Hoyer Looking To Get At Least One Last Start

Mac Jones is injured. The young quarterback could be out most if not all of this season. And yes, that likely means Brian Hoyer will get another start as a Patriot.

The last time we saw Hoyer was the covid game against K.C. and he screwed up big and got pulled. Many of us thought he was done.

We assume Hoyer will be an offensive coach for the Patriots in the near future but for now he's still their quarterback. And the circumstances surrounding this opertunuty for the quarterback is different.

The talent is better than it was in 2020 and he has more time to prepare. The downside is the coaching staff is worse and the OC is a rookie offensive coordinator.

If the Patriots run the offense they ran versus the Dolphins week one, they'll be fine. They probably won't win but as long as they don't make mistakes and turn the ball over, the team can hope the defense can hold and give them a chance.

I like Hoyer. I think with all he's done for this franchise that he's earned at least one more start. If the game goes south, let Zappe get some playing time in the second half just like they did with Stidham.

If the Patriots had their 2021 staff, I would be interested in Blake Bortles on a veteran minimum. However, this is 2022 and the only quarterback I would want to see brought in if any is Ryan Fitzpatrick. He's a better version of Hoyer. All the rest of the decent game managers are on teams. 

And for the fans that want quarterbacks that are washed up, I'd rather have Eli over the names being thrown around. Unless you either wanna run the ball on every down or throw Hail Marys,, the quarterback y'all want makes no sense.

Expectations For Jonnu Smith Need To Be Lowered ASAP.

When the Patriots signed Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith I said that Henry was the number one. A move tight end that can play inline. People told me I was wrong but I will die on that hill. 

All throughout the 2021 season I heard how the Patriots weren't using Smith right. How they needed to design plays / touches for Smith to get the ball.

With the exception of screen passes, designed touches are about as bad as throwing contested pass to your number one. Instead of looking for other options, your forcing the ball to one guy. That's bad football.

During the 2021 season, it became clear that Jonnu Smith wasn't an inline or move tight end but an H-back. Think Keith Byars, Rod Bernstein and maybe Larry Centers skill set. 

In two games people are still complaining that Jonnu is not getting used right in the passing game. The latest episode of Patriots Press Pass they literally say Jonnu cannot run tight end routes, regardless if it's move tight end or inline.

What that means is the Patriots have to use Smith like a fullback in the passing game. Send him out on flat, wheel and drag routes. And the best way to do that is via the quick passing game. 

If Jonnu's route tree is as bad as people say than he needs to be involved in the run game as a ball carrier, as well as a blocking back. Teams need to fear that he could get hand offs. 

The Patriots don't run the fullback and Jonnu had only nine carries in 2021. It would be in the Patriots' best interest to run him three to five times a game. 

Again that's a high risk thing and Patricia might not have the skill set yet to call the proper game to utilize Smith like that. At the moment fans and the media alike should view him as a wasted signing and eliminate expectations.

I've been wrong before but when it comes to Jonnu Smith, I've been spot on for the most part. And this is one case where as much as I wish I was wrong, it doesn't look like I'm gonna be.

The Patriots Aren't A Dumpster Fire.

Week one for the Patriots is in the books and people are freaking out. It's the media's job to criticize the team but it's when it's due. And it's not in the manner the media is delivering it.

Did the Patriots set any league records? No. Did they throw Hail Mary's on every pass attempt? No. Was every pass a gimmick play? Again, no. And before anyone asks, the running backs were not looking like Bo Jackson on tecmo superbowl. 

The defense was decent. Not great, not a sack or turnover machine but decent. The defense gave us what we expected and did enough to win. 

The team had the ball for 27 minutes 30 seconds. Miami had the ball for 32 minutes 30 seconds. The Patriots ran 54 offensive plays, five less than the Dolphins. 

There were areas the Patriots defense could improve on but we're not gonna look at those, as the media is focused on the offense. The Dolphins scored after causing two turnovers, with one of those scores being a fumble returned for a touchdown.

The three turnovers are what changed the complexion of the game.  The Patriots are tied  for twelveth in the league on third down percentage converting 44 percent. 

The Patriots averaged 3.5 yards per carry on 22 carries for 78 yards, which was only good enough to be ranked 22nd in the league but team played from behind all game. 

The Patriots threw the ball 30 times completing over 66 percent of them. They averaged six yards a completion. Now maybe my math is wrong but 3.5 plus 3.5 plus 6 is enough for a first down.

The Patriots line play needs to improve. Mac was sacked twice and hit thrice. And that's probably not including the high low penalty. 

The play calling looked like it has since the 2019 season started. I couldn't tell that McDaniels was gone. Seperation and yards after catch still seem to be an issue. And the entire team seemed to be lacking on both execution and hustle. 

The team was not out matched talent wise. However, it could do a better job at developing players during the pass catchers during the week. I've said it before and I'll say it again, all a contested pass means is the quarterback is throwing to covered pass catchers. It's bad football when quarterbacks have to make those throws. 

Was there anything about this game that said Bill Belichick needs to be fired as head coach or general manager? No. Offensively, Robert Kraft could yell at the coaching staff for lack of seperation and yards after catch but other than that, there's no reason for him to be upset unless it has to do with Kendrick Bourne. 

If Bourne is being punished like Jonas Gray for missing practice, Kraft should make that a one game punishment. If there's more behind the scenes, maybe it's time to trade Bourne. The team doesn't talk, so we won't know and will just have to wait and see how things play out.

Patriots Assist Dolphins To A Twenty To Seven Victory.

The Patriots season has begun as they traveled to Miami to play the Dolphins. The Patriots seem to struggle in Miami but needed to show life after the preseason. The team showed potential is there but that wasn't all they showed.

On the Patriots opening drive they moved the ball well. Then depending on how you view things. Mac either threw a contested pass or a ball to a covered receiver. Parker was interfered with but the pass shouldn't of been thrown and turned into an interception. Which led to a Dolphins field goal. I'll say it again, a contested pass is a forced throw through a closed window.

On the Patriots second drive, the running game looked good to start but the drive went south starting from the screen pass for a loss. Agholor had a good reception on that drive but it seemed like the Dolphins figured out the Patriots offense.

The Patriots third drive was a sack and fumble for a touchdown. Nobody picked up the defender. It looked Henry was supposed to get a block and release but just ran by the pass rusher. And after the replay, it also appeared to be a blown assignment from Trent Brown.

The Patriots third drive saw the line give up ot get beat by the defense. Mac Failed to put zip on a pass to the left side but otherwise wise looked fine. Mac ran for a short gain on third down but the media didn't show the receivers, so we don't know if Mac heard footsteps or if everyone was covered.

Mac kneeled the ball on their fourth possession to end the half. The Patriots only had a 107 yards for the first half. The Pats' defense seemed to play a bend don't break style and held for the most part, although they seemed to struggle on fourth down and allowed Miami a large time of position lead. The Dolphins played smart and took what the Patriots gave them, going into the half up by 17.

The Patriots needed to make adjustments on the offensive line and needed to work on disrupting the pocket a little more heading in to the second half. 

The Patriots defense would start the second half and force a quick three and out.

The Patriots first possession of the half looked good to start. The first real mistake was a bubble throw to Parker on fourth and one, which if more accurate would've been a touchdown. It was a contested pass and the defender got called for holding. The Patriots scored a via a touchdown pass to Montgomery.

The Patriots next drive was another decent drive however, the Dolphins still took what the Patriots gave them and walked a way with three. Leaving 19 seconds on the game clock for the third.

The Patriots second possession and it appears the Patriots offensive line made some adjustments for the half but are locked in a battle and unable to open the huge holes. Mac took a high - low roughing the passer. Luckily, he got up quick. The offense would offset the penalty. Mac throws the ball for an incompletion bouncing it off the defenders back on a pass that appeared to be to another covered pass catcher.

The Dolphins answered with a dropped pass on first down and then went conservative on third down for a three and out.

The Patriots would answer by going four and out. Mac started with an inaccurate pass. Third and three the Patriots tried to run Montgomery up the gut for nothing and then on fourth, Mac threw a pass to a covered Hunter Henry that was defended well but it still should've been caught.

The Patriots forced another three and out. Myles Bryant stretched out for a pass and dropped an interception that Devin McCourty was in position to make. The Patriots were left with just under six minutes when they got the ball but Bryant cost the Patriots field position.

Mac on the insuing drive over throws Nelson Agholor on thr first play. If Mac hits that accurately, that's an easy six points. Jones followed it up with a short pass to Smith for a decent gain and then another deep pass to Bourne. Jones threw a bubble pass to Montgomery before Agholor fumbled as the Patriots appeared to finally find their rhythm.

Miami continued trying to score until they reached the minute mark. The Patriots need to finish playsbon defense as there were way too many plays where the team appeared to lack hustle. However, the Patriots defense really only broke once the entire game. 

Offensively the Patriots could run a quick pass attack but they took too long to try and get aggressive. And there were too many M.E.s by the offense. The line play wasn't great but it did appear to get better late. Unfortunately, Mac went for X-Rays after the game. The only play where he took a hit where he could've got hurt was the high - low.

Although they had a few good plays, the Patriots offense still doesn't look ready for the 2022 season. There wasn't really any issues with play calling on either side of the ball. It was just lack of hustle and execution. The game wasn't horrible but they're not a top twenty team at the moment.