He had a stat the other day that showed Michel last in the league in creating missed tackles, so maybe it's not just in his own mind.
2019 Pats Offense: What Do We Make of It?
- Thread starter Eddie Jurak
- Start date
Michel is getting a lot of shit for no good reason, IMO. He's not a shifty back. He has three skills, when it comes to carries: 1. He chooses the holes that are there pretty well, 2. He'll drive a tackler back a yard or two, and 3. He has good burst speed and gets to the outside (when it's there). If there's nothing there, he will get nothing. He's 0% Barry Sanders. His set of skills aren't very helpful when there are no holes.
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Given the way the season has played out, it is kind of striking that Harris has not gotten a look. This is speculative, but one possibility is that his pass blocking is not good enough yet. That's something that both White and Michel can do.
The past two weeks have seen a fair amount of conversation implying that Brady has been frustrated with his weaponry on offense. I don't know how he really feels, but regardless, it prompts this question. If you were Brady, and could either have a great offensive line and awesome weapons at the skill position, but a mediocre-at-best defense, OR have a dominant defense with mediocre offensive weapons, which would you prefer?
I think I'd rather have the defense, to be honest, because Brady alone can at least elevate the offense. What do you guys think?
I think I'd rather have the defense, to be honest, because Brady alone can at least elevate the offense. What do you guys think?
Harris doesn't really have a rep as a dynamic guy who's going to thrive with substandard blocking. They need more of a Dion Lewis type guy.
It's hard to complain about much when you are 7-0 and have a historic point differential but this team does seem to have a problem getting short yardage conversions. They looked pretty bad yesterday trying to get critical 1 or 2 yards (that was the only thing they looked bad doing). First and Goal from the 1 took 3 tries. Stuffed on 3rd and 1. No Gronk, No FB(s) and missing 2 starting O-lineman hurts them in this area in my opinion.
Am I wrong to be concerned with this? Am I over-reacting? If it is an issue, I as think it is, what can be done to fix that? Maybe Wynn coming back at least helps some.
Am I wrong to be concerned with this? Am I over-reacting? If it is an issue, I as think it is, what can be done to fix that? Maybe Wynn coming back at least helps some.
For all the crap the offense has been taking (and it's not all unwarranted), let's keep in mind a few things...
- They are #1 in the NFL in scoring per game. Yes the defense has helped. But still. Number. One.
- They are #10 in the NFL in yards gained per game. So even when it looks like they're bad, they're still pretty good.
- They are #13 in the NFL in offensive DVOA. So again, better than average even by this metric.
So yes the offense isn't this typical dynamo. But even at that, it's still above average. You can definitely win a Super Bowl with an above average offense, this defense, and Tom Brady at the helm for the big spots.
- They are #1 in the NFL in scoring per game. Yes the defense has helped. But still. Number. One.
- They are #10 in the NFL in yards gained per game. So even when it looks like they're bad, they're still pretty good.
- They are #13 in the NFL in offensive DVOA. So again, better than average even by this metric.
So yes the offense isn't this typical dynamo. But even at that, it's still above average. You can definitely win a Super Bowl with an above average offense, this defense, and Tom Brady at the helm for the big spots.
The trend is also upwards. Aside from Harry and Wynn's hoped-for returns, and Sanu arriving, I also thought the OL looked better than the previous few weeks. Not great, mind you, but it looked to me like they were winning a higher fraction of their blocks, protecting a bit better than WAS, NYG or especially BUF, and throwing pseudo-FBs in there like Ferentz also seemed to help the run game.
After all these years, it'd be a good bet that Scarnecchia will have his OL improving faster than the competition is improving as the season progresses.
After all these years, it'd be a good bet that Scarnecchia will have his OL improving faster than the competition is improving as the season progresses.
They were bad at converting short yardage situations last year, too - 29th in power success per FO. They are statistically about the same this year. I think they are too predictable with their heavy sets and middle runs; I'd like to see them spread the field more and run against lighter boxes rather than bring more beef into the middle.
Seems to me like they mostly spread the field and run when White is in game. Feel like run formations with Michel are typically more bunched so he's basically running into a brick wall in most cases.
You are correct. In the past, they would have success running out of a spread set against a sub package. Last year at the end of the year, they did do well power running but having Gronk, Develin, a competent LT, and Andrews surely helped in that regard. Plus, they just committed to using 2 TEs and running people over.
Thank you for that stat...in my head I thought it was an issue last year as well but didn't know that stat. I am with you 100%, they definitely seem too predictable in that area. It is kind of surprising to see an issue carry over year to year. These coaches are obviously incredibly smart and have to realize the same things we do. Running Sony into a brick wall is not working well.
Pretty insane to think that just two years ago the defense that forced the Nick Foles offense to one punt in the Super Bowl has been upgraded to this level.
Shows you how valuable Jonathan Jones is. I am slightly serious. He is a difference maker.
And even in the playoffs, the short-yardage running wasn't always there. In the AFCCG, they had some successes but a lot of failures, too. Right before the Ragland pick against KC, Sony got stuffed on 2nd-and-1. The next drive, he got stuffed on 3rd-and-1, leading to a punt. They were stopped on 3rd-and-2 and 4th-and-1 early in the fourth. Later they got stuffed on 3rd-and-1 before Sony broke a 10-yard TD on 4th-and-1. And in the SB, even on the final drive where they ran great, they got stuffed on 3rd-and-1 right before the Gostkowski FG.
The Eagles said, afterward, that they knew exactly what the Patriots were going to do on defense the entire time. Darnold's just a 2nd year guy but now they've got quarterbacks seeing ghosts.
That SB one really stands out bc we hear Brady urge the team on, “Come on, one and a half yards to the super bowl.” Which seems really cool until you watch them NOT GAIN THE ONE AND A HALF YARDS.