Pigskins, We Have A Problem

Is there a solution for every pigskin problem?

Everyone seems to think so. (Still waiting for that Larry Fitzgerald trade to happen? Yeah.) But it's a little bit like Apollo 13. You can't change the situation. You can only work with what's in the box. 

You can keep looking, but I don't think you're going to find Mike Evans in there.

I get it, especially after the Miami game, where the obvious difference between Mac Jones and Tua Tagalaivoa was the weapons the Dolphins have given their young QB. It seems a feature of the modern NFL. Draft the QB. Draft the WR1. You got Dak Prescott? Go get CeeDee Lamb. You got Jalen Hurts? Go get DeVonta Smith (and A.J. Brown). No, it doesn't always work but so what? Chicks dig the long ball.

That isn't what Bill Belichick and the Patriots did and that isn't where the Patriots are. 

In fact, aside from Randy Moss, it's never what Belichick has done in building a roster. Of course, Moss came cheap and as soon as he wanted more money he was gone. 

That's something Belichick always does.

It's show business, after all, not show art.

The Patriots - Bill Belichick and his coaches - know they have to use what's in the box - the players they have - to fix their problems.

The Offensive Line is a Mess

Is it just a matter of their five best offensive linemen getting healthy? 

Maybe. 

Will that be this Sunday?

Fingers crossed!

It definitely gives me pause, thinking about the Jets D-Line and how they could wreck New England's shot at their first win of the season. 

Yes, Zach Wilson is arguably terrible and the Patriots defense may score multiple touchdowns on Sunday but what if Jets HC Robert Saleh is smart enough to have Wilson hand the ball to a running back on every single offensive play? 

New England's Offense Can't Take the Top Off a Pickle Jar or Opposing Defenses

I don't think the problem is Mac Jones. Jones can throw the ball downfield. The problem is that nobody can (a) create separation or (b) win the 50/50 balls. The Xavien Howard interception in the loss to the Dolphins is a great example of Mac doing the right thing; seeing 1 on 1 man coverage and giving your best receiver a chance to make a play is 21st Century NFL Offense 101. You're counting on your guy winning (and the fact that defensive backs would be wide receivers if they could catch a football). But DeVante Parker got outworked by Howard, who came away with a game-changing turnover. 

Yes, the ball was a little underthrown. 

It's called a 50/50 ball for a reason.

Parker is the Patriots top downfield threat and as it turns out, an empty threat at that. I've got to think Bill O'Brien was good with Mac's decision and I'm not here to beat up on DeVante Parker but…

It is what it is.

Okay, but as Belichick has often said, "Don't tell me what they can't do, tell me what they can do."

So…

What's In the box?

Defense Wins Championships

Stop me if you've heard that one before.

Oh, you have? Okay.

Be Special on Special Teams

The Brenden Schooler field goal block has rightly gotten plenty of attention but I also noted that rookie punter Bryce Barringer punted 4 times, averaging 48 yards with a long of 58, with 0 touchbacks and 3 inside the 20. I looked back and he averaged 45.2 on 5 punts against the Eagles with a long of 65, 1 touchback and 3 inside the 20.

Probably not a good sign that your punter has arguably been the best player on your team but if we're asking why the Patriots have been in both of their two losses - one score defeats to two preseason Super Bowl faves - the defense and Bryce Barringer are the correct answers to that question.

Don't Lose on Offense

The Patriots probably shouldn't stop throwing deep, though the theory of the blind squirrel and the acorn probably doesn't apply here.

Broken offensive line or not, New England needs to run the football more than they have in their first two games. They need to burn more clock and give their defense a chance to catch their breath. The offense also needs to stop turning the ball over and putting the defense on a short field. You can't punt if you fumble.

With a thin margin for error, they cannot suffer self-inflicted wounds. They need to be disciplined and avoid pre-snap and procedure penalties. For the love of all the gridiron gods, at least line up in a legal formation and know the snap count.

All easy enough to say.

To tell the truth, though, I'm having a hard time talking myself into it. In the back of my mind, I keep hearing Drew Bledsoe telling Tom Brady in SB36, "Just drop back and sling it."

Don't lose the game?

The hell with that.

Hey, McCorkle!

Just drop back and sling it.

Go Pats!