{"id":55650,"date":"2024-09-03T09:30:00","date_gmt":"2024-09-03T13:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/patriots\/blog\/?p=55650"},"modified":"2024-09-03T09:31:09","modified_gmt":"2024-09-03T13:31:09","slug":"morse-2024-patriots-season-preview-part-1-offense","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/patriots\/blog\/2024\/09\/03\/morse-2024-patriots-season-preview-part-1-offense\/","title":{"rendered":"MORSE: 2024 Patriots Season Preview Part 1 – Offense"},"content":{"rendered":"

To look forward to the 2024 season you first have to look back at the 2023 season and how we got to this point.\u00a0\u00a0 Warren Sharpe, an NBC Football Analyst, had this to say about 2023 \u201cLooking back, perhaps Bill Belichick simply wanted to get out of coaching so he could get into dating 24-year-olds, but this was absolutely lousy coaching.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bill Belichick the GM left the cupboard bare.\u00a0 He had three different Offensive coordinators in three years.\u00a0 The offensive line had 9 different combinations of starters over the course of the season.\u00a0 To describe the O-line as Swiss Cheese is an insult to Swiss Cheese. \u00a0\u00a0Mac Jones was shell shocked by the constant pressure.\u00a0 He was feeling pressure when there was none.\u00a0 They ruined a potentially quality young QB, and he was toast by the end of the season.\u00a0 He needed a new start, which they mercifully gave him by shipping him off to Jacksonville.<\/p>\n

Robert Kraft did the unthinkable, he fired the all-time greatest Head Coach in the NFL.\u00a0 That set the stage for the process of hiring a new Head Coach and General Manager.\u00a0 Turned out that Jerod Mayo already had a contract in place to become the Head Coach and the search for a new GM was farce with many top candidates refusing to interview. \u00a0The team did not name a General Manager but called the position the Executive Vice President of Player Personnel.<\/p>\n

This was followed with creating a new coaching staff.\u00a0 You can argue they didn\u2019t get any of the top candidates to come here. They ended up with Alex Van Pelt as the Offensive Coordinator, a former Offensive Coordinator at Cleveland that never called plays.\u00a0 Now to be fair he was a long time NFL Quarterback (11 years) after a prolific collage career.\u00a0 Since 2005. He has coached quarterbacks and as Offensive Coordinator.<\/p>\n

This year started with the promise of having a top 3 draft pick in a year with multiple quality QBs coming out.\u00a0 I was in the minority that wanted a top Left Tackle to anchor the Offensive line for years down the road.\u00a0 The Patriots had offers for their number 3 pick and that was from the NY Giants at #6.\u00a0 They could have had two first round picks and another top 100 pick but turned that down to draft Drake Maye.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Drake<\/p>\n

(PHOTO: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports)<\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

During Free Agency they had the most room under the cap to spend on Free Agents. \u00a0However, the NFL added another $30M to the salary cap of each team, making every team able to compete for the top free agents.\u00a0 The Patriots room under the cap became useless in attracting Free Agents because players didn\u2019t want to come to New England.\u00a0 In order to entice a Top Free Agent to come here they would have to pay the \u201cSuck Tax\u201d, meaning they would have to overbid the top offer by a considerable amount because the team sucks.\u00a0 Foxborough is not an attractive place to play because of the weather, no night life, 1st<\/sup> Year Head coach with no previous Head Coaching experience, and the Massachusetts Millionaires Tax (additional 4% tax).\u00a0 The Patriots also scored very badly with the NFL Players Association Team Report Card survey.\u00a0 The areas they were deficient in were Family support (F) and weight room (F).\u00a0 Team travel got a D as did the Team Owner (D+). \u00a0The Patriots did add a new players lounge which may help with the report card next year.<\/p>\n

Eliot Wolf failed to acquire a starting Left Tackle in Free Agency, instead opting to sign Chuks Okorafor, a career Right Tackle to plug in that spot.\u00a0 They also misjudged the draft where there were a plethora of quality Left Tackles available, instead choosing a Wide Receiver (Ja\u2019Lynn Polk) in the 2nd<\/sup> round.\u00a0 Polk will be a good receiver, and he would not have lasted until the 3rd<\/sup> round.\u00a0 However, the priority should have been Tackle.\u00a0 They then chose a Right Tackle they liked very much in Caedan Wallace, perhaps drafting him earlier, rather than risk losing out on him too.\u00a0 They tried Wallace at Left Tackle, and he simply couldn’t play on the left side.\u00a0 The best draft pick may be G Layden Robinson. I didn\u2019t agree with the pick at the time thinking Mason McCormack was a better fit because he could play Center also.\u00a0 \u00a0Robinson is changing my mind and is slated to start at RG kicking Michael Onwenu back to Right tackle.\u00a0 This is a good move in my opinion<\/p>\n

They did spend their money wisely, re-signing 12 of their own Free Agents.\u00a0 This was a positive move that the previous regime wouldn\u2019t do.\u00a0 If a player wanted a 2nd<\/sup> contract from the Patriots, they would have to go elsewhere to get it.\u00a0 Resigning their own draft picks i s the foundation of the \u201cPacker Way\u201d of Draft and Develop that Eliot Wolf was installing.<\/p>\n

I have also liked the construction of the Practice Squad, especially with the young Offensive Linemen they have signed.\u00a0 These are players that appear to work well in Zone Blocking scheme that Alex Van Pelt wants to install here.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Caedan<\/p>\n

(PHOTO: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports)<\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Offensive Line <\/strong><\/h3>\n

In 2023, the offense was actually worse under Bill O\u2019Brien than they were in 2022 under the disaster that was Matt Patricia.\u00a0 This isn\u2019t speculation but fact based upon their final standings.\u00a0 This was related to the high number of injuries the team sustained.\u00a0\u00a0 They were the second most injured team in 2023, per Warren Sharpe\u2019s analysis.\u00a0 They had 9 different starting Offensive Line combinations, never getting any continuity of playing as a cohesive unit.\u00a0 Buffalo in comparison had the same starting line the entire season.<\/p>\n

I expect the 2024 Offensive Line to improve game to game.\u00a0 This depends upon keeping this group healthy and together.\u00a0 David Andrews is the key.\u00a0 The veteran Center signed a 1-year extension this off-season.\u00a0 \u00a0The team Captain is a leader, and he missed time for the 1st<\/sup> time in his career.\u00a0 When he was out the team\u2019s play disintegrated. \u00a0Cole Strange is on PUP.\u00a0 The starting Left Guard lost nearly the entire season and is not scheduled to return until mid- year this season. \u00a0Even when healthy, he has not lived up to the expectation of a 1st<\/sup> round pick.\u00a0 The thinking is that he will switch positions and work out as a Center to back up Andrews.\u00a0 Second-year player Jake Andrews, drafted last year to be groomed as David Andrews’s backup, is out for the year on IR.\u00a0 Nick Leverett was signed as Guard depth, but he has been thrust into the backup Center role and he has struggled with that in Preseason.\u00a0 He has been plugged in as a starter for Sidy Sow at the Left Guard position while Sow recovers from an ankle injury.\u00a0 Sow’s play was a lot better than it looked last year, getting the highest grade of any rookie guard in the league from Pro Football Focus (PFF).<\/p>\n

\n

\"Chukwuma<\/p>\n

(PHOTO: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports)<\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Okorafor is slated to start at Left Tackle.\u00a0 He will be an adventure there, having never played Left Tackle.\u00a0 He was called for three Illegal Procedure penalties in the last Preseason game for not lining up on the line of scrimmage.\u00a0 I wondered if the line was coached to do that and try and get an advantage edge.\u00a0 The team was called 5 times for the same penalty.\u00a0 The flag happy officiating crew under referee Shawn Hochuli were trying to emphasize a league mandated tightening of that alignment penalty.\u00a0 Teams were told ahead of time they would be looking at it closely.\u00a0 The refs even warned them once, but they just kept on doing it.\u00a0 Let\u2019s see if that is cleaned up in week one. \u00a0Caeden Wallace, another Right Tackle only player, tried to play Left Tackle and didn\u2019t fare well.\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t even take the Right Tackle job, and the team decided to move Mike Onwenu back there.\u00a0 The biggest bright spot of the Preseason on the line was the play of 4th<\/sup> round pick Layden Robinson.\u00a0 He is a mauler and received excellent grades from PFF.\u00a0 He was ranked 5th<\/sup> out of all rookies Offensive Linemen for his Preseason play.\u00a0 That include all the 1st<\/sup> and 2nd<\/sup> round OT\u2019s.<\/p>\n

The Patriots took advantage of their high priority standing and claimed two young linemen on waivers at the cutdown. \u00a0Zach Thomas was cut by Rams and was competing for the final roster spot there.\u00a0 He played 3 games last year for the Rams.\u00a0 Thomas plays Guard and Tackle and has experience in the Zone Blocking scheme.\u00a0 The other lineman claimed is Demontrey Jacobs, taken from the Denver Broncos.\u00a0 Many Bronco fans were dismayed that Jacobs was exposed to waivers as they thought he had won the swing tackle role.\u00a0 Both of these linemen had 80+ blocking grades by PFF this summer.<\/p>\n

The Patriots signed UFL All Star Liam Fornadel to the Practice Squad.\u00a0 They asked Fornadel to play Center when Atonio Mafi failed at Center.\u00a0 He had just two weeks to learn and he was thrust into the Preseason game where he struggled.\u00a0 They liked the way he progressed after playing a full UFL season.\u00a0 I also liked the signing of Bryan Hudson from Louisville and Detroit Lions.\u00a0 I watched the 2nd<\/sup> half of the Lions preseason game, and he looked dominant.\u00a0 He is another that is more adept with the Zone Blocking scheme.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Jacoby<\/p>\n

(PHOTO: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports)<\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Jacoby Brissett To Start<\/strong><\/h3>\n

There was never a QB competition.\u00a0 Brissett was signed to be the bridge between whoever the Patriots drafted.\u00a0 He received all the 1st<\/sup> team reps in practice and had the 1st<\/sup> team Offensive Line playing in front of him.\u00a0 Brissett didn\u2019t look good in Preseason and that\u2019s reason for concern.\u00a0 However, throwing the rookie into the fire without having an established Offensive Line in front of him is a way to get him killed and ruin his progress.\u00a0 If Brissett doesn\u2019t play well, then they may have no choice.\u00a0 My concern was that Jerod Mayo when making the announcement stated that Brissett was the starting QB, for the season!<\/p>\n

Drake Maye has made incredible strides in his improvement at QB.\u00a0 His footwork and mechanics were a known problem when they drafted him.\u00a0 He also has small hands for a QB and never took a snap under center in college.\u00a0 He missed his senior year in High School because of COVID and played just two seasons at UNC in the ACC conference, not one of the toughest in college football.\u00a0 Maye turned 22 this week. \u00a0Both seasons at UNC, he never called a play and didn\u2019t see sophisticated defensive blitzes like he will in the pros.\u00a0 I think they missed a big opportunity to play him against the Carolina Panthers in the 1st<\/sup> Preseason game. \u00a0Carolina had one of the worst defenses in the league last year.<\/p>\n

Maye played much better in the last two Preseason games but that was against 2nd<\/sup> and 3rd<\/sup> team players.\u00a0 We got a glimpse of what he could be. Additionally, Maye is supported by arguably the league\u2019s worst receiving corps and a shaky offensive line. That\u2019s bad news for any rookie quarterback but especially one in need of as much development as Maye. In 2023, Maye\u2019s route-adjusted on-target rate was 8.9% below expected, ranked 60th out of 71 qualified Power Five quarterbacks. None of the other first-round quarterbacks posted a number below expected by this metric.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Ja'Lynn<\/p>\n

(PHOTO: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports)<\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Wide Receiver Room the Worst in the League<\/strong><\/h3>\n

In the opinion of national analysts, they have the worst group of Wide Receivers.\u00a0 I don\u2019t believe they are the worst.\u00a0 They lack a true #1 receiver, but they are better than they were a year ago.\u00a0 Addition by subtraction is the theme.\u00a0 They finally got rid of DeVante \u201cVelcro\u201d Parker.\u00a0 He could not separate from any defender.\u00a0 For four straight seasons he had the worst separation rating of any player in the league.\u00a0 Belichick gave him a new contract to boot.\u00a0 Juju Smith-Schuster took the Patriots to the cleaner with his outrageous contract for a player who knew he was only 60%.\u00a0 That was stealing money.\u00a0 He too couldn\u2019t separate.<\/p>\n

Replace them with rookie draft picks Ja\u2019Lynn Polk and Javon Baker.\u00a0 Polk will be one of the biggest surprises in the league and will become the #1 receiver.\u00a0 Pop Douglas had a good rookie season until he got hurt.\u00a0 Because of his diminutive size he is always going to be susceptible to injury.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Tyquan<\/p>\n

(PHOTO: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports)<\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Tyquan Thornton had a good summer and will start outside.\u00a0 \u00a0No one questions his speed, but can he play like an NFL wide receiver and make those tough catches.\u00a0 KJ Osborn gives them a veteran presence. \u00a0Kayshon Boutte beat out Jaken Reagor for the final spot.\u00a0 The team has him under contract for 2 more years after this year and that may have been the deciding factor.\u00a0 He needs to hold onto more of those targets.\u00a0 Reagor may excel at Kickoffs, but that wasn\u2019t enough to save his spot.\u00a0 He was resigned to the Practice Squad.\u00a0 Reagor has a reputation for dropping passes and that trait may be what sunk him.\u00a0 \u00a0Don\u2019t forget about Kendrick Bourne coming off of PUP.\u00a0 He immediately becomes the top receiver on the team.\u00a0 There is no timetable for Bourne to come off PUP, but he saw him working very hard to get on the field.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Hunter<\/p>\n

(PHOTO: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports)<\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Tight Ends<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Hunter Henry resigned with the Patriots.\u00a0 He was one of team Captains last season and should take on the same role this year.\u00a0 He missed considerable time in camp, but it was a minor injury that they were just being cautious with.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0He is back and should thrive in the AVP Offense.\u00a0 Van Pelt often uses multiple TE formations.\u00a0 The Patriots also acquired 29-year-old Austin Hooper in Free Agency.\u00a0 The steady 8-year veteran made the Pro Bowl in 2018 and 20219 for Atlanta with back-to-back 70+ reception seasons.\u00a0 He is not that player anymore but is very reliable.\u00a0 Rookie 7th<\/sup> Round pick Jaheim Bell made the team after a very good final Pre-season game in which he played nearly the whole game.\u00a0 I feel the front office kept players they drafted over players selected by the previous administration.\u00a0 This goes back to the philosophy of draft and develop. There were better Tight Ends available at the cutdown they passed on to keep Bell.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Drake<\/p>\n

(PHOTO: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports)<\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Running backs<\/strong><\/h3>\n

This is a strength of the team even though they kept just three backs.\u00a0 I expect Rhamondre Stevenson to have a big year in the AVP offense.\u00a0 The Patriots want to run the ball and pass off of play action.\u00a0 The big surprise in the cuts was runningback Kevin Harris.\u00a0 Looking back, he is the same type of runningback as Stevenson and Gibson, He lacks the outside speed.\u00a0 Glad he made it through waivers, and I expect he will be elevated from the Practice Squad as needed.\u00a0 Antonio Gibson is known for his catch passing ability, but he is a strong runner inside and has the speed to bounce outside as well.\u00a0 He will see plenty of action when Stevenson needs a blow. He is a big back also, that can be split wide to take advantage of matchups against slower linebackers.\u00a0 James Hasty had a very good camp and his ability as a 3rd down back in the screen games was evident. He is smaller and shiftier, but showed he is good at picking up the blitz.\u00a0 Rookie UDFA Terrell Jennings showed flashes also, earning a spot on the Practice Squad.\u00a0 He led the Patriots in YPC this summer.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

To look forward to the 2024 season you first have to look back at the 2023 season and how we got to this point.\u00a0\u00a0 Warren Sharpe, an NBC Football Analyst, had this to say about 2023 \u201cLooking back, perhaps Bill Belichick simply wanted to get out of coaching so he could get into dating 24-year-olds, but this was absolutely lousy coaching.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":55472,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_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":""},"categories":[11,10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-55650","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-patriots-commentary","category-patriots-news"],"yoast_head":"\nMORSE: 2024 Patriots Season Preview Part 1 - Offense<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"To look forward to the 2024 season you first have to look back at the 2023 season and how we got to this point.\u00a0\u00a0 Warren Sharpe, an NBC Football Analyst, had this to say about 2023 \u201cLooking back, perhaps Bill Belichick 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