We have a mini-break in week 11 and I am filling the time with an analysis of the Offense.\u00a0 During the bye week, I will do the same for the Defense.<\/p>\n
QB <\/strong><\/p>\n Mac Jones<\/strong> – Did anyone think that he would be as good as he has been so far this year?\u00a0 I can\u2019t believe how quickly he has absorbed the playbook and the nuances of playing the Quarterback position in the Pros.\u00a0 Jones is in line to break Dak Prescott\u2019s completion percentage rookie record of 69%.\u00a0 Currently, Jones stands at 70.2% completion percentage, 245 of 349 passes for 2,540 yards, 14 TDs to 8 INT, and a 94.7 QB rating.\u00a0 The Interception number is the only real negative.\u00a0 At the beginning of the season, Jones was blitzed over 50% of the time.\u00a0 Lately, the number of blitzes has been down around 35%.\u00a0 The easy part of the season is over and they have 4 quality opponents (TEN at home, @BUF, BYE, @IND, and BUF at home) coming up in the next 5 weeks.\u00a0 I would expect to see these teams blitz a lot more and put the pressure on Jones.<\/p>\n Brian Hoyer –<\/strong> \u00a0He has not been required to play and only came in for mop-up duty.\u00a0 Against CLE he was 3 for 3 and a TD.\u00a0 For the season he is 6 of 7 (85.7%) for 164 yards and a TD.<\/p>\n Jarrett Stidham <\/strong>– The Patriots have not given up on and have activated him from the Physically Unable to Play (PUP) list and he is occupying a roster spot.\u00a0 He has been inactive since being added to the roster.<\/p>\n RB<\/strong><\/p>\n James White<\/strong> \u2013 This is a strong position on the team.\u00a0 Any team that can withstand the early season-ending injury of James White has to have a strong RB room.<\/p>\n Damien Harris<\/strong> – I expected Harris to have a big year and his 603 yards is proof of that.\u00a0 He is averaging 4.2 yards per carry, and has scored 7 TDs.\u00a0 He has also fumbled twice in 10 games.\u00a0 He was hurt in one game with a concussion and missed the following game too.<\/p>\n Rhamondre Stevenson<\/strong> –\u00a0 Has been a big surprise so far.\u00a0 We thought he was going to be good after an impressive pre-season.\u00a0 However, he ended up in Bill Belichick’s doghouse with fumbling issues early in the season.\u00a0 Slowly he worked his way back into the lineup.\u00a0 He has played in 7 games, some missed games were inactive healthy scratches by the coach and another was a concussion injury.\u00a0 He has 305 yards and a 4.6 average.\u00a0 Add 3 TDs rushing to those numbers.\u00a0 The more impressive number is his 12 receptions on 14 targets for 117 yards and 9.8 average.\u00a0 He doesn\u2019t have any TDs but does have a big fumble that put him in the doghouse.\u00a0 That fumble happened early in the opening game versus Miami. \u00a0I like the way that both Harris and Stevenson run.\u00a0 The 1st<\/sup> tackler never brings them down.\u00a0 Stevenson has shown good vision and an ability to make defenders miss him.<\/p>\n Brandon Bolden<\/strong> – \u00a0Every year fans discount the contribution Bolden has made to the team and call for him to be cut.\u00a0 They look at him as strictly a Special Teams Player.\u00a0 He is special alright.\u00a0 He has taken over the role that James White had as a third-down specialist.\u00a0 His pass blocking and blitz pickup have been outstanding.\u00a0 His 26 rushing attempts for 141 yards, the 5.4-yard average is impressive. \u00a0He filled in the lead running back role when both Harris and Stevenson were out with concussions. \u00a0Receiving he is 27 of 29 for 242 yards and a 9.0 average.\u00a0 He has no TDs and one fumble.<\/p>\n JJ Taylor <\/strong>\u2013 has been a huge disappointment so far in limited action.\u00a0 He has 19 rushing attempts for 37 yards for a paltry 1.9 average in 5 games played.\u00a0 Receiving he is 4 for 4,\u00a0 for only 8 yards.\u00a0 He is not big enough to run between the tackles and has not shown a burst of speed to get around the ends.\u00a0 Looking back at his pre-draft evaluation, he is the same speed as Bolden.<\/p>\n Jakob Johnson<\/strong> – has received tremendous accolades for his run blocking.\u00a0 He has become a real force out there in the run game.\u00a0 He has added the ability to make an occasional catch as well.\u00a0 He has 4 catches on 4 targets for 34 yards and an 11.3 average. \u00a0<\/strong>Troy Aikman was singing his praises in the Thursday Night game stating that Belichick had said he was the most improved player he has ever coached outside of Stephen Neal.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n WR<\/strong><\/p>\n Kendrick Bourne<\/strong> – has emerged as the top receiver on the Patriots.\u00a0 His 562 yards, 15.2 average, 37 receptions on 47 targets, 78.7% catch percentage are all the highest on the team.\u00a0 He has found the endzone 3 times.<\/p>\n Jakobi Meyers \u00a0<\/strong>– \u00a0You would think that Meyers has been the most reliable receiver on the team, he has not.\u00a0 He has 54 catches on 83 targets.\u00a0 That\u2019s 28 missed passes.\u00a0 For a slot receiver without speed that\u2019s a dangerous combination.\u00a0 His 522 yards is 2nd<\/sup> on the team for a low 9.0 average.\u00a0 Meyers was shut down by Stephon Gilmore in week 9.\u00a0 Gilmore has done that to a lot better receivers than Meyers. \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Nelson Agholor <\/strong>\u2013 He has been the big-play receiver the Patriots were hoping for.\u00a0 It has just taken some time to develop between Jones and the O Line giving Jones the time to pass downfield.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>Agholor came into the team as having problems holding onto the ball. \u00a0He comes as advertised making 29 catches on 51 targets for 396 yards, 13.7 average, and 3 TDs.\u00a0 Now that the chains have been taken off Jones, he is looking downfield more often.<\/p>\n N\u2019Keal Harry<\/strong> – is slowly beginning to contribute with 8 catches on 10 targets and 117 yards and 14.6 yards per catch.\u00a0 His biggest contribution has been his blocking. He is crushing people with his down blocking from the Split End position.<\/p>\n Gunner Olszewski<\/strong> \u2013 has contributed mainly on Special Teams as the Punt Returner.\u00a0 His numbers as a punt returner have been the best in the league over the past two years.\u00a0 He was knocked out of the game and he missed a game.\u00a0 He has returned 10 punts for 242 yards and a 24.2 average according to ESPN.\u00a0 Another source has him 2nd<\/sup> in the league to BAL Devin Duvernay.\u00a0 Either way the 2020 AP All-Pro 1st<\/sup> team Punt Returner is having another good year.\u00a0 One voter stated that Olszewskis punt returns had twice the value of any other players.<\/p>\n Kristian Wilkerson<\/strong> – has dressed for a few games but reverted right back to the Practice Squad without entering the scorebook.<\/p>\n TE<\/strong><\/p>\n Hunter Henry <\/strong>\u2013 has lived up to his reputation as a top free-agent TE.\u00a0 He had a stretch of 7 TDs in 7 games and has become the top red-zone target of Mac Jones.\u00a0 He has 33 catches on 45 targets for 378 yards and an 11.5 average and 7 TDs.\u00a0 His blocking has been better than advertised.<\/p>\n Jonnu Smith<\/strong> \u2013 Has been the biggest disappointment of the free agents signed by Belichick in the off-season spending spree. \u00a0I don\u2019t know if it\u2019s the pressure that goes along with making the big money, but Smith has just gotten off to a horrible start.\u00a0 McDaniels seems to be forcing the ball to Smith to get him involved and boost his confidence.\u00a0 He looks like a player that has lost his confidence.\u00a0 He has 22 catches on 36 targets for 210 yards, 9.1 average, and a TD.\u00a0 He has also run 4 times for 20 yards and a 5-yard average.\u00a0 They are looking for new and creative ways to get Smith involved.<\/p>\n Devin Asiasi<\/strong> has only been active for one game and didn\u2019t get into the scoresheet.<\/p>\n Matt LaCosse<\/strong> was activated from the Practice Squad for one game and returned after the game.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n OL <\/strong>– \u00a0The O Line has come a long way since the start of the season.\u00a0 In the second series of the year, Trent Brown went down.\u00a0 They were dysfunctional to start the season. \u00a0Michael Onwenu was starting at Left Guard.\u00a0 He has been replaced by Ted Karras. At one point 4\/5ths of the starting line was missing.\u00a0 A patchwork Oline saved the Houston game and they have been on a roll ever since.<\/p>\n Isaiah Wynn<\/strong> \u2013 He has been active for all but one game and that was the Houston game.\u00a0 He has improved dramatically as the season has moved along.\u00a0 He may have missed Joe Thuney, whom he leaned on for support.<\/p>\n Ted Karras<\/strong> \u00a0– He more than anyone on the line has become a steady, solidifying force.\u00a0 He has played in 11 games and started 7.\u00a0 He replaced Michael Onwenu at LG.<\/p>\n David Andrews<\/strong> \u2013 The captain of the O Line has been steady all year.\u00a0 Rarely does he get beat?\u00a0 He has started all but 1 game.<\/p>\n Shaq Mason<\/strong> \u2013 The undersized Right Guard is still a devastating run blocker that occasionally gets beat in pass blocking.\u00a0 With the return of Trent Brown to Right Tackle, they make a road grading pair on that right side.<\/p>\n Trent Brown<\/strong> \u2013 We didn\u2019t think he was ever coming back from the calf injury that sidelined him for 8 games.\u00a0 Once he returned, the Patriots’ O line dismantled the number 3 defensive line of Cleveland.\u00a0 He is so big he has his own Zip Code.<\/p>\n Michael Onwenu<\/strong> \u2013 He was playing out of position to start the season and it hurt the Patriots.\u00a0 He is a right-side O Lineman that can\u2019t switch to the left side.\u00a0 When playing on the right side he is great.\u00a0 When Trent Brown came back it was Onwenu that lost his job.\u00a0 He is now playing as the third TE.\u00a0 When he is in the game now on that right side with Mason and Brown, you can definitely say \u201cWhere is the beef\u201d!<\/p>\n Justin Herron<\/strong> \u2013 He filled in for Wynn at Left Tackle and did a good job.\u00a0 When he was asked to play Right Tackle he struggled.<\/p>\n Yodny Cajuste<\/strong> \u2013 can actually play and he did so very well at Left Tackle, but just not often enough.\u00a0 He is a capable backup.<\/p>\n James Ferentz<\/strong> \u2013 he may have saved the season filing in at Guard.\u00a0 He played in 3 games and started 2.\u00a0 He was activated to the 53 man roster but was later released and re-signed to the Practice Squad.<\/p>\n Yasir Durant<\/strong> \u2013 The late pre-season acquisition from the KC Chiefs has been a major disappointment.\u00a0 He is another player they have been playing out of position. \u00a0He has the size to play Tackle but just isn\u2019t a Tackle.\u00a0 He played Tackle badly for KC and he has for NE too, eventually being benched.\u00a0 He has played in 6 games, starting one.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" We have a mini-break in week 11 and I am filling the time with an analysis of the Offense.\u00a0 During the bye week, I will do the same for the Defense.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":38211,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_pfeai_meta_description":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[22712],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-38809","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-2021-patriots-season"],"yoast_head":"\n