Patriots Home Opener

By: Steve Atkinson

Here we go Sunday is the Patriots season opener! Not only does Brady make his return but the Patriots take on the Eagles who went to the Super Bowl last year. They also will take on a defense that is being advised by Matt Patricia who ruined Mac Jones last season. As the Patriots look ahead to year four post Brady do they have an identity? It’s really a quarterback league with teams building around the quarterback.

But the Patriots don’t seem to be doing that consistently. Since Brady has left Belichick is 25-26 and out Matt Patricia and Joe Judge to run the offense in 2022. He also went 7-9 with Cam Newton in 2020. The only decent season Belichick has had post-Brady is 2021 Mac’s rookie season. They got slaughtered by the Bills but it had promise. This year has some promise too as Kraft hired Bill O’Brien to fix Mac Jones and run the offense. Even with the middle of the pack receivers the quick pass and RPO’s should work to Jones’ benefit.

Bill O’Brien doesn’t like the way Zappe plays that’s why he is on the practice squad and they signed Matt Corral who has experience running his offense in college. I’ve been saying since January O’Brien was here to fix Mac Jones does not develop a backup quarterback. The signing of Elliott can have high hopes too as he will be a run blocker for Stevenson. He will also help the weak offensive line by creating holes. Elliot can also work well in the quick game as well.

Should the Patriots offense be scared of the Matt Patricia defense. Nope if anything the Patriots offense and Jones should be motivated to kick the crap out of that Eagles defense on Sunday. Show Patricia that offense is great with a real offensive coordinator. Devin McCourty even spoke freely this week about how much of a clown show last year was

“I said it. I’ve said it this whole offseason. It just — that wasn’t a good thing. Like, there was nothing good about that,” an honest McCourty answered. “And I think a lot of people talk about the season, but from training camp, there was nothing good about that.” But yeah, I think everybody in New England — I think even Matty P. — is happy that whole experiment is over and he’s back to doing what he loves doing, coaching ball and talking defense,” McCourty said.

Why Belichick did that last year was all ego. And the fact that Patricia and Judge were getting paid by other teams. Judge still getting paid by the Giants so that’s why he’s still here. Patricia is no longer getting paid by the Lions so there was zero use for him. Also, Kraft probably told Bill to tell Patricia to take a hike.

I think Sunday’s game will be about the quarterbacks. I think the offense is going to surprise a lot of people and we’ll see a much better product.

Bill Belichick spoke about Jalen Hurts and the offense

Hurts does a great job of running the show,” Belichick said. “Executing the offense but also making off-schedule plays. Can run, throw, they’ve got two great receivers, good tight end, some explosive backs. … They have a good plan of attack, it’ll be a big challenge for us.”