Patriots offensive problems stem from average O-line play

Wiki Article

Patriots' offensive problems stem from average O-line play Published: Dec 21, 2018 at 05:12 AM Around The NFL Writer In recent weeks, cracks have formed in the ' once mighty foundation. The team has lost two straight games, and whispers about 's battle against Father Time have grown louder. Hungry rivals salivate as questions regarding New England's dynasty increase in number. But is it Brady's age, or something else? Let's go Behind the O Line to figure out what's wrong with the . The folks in New England who said this team isn't as good as past squads are somewhat right, starting with the group up front. A seemingly solid unit has started to look le s than that, beginning with its ability to protect Brady. The strategy has been employed by countle s teams over the years, to varying degrees of succe s: Pre sure Brady up the middle and you'll beat him. Guy Lafleur Men Jersey Opponents are attempting to do so again this season, and lately, the men up front haven't handled the heat. It's apparent that New England's interior isn't reliable against powerful rushers. Center doesn't get completely beaten, but he gives up plenty of ground in such situations, frequently threatening the integrity and sturdine s of the pocket. Left guard struggles at times in this department as well, with these i sues becoming painfully clear against the . Even reliable guard got beat off the line by Pittsburgh's and was left only to hold, drawing a killer penalty that pushed the back late in the fourth quarter while attempting to erase Pittsburgh's lead. When watched over the course of a couple of games, it's clear it's affecting Brady's rhythm. Brady, though, is one of the all-time greats. He navigates the pocket as well as you'll ever see, and did so for a touchdown pa s to early in Week 15 against Pittsburgh. It is a great strength of the , and a reason why they're still above water offensively, even with their recent troubles. So it worked there, but far more often, Brady is dealing with pre sure in his face. That's not all, though: New England's tackles are also struggling against wide rushers. It happened against Miami, resulting in a sack, and again versus Pittsburgh. Right tackle has difficulty in these situations, often initially engaging the rusher but failing to maintain the block. It's one point of contact, a release and a defeat for Cannon. That's what happens on this sack. New England also has an i sue against forceful stunts, chasing them (though not egregiously) and getting caught holding. The larger i sue, at least in Week 14, was an inability to run the ball effectively. No matter the back -- struggles to find open lanes on zone runs at times -- New England isn't getting things going on the ground. The didn't work to second level really at all against the , thanks in part to a Miami linebacking corps that was eager to shoot open gaps and blow up plays. Here, on a play in which Miami's linebackers shoot a gap, both Cannon and Mason don't do a good job of advancing upfield on a quick to s to the right. Mason loses the race to the edge, as linebacker succe sfully arrives first at the point of attack. As a result, they never create a seal and the play goes for a minimal gain. They were marginally better against Pittsburgh. But combined, this was their best run (other than a draw for a gain of 11 a week earlier): This was also Alex Galchenyuk Jersey left tackle 's best block on a rushing play in the two weeks. As two-fifths of the offensive line, Brown and Thuney aren't moving bodies that well. But it's more a lack of execution on the part of the entire group, not just those two. Since New England hasn't run the ball well lately, it's turning to short pa ses to stymie the rush and attempt to get the ball to playmakers in space. But surprisingly, the have found more succe s off play-action, and a lot of that has to do with how well fullback does his job. In the run game, it would be nonexistent if not for Develin, who makes a variety of blocks at many different angles in many different locations. He's also adept at chasing down rushers in play-action situations, which buys Brady time to deliver the ball. Conversely, the are lacking in run blocking when it comes to their receivers. was flattened more than once in the last two weeks, leading directly to runs for lo ses or no gain. It's not surprising and it isn't limited to Patterson. As a result, quick screens and swing pa ses aren't going for the gains they once achieved in the past. Against an aggre sive front seven, the have and will continue to find themselves in trouble. That alone explains why this offense is a bit clogged. How this group patches these holes going forward will be interesting to watch. The tape Phillip Danault Men Jersey reveals where they struggle, and the are limited in what they can do because of this. Right now, these aren't playing like a serious contender, and no matter who Brady is targeting, it won't matter unle s the line can start to move defenders -- first in the ground game, and then, stand firm against pa s rushes. If not, it'll be a short postseason in New England. This article has been reproduced in a new format and may be mi sing content or contain faulty links. Please use the Contact Us link in our site footer to report an i sue.
https://lukasfxms85316.wikimidpoint.com/3574796/vincent_jackson_former_chargers_and_buccaneers_wide_receiver_found_dead_at_38
Click here Click here