QB play makes up for the running game....

[Real fan 02]

We have had past patriots teams that we're not great at running the ball 2003, 2014, 2016 to point out a few years and we won superbowls those seasons.

Not implying that this 2025 team is a superbowl team, but wanted to point out that with those past patiots teams the reason why the running game didn't hamper us is do to elite QB play.

We Now have this back in new England. Yeah as fans we can all critique the running game..however Drake is elevating this offense and has entered the conversation of becoming elite.

Before some say... " yeah But".. think about the football you've had to endure the last few seasons. As a fan I am appreciative of the quality of football that I have to watch now. Of course the team can and will improve, however 4-2,. And proving themselves to be one of the best teams not only in the AFCE but the NFL.

We can all say we have a young talented QB that is becoming elite right before our eyes.. this helps balance out the offense to make up for a lacking running game.

 

[brdmaverick]

Fair point, yes, the brilliance of Tom Brady has been able to overcome soooo much....even the lack of a running game.

And yes, yesterday we saw the same thing from Drake Maye. The running game couldn't do squat, and the refs were stacked against us, but Maye still GOT THE JOB DONE!

One thing that might concern me though, is that Brady pretty much always had a good receiving RB safety valve including Kevin Faulk, Shane Vereen, and James White.

But Brady didn't have Maye's escapability/running ability....so maybe that makes up for the lack of a quality receiving RB.

 

[NovaScotiaPatsFan]

Until we run into a defense that can make us one dimensional. Really barring surprise there are only three on our schedule that could do it. The Falcons are ranked 2nd against the pass in the league, the JEST are ranked 1 and the Bucs are ranked 6th.

The JEST don't have enough offense to threaten us even if they can stop the pass, but the Falcons and the Bucs could. They have the 7th and 8th best offenses respectively.

 

[ScottishPatriots]

Being totally unable to run the ball is going to be a huge issue when trying to hold onto a one score lead against a top flight quarterback, the Patriots aren't just a bad running team right now it's basically a wasted down, that's a lot of pressure to put on a second year quarterback at the end of these games.

We are totally unable to survive a mediocre Drake Maye game, we have basically no offense outside of him.

It's fine for now since we're glad to be finally winning games again but long term this not a world you want to live in where your QB can't play an average game and win.

I know it's not all on the RBs but if the opportunity presents itself i wouldn't be against trading a lower round pick for a back especially if we're 5-2, 6-2 in a wide open AFC, you never want to waste a year on a problem you didn't try to fix since you never know what happens next year with injuries and harder schedule.

 

[NovaScotiaPatsFan]

Can anyone who knows Xs and Os better explain what's wrong with our running game? From my limited view it looks like our O-Line can't block the run to save their lives. Like we've got defenders in the backfield before our RB even gets the ball, but if it's all the runner's fault I'd like to know.

 

[SammyBlueCat]

Everyone knows what I want from RBs

 

[Hugepatsfan]

I think it will be tough for Maye to compensate the same way. It comes down to what BB talks about here:



The part about the worst situation being in long yardage. The thing that made Tom special, for all the good plays he made, was the bad plays he didn't make. An effective running game is usually a good way for teams to "stay on schedule" and avoid those bad plays. Tom as was special at being able to do that through the passing game even.

Maye's skill set as a player is geared more towards throwing downfield and making plays on the move. That leaves you a bit more susceptible to incomplete passes and sacks compared to how Brady plays. If you let Brady throw on first and second down, I think you're more likely to either have a 1st down already or be in a favorable third down yardage situation compared to doing that with Maye. I just don't think on a drive to drive basis you're ever going to be as consistently efficient with Maye using the passing game instead of the running game, because that ability is honestly probably the biggest driving factor in Brady being the GOAT and is probably what led to those teams being super bowl caliber on offense for at least 2 of the 3 years OP mentioned (2003 I think it's a stretch to say Brady was at that level).

 

[n1997y]

Everyone knows what I want from RBs

I’m a little slow so I forget what that was, so please give me a quick reminder…

 

[TommyD4207]

I’m a little slow so I forget what that was, so please give me a quick reminder…

 

[Mack Herron]

 

[Real fan 02]

I’m a little slow so I forget what that was, so please give me a quick reminder…

Sammy wants...

 

[Real fan 02]

If they did a fire sale.. and somehow Simmons became available would you do it? (Yes I know milt)

 

[TommyD4207]

If they did a fire sale.. and somehow Simmons became available would you do it? (Yes I know milt)

For Jeffrey Simmons?
Yes, I'd do it yesterday.

 

[Kdo5]

Blocking sucks. Rham cant run with confidence because he’s scared of fumbling. Henderson can’t block right now and struggles to break tackles. Lacking the elusiveness that we hoped for.

But a lot of it still circles back to the blocking.

 

[TommyD4207]

Blocking sucks. Rham cant run with confidence because he’s scared of fumbling. Henderson can’t block right now and struggles to break tackles. Lacking the elusiveness that we hoped for.

But a lot of it still circles back to the blocking.

Stop with that. He had a couple of great blitz pickups in the Saints game.

 

[Real fan 02]

For Jeffrey Simmons?
Yes, I'd do it yesterday.

Yes sir, for some reason I feel like he will be made available... Simmons , Williams, Barmore, Tonga ... imagine that on the defensive line...