Phil Perry: Patriots Deciding To Change Their Offensive Line Couldn’t Have Gone Worse
On Thursday’s edition of Toucher & Hardy, Phil Perry who covers the Patriots for NBC Sports Boston, joined the show. While discussing the Patriots decision to once again change their starting offensive line, Perry explained that while he understood the rationale behind the decision, the results couldn’t have gone worse for the team.
“They Did Mess With It…”
Toucher: Did you see anything egregious in the way the offensive line was managed last Sunday?
Phil Perry: Yeah, It was a little odd to me that they would go away from a combination that they had for a couple of games, which had been so rare for them. They’ve been looking for any sort of consistency on the line. They could have had two games in a row, and three games total this year with the Demontrey Jacobs and Michael Onwenu on the right side, Ben Brown in the middle, and the left side with Vederian Lowe and Michael Jordan. They went away from that to get Michael Onwenu back to tackle, and put the rookie Layden Robinson, who played well really early in the year, back at right guard. To me, where consistency, continuity, and chemistry so much at that position, why would you mess with it when you have the opportunity to keep things going in a certain direction? They did mess with it.
Wallach: Yeah.
Phil Perry: They liked the combination of Robinson Onwenu on one side of the line right next to each other, because they’re both physical, strong guys who like to run block. One of many things the Patriots haven’t been able to do over the course the last month, they’ve been the worst in the league essentially, is run the football. So I think that move was in regards to that. “Boy, how can we get our run game going? Let’s see if we can get the rookie back out there. Start moving some people at the line of scrimmage, and open up our offense a little bit that way.” It couldn’t have gone worse. Layden Robinson was like the worst player on the field for the first two quarters.
Wallach: Yeah, when you had to pass that became an issue.
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Patriots 2024 midseason report card: Offense
Quarterbacks: B
Oct 27, 2024; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Joe Milton III (19), quarterback Jacoby Brissett (7), and quarterback Drake Maye (10) walk onto the field before a game against the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium. Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images
The quarterback play has gone more or less as expected this year. Jacoby Brissett started for the first five games (he was expected to get about a month) and was steady yet unspectacular. He did manage to win the team a couple of games, factoring in the Week 8 Jets game that he played three quarters of after Drake Maye left with a concussion.
Maye came in and showed plenty to get excited about looking ahead, with his dynamic athletics and high-level arm talent. Not only do the Patriots have their three highest team passing yardage totals in Maye’s three full games, he’s also been their leading rusher since taking over the starting job
At the same time the growing pains are apparent. The offense has had big drives with him under center but has had just as many duds – they’re still looking for consistency. The team still hasn’t surpassed 21 points in any of Maye’s three full games.
Turnovers have also been an issue. Maye has given the ball away six times, with four interceptions and two fumbles.
How much Maye improves will be the biggest storyline around the Patriots for the second half of the season. He’s off to a solid start, we’ll see if he can get this grade up over the next eight weeks.
Running backs: C
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – NOVEMBER 03: Rhamondre Stevenson #38 of the New England Patriots carries the ball against the Tennessee Titans during the first quarter of the game at Nissan Stadium on November 03, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images)
Things started strong for the Patriots’ running backs this year. The ‘take them to the hill’ era, as short as it was, saw the Patriots rank top 10 in the NFL averaging 4.9 yards per carry over the first five weeks.
Looking back, that production was never sustainable. Rhamondre Stevenson – whose 56.4 percent usage rate is more than double the next-closest running back Antonio Gibson despite the fact he’s missed a game – was doing the bulk of the work during that time. He wasn’t getting much help up front, and 266 of his 356 yards came after contact during that stretch.
That right there is why this grade is as high as it is. Although the production has fallen off – since Week 6 Patriots running backs are averaging a collective 1.8 yards per carry – it still feels like the running backs are getting what’s being given to them. They’re just not getting much. For example, over the last three weeks Stevenson has 76 total rushing yards, but 83 yards after contact.
Granted the running backs aren’t totally blame-free of the Patriots’ run game issues. But poor offensive line play and play calling rank higher on the list of reasons the team can’t conventionally run the ball. Plus, Stevenson has been a factor in the passing game both as a pass catcher and blocker.
More will be asked of the Patriots’ running backs as the season goes on, especially if the run blocking doesn’t improve. We’ll see if they can do more to create something from nothing.
Wide receivers: F
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – OCTOBER 06: DeMario Douglas #3 of the New England Patriots reacts after a catch during the first half against the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium on October 06, 2024 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jaiden Tripi/Getty Images)
Expectations weren’t high for the Patriots wide receivers coming into the year. Still, it feels like the group as a whole has been a disappointment.
Through nine games DeMario Douglas has been the team’s most productive receiver. He’s been streaky, and has 35 catches for 306 yards and a touchdown.
After Douglas, the production drops off significantly. Four of the Patriots’ top five pass catchers, aside from Douglas, are running backs or tight ends. The next receiver on the list is Kayshon Boutte, with just 13 catches for 203 yards and a score. Boutte has had a relatively promising season after being benched for the majority of last year, but his impact plays haven’t been consistent.
As for the other veterans, Kendrick Bourne missed the first month of the season coming off of a torn ACL. He seemed to be shaking off the rust upon his return, but did have a better game against the Titans. K.J. Osborn and Tyquan Thornton have been non-factors, with both being trade candidates at the deadline.
Then there are the rookies – second-round pick Ja’Lynn Polk and fourth-round pick Javon Baker. Polk had a strong training camp and early in the season appeared to be getting open even though the ball wasn’t finding him. Once it did he struggled to catch it, and those catching issues seemed to have snowballed and are now impacting other areas of his game. He’s yet to carve out a significant role, and hasn’t shown the development teams want from a high draft pick.
Baker struggled in camp, and after playing minimally to start the season was a healthy scratch for a few weeks – one week including a team itinerary ‘hiccup’ in London. He’s played just 10 offensive snaps all year – six in Week 2 and four last week, and hasn’t recorded a target. That limited exposure leaves him as more of an unknown than Polk at this point, but ultimately he’s also failed to make an impact.
Tight ends: B+
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – OCTOBER 27: Hunter Henry #85 of the New England Patriots runs with the ball against D.J. Reed #4 of the New York Jets during the first quarter at Gillette Stadium on October 27, 2024 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
Hunter Henry might be the most reliable player on the Patriots right now. He’s been a steady presence for an otherwise-unsteady offense. Through nine games he’s top five in the NFL in both catches (39) and receiving yards (414) among tight ends, while leading the Patriots entire team in both categories. He’s shown up as expected pretty much week in and week out. Austin Hooper has been solid in his supporting role as well.
What gets the group from a B to a B+ though has been the blocking. Henry and Hooper aren’t known as blockers, but when given a chance have held up relatively well. Using them more to help with pass protection is something the Patriots should look to do more moving forward.
Another player to watch is Jaheim Bell. The Patriots have slowly been getting Bell more involved in the offense, and he had his first catch of the year last week. Look for his role to continue in the second half of the season.
Offensive line: D-
Oct 20, 2024; London, United Kingdom; A general overall view as New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) throws the ball against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the second half of an NFL International Series game at Wembley Stadium. Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Things haven’t been great for the Patriots’ offensive line from the start. The team didn’t do much to invest in the group – especially the tackles – in the offseason. Training camp saw them cycling through multiple combinations due to both injuries and performance, leading to a lack of continuity to start the season.
Things didn’t get better when projected starting left tackle Chuks Okorafor left the team after Week 1. That kicked off a run where the Patriots started seven different offensive line combinations in seven weeks. During that time multiple players were asked to play out of position, even when other options would have allowed them to play in their natural spot. The biggest example of this is Mike Onwenu not moving to guard until Week 5.
Between the lack of top end talent, lack of depth, and lack of continuity, things have been ugly up front. Pass blocking has been an issue for most of the season. Jacoby Brissett was the most-pressured quarterback in the league – almost at 50 percent – when the Patriots made their quarterback change in Week 6.
While the pressure rate has been better with Drake Maye, it’s still close to the top of the league up near 40 percent. Maye also has had the benefit, at times, of playing behind an offensive line with some continuity. Things seemed to be improving, which made it all the more confusing when the coaching staff changed the lineup again last week without needing to. For the season the Patriots rank dead last in PFF’s pass block efficiency rating, at 77.1.
There have been some bright spots. That starts with Ben Brown, who has given the Patriots capable center play in place of David Andrews despite being signed mid-season with little time to prepare (he made his first start on a Monday after signing on a Wednesday night).
Elsewhere, Vederian Lowe has been serviceable when healthy. In six games he’s allowed just 14 pressures, while being penalized four times. Not great, but certainly an improvement from last year.
Meanwhile, the rookies have not provided the intended impact. Third-round pick Caedan Wallace, who the Patriots said they planned to try at left tackle, didn’t hold up on that side. He did show some promise on the right side, but has been sidelined since Week 4 with a knee injury.
Fourth-round pick Layden Robinson has struggled, particularly in pass protection. His 21 pressures are one shy of leading the team, despite the fact he’s played the fifth-most snaps on the offensive line. After playing on offense in just one game in the month of October due to injuries and performance, the Patriots put Robinson back in the lineup last week only to bench him 21 plays in. The Patriots clearly like Robinson as a prospect, but he doesn’t look ready for a starting role right now.
The fact is, as bad as things have been at times for the Patriots’ offensive line, there are other times they seem like they could be a lot worse. Scott Peters and the offensive line coaching staff deserve credit for making due with the revolving door of players they’ve had at their disposal, and their ability to do so may bode well for the future. For now though, the group has a lot of growing to do.
