Let the Kid Watch
After terrible results from the Mac Jones experiment, the New England Patriots drafted UNC product Drake Maye as the third overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. The Patriots, who had not seen a higher pick since 1993 when the team selected Drew Bledsoe, took a swing at getting a franchise quarterback for the future. Going into the 2024 season, expectations were lower than ever in Foxboro, but after the first two weeks, there is room for optimism. With concerns about the offensive line over the last year or so, people have correctly assumed that the team does not want to risk their top asset.
After trading Jones in March, the team signed veteran Jacoby Brissett to a one-year deal for eight million dollars. Brissett believed to be just a stop-gap until the rookie is ready to go, has performed well against Seattle and Cincinnati and overcame poor line play. While the team earned a win in their first game and took the second to overtime, questions will start about when it is time to see Maye. With Brissett’s ability to move off his spot in the pocket and keep the play alive, the Patriots have produced two games better than most of the last season.
On the other hand, the offensive line has allowed the second-highest pressure rate, and the team holds the second-highest rushing yards after contact per carry. Running back Rhamondre Stevenson created pretty much all of the offense last week and that trend carried on as the team had two rushers within the top 10 for yards after contact this week. Since the passing offense has been nearly non-existent, defenses have no issue stacking the box with seven and eight-plus guys to stop the run. Until New England consistently finds a way to attack the secondary, Stevenson and Antonio Gibson will be asked to beat one-on-ones as soon as they break the line of scrimmage or even earlier.
The team has passed the ball 55 times so far and has produced the fourth-least yards through the first two games. It has become clear that offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt wants to establish the rushing attack, but there has been little tied into the game plan off the run game. So far the Patriots have run play-action on just 18.1% of their plays, which is the 11th-fewest, but the team falls above the league average on yards gained when they attempt it. Additionally, the team has only attempted 10 passes that have traveled 10 yards or further in the air.
Despite two positive results this season which is better than most expected, the offense leaves something to be desired. And those things are better, more aggressive quarterback play and play calling from the coordinator. With a difficult part of the schedule on the horizon, it is unlikely that we will get to see Maye, who certainly brought those aspects to the offense in the preseason. The reward of being competitive in the next few months does not outweigh the risk of damaging your first-round draft pick. For more on what to expect out of the Patriots in 2024, please look here.