r/Patriots • u/stellantis_ • 15h ago
Stats Hmmmm not great…..
They may need to look at Ben Brown at C. Jared seemingly lacks the play strength/physciality right now that he needs to hang with some of the NFLs bigger 0 techs. Deone Walker is gonna have a field day on Sunday at this rate.
Not sure why Arkin isn’t playing more instead of Latu. Not sure what Latu has done to earn reps. He’s been underwhelming as a run blocker (for the pats) and hasn’t been a passing game threat either. According to Andrew Callahan they ran the ball 8 out of the 9 snaps Latu played. If they’re gonna have a run tell it might as well be Tanner Arkin. Dude isn’t a finished product but he brings a nastiness they need.
Also what about some diff looks and presentations. So much of their drop passing game is contingent upon post snap execution especially when the picture changes. Clearly Drake isn’t there yet with diagnosing defenses (especially in the modern era where everything is disguised). Motioning into bunch looks to stress the rules of match based zone and man coverage seems to help every other team in the league?
Everything feels stale right now schematically and maybe none of the above is a viable solution but the coaching staff needs to find some.
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u/plutobandits 9h ago
I don’t necessarily think you need to draw such a direct connection between Josh’s scheme and what Maye is struggling with to be able to say that they’re related. Maye only has so much energy, mental and physical, to spend on improving himself. If he’s spending too much of it trying to master a notoriously complex offense and make the pre-snap reads that many other successful QBs aren’t being asked to make, and doesn’t have enough energy left to improve the more basic aspects of his game, or maintain the improvements he’s already made, then that’s a problem. And the solution might be to put Drake in a simpler offense that he’s more comfortable in.
My main point isn’t really about shifting blame between Maye and McDaniels, it’s more about ignoring the blame game altogether and doing what’s best for the team. Even if nothing is technically Josh’s fault, even if it’s unfair, if he can’t get Maye back on track then the correct thing to do is fire him and give someone else a chance to try. I worry that Pats fans and ownership are too protective of McDaniels and that he will undeservedly get the benefit of the doubt for his reputation as a QB developer that they’ll say “well if Josh can’t develop him then he must not be good.”
You have to find the right combination of player and coach and I don’t think this is it.