Scott Zolak: How do you let Jonnu Smith do that to you?
On Monday’s edition of Zolak & Bertrand, Scott Zolak explained why Jonnu Smith’s big game against the Patriots is another blow to the franchise.
Austin Hooper has already been way better than him…
Marc Bertrand:
Jonnu Smith at only 29 years old Zo, is having a big year. Big Year for the big fella.
Scott Zolak:
He had a decent year with Atlanta after New England. I thought he was dead in the water. I didn’t think we could squeeze anything out of him. Like you remember the one catch he had in Buffalo and in that weird wind, rain, ice game. It was like an acrobatic catch. I’m like, whoa, that’s a hell of a catch. He never really did anything after that.
Marc Bertrand:
Well, in the last two weeks, he has had 15 catches for 188 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Scott Zolak:
Granted you’re paying attention to Jayen Waddle and Tyreek Hill. My point from yesterday is you didn’t have an answer to cover him. I don’t think he’s one of the better tight ends in the league, but damn, they used him pretty damn well and you couldn’t stop him. I don’t think he’s a great route runner, if you know what I mean. Like he’s not a shifty guy. You watch George Kittle run routes, that dude can run routes. He just runs the spots and he just created spots to get him open. Like those weren’t contested catches, he was wide ass open.
Marc Bertrand:
He’s had a catch in every game but one this year.
Scott Zolak:
11 targets, 9 catches. That stat should not jump off the page to you from yesterday. Like if you’re on your stuff a little bit. There’s no reason a Patriots safety or even your fastest linebacker can’t cover that guy. Just sit in some zone, run in between you, catch it. He’s athletic. I’ve seen him. He is athletic enough that if he catches it without contact and he gets going… I remember the Cleveland game when Zappe was with him. Boom. It’s quick. He’s athletic enough to make a play after the catch.
Tim McKone:
There were times where it looked like he couldn’t run and catch at the same time in New England.
Scott Zolak:
You would say Austin Hooper is 10x better than Smith ever was here.
Listen to the full segment!
7 takeaways after the Patriots get blown by in Miami once again
Penalties, penalties, penalties
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 24: Head coach Jerod Mayo of the New England Patriots looks on during the second quarter against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on November 24, 2024 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
Among the Patriots’ issues in this game, penalties were at the forefront. Both the overall number and nature of when they occurred combined to be a crippling issue for head coach Jerod Mayo’s team on Sunday.
Coming into this game the Patriots were averaging 7.73 flags (including both accepted and unaccepted penalties) per game. That ranked as the 14th-most in the NFL.
Against the Dolphins, the Patriots blew by that number – just in the first half. In total they were flagged 13 times, with 10 of those accepted for 75 yards. It’s the second-most the Patriots have been flagged in a game this season, after getting 14 thrown on them in the first meeting with Miami.
Of those 13 flags, 10 were against the offense. The offensive line was particularly bad, with left tackle Vederian Lowe called for four penalties (three false starts and a hold) and right tackle Demontrey Jacobs called for two (a false start and a hold). Wide receiver Kayson Boutte was also a repeat offender, with two offensive pass interference penalties.
Meanwhile, six of those flags came in the first quarter while the game was still within reach. The Patriots prevented themselves with multiple offensive penalties early that prevented them from sustaining a drive, and a third down offsides on Anfernee Jennings that gifted Miami a first down – they’d score their first touchdown of the game three plays later.
Penalties have been a regular talking point for Mayo this year, as they’ve hurt the Patriots in multiple games. As has been the case in the past, Mayo took accountability after the game.
“It starts with me,” he said. “We’ve had these hiccups of games where the penalties really affect us, and it did today.”
Tackle troubles
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 24: Drake Maye #10 of the New England Patriots under pressure against the Miami Dolphins during the second quarter at Hard Rock Stadium on November 24, 2024 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
The Patriots’ offensive tackles led the team in penalties, but their problems extended well beyond that. Neither held up well in the passing game – Demontrey Jacobs allowed seven pressures while Vederian Lowe allowed four.
Jacobs was the blocker at the point of attack when Drake Maye was nearly strip-sacked late in the first half (the play was initially called a fumble then changed to an incomplete pass). Then in the third quarter, Lowe got beat leading to an actual strip sack (more on that in a bit).
In the second half Jacobs ended up being benched and replaced with Sidy Sow, who hasn’t played tackle since training camp last year. “He was having a tough game, whether it was penalties or blocking the edge,” Mayo said after the game. “He was having a tough game, and we’ve gotta protect the quarterback.”
For all their other issues, Sunday’s game was a reminder just how big of a need tackle will be for the Patriots this offseason. Rookie third round pick Caedan Wallace, who is currently on IR, could come back and help on the right side, but the left still needs an answer.
Meanwhile, things weren’t great on the interior either. Left guard Michael Jordan allowed four pressures, and struggled in the run game. With Cole Strange designated to return, there’s been the question of which position he’ll end up playing when he’s back – center or left guard. Jordan’s performance should open the door for him to end up back in his natural spot.
Overall, the Patriots’ rushing attack took a step back. After rushing for a franchise-record 7.9 yards per carry in the first game against Miami this year, the Patriots managed just 3.75 yards per carry on designed runs in this game, while averaging 3.1 yards per carry over the first three quarters. It was a step back for a rushing attack that felt like it was building momentum in recent weeks.
Turnovers still an issue for Drake Maye
Nov 24, 2024; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Zach Sieler (92) strip sacks New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) during the second half at Hard Rock Stadium. Credit: Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images
Another week, and two more turnovers for Drake Maye. He was strip-sacked at the end of the third quarter, then threw an interception in the fourth.
On the strip sack, Vederian Lowe got beat to the inside. Maye was able to see the rusher – Zach Sieler – coming at him but instead of running away or getting rid of the ball he tried to push Sieler off of him, exposing the football in the process.
“The fumble – just find a way to protect the football and go down, or find a way to get it out,” Maye said after the game. “I think I maybe could have spun out of it – reversed out of it and escaped it…don’t want to swim move the guy with a football. That’s just bad.”
Maye didn’t seem as bothered by the interception, on which he was pressured by Jalen Ramsey, who got a free rush at the quarterback. Maye tried to get the ball back to the line of scrimmage, but it was tipped and fluttered leading to an easy pick for linebacker Tyrel Dodson.
“Just trying to check it down, and it happened to get tipped,” Maye said. “I’m not too worried about that.”
On one hand, Maye is getting put in bad positions leading to a lot of these turnovers. Both plays on Sunday saw him face-to-face with a rusher almost immediately after the snap. He seems to be trying to compensate for other offensive issues by not quitting on plays. At the same time sometimes the best play is to live to see the next down – something Maye himself has acknowledged in the past.
Earlier this week Alex Van Pelt indicated the goal was for Maye to finish the year with 10 or fewer interceptions. He’s now at seven with five games to go. That number also doesn’t include the now four fumbles he’s lost, giving him a grand total of 11 giveaways in six and a quarter starts.
Maye has time to get his turnover numbers down, but they do need to come down. Even with a less than ideal situation around him, he’s going to need to find a way to do it, and the team needs to make sure it doesn’t come with him developing bad habits.
Coverage issues
Nov 24, 2024; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; New England Patriots cornerback Marcus Jones (25) attempts to tackle Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (17) during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium. Credit: Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images
Things didn’t go much better on the defensive side of the ball – especially in the passing game. For the second week in a row, the Patriots’ cornerback depth got exposed and – against a similar style offense – DeMarcus Covington’s coverage was picked apart.
Once again, Christian Gonzalez did his thing. In 41 coverage snaps, mainly alternating between Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, Gonzalez was targeted just three times, allowing two catches for 24 yards with a pass breakup.
Beyond him though, the Patriots didn’t have any answers. When Gonzalez was off Waddle the Dolphins threw him the ball early and often, and he finished the day with eight catches for 144 yards – both season highs – and a touchdown. Marcus Jones in particular had a rough game – he was targeted nine times on 43 coverage snaps allowing six catches for 83 yards.
Meanwhile the Dolphins’ other skill position players found room as well. Jonnu Smith put up big numbers against his former team. Mainly picking on Kyle Dugger, he caught nine passes for 87 yards and a touchdown.
In the red zone, it was running backs that gave the Patriots the most fits. De’Von Achane had a pair of walk-in receiving touchdowns in the second quarter.
Over the last two weeks the Patriots’ lack of coverage personnel has been made apparent. Cornerback and safety could very well end up being bigger needs than initially expected this offseason.
Lack of a pass rush
Nov 24, 2024; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) attempts a pass against the New England Patriots during the second half at Hard Rock Stadium. Credit: Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images
The Patriots’ continue to struggle to put any pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Last week they tried leaning heavily on the blitz – a strategy that backfired on DeMarcus Covington. This week, facing a quarterback in Tua Tagovailoa that has been better under pressure than any other in the NFL this year, they called off the dogs calling just seven blitzes according to NFL NextGen Stats.
That meant a real test for the front four to get home on their own – something they mostly failed to do. The Patriots ended up getting seven total pressures according to PFF’s initial charting – the same number they had last week with their blitz-heavy gameplan.
Of those seven two were sacks, with both coming in the second half. Christian Barmore got the first on a third down, marking his first sack since returning from his blood clot issue. The second was schemed up for Brenden Schooler, in the return of the Longhorn package.
Beyond that, the pass rush was minimal. Keion White was the only player with multiple pressures, with two. Yannick Ngakoue saw a bigger role with 24 pass rush snaps, but didn’t get to the quarterback. Neither did Daniel Ekuale (25 pass rush snaps) or Anfernee Jennings (31).
The Patriots not having a pass rush isn’t helping their coverage issues, and vice versa. Blitzing more may be in the cards next week against a young quarterback in Anthony Richardson, but right now the production isn’t there.
Gonzalez’s scoop and score
Nov 24, 2024; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez (0) runs the ball for a touchdown after recovering a fumble against the Miami Dolphins during the second half at Hard Rock Stadium. Credit: Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images
The one bright spot in this game for the Patriots came in the fourth quarter. Christian Gonzalez got right to a fumble after a botched handoff made worse by Marte Mapu’s presence in the backfield, and returned it 68 yards for a touchdown.
Turnovers have been few and far between for the Patriots’ defense this year. They came into the week ranked 27th in the NFL with eight takeaways, and prior to Sunday had just one since Week 6 (a tip drill interception by Jahlani Tavai against the Titans).
Following the touchdown the Patriots’ ran a trick play for the two point conversion to make it a two-score game. Drake Maye threw in the flat to Kayshon Boutte, who lateraled the ball to Rhamondre Stevenson for the score. The Patriots are now 2-for-3 on two-point plays this year.
