Patriots Aren’t Committing To Simplified Offensive Approach

Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo has a very specific vision for how he’d like his offense to look, doubling down following a Week 1 victory against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.

“We’re going to run the ball all year,” Mayo said. “I don’t want to talk about it anymore. Listen so I never have to answer this again. We will always, always offensively be a run-first team, and you gotta stop it. And if you do, then we have other answers after that. It’s not a secret.”

Alex Van Pelt is the one calling plays, though, and he told the Boston Herald’s Doug Kyed something a bit different.

“I think that’s one of our identities as an offense for us, what we talk about being multiple and versatile,” Van Pelt said Thursday, per Kyed. “Again, always talk about putting our players in the best situations to make them successful and using their skill sets. I’ve told the guys in the room we might run it 40 times this week and throw it 40 times the next week based on the defense.

“… I think our skill group is a talented group. You don’t have any huge names outside at receiver, but we have a bunch of guys that make good football plays, so I feel real confident in those guys.”

It’s an interesting juxtaposition for New England.

The Patriots obviously are better served to run the ball, which is something we saw last Sunday. Rhamondre Stevenson is ready to carry the load. Caedan Wallace was a difference maker serving as an extra offensive lineman. Van Pelt did a good job of putting his offense in a position to succeed.

You just can’t expect them to stay one-dimensional and keep that same level of success.

Ja’Lynn Polk is someone who already looks capable of getting open and making plays. DeMario Douglas needs to be involved more. Jacoby Brissett seemingly enjoys throwing to his two veteran tight ends — Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper. The Patriots are going to have to open it up eventually, even if they never lose their run-first identity.