By Steve Atkinson
The New England Patriots have been struggling on offense lately. The recent loss to the Dolphins was one of the worst games I’ve seen from them since Brady left. It seems like the offensive side of the team has been neglected in 2022 and 2023, and it’s really showing this year. The receivers are having a hard time getting open. It seems like Demario Douglas should be getting more opportunities because he’s probably their best receiver. It also looks like Jacoby is focusing on Ja’Lynn Polk, probably to give the rookie some experience. It feels like the Patriots are more focused on building their offense for the future rather than winning right now.
Patriots Can’t Play Offensive Football
In 2021, the Patriots invested heavily in the offensive side and drafted Mac Jones. However, it didn’t work out as expected. Only Bourne and Hunter Henry performed well. In 2022, Belichick’s coaching decisions made the players uneasy, and Mac Jones regressed as a result. This situation dates back to when the neglect of the offense began, as said by Jakobi Meyers’
That quote is from last year when Belichick had to let go of his friend Patricia and bring in Bill O’Brien. However, Mac struggled due to the previous season and we saw him lose control. Now he’s a backup on a Jacksonville team with only one win. People would see the same with Drake Maye if he were to play now, given the offensive line and talent around him. People don’t understand.
Eliot Wolf Is Trying to Rebuild The Patriots Offense
Patriots fans need to ask themselves why our offense is struggling. Wolf mentioned that they need to make the offense more effective, but it was so broken that they had to rebuild it from scratch. They’ve started by introducing a new offensive system and drafting Maye at three. However, it’s not going to be successful right away; it may take a year or two. They might even attribute the Patriots’ poor offensive performance to Belichick rather than taking the blame for this season. They’ll say they walked into a difficult situation.
If Maye were to play now, fans would be calling for the team to tank and draft another quarterback. I’m not sure why Eliot Wolf didn’t sign a veteran backup behind Brissett, but that’s how it is. The offensive line can’t protect, and the receivers are young and still developing. There are probably some players wondering why they should risk their bodies when Drake can’t. However, Drake is the quarterback, and other positions aren’t as crucial as protecting the quarterback, and they should understand that.
Jacoby is taking a beating, and he will continue to do so. They won’t beat the Texans next Sunday, not even close. They’ll be 1-5 heading to London.”