PostGame Thread 2023 Week 2: Patriots Lose to Dolphins 24-17

[Triumph]

I don't know what you're looking for. Tua certainly had better protection and a pretty clean pocket all night, with the Patriots having to limit the rush because they also have Hill and Waddle and didn't want to get beat down the field. Jones won a title throwing to that guy (Waddle) in college, and I'm sure if you add one or both to this group, things look different.

You're looking for Jones to play like Brady with an offensive line that has yet to have the same guys start two games together and wideouts that struggled to get much separation last night. I don't know what to tell you. Pretty sure any quarterback, with Brady being the lone exception, would have had a tough time to this point. He's a third-year QB. It is what it is. If they're not going to protect him, what we saw these first two weeks is likely going to continue. They need continuity up front and haven't had it yet.

Going to extremes implying that I expect Jones to be Brady is just smoke and mirrors.

No, I dont expect another Brady. What I do expect is NE QB play up to NFL standards. To be clear, I am not so sure that Jones can outplay Wilson next week.

 

[sb1]

i read this, but in the 4th quarter last night mac had this team on his back.......one bad throw that i blame more on parker aside, mac piggybacked this group pretty well last night


not super concerned about the 6.7 or the time for tua......they game planned to force miami into running the ball, and taking the short throws......blitzes were few and far between, but were effective......i think the biggest issue with the defensive gameplan last night was injuries (and some lousy tackling, which is on the NFLPA imho, it's rampant league wide)

i still see this team at 3-3 headed into the bill game

Hope you're right.

then again, i'm almost 52.......i'm busy with the kids, i've had a childhood friend pass in the past few weeks, am about to lose a treasured work colleague of 23 years.....my fandom has changed.......i like watching a competitive game, i'm invested in the process itself and the entertainment value of the game; i'm not as emotionally invested in the do or die notion of having to win.....i want to see this team do well, of course, but........i

Sorry to hear. That's really tough. All about what's really important...

 

[sb1]

What I do expect is NE QB play up to NFL standards.

I agree so hopefully your smurf buddy is punted off the roster because he never will reach anything close to that level.

 

[Chevy]

At this point, I really do not care who starts on the OL. I just want to see the same five bodies in the same positions three weeks in a row. That's it. Get some real game experience and learn to work as a team.

That's all ... not asking too much, am I?

 

[Nunchucks]

I am thinking the patriots have a good shot at 1-4 or 0-4.

 

[Ian]

A defense so deep that Phillips, Mills & Uche play less than 50% of the snaps.

An offense so thin that Anderson is the starting RT, there is no swing tackle & two 6th round picks get early playing time at WR.

Belichick's skill position moves since 2018

2018: Re-sign RB Rex Burkhead 3 years 9.75 million Sign RB Jeremy Hill, WR Jordan Matthews & WR Eric Decker as camp competition Draft RB Sony Michel 31st overall (round 1) Draft WR Braxton Berrios 210th overall (round 6) Trade a 5th round pick for WR Josh Gordon & a 7th round pick Offense...

www.patsfans.com

2023 update:

Sign JuJu-Smith Schuster 3 years 25.5 million
Re-sign Devante Parker 2 years 10.8 million
Sign Mike Gesicki 1 year 4.5 million
Sign Ezekiel Elliott 1 year 3 million
Sign Ty Montgomery 1 year 1.15 million
Draft Kayshon Boutte 187th overall (6th round)
Draft Demario Douglas 210th overall (6th round)

Evidence continues to grow that BB can't construct a contending roster in today's NFL and should not be in charge of the team's $115 million in cap space next year. Not sure how the offense improves when they don't have anything resembling a #2 option IMO.

He can, on defense. But the offensive side of the football is an area where I certainly have some questions. And I don't think Smith-Schuster's rehab went the way he probably hoped, but that's the risk you make with that signing. Things might look much different by July compared to March if his rehab isn't ideal. No idea if that's the case, but the whispers - and the results on the field so far - aren't all that encouraging.

 

[mike_usagisan]

He can, on defense. But the offensive side of the football is an area where I certainly have some questions. And I don't think Smith-Schuster's rehab went the way he probably hoped, but that's the risk you make with that signing. Things might look much different by July compared to March if his rehab isn't ideal. No idea if that's the case, but the whispers - and the results on the field so far - aren't all that encouraging.

The thing that strikes me is we aren't paying any of our WRs #1 WR money and not surprisingly, none of them are #1 WRs. Algohor made more money than Parker or JuJu are getting. This offseason, it's time to invest in someone.

 

[Ian]

Belichick's blind spot to the need for speed on defense and the value of an elite WR is also killing this team. He is running this team as if he still has Brady to cover up all the deficiencies on this team. Mac Jones isn't a guy who can do that. At this rate, Belichick won't get Shula's record until 2025. Do we need to have three years of mediocre football to allow Belichick to retire on his own terms?

I disagree on not addressing the need for speed on defense. They've absolutely done that and they dumped a lot of the slower guys and instead went athletes on the defensive side of the football, including grabbing Mapu. Tavai had trouble early on, but it felt like that got better as the game went on. The killer last night was also the fact that Jonathan Jones and then Marcus Jones were both out. Those were their two best athletes, and not having them was brutal. What's sort of crazy is even without those guys, they held on until things eventually broke down.

On the elite WR comment, I definitely agree with you on that. Or at least a guy who is a threat. But I think the medical intel they got on Smith-Schuster may have been off, and I would say that's probably the one person I'm concerned about. If he can't help them, then it's going to be a tough year because Parker certainly shouldn't be your top guy, and I don't know if Bourne is up for it either.

 

[RobertWeathers]

I am thinking the patriots have a good shot at 1-4 or 0-4.

Jets with Wilson at QB are awful.....

If they lose that game that'll be a tough hole to climb out of.

 

[long distance]

With no tackles and rusty guards they did as well as they could.

Its a minor miracle BoB & Mac can muster any kind of offence behind the CLUSTER**** OL before we even get to WR issues : )

Visiting two of the most explosive D-lines in the business doesnt bode any better..

 

[jdlboot14]

So many problems. So much frustration.
But, the team isn't worthless. There's hidden positives.
It's just messy, and lacking urgency in the first half (again, a repeat of all last year).

 

[Ian]

Going to extremes implying that I expect Jones to be Brady is just smoke and mirrors.

No, I dont expect another Brady. What I do expect is NE QB play up to NFL standards. To be clear, I am not so sure that Jones can outplay Wilson next week.

It's not smoke and mirrors. And you made the comparison between what Tua did vs what Mac did acting like they were on an even playing field. Switch up the situation last night and put Tua behind that line with only Parker and Bourne to throw to. I don't know how much better that would have gone. But I know if you put Mac behind that offensive line with Waddle (who, like Tua, played with him in college) and Hill, I feel like things absolutely would have been different.

 

[jdlboot14]

With no tackles and rusty guards they did as well as they could.

Its a minor miracle BoB & Mac can muster any kind of offence behind the CLUSTER**** OL before we even get to WR issues : )

Did Onwenu get hurt, or they just pulled him the 2nd half due to rust/stamina?

Strange got better as the game went on. But, Lowe/Anderson flipping to LT/RT was odd. Those tackles were awful though. Many plays where both Ends got to Mac in about .5 seconds.

 

[patsfanfromoversea]

With no tackles and rusty guards they did as well as they could.

Its a minor miracle BoB & Mac can muster any kind of offence behind the CLUSTER**** OL before we even get to WR issues : )

The lack of urgency to address the OT situation in FA or the draft and then get some day 3 picks along with late trades for some backups at best is a miracle
There is no reasonable explanation for not addressing this issue
It was clear last year, it was clear this season that this is a mess

Especially if you have no high end #1 WR and MJ as your qb you need a top tier line

Look at the o line in Detroit, goff looks good there and some average wr except st brown make plays because they have time

 

[jdlboot14]

One of the worst parts of this is continuing a horrible record at home the last 4 years. We used to have one of the best home field advantages, and now it seems we're among the worst.

 

[Jim Beankie]

Regarding the punt block, I saw someone mention elsewhere that Pats did it (JoJones) last year. I remember even before then talking about trying to get a running start on stuff like this (O/D and especially ST) even with the timing issues, since acceleration from even 0-10mph takes so darn long.

 

[Ian]

One of the worst parts of this is continuing a horrible record at home the last 4 years. We used to have one of the best home field advantages, and now it seems we're among the worst.

Sort of surprised it wasn't louder last night, especially when they were out there on defense. Was hoping that with that end of the field being closed in, things would improve there but it doesn't feel like that's been the case so far.

 

[sb1]

But I think the medical intel they got on Smith-Schuster may have been off

Makes me wonder too. There might have been a good reason why the Chiefs who do not have great WRs right now decided he was expendable.

Guys who are top YAC receivers don't hit the wall like this unless their body makes them.

 

[UGAPatsfan]

I don't know what you're looking for. Tua certainly had better protection and a pretty clean pocket all night, with the Patriots having to limit the rush because they also have Hill and Waddle and didn't want to get beat down the field. Jones won a title throwing to that guy (Waddle) in college, and I'm sure if you add one or both to this group, things look different.

You're looking for Jones to play like Brady with an offensive line that has yet to have the same guys start two games together and wideouts that struggled to get much separation last night. I don't know what to tell you. Pretty sure any quarterback, with Brady being the lone exception, would have had a tough time to this point. He's a third-year QB. It is what it is. If they're not going to protect him, what we saw these first two weeks is likely going to continue. They need continuity up front and haven't had it yet.

I think most of us would agree that Bill just hasn’t been good enough putting talent on the team esp on offense.

Parker extension was odd, Jonu was horrible, Agholor…oof. There are more but why bother.

Just SO many misses.

It’s fair to ask the question “is 70 YO Bill even capable of putting a solid offensive unit together in 2023?”

Just seems to be an evaluation/philosophy problem.

Defense no longer wins.

Have to be able to score 24 min nowadays

 

[Ian]

Makes me wonder too. There might have been a good reason why the Chiefs who do not have great WRs right now decided he was expendable.

Guys who are top YAC receivers don't hit the wall like this unless their body makes them.

If it doesn't get better, they're going to have to do something ahead of the deadline, and it may require giving up something meaningful to get it. That may be a decision they'll have to make if the right guy is available, especially if it's a Welker-esque type of situation where they can potentially extend that person and keep them in the fold for the long term.