Uptown
Standin' Pat
- Joined
- Aug 26, 2016
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Rich Hill via Pats Pulpit:
4. “Patriots WR Brandin Cooks still has zero targets inside the red zone, despite Tom Bradyhaving 35 red zone attempts (Cooks does has a two-point conversion). Chris Hogan and Rob Gronkowski both have 9 targets, while James White has 6 and Danny Amendola has 5. Cooks is the other big time receiver on the Patriots and while he’s drawing double coverage he needs to be more involved.
The percentage of Patriots drives that reach the red zone and result in a touchdown has dropped from 65% from 2014-16 to 58% in 2017, an indication that the Patriots are failing to punch the ball into the end zone. There’s an even more striking decline on drives that reach inside the 10 yard line, with 76% of such drives from 2014-16 ending in touchdowns, versus only 60% in 2017.
New England is leaving a lot of points on the board and they need to find ways to get Cooks involved in the red zone.”
5. “Football Outsiders ranks the Patriots offensive line first in the NFL for run blocking, which is surprising based on how little the Patriots have relied on their run game. The Patriots offensive line provides 4.92 adjusted line yards, which is the value Football Outsiders assigns to the offensive line out of the team’s rushing production.
The Patriots are graded so well because they do a good job avoiding both negative plays (only 18% of runs gain zero or fewer yards, 5th best in the NFL) and getting running backs to the second level 5-10 yards down the field (also 5th best). The New England running game has struggled on short-yardage runs (22nd) and on breakaway runs 10+ yards down the field (29th), but the fact the Patriots backs always seem to avoid negative runs and end up 5-10 yards down the field reflects well on the offensive line.
New England’s struggles in short yardage means the Patriots shouldn’t ask more of the running game by the goal line, but perhaps they should think about handing the ball off more between the 5-19 yard line.
This is where the loss of Julian Edelman has been felt the most. Edelman led the Patriots with 28 receptions on 51 targets in this range from 2014-16 and he would always put the Patriots in position to score. The Patriots have asked more of James White in this area of the field (10 yards on 6 targets), but perhaps simply running the ball would be more fruitful.”
4. “Patriots WR Brandin Cooks still has zero targets inside the red zone, despite Tom Bradyhaving 35 red zone attempts (Cooks does has a two-point conversion). Chris Hogan and Rob Gronkowski both have 9 targets, while James White has 6 and Danny Amendola has 5. Cooks is the other big time receiver on the Patriots and while he’s drawing double coverage he needs to be more involved.
The percentage of Patriots drives that reach the red zone and result in a touchdown has dropped from 65% from 2014-16 to 58% in 2017, an indication that the Patriots are failing to punch the ball into the end zone. There’s an even more striking decline on drives that reach inside the 10 yard line, with 76% of such drives from 2014-16 ending in touchdowns, versus only 60% in 2017.
New England is leaving a lot of points on the board and they need to find ways to get Cooks involved in the red zone.”
5. “Football Outsiders ranks the Patriots offensive line first in the NFL for run blocking, which is surprising based on how little the Patriots have relied on their run game. The Patriots offensive line provides 4.92 adjusted line yards, which is the value Football Outsiders assigns to the offensive line out of the team’s rushing production.
The Patriots are graded so well because they do a good job avoiding both negative plays (only 18% of runs gain zero or fewer yards, 5th best in the NFL) and getting running backs to the second level 5-10 yards down the field (also 5th best). The New England running game has struggled on short-yardage runs (22nd) and on breakaway runs 10+ yards down the field (29th), but the fact the Patriots backs always seem to avoid negative runs and end up 5-10 yards down the field reflects well on the offensive line.
New England’s struggles in short yardage means the Patriots shouldn’t ask more of the running game by the goal line, but perhaps they should think about handing the ball off more between the 5-19 yard line.
This is where the loss of Julian Edelman has been felt the most. Edelman led the Patriots with 28 receptions on 51 targets in this range from 2014-16 and he would always put the Patriots in position to score. The Patriots have asked more of James White in this area of the field (10 yards on 6 targets), but perhaps simply running the ball would be more fruitful.”
