Cool Link Article: Bill O' Brien, Mac Jones and the Offense

[One-If-By-Sea]

I just try to be a realistic fan... I can't wait for the season to come

"Will always show up" and "more often than not" are opposites but similar, both have 5 syllables, and together they roll off the tongue - "will always show up more often than not". Classic. I don't even know what it means. Lol.

 

[Real fan 02]

"Will always show up" and "more often than not" are opposites but similar, both have 5 syllables, and together they roll off the tongue - "will always show up more often than not". Classic. I don't even know what it means. Lol.

Well let's just say... I'll always try to post reality based opinions... more often than not. LoL

 

[SlowGettingUp]

Obie's gonna get Mac killed or give him PTSD if they go empty as often as he might want to go empty here.

The article makes the point that fancy blitzes are a lot harder from empty and coverages are also much more straightforward. So in that sense it's actually easier on the QB. And it's not like the Patriots haven't done this before with a non-mobile QB. (Granted Brady and Edelman feature here).

 

[BaconGrundleCandy]

[Bump]

I'm actually surprised this article hasn't generated more interest. It is very well written by the very football knowledgeable Oliver Connolly who is a former NFL/CFB scout.
Maybe it is both too long and too technical for most of you? Or is it maybe firewalled?

It contains many observations I have seen nowhere else, and is refreshing alternative to the endless troll vs homer "debate" all too common here.

I didn't read it but I've been talking about most if not all since we got Mac. From how teams are scared to use RPO downfield, we use no motion at the snap, lack of tempo. Esp the running game. That has been dissected from last summer.

There's no excuse not to have core group of rpo plays though. Whether they're simple iz/slant or more downfield. Mac ran an RPO offense at Bama. Almost 25% of passing yards came from rpo. Almost 50% rpo & screens. This was brought up and talked They get easy yards, plays are simple but effective. He's got plenty of experience. I've been calling for all this stuff for a while but esp the rpo.

WOW!!!!!! What a great find. This is the best article I've seen to date that both explains WHY the offense and Mac Jones failed last year, and gives insight and depth on what we MIGHT expect to see this coming year. IF you had the patience to get through it, and some football understanding, even if you are a Mac hater, you should walk away from this article much more confident about Mac's future.. I couldn't subscribe fast enough, and the only other thing I have ever subscribed to was Bedard.

I LEARNED a lot of stuff by taking the time to wade through this. I REALLY hope that people will take the time. It's the kind of article that IF you really want to learn some stuff, you read through TWICE......and then do it again.

Over the past 2 years I have pounded the table trying to COUNTER the myth that Mac is not a good athlete. You CANNOT run a 4.8 forty and a 7.04 3 cone and NOT be a good athlete. The problem with my assessment has been that for the first 2 years of his career, we have seen VERY few examples of that athleticism. Last year we saw NONE. No escapability. No quick movement in the pocket to make people miss.. No apparent running ability.

However, one of the things I got from this article is that the BOB offense MIGHT just unlock some of that hidden athleticism that Mac HAS, and we haven't yet seen. Now that doesn't mean we will see Mac running and dodging rushers like a Mahomes. But that we will see more movement from him.

I think Mac is ready to run an RPO now. He is 2 years bigger and stronger than he was coming into the league. He WILL be able to take off and run smart when it is called for. But perhaps the most important element I took from it, was Mac will LIKELY be going into an offense that he is very comfortable in and will highlight ALL his strengths. (Of course finding answers to both the OT questions will go a long way in how good this offense will be.)

BTW- as far as I'm concerned, if you want to comment on the future of Mac and the offense and HAVEN'T read this post, then your comment means nothing to me because you aren't even trying.

There is a lot more to this article BTW, and I look forward to finding even more gems the next time I go through it.

If Mac has time to a rush he can possibly make something happen. He can bootleg. Scramble a little. The problem is he has 0 quick twitch. Nothing is quick. The closer the rush the harder it is for him. So he has a little athleticism but it's very limited. OB won't pull any athleticism out of him but put him in a much better position to succeed.

 

[captain stone]

The article makes the point that fancy blitzes are a lot harder from empty and coverages are also much more straightforward. So in that sense it's actually easier on the QB. And it's not like the Patriots haven't done this before with a non-mobile QB. (Granted Brady and Edelman feature here).

3 problems with this:

1) No Brady

2) No Edelman

3) and except for Andrews & the fat, bloated corpse of Trent Brown, this is a different OL - and Not a better version of it either…

My point stands: going 5-wide empty, especially on 3rd downs, will be Suicide with this offense.

 

[State]

3 problems with this:

1) No Brady

2) No Edelman

3) and except for Andrews & the fat, bloated corpse of Trent Brown, this is a different OL - and Not a better version of it either…

My point stands: going 5-wide empty, especially on 3rd downs, will be Suicide with this offense.

One of the potential glaring weaknesses with the Patriots this year is the lack of an in-line blocking TE. And our tackle play isn’t good enough to compensate.

 

[Tunescribe]

One of the potential glaring weaknesses with the Patriots this year is the lack of an in-line blocking TE. And our tackle play isn’t good enough to compensate.

You can tell the future?

 

[SlowGettingUp]

My point stands: going 5-wide empty, especially on 3rd downs, will be Suicide with this offense.

Unlike last year you aren't going to have all the receivers running 15 yards downfield before turning to look for the ball.
Blitzing empty sets generally creates an easy quick throw to one of the five receivers. What you see pre-snap is what you get post-snap. And BOB will mix in some screens to discourage aggressive blitzing.

 

[BaconGrundleCandy]

You can tell the future?

A little, yea.

Also we haven't had a real Y since Gronk left. Smith was a real bad blocker but better than Henry. Which should tell you something. Also Gesicki is average on his best day, only in space. It's a fair question or statement or we you want to call it. Considering we've poured $ and picks at the position recently.

I have hope for the tackle position bc we have proven players. Some old, injured and nearing the end but they've proven they can play at one point. I'm concerned but hopeful. Its more than fair to wonder about the TE position, running 12P etc We have Lumpkin and others but nothing established or proven.

 

[patfanken]

If Mac has time to a rush he can possibly make something happen. He can bootleg. Scramble a little. The problem is he has 0 quick twitch. Nothing is quick. The closer the rush the harder it is for him. So he has a little athleticism but it's very limited. OB won't pull any athleticism out of him but put him in a much better position to succeed.

help me out then BGC. I don't disagree one bit with your quote above. There is very little "quick twitchiness" from Mac over the last two years. But I thought the 3 cone drill was designed to give teams an INDICATION of "quickness/twitchiness" in athletes and while 7.04 is a marginal time for a DB, it it a very good one in a QB. So why has the guy who ran that time, shown so little of the athleticism it took to get that time?

Is the drill bad or misleading. Are there others that might do it better?

 

[State]

You can tell the future?

Who is the blocking TE who can catch and will start?

Not having one, unless Johnny Lumpkin surprises, will make the offense easier to handle by NFL defenses.

 

[State]

The strength of this offense is the run game Rham is the best RB and Onwenu the best guard in the AFC East.

And Cole Strange improved as a rookie. He looks very promising.

So pound the rock then do play-action when the defenses stack the box. Go deep a few times a game. Try to get Thornton to be a factor. That’ll keep a safety deeper.

But not having that online blocking TE is going to hurt. We have Sokol who can block. But can’t catch. But he’s somewhat athletic and very smart.

Lumpkin looks enticing. He fits the bill on a blocking TE. Can he be a factor in the passing game? I’m rooting for him.

 

[p8ryts]

The strength of this offense is the run game Rham is the best RB and Onwenu the best guard in the AFC East.

And Cole Strange improved as a rookie. He looks very promising.

So pound the rock then do play-action when the defenses stack the box. Go deep a few times a game. Try to get Thornton to be a factor. That’ll keep a safety deeper.

But not having that online blocking TE is going to hurt. We have Sokol who can block. But can’t catch. But he’s somewhat athletic and very smart.

Lumpkin looks enticing. He fits the bill on a blocking TE. Can he be a factor in the passing game? I’m rooting for him.

Giving up on Firkser?

 

[Real fan 02]

One of the potential glaring weaknesses with the Patriots this year is the lack of an in-line blocking TE. And our tackle play isn’t good enough to compensate.

O LINE has been, and will be the glaring concern on offense.. it all hinges on Trent.. he has shown he can be a dominant player in the league. However he's the wildcard.. I believe we have a 3rd TE on the roster no?

 

[State]

Giving up on Firkser?

He’s 241 pounds. How effective can he be, even if he’s willing? Overrated as a blocker.

 

[Triumph]

I get why “4th quarter comebacks” are a thing, but at the same time you should not be in a position that needs a comeback. Somethings not being done by someone or several someones. And I agree, let’s see it on the field.

It's about being clutch, in control and no situation too big.

 

[Tunescribe]

Who is the blocking TE who can catch and will start?

Not having one, unless Johnny Lumpkin surprises, will make the offense easier to handle by NFL defenses.

Let's wait and see how the offense is configured and with which personnel groupings before forecasting doom & gloom.

 

[Wozzy]

Let's wait and see how the offense is configured and with which personnel groupings before forecasting doom & gloom.

These are the same guys who told us we had no talent in 2014, 2016 and 2018.

 

[Hyped]

I was HOPING that this thread would create a football discussion based on the depth of the information found in the OP. It was a fascinating and more importantly, a great chance for EVERYONE here to learn more about how offenses are formulated, structured and run. It was a LEARNING opportunity.

To that end I am BEGGING all of you to do just that. Go back and read (or re-read) the damned article and let's talk about that. I'll start:

One of the points Connolly makes is connecting the Pats and the RPO series. These are 2 words RARELY mentioned in the same breath. Yet Connolly makes a case that not only would Mac make this offense work, he'd THRIVE in it. And to make his point more emphatic, he pointed out that he's ALREADY thrived in it at Alabama.

So the question is WILL the Pats, and by extension, BOB, go to this offensive look to open up the secondary and take advantage of his "deep ball accuracy" in conjunction with the Pats running game. Can Mac do it? Does he have the athletic skills necessary? I might even show up to one of those early shorts and T-shirt practices to see if we see any "meshes" being done during drills.

My thought as to why we haven’t used RPO plays is because of our offensive line. Whether it was the talent level or the zone blocking scheme…Mac didn’t have much time last year to read the play and hold onto the ball for as long as possible. Then there’s the fumbles we had last year… I think play action based offense fits better as Mac only needs to read the secondary/linebackers and the pass rush presnap vs. reading the run D fit and everything else while deciding to hand off or pass.

But I am all for trying it more often of our tackles can hold up and we ditch the zone blocking scheme.

 

[Kasmir]

help me out then BGC. I don't disagree one bit with your quote above. There is very little "quick twitchiness" from Mac over the last two years. But I thought the 3 cone drill was designed to give teams an INDICATION of "quickness/twitchiness" in athletes and while 7.04 is a marginal time for a DB, it it a very good one in a QB. So why has the guy who ran that time, shown so little of the athleticism it took to get that time?

Is the drill bad or misleading. Are there others that might do it better?

Mac's parents were both accomplished tennis players; his father was MVP on the 1977 NAIA champions and played professionally. His mother and sister played collegiately too.

Tennis is actually a fast twitch game. No way Mac lacks fast twitch abilities. BGC made that up.