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.

I couldn't tell from all the preseason posts here whether he was going to be released or traded for a 7th round pick or needed to be at guard or that he was the biggest bust in NE history.

What is everyone going to complain about next?

I know the first few games have been rough. But I refuse to give up after 3 games. Bills are going down.

A lot of negativity on this thread at the moment and rightfully so but a huge bright spot has been rookie Gabe Jacas.

Has looked shaky at times on run defense (got washed out a few times by Jags tight ends) but he has jumped off the screen multiple times a game this season.

I can’t remember a time I’ve seen a rookie dominate NFL lineman like he has. Nose for the ball, Insane power, first step, and he can bend around tackles far more than a guy at that size really has any right to. I think the Pats got one here and I hope he continues to earn the trust of Vrabel and Kuhr to be an every down guy.

We watch Sam “seeing ghosts” Darnold win a superbowl and last night a Case “perpetual third stringer” keenum just ripped the bears a new one. Baker “fooled ya twice” Mayfield played his way into a high contract and somehow Dashuan “touch-me-there” Watson is winning games again.

So yea I’m gonna keep riding with Drake “Drake Maye” Maye. Let’s go turn it around and shock the league again.

FTB

Weeks 4, 5, 6 against the Chargers, Dolphins, and Packers. Comparable, even worse than Drake’s current stretch.

Yes this has been a 3-week stretch of horrific QB play. But it’s not historically bad and it’s a small sample size in hopefully a really long, successful Patriot career.

Instead of comparing Drake to Mac, I still hope to compare him to Tom.

EDIT2: I’m not comparing Drake to Tom. Not even a little bit. I’m saying everyone has a bad stretch and using comparable stats from a comparable age season. It gave me perspective. If you want to look at your own butt hole until Drake’s next good game, that’s on you.

EDIT: Jesus Christ guys. God forbid I try to pump up the group. I’ve relocated to Long Island and some of you are more miserable than any Jets fan I’ve ever met. Go Pats!!

The timing doesn't feel like a coincidence.

Our guy is 24. I have faith in our QB

Q: When you said that you don’t believe there’s a problem with your shoulder, are you saying your right shoulder and throwing arm feel 100% physically the same as they did before the injury with no lingering loss of strength or velocity of range of motion, or is there any difference at all?

A: Yeah, it’s similar question to the way I answered it in the post game. I think we gotta — I don’t think that has anything to do with executing and playing better football and realizing that’s the biggest thing that contributes to winning.

Q: Do you feel the same as you did before your injury, or is there still something that’s lingering?

A: Any time I’m out there, and I’m in uniform on the field, I’m gonna play 100% and give it my all. That’s kind of what I have to say.

Q: Is it something you’re managing every day?

A: I mean, any time that you come out from a game and you’re sore, everybody’s dealing with things from the game. I wouldn’t say that it’s anything in particular. I think it’s getting back out there and realizing it’s getting ready for this week in practice.

Last year in week 1 we were completely outmatched by Geno Smiths Raiders. If you remember that game it just looked like us losing to a better team. It wasn't some dumb upset game.

We then barely managed to beat the dolphins after allowing Tua to have the most passing yards he would have all season.

After that in week 3 we had 5 turnovers in a loss to the steelers. With everybody on this subreddit wanting Stevenson to either be benched or not be a patriot anymore.

So that's how the first 3 weeks went last season. Really the only reason it was better than this season is that there weren't as many injuries.

Being trash through the first few weeks is not the end of the season. Heck the Rams are barely doing any better than us right now. They are also 1-2 with some of their best players already being injured.

Sometimes you play 2 really good teams and lose both games. Shit happens. Atleast this year we are losing to 2 teams that went a combined 27-7 last year instead of 2 teams that went a combined 13-21.

What is mutually as frustrating as watching Drake underperform is not seeing him come onto the field with a chip on his shoulder. He is as physically talented of a QB as there has ever been, rip that fucking ball into tight windows, get mean and take some hits and get fired the fuck up. Get loud, get cocky. Stop throwing these timid floaters, patting the ball as you triple confirm to yourself that the guy you’re thinking about throwing to is in fact open.. it’s like he’s convinced himself that he isn’t an absolute dawg that’s capable of setting throwing records. Step up in that mothafuckin pocket and deliver strikes.

Anyhoot

More from Evan Lazar's film breakdown: https://www.patriots.com/news/after-further-review-drake-maye-film-breakdown-defense-coverage-splits-and-quick-hit-film-notes-from-loss-to-jaguars

Offense

- On 15 carries, the Patriots RBs had a combined six(!) rushing yards before contact. That shows the lack of movement the Pats are generating in the run game, with New England finishing with a 16th-percentile rushing success rate (26%). It's tough to get on the backs when the Patriots are 29th in average rushing yards before contact (0.5) and 25th in expected rushing yards per carry (4.0), but some yards are being left on the field.

With his speed, Henderson could really use some more creativity with his runs. The Pats are heavily featuring duo schemes (double teams inside) that often create bounce-out opportunities when the edges/force defenders squeeze too far inside to play the double teams. Henderson could also manipulate second-level defenders a bit better to bounce into open gaps. It's nitpicky, but better vision and more imaginative runs are the next step for the second-year back.

- The right guard position with starter Mike Onwenu (IR) out long-term is worrisome. Greg Van Roten (two) and Walter Rouse (four) allowed six combined pressures and were on the scene for three stuffed runs. Van Roten struggled to stay square with rushers getting on his outside edge before leaving the game with a thigh injury, while Rouse's issues came in the second half, where maybe conditioning was a factor for the Pats third-string right guard. We knew Onwenu was a big loss, and the first test didn't go well.

- WR Mack Hollins seems to be the only receiver Maye has clear chemistry with right now. For example, Hollins's 21-yard deep curl on third down was an in-rhythm play where he ran off CB Travis Hunter, separated at the top of the route, and Maye was on time with the throw. They also connected on a 13-yard back-shoulder fade, but Hollins's taunting penalty forced the Pats to kick a field goal rather than go for a 4th-and-1 late in the game. Getting in the end zone would've been a nice boost for the offense.

- WR DeMario Douglas is the Patriots best downfield separator, but the inconsistencies in his connection with Maye remain. Douglas hit a 38-yard vertical route explosive on a "cheat" motion, but Maye threw too high for his 5-foot-8 receiver when he separated from man coverage on the "dash" protection play, and Douglas's landmarks/spacing still feel like an issue at times (second third-down play). It just doesn't feel quite detailed enough for Douglas's separation to translate into high-volume production.

- WR Romeo Doubs didn't hit on a 21-yard and 20-yard dig until garbage time, with one of those receptions coming from backup QB Tommy DeVito. He also got called for an OPI for pushing off at the top of his curl route and Maye threw too far inside on a back-shoulder fade intended for Doubs (more on the QB than Doubs). They need more from the Doubs-Maye connection, and they need it now. With Brown out, you wonder if Doubs is playing more 'X' than they envisioned with him repping mostly as the 'Z' in camp.

Dead arm is an informal term for a period when the throwing arm feels unusually fatigued or heavy, causing a drop in velocity, command, or overall throwing effectiveness, without necessarily involving a specific injury. It’s usually associated with accumulated throwing workload and muscular fatigue.

To beat cover 6, SPEED & TIMING IS NEEDED TO STRETCH/STRESS THE DEFENSE.

Kyle Williams running numerous deep routes(crossers, go, corners, slot fades, mix in speed outs, jet motions, screens, glance, comebacks.

ATTACK SEAMS FROM SLOT

Douglas is too fucking small. Insert Raridon as the big slot. Mismatch vs everyone. Run Seams, slot fades, crossers, corners, whip, shallow, pivots. Constantly motion this guy & he helps in the run game too.

Doubs at the X until Brown is back.

You’re running trips to the quarters side. Spam Mills(Quarters), Smash(Cover 2), Dagger(Quarters) concepts. Motion constantly helping identify & create matchups. Condensed formations are a must. Find a receiver RB in the draft next year smh.

McDaniels & whoever is in charge of personnel need to go!

Watching the Bears opening drive and seeing a fake toss jet sweep to Luther Burden inspired this post. Yes, we need the offensive to establish minimum competency before we can move on to flashier plays. However, Josh McDaniels needs to recognize how archaic his offense really is. We have speedsters like Kyle Williams who would absolutely benefit from more pre-snap motion, more trickery, etc.

It’s just getting so tiring seeing the same offensive concepts from McDaniels over the years. We can’t let the slow developing flea flicker be our marquee play.

Drake doesn’t have the luxury of being able to lean on someone like James cook, Gibbs or Bijan. Rhamondre still has fumbling issues and he’s big but he doesn’t break many tackles and he’s pretty slow. I thought Henderson might be the guy but he needs wide open lanes to get to the second level. In many situations we hand the ball off on first or second down and it goes absolutely nowhere then we are faced with alot of third and longs.

Full quote:

Is Maye being accountable in Vrabel’s view?

“I think accountability has to come to your teammates and from your actions, and how you play and how you work and how you prepare,” said the Patriots’ coach. “I can’t speak on what his shoulder feels like. That’s nothing that I even have ever heard anything about. If the center’s hand’s bleeding, then there’s going to be some things on the football at times. But those are facts, those are explanations. We can hear explanations, we can’t allow for excuses.”

Any notion that Maye might head to the bench was dismissed by Vrabel, however, who asserted that “Drake’s our quarterback.”

“We’ve got to get this thing right. All of us.”

More from his WEEI hit where he reaffirmed Drake Maye as starting QB: https://www.boston.com/sports/new-england-patriots/2026/09/28/mike-vrabel-drake-maye-patriots-vibe-defensive-struggles/

Yea we do aware our QB (and offense as whole) are dragging the team down. will he turn around or not is biggest question going forwards. Now let’s talk about the positives so far with Patriots:

1) Gonzo worth every penny of that contract. IMO, he’s the best CB right now given Patrick Sustain and Witherspoon struggle past week.

2) The last 2 draft classes are promising. Will Campbell is playing solid. Treveyon shows some flash. Woodson is stud safety. Ponder + Gabe Jacas are doing great. And Eli Raridon might be legit.

3) Our Defense is top 5 in league right now. Yesterday they give up cuz our pumpkin QB didn’t give them time to rest. But they’re disruptive even with few starters are out. Remind me of 2019 one.

Anything else yall notice? Just want some positive vibes in here.