The New England Patriots have a lot to figure out before Sunday afternoon’s Week 2 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings.
The Patriots’ offensive line looked lost, the defensive line was pushed around and New England’s offensive game plan didn’t play to quarterback Tom Brady’s strengths in its 33-20 Week 2 loss to the Miami Dolphins.
Brady attempted 10 passes over 20 yards and completed just two attempts on passes over 15 yards — 44- and 21-yard hookups with wide receiver Julian Edelman — he typically averages around four deep passes per game.
The Patriots were desperate in the second half and strayed from the successful short passes that worked in the first two quarters. Brady attempted 12 deep passes in the second half with 11 coming in the fourth quarter.
After a big Week 1 loss, it’s time to empty out the mailbag before the Patriots take on the Vikings.
We already know Vollmer and Solder will be starting at tackle, but who do you see starting at both guard spots and center?
— @fearthe_beard15
Patriots fans won’t want to hear this, but I’m getting the sense that they’ll go with Jordan Devey at right guard, Marcus Cannon at left guard and Dan Connolly starting at center for the second straight week. The Patriots probably will rotate their offensive line again, however, and I suspect Ryan Wendell, if healthy, will play some center with Connolly moving over to guard.
If Wendell isn’t healthy, I would assume guard Josh Kline will be active, and he will rotate with Devey at guard with Connolly staying at center.
Devey hasn’t shown many moments of potential since training camp, but obviously the team thinks very highly of him, and it doesn’t appear that they’re ready to give up after a rough game in Miami.
Also, do you think we’ll see Dont’a Hightower in more of a pass-rusher type role this year? He looked good on Sunday.
— @fearthe_beard15
That certainly appeared to be the plan on Sunday against the Dolphins when Hightower started at outside linebacker and stayed on to rush the passer in sub packages.
The role seemed to suit Hightower well, as he led the team with total pressures (six) and quarterback hits (three). He also was penalized for a late hit, so he still has a bit to learn about the new position.
I think the Patriots’ best best for the rest of the season is to start Chandler Jones at right defensive end, Vince Wilfork and Sealver Siliga on the inside and either Hightower or Rob Ninkovich at left defensive end in a 4-3. That would leave Jamie Collins at weakside linebacker, Jerod Mayo in the middle and either Hightower or Ninkovich on the strong side. Hightower and Ninkovich could even swap between the two roles throughout the game to confuse the Vikings.
In the sub packages (nickel and dime), the Patriots could maximize their pass rush by using Jones and Dominique Easley at defensive tackle with Ninkovich and Hightower on the ends.
Of course, the Vikings have a strong rushing game, so the Patriots could beef up their defensive line by rotating in Wilfork, Siliga or even Chris Jones at defensive tackle.
The Patriots have plenty of options in their front seven, but the one they used against Miami might be the worst. Belichick is most comfortable running a 3-4, but defensive line coach Brendan Daly ran a 4-3 during his time with the Vikings and St. Louis Rams. It might be time for the Patriots to return to a 4-3.
Did the Dolphins game plan to make Brady throw deep?
— @Crocket18
If anything, the Dolphins might have been daring Brady to throw deep. Most of Brady’s deep attempts came against the Dolphins’ Cover 1, when they had one deep safety and the rest of their secondary in man coverage. Brady just couldn’t hit his targets. One of Brady’s deep attempts — the 21-yarder to Edelman — came against Cover 2, when Edelman found space in front of the Dolphins’ safeties. The 44-yard completion was under thrown, and Edelman had to win a 50-50 jump ball against cornerback Cortland Finnegan.
Brady made some rough throws in the final quarter, when the game was already out of hand. He completely overthrew tight end Rob Gronkowski on a seam route, and he under threw wideout Kenbrell Thompkins on a deep comeback. His best deep pass was thrown to Brandon LaFell late in the game, but the wide receiver appeared to lose the ball in the air on what could have been an impressive, albeit late, touchdown connection.
Brady has struggled with the deep ball for years now, and it doesn’t look like those issues are behind him. Pro Football Focus tracks deep passing accuracy, and Brady has shown a steady decline with the deep ball, ranking 25th among QBs in 2013 (39.4 percent), 17th in 2012 (40.5 percent), 16th in 2011 (41.7 percent), 11th in 2010 (44.4 percent), 26th in 2009 (32.4 percent) and second in 2007 (50.7 percent), when he had Randy Moss.
Feeling on Revis after week one?
— @CallmeQuez
I thought he was impressive. He makes swatting the ball — and incredibly difficult task for a cornerback — look easy. He actually made a great play on a touchdown he allowed to Mike Wallace, but he unintentionally swatted the ball into the wideout’s arms. He also got lucky when he was beat deep by Wallace, as Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill threw too close to the sideline, and the speedy receiver couldn’t get two feet down.
Revis lived up to the hype in Week 1. I thought the entire secondary played well, and they should be even better when cornerback Brandon Browner returns from his four-game suspension.
