Essentially the most entertaining Patriots recreation in years was equal components slop and shock.
For the second time in NFL history, a kick return landing instantly adopted a punt return landing.
For the primary time in almost three years, the Pats scored greater than 30 factors.
And who may neglect their 14 missed tackles, dozen penalties, or Milton Williams’ game-ending sack?
That sack completely punctuated a fourth quarter the place the Patriots’ protection greater than quadrupled its pressure rate from earlier within the recreation to protect a win.
That’s proper.
Whereas slogging by the South Florida warmth for three-plus hours, the Pats’ move rush truly strengthened as the sport wore on. And so they can thank the soccer gods it did.
The Patriots blitzed simply as soon as — as soon as! — after bombarding the Raiders with 17 blitzes of their season opeenr. Have been it not for Williams and the defensive position — and, in fact, half of De’Von Achane’s left foot touchdown out of bounds on a would-be landing run — the Pats could be 0-2. However hey, that’s soccer, and that’s the NFL; a recreation of inches and a league based on clutch.
Few coaches know that higher than Mike Vrabel, who steeled his group forward of what many anticipated to be a toss-up recreation. It was a road struggle he predicted, and a street fight he received. The Patriots didn’t flinch Sunday, regardless of what number of instances they stubbed their toe or lined up incorrectly or false-started.
Which brings us to Drake Maye.
Recent off a irritating season opener, Maye threw 4 incompletions and scored three touchdowns. He completed with zero turnovers. Little doubt, a mushy, disorganized Dolphins protection helped. However this was the quarterback you had been hoping to see in 12 months 2, and Maye’s potential stays the one biggest motive for Patriots optimism.
He may — and will — be particular.
Now, causes for doubt? The Patriots’ move protection with out Christian Gonzalez, their atrocious inside linebacker play and roller-coaster particular groups, which give any adoring fan a coronary heart assault at a second’s discover.
Good factor they’ve nonetheless acquired 15 video games and 16 weeks to go.
Right here’s what else the movie revealed concerning the Patriots’ first win:
Drake Maye
19-of-23 for 230 yards, 2 TDs, 31 speeding yards (TD)
Correct throw proportion: 86.4%
Below strain: 4-of-5 for 106 yards, 3 sacks, 25 speeding yards, speeding TD
Towards the blitz: 6-of-7 for 83 yards, TD, sack
Behind the road: 3-of-3 for 30 yards
0-9 yards downfield: 12-of-14 for 99 yards
10-19 yards downfield: 2-of-3 for 30 yards, TD
20+ yards downfield: 2-of-2 for 71 yards, TD
Notes: Choose nits should you should. However this was Maye at his greatest.
Look no additional than his 55-yard move on an important third down late within the third quarter with the offense backed up at its personal 24-yard line. Earlier than the snap, Maye recognized Miami’s man-to-man protection and alerted to a man-beater idea. He dropped again, slipped a closing edge-rusher, moved up within the pocket, stored his eyes downfield and delivered a strike to Rhamondre Stevenson in stride for the longest completion of his profession. Two performs later, Maye escaped from an unblocked rusher and scrambled for a six-yard landing.
These performs highlighted an enormous soar in his play underneath strain compared to the opener (4-of-11, 41 yards, INT, 4 sacks). Every week in the past, Maye melted in a second half that price the Patriots a win against Las Vegas. In Miami, he performed with a veteran’s pocket presence and a management that allowed for probably the most correct video games of his profession.
He recognized blitz strain constantly, together with moments earlier than his 16-yard landing move to Kayshon Boutte. He trusted his reads post-snap and threw with conviction, resisting the younger passer’s temptation to chase an prolonged play over a brief, on-time completion. Credit score to Josh McDaniels, too, for dialing up less complicated, easy reads. Extra on him later.
Sunday’s profitable distinction was how Maye and the Patriots utilized extra strain than they felt. And by no means, not as soon as, did he danger a turnover.
That’s maturity. That’s progress.
Vital areas
Turnovers: Patriots 0, Dolphins 1
Explosive play charge: Patriots 9.1%, Dolphins 9.6%
Success charge: Patriots 49%, Dolphins 47%
Crimson-zone effectivity: Patriots 3-4, Dolphins 1-2
Defensive strain charge: Patriots 38%, Dolphins 32.5%
Offense
Sport plan
Personnel breakdown: 42% of snaps in 11 personnel, 40% snaps in 12 personnel, 12% snaps in 21H personnel, 6% snaps in 13 personnel.***
Personnel manufacturing: 59% success charge in 11 personnel, 47% success charge in 12 personnel, 16% success charge in 21H personnel, 66% success charge in 13 personnel.
First-down down play-calls: 45% move (70% success charge), 55% run (25% success charge)
Play-action charge: 25.8%
Holy Shanahan, Batman.
Josh McDaniels orchestrated an old-school Kyle Shanahan recreation plan to re-establish the run after shedding all semblance of run-pass stability within the opener. Early on, the Patriots favored outdoors zone run ideas from underneath heart and play-action bootleg throws off those self same runs. McDaniels additionally upped their charge of pre-snap movement, going from 28.3% to 56.7%, per Sharp Football Analysis; all fundamental assessments for an undisciplined protection like Miami’s. This plan concurrently simplified life for Maye which, as lined above, helped.
Maye hit his first explosive play on a Shanahan passing staple — Leak — the place veteran tight finish Austin Hooper aligned on the best aspect of the formation, slipped beneath the protection throughout a play-action faux and up the left sideline for a 22-yard achieve. Two performs later, Maye hit Mack Hollins on a bootleg play-action move for a landing that capped their opening drive. On that play, the Pats exploited unhealthy eye self-discipline from Dolphins cornerback Jack Jones, a participant they clearly focused together with center linebacker Tyrel Dodson.
Rhamondre Stevenson shows why he’s still Patriots’ top running back in win
McDaniels additionally set Miami up through the use of Hollins as an in-line blocker at first of the drive, then had him slow-play his route on the touchdown pass as if he was blocking once more earlier than dashing downfield. Particulars, particulars, particulars.
In all, the Patriots went underneath heart on 56% of their snaps in comparison with 29% within the opener. By the tip, their run-game break up (between zone-blocking and man-blocked runs) was near 50/50; a clever stability after leaning closely on outdoors zone within the first half that later yielded lengthy man-blocked runs.
Curiously, this plan mirrored how Vrabel’s Titans used to run offense underneath former offensive coordinators Matt LaFleur and Arthur Smith. As well as, New Patriots assistants Thomas Brown and Todd Downing majored in these ideas in earlier jobs, and will have influenced the plan.
Remaining notes: the Patriots selected pick-route mixtures to free their greatest operating backs downfield on a pair important third downs. First, TreVeyon Henderson picked up 15 yards on a third-down wheel route, then Stevenson gained 55 on one other vertical path to convert third-and-3. McDaniels additionally timed his screens higher than he did per week in the past, gaining 30 yards and two first downs on three makes an attempt.
Participant stats
Damaged tackles: RB Rhamondre Stevenson 6, RB TreVeyon Henderson 3, QB Drake Maye
Strain allowed: Crew 6 (sack, 5 hurries), RB TreVeyon Henderson (sack), TE Hunter Henry (sack), OT Morgan Moses (hurry), OG Mike Onwenu (hurry)
Run stuffs allowed: None
Drops: Henry
Notes
- What a distinction per week makes. The Patriots’ offensive line allowed solely two pressures in move safety and created sufficient operating lanes to permit for a 122-yard day on the bottom. Typically, it is so simple as transferring our bodies.
- Hat suggestions particularly to rookies Will Campbell and Jared Wilson. Each gamers dedicated penalties (Campbell had a false begin and Wilson acquired caught holding), however the Pats can win loads of video games in the event that they maintain taking part in like that.
- Campbell’s athleticism helped him neutralize Professional Bowl move rusher Bradley Chubb in a number of 1-on-1 battles, probably the most spectacular snaps any O-lineman took.
- Veteran heart Garrett Bradbury has but to permit a strain this yr. Proper guard Mike Onwenu let his solely strain slip up the center on a stunt he and proper deal with Morgan Moses dealt with a lot better than final week, when it led to a Maye interception.
- Talking of Moses, his three false begins clearly can’t occur once more. He was limping late within the second half, so credit score to him for ending the sport, however count on to see seventh-round rookie Marcus Bryant maybe earlier than later.
- Many of the Patriots’ allowed pressures have been a byproduct of scheme; both Miami outnumbering them on the frenzy or the Pats inviting blitzers on display screen passes. The Pats additionally yielded strain by missed assignments (Maye’s second sack) and poor design, like tight ends repeatedly blocking defensive ends by themselves.
- No hat suggestions for this rookie: TreVeyon Henderson. He allowed a sack and acquired flagged three (!) instances for holding, together with as soon as on particular groups. These reps will solely cement his place behind Stevenson on the depth chart, regardless of how explosive he’s.
- Stevenson’s six damaged tackles marked a single-game excessive for him courting again to final October.
- Is it time to fret concerning the Patriots’ large receivers? Not fairly but, however it certain is notable none of them had 35 receiving yards in opposition to a foul secondary, they usually’ve mixed for simply three catches versus man-to-man protection this season.
- DeMario Douglas — their greatest wideout this summer time and most efficient final yr —- has already lot snaps to Stefon Diggs (15 to 31 for Diggs). And Diggs is just not solely not separating effectively, however his effort on performs the place he is not alleged to get the ball bears watching.
- Over a four-play stretch late within the first half, he barely tried a downfield block on a display screen to Henderson after which a pick-route mixture supposed to free Stevenson for an open catch within the flat. However as a result of Diggs did not gradual Stevenson’s defender in any respect, he was tackled for no achieve.
Protection
Sport plan
Personnel breakdown: 76% three-corner nickel package deal, 17% three-safety nickel, 7% dime.****
Protection breakdown: 85% zone, 15% man
Blitz charge: 2.5%
Blitz efficacy: 100% offensive success charge and 13.0 yards per play allowed
The Patriots trusted their four-man rush to strain Tua Tagovailoa with out assist and their again seven to maintain Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle and Co. in entrance with a zone-heavy plan. They blitzed as soon as, and rotated by variations of their base quarters protection (AKA Cowl 4), a number of disguised Cowl 2 and a few Cowl 3 Buzz. As soon as the Dolphins burned them on just a few man-to-man calls throughout a 2-minute drill that closed the primary half, the Patriots have been spooked out of man-coverage virtually utterly.
Vrabel needed to regulate the center of the sector and bait Tagovailoa into low-percentage, outdoors throws that might take a look at his arm power. Tagovailoa took that dare by hitting a number of nook routes and deep curls, plus just a few simple flat completions. The Patriots banked on their entrance 4 and a few turnovers late to avoid wasting them.
Fortunately, Williams and Barmore (39 and 38 defensive snaps, respectively) had sufficient within the tank, and Harold Landry added a sack, too.
Now, Tagovailoa additionally had couple prayers answered alongside the way in which, together with the 47-yard duck he accomplished to Tyreek Hill, who stopped on a go route to come back again for the ball in opposition to a struggling Alex Austin. And the Dolphins’ run recreation, because of some artistic shifts and motions, out-flanked the Patriots early for a 6.9 yards per carry common within the first half. However as soon as the Pats acquired a deal with on the run, they put the sport again on Tagovailoa’s shoulders, the place they needed all of it alongside.
Participant stats
Interception: LB Marte Mapu
Strain: DL Milton Williams 4 (2 sacks, 2 hurries), DL Christian Barmore 4 (QB hit, 3 hurries), OLB Harold Landry 2 (sack, QB hit), OLB Okay’Lavon Chaisson 2 (sack, hurry), LB Robert Spillane 2 (sack, hurry), CB Alex Austin (hurry)
Run stuffs: LB Christian Elliss, CB Marcus Jones, Barmore, Crew
Move deflections: Spillane
Missed tackles: Spillane 5, LB Christian Elliss 3, S Craig Woodson, CB Carlton Davis, CB Marcus Jones, CB Alex Austin, Barmore, Chaisson
Notes
- Till additional discover, this isn’t a great protection. The Pats allowed too many explosive performs in Week 1, and whiffed on too many tackles Sunday. A lot of work to do.
- Three pressures in three quarters. That, greater than anything, explains the Dolphins’ dominance, which included 4 straight scoring drives heading into the fourth quarter.
- Throw in 14 missed tackles — 5 courtesy of inside linebacker Robert Spillane and three extra from Christian Elliss — and no surprise Miami had a area day. Operating again De’Von Achane exploited each gamers at completely different instances, and have become an issue the Patriots by no means solved.
- Achane scored a landing in opposition to Spillane’s man-to-man protection when the Patriots performed their lone snap of Cowl 2 man simply earlier than halftime.
- Mixed, Spillane and Elliss have missed 14 this season; an untenable charge for the linchpins of Vrabel’s scheme.
- Finally, hydration points compelled Elliss off the sector, leaving Jack Gibbens and Marte Mapu to separate his snaps. Mapu took the sector one play earlier than he snatched his fourth-down interception within the closing minutes. That play encapsulated the largest defensive distinction for New England: higher strain and a turnover to cease the bleeding.
- Milton Williams dominated in large moments. Christian Barmore much less so, however this protection goes as they go.
- One smaller distinction in protection: safeties Jaylinn Hawkins and Craig Woodson squeezed routes extra tightly within the second half when taking part in quarters protection, which — in easiest phrases — usually morphs from true zone to man-to-man as receivers’ routes declare.
- Their play prevented Tagovailoa from pulling the set off on throws to Hill and Waddle he’d hit earlier within the recreation and compelled him to proceed scanning the sector.
- No plan or protection, nevertheless, may maintain Alex Austin from all 1-on-1 matchups. Austin struggled all through, unable to maintain up with Hill’s velocity or Waddle’s quickness. He ought to rebound, however the Patriots want Christian Gonzalez to solidify their secondary.
- Harold Landry, iron man. He performed 91% of the group’s defensive snaps reverse Okay’Lavon Chaisson, who completed at 88%. Chaisson acquired flagged twice for being offside.
- Marcus Jones was the one defender to play 100% of the group’s defensive snaps.
- A scheme quibble: extra dime protection in passing conditions. The Pats changed Spillane with Mapu for a single snap of dime personnel within the third quarter, however that was it. Play six defensive backs, and match velocity with velocity.
*Explosive performs are outlined as runs of 12-plus yards and passes of 20-plus yards.
**Success charge is an effectivity metric measuring how usually an offense stays on schedule. A play is profitable when it produces constructive EPA (Anticipated Factors Added).
***11 personnel = one operating again, one tight finish; 12 personnel = one operating again, two tight ends; 13 personnel = two backs, two tight ends; 21 personnel = two backs, one tight finish; 21H = two halfbacks, one tight ends.
****Base protection = 4 defensive backs; nickel = 5; dime = six, greenback = seven.
