him at all, conditions were extraordinarily difficult for anyone but a Josh Allen type with a cannon arm. You might recall that Mac did a great job calling run audibles at the LOS in that game plus the Patriots won. I'm sure he was happy with his contribution and the results.

 

[Pats2000]

Most NFL quarterbacks need a running game to be effective. I wouldn't say Mac would be "lost" without a strong running game because he's very accurate on short/intermediate routes. If you doubt his capability to rally the team on his arm exclusively down two scores in the fourth quarter, I'll agree he's no Josh Allen.



I was referencing the home game vs. the Bills, I think you're referring to the wind game in Buffalo. I don't believe the latter bothered him at all, conditions were extraordinarily difficult for anyone but a Josh Allen type with a cannon arm. You might recall that Mac did a great job calling run audibles at the LOS in that game plus the Patriots won. I'm sure he was happy with his contribution and the results.

You need a QB who can lead you back, down from 2 scores in this league. Otherwise you will just lose a lot of games. Mac doesn't have the decision making to put a team on his shoulders. He might in the future, but there is 0 indication if that now.

 

[Tunescribe]

You need a QB who can lead you back, down from 2 scores in this league. Otherwise you will just lose a lot of games. Mac doesn't have the decision making to put a team on his shoulders. He might in the future, but there is 0 indication if that now.

Decision-making is one of his strengths.

Look, I get you don't like Mac but you're trying pretty hard to toss him on the scrap heap. He's been hamstrung this season by poor coaching, a new "system" (if you can call it that) and what has become an OL in constant disarray. Let's see what happens the rest of this season and in next year's training camp before summoning the firing squad.

 

[venecol]

I think you're on the money. The timing is off. We don't see 1-2-3 throw. It's 1-2-3 hold. To me, that's either play design, calling too many vert packages or the timing between receiver cuts and the QB drop is off. Either way, it's coaching points that need to be improved on to get players in the right position to make the plays needed.

I don't buy the receiver isn't looking back argument. A lot of these are timing routes. I've seen so many great passes this season where QBs throw before receivers make their cuts. Mac just isn't releasing the ball, either because he doesn't trust his receivers or himself not to throw a pick. You have to be able to throw into tight windows in the NFL. If he can't or won't, this team isn't going anywhere.

 

[venecol]

Patricia and Judge were in over their heads from the very start and that's BB's fault.

Maybe they can right the offense next offseason; IMO this has been BB's worst coaching effort in 23 years.

Your thrashing of the GOAT coach isn't a good look for a homer like you.

 

[Tunescribe]

I don't buy the receiver isn't looking back argument. A lot of these are timing routes. I've seen so many great passes this season where QBs throw before receivers makes their cuts. Mac just isn't releasing the ball, either because he doesn't trust his receivers or himself not to throw a pick. You have to be able to throw into tight windows in the NFL. If he can't or won't, this team isn't going anywhere.

You don't buy a lot of things that make sense. Apparently because you think you know more than people like Dan Orlovsky, Ted Johnson, etc. (people who actually PLAYED NFL FOOTBALL), or seasoned analysts like Greg Bedard versed in studying all-22 game film. Nah, the guy who took his screen name from a line of feminine hygiene products KNOWS that poorly constructed timing route-QB drop combinations could not possibly be a problem in the Patriots' new offensive system. It HAS TO BE ALL MAC JONES' FAULT!



You're such a joke. But keep crossing those fingers and holding your breath li'l fella, perhaps Mac will get injured or benched yet this season.

Your thrashing of the GOAT coach isn't a good look for a homer like you.

Isn't that a contradiction in terms? Think about it.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

You need a QB who can lead you back, down from 2 scores in this league. Otherwise you will just lose a lot of games. Mac doesn't have the decision making to put a team on his shoulders. He might in the future, but there is 0 indication if that now.

There is rarely, if ever, indication of that 1.5 seasons into a QB's career.

 

[venecol]

 

[patfanken]

I posted a link in my thread and went over each. I tend to lean on the side that sacks and some pressure fall more on the QB but theres usually some gray area. He had his fair share of blame in a lot of them. OL is the biggest problem we have but he's not helping them or himself with some of these dropbacks and plays.

Footwork doesn't get him in good positions and he's not the quickest cat back there. That's been something that's been killing me. He has to operate a lot faster overall. He had a good share of blame on 3-4 of the sacks imo. Again there's a link in my thread that I can't find on my phone rn and I'm at work.

Also I have to believe his release and upper half was on focus with Tom House this past offseason but his mechanics are still all over the place. No connection between upper and lower. Feet still touch on occasion on his dropbacks. Like I mentioned above he's too slow in his bottom half for me. Talked about his release fluctuating between 12-2.

I just don't see a lot of confidence there and that last injury didn't help at all.

That said OL > Mac in terms of problems. That group has been so disappointing.

my immediate response is to go back to what Bedard said. In his column he pointed out there was only ONE sack where Mac had more than 3 seconds before he was hit. The rest ranged from 2.0 to 2.7. His thought was on two of them Mac had a RB open quickly but passed that up to go down field. The rest be pretty much had no chance. He thought (and I agree) that the entire operation looked bad. Too often receivers had their heads still upfield when the QB was ready to throw the ball. In other words SOMETIMES they were uncoordinated

Sounds like you are nitpicking, BUT now I'll go and check out your link. (THANK you very much for giving that to us), and come back at some point with an apology or an "I told you so".

 

[patfanken]

He threw 3 TD's to 5 INT. He is lost without a strong run game.

As are MOST offenses. C'mon man

 

[PScottman]

You need a QB who can lead you back, down from 2 scores in this league.

There are like three of those in the entire league that you could consistently count on to do just that. For example, how many playoff games has media and forum darling Lamar Jackson won?

1. Really good QB, but is he going to bring a team back from two scores consistently?

This isn't pumping up Mac Jones. He's not even to the level of consistently making quick solid play decisions, but at the same time the "down two scores" thing is an unrealistic expectation of MOST QBs across the entire league. There's a reason "trading yards for time" and "prevent defense" continues to be utilized in the NFL - two score leads indicates winning football.

 

[DarrylS]

Good post again Ken, I always look forward to your observations..

I have always been and always will be a BB defender, but this year he has crapped the bed on offense. His belief that a coach can coach any group is not playing out all that well. What he needs to do is put Patricia in the booth in an Ernie Adams role, and hire an up & coming OC (Caley is mentioned) also needed is a QB coach who help get Mac Jones over this hump. The RZ offense issues are not new, has been going on for a couple of years now, whoever becomes the new OC needs to be a lot innovative.

Was listening to whiney Adam Jones yesterday on Sports Hub and in his ever lasting need to be controversial, was saying he was not convinced that that the D was not that good.. sorry Adam the Pats are the 2nd in points allowed which passes my eyeball test. On Sunday the announcers must have said about 100X that Jones was sacked 6 times, but only made cursory comments that the Pats allowed 2 yards of O in the second half, that is a phenomenal stat. Zolak said the other day that Jones passing was the second most allowed against the Jets vaunted defense on Sunday, so maybe things weren't that bad.

I ramble, but have some faith that this team will continue on its upward trajectory, lots of room for improvement, but things certainly seem better than they did after the Chicago loss.

 

[Stu Pidassle]

I have always been and always will be a BB defender, but this year he has crapped the bed on offense. His belief that a coach can coach any group is not playing out all that well. What he needs to do is put Patricia in the booth in an Ernie Adams role, and hire an up & coming OC (Caley is mentioned) also needed is a QB coach who help get Mac Jones over this hump. The RZ offense issues are not new, has been going on for a couple of years now, whoever becomes the new OC needs to be a lot innovative.

Adding that the new OC needs to be able to connect with the players. MP does not seem like the type to take input and adapt when things get rough which makes it impossible for him to learn and evolve.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

View attachment 47562

Amazing Tua and Allen at the top and Jones and Wilson at the bottom. Also Tua and Hurts at the top, who is the next Alabama QB climbing to the top?