Film Review: Patriots vs. Saints Offense Edition

Finishing off the film reviews of the Saints game with this quick-hit look at the offense. This looked like the Patriots offense we’re used to. Keep the chains moving, sprinkle in some trickeration and big plays, and win the short yardage situations with their power back. Despite the absences of Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola, the Patriots offense looked pretty much like we’ve come to expect.

As always, watching the All-22 really gives you a better sense of how teams defended the Patriots, but also allows you to take a closer look at things that were missed on initial glance. One big thing that stuck out to me is that I don’t think Tom Brady, Brandin Cooks and Josh McDaniels are quite on the same page yet. And I also think that Nate Solder isn’t quite playing the best football of his career.

More on those and everything else in the quick-hit Film Review…

— The Patriots are leaning more and more on their “Pony” package, or two receiving back sets, mostly on third downs, but with an early sprinkle to see how the defense will play it. It’s been really quite effective, especially with James White, who has just hit another level with his play. His cuts are decisive and instantaneous. This not only allows him to get open, but to make tacklers miss in the open field. White has developed into a focal weapon on this offense and his progress is pretty remarkable, especially coming from me since I thought he was just an average receiving back at best until mid-2016.

— I’m just not sure Brady is clicking with Cooks yet and the picture above is the first example. Yes, this play was a big one for Cooks but it really should’ve gone for a touchdown. This is a throw Brady has made a million times for a touchdown, especially to Dion Branch. He looks off the safety, who you can see above running away from the target circle. Yes, there’s some pressure, but I still think Brady could’ve gotten this one off a bit sooner if he knew Cooks would be there.

Here’s another example on an incomplete third down in the red zone:

Brady ends up having to eat this one because no one’s open, but off the initial read it appears a soft pass to the corner of the end zone would’ve resulted in 6. Again, Brady hesitates with Cooks just long enough that the window closes. They’re still finding ways to get Cooks involved but I don’t think they’ve come close to reaching his potential in this offense. Something to monitor.

— Nate Solder had a pretty below-average game, lacking power overall and just not looking totally comfortable. He had his good moments, but Cameron Jordan tossed him aside (yes, he’s very good fwiw) on one tackle-for-loss. Hard to tell if Solder is just declining or battling some kind of lingering recovery. The Pats did put him on ice most of the preseason. Solder’s future and the future of the left tackle spot is a critical area going forward into next offseason.

— I really like a lot of the play designs Josh McDaniels is introducing. They’re really building off past tendencies and getting teams to bite on old stuff like wide receiver bubble passes and running back screens. These double fakes are being seen around the league, which in turn will re-open the receiver bubble passes and running back screens. Just fun stuff that really makes it easy for the players when they all execute, resulting in wide open passes.

— I just don’t like relying on Gronk as much as they did in this one for obvious reasons. Honestly if he had just five catches a game with a touchdown I think it would be perfect.

— Noticing more of Chris Hogan running some of the underneath boom-boom short passes. Hopefully he can stand up to the beating that comes inside.

— Mike Gillislee is really under the radar right now but he really showed some effective running in this one. I loved seeing him get the corner on an off-tackle run. We never saw much of those with LeGarrette Blount. Toss sweeps? Sure. But Blount needed things blocked and didn’t have the speed to get the edge without sorting through blockers and making them miss. Gillislee’s speed is a welcome addition.

— I kinda feel like Brady broke up with Dion Lewis for James White and now doesn’t give the ball to Lewis in space as much as he could.