Nitpicks & Nitwits: It’s All About The Future

Aesthetically speaking, Monday night’s game in the Arizona desert won’t be one to remember by style points alone.

But the 27-13 win over the Cardinals might – might – be recalled as the start of something big for a few rookies and younger players on the New England roster…like having meaningful roles, good seasons, or even long and exceptional NFL careers.

No word of a lie here. The rooks played their rear ends off Monday night.

Not only did it save a season, for now…it may also have given meaning and definition toward the future of a (recently dynastic) franchise.

Hyperbole, much? Consider return man and defensive back Marcus Jones, who has already dazzled from time to time with his skills as a punt and kick returner, and with his speed in the open field on offense.

Abracadabra!

He finished the game with seven tackles, two passes defended and his first career NFL interception going largely up against a potential future Hall of Fame receiver in DeAndre Hopkins.

He defended well. Which was the job he was originally drafted to do in last April’s third round. Play defense.

Running backs Pierre Strong (4th round) and Kevin Harris (6th round) have had next-to-zero opportunity thus far this season.

Poof!

Kevin Harris’ first career touchdown gives the #Patriots the lead in Arizona.#ForeverNE #NFL @FPC_Patriots pic.twitter.com/lU5m5PipYk

— Full Press NFL (@FullPressNFL) December 13, 2022

Rhamondre Stevenson goes down with an injury (ankle) and Damien Harris was never a factor as a pregame scratch. The two rookie runners combine for 13 rushes and 96 yards on the ground, scoring two touchdowns.

Rookie offensive guard Cole Strange has been the most consistent rookie performer this season while being scrutinized as much as anyone. The line has had multiple issues with performance and discipline – largely from the tackle spot and had them again Monday night.

Voila!

Strange did his thing again. He has largely been a plug-and-play performer, with a few minor growing pains.

And they’re not rookies, but younger players like linebacker Josh Uche (three sacks), Mac Jones and Hunter Henry (a 2016 draftee) all contributed to a road win that, for now, keeps these Patriots in the mix for the postseason.

Sure, say what you’d like about the Patriots’ ultimate chance for success THIS year. We’ve seen plenty of evidence to the contrary and you might be right to question all of it, even though there are four weeks remaining. But what we haven’t seen much of previously, we saw in eye-opening waves Monday night.

We saw a glimpse of the future. It might not be as bleak as once imagined, for one night at least.

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Expletive deleted!

Yeah, if you were watching the game, you saw it plain as day. Mac Jones wasn’t a happy camper during the first possession of the 3rd quarter, with New England trailing 13-10. He had to call a time out before the play clock hit zero.

BLEEP.

In that moment, we caught a quick glimpse of this entire Patriots’ season as Jones waved off Matt Patricia on the sideline. Frustration, miscommunication, inexperience, misguidance, poor decision-making, poor performance. All rolled into one four-letter word.

The outcome of that time out, of course, ultimately led to a 23-yard Nick Folk field goal to tie the game. A typical (for this season) result with offensive struggles in the red zone.  But Jones and Patricia were all smiles and hugs afterward.

It’s dysfunctional, but it is what it is.

I screen, you screen, we all screen

Criticism came at the Patriots’ offense this week from Arizona’s defensive coordinator, Vance Joseph. These Patriots were run by a “defensive guy,” and “screens, lots of screens” in the passing game. Sort of a shot at Patricia and the offense, no?

What exactly did Joseph get wrong here?  Per ESPN Stats and Info, Jones threw a dozen screen passes in the game, which was the second-most by any quarterback this season – Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts threw 14 against the Cardinals in Week 5. And he’s done pretty well this season.

It might seem unimaginative, and you wouldn’t be wrong. But it worked, for the most part, the screen and short passing game. Arizona blitzed (11 times in the first half alone, according to center David Andrews) and could never really solve the problem.

Those screens also set up two big plays to Hunter Henry, up the seam of the Cardinals’ defense for 30 and 39 yards.

“Sometimes, it might be this thing that people don’t know about — like the quick passes for whatever reason — and that’s our game plan,” Jones said postgame. “We knew what we had to do to win, and he (Patricia) called a great game and stayed calm. He’s a calm person, very stoic. We’re just going to continue to grow together and do what we can to win games.”

Same ‘ol, same ‘ol?

Observers might say New England scored only 20 offensive points against one of the worst defenses in the NFL Monday night. Others (like above) might say the Patriots got season-extending performances from seldom-used rookies and younger players…and may be developing a knack for doing W.I.T. – Whatever It Takes.

Three-for-eleven on 3rd down. Poor blocking up front in the first half against a subpar Arizona defense. Calling a time-out just two plays into the second half. Eight penalties for 80 yards in walk-offs. Nelson Agholor‘s hands of stone remain as predictable as the day is long.

Tons of issues remain with these Patriots. But a game they had to have, they got. Now, can they do it again…like they used to?