What are the New England Patriots doing at offensive coordinator?
With Mac Jones going into his second year as the Patriots starting quarterback, questions have started to arise as to whom will be named offensive coordinator for the upcoming 2022 season. Jones had a good rookie year last season, throwing for 3,800 yards, 22 touchdowns, 13 interceptions, and a 50.9 QBR(Quarterback Ranking). All of these stats were among the league average last season, with Josh McDaniels as the Patriots offensive coordinator. With McDaniels off to be the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, Matt Patricia and Joe Judge are in position to land the coordinator and play caller role.
Having these two coaches as options is abysmal. Judge, who was the head coach for the New York Giants for the past two seasons, basically got fired for poor production and efficiency on the offensive side of the ball. This was highlighted in Week 18 of last season against the Washington Commanders, when the Giants ran 2 straight QB Sneak plays inside the 5 yard line. You may also remember Matt Patricia, the former Detroit Lions head coach(2018-2020), and how bad the Lions were to watch on Thanksgiving for those 3 seasons, because let’s be honest here, who was watching Lions games otherwise? Matt Patricia was also the Patriots defensive coordinator from 2012-2017, and in those seasons, the Patriots defenses were in the top ten statistically. If Patricia were auditioning for the defensive coordinator position, I would be all in. Offensive coordinator though? No thanks buddy.
Judge is currently in an unknown role but it has looked and sounded like he will become quarterbacks coach sooner rather than later. And all signs right now point to Patricia becoming offensive coordinator soon, perhaps before the end of this month. It will really be interesting to see how this move affects Mac Jones in the long run. The Patriots offseason and draft choices(Cole Strange???) have left little to be desired, and it seems as if Bill Belicheck is willing to put the season all on the shoulders of Mac Jones.
Showing some Love for Tua!
When the Miami Dolphins hired Mike McDaniel aka “MIKE JONES” as head coach, I thought Tua could finally have the play caller he needed to be successful. McDaniel’s was known league wide for his creativity on offense, as well as his ability to get everyone involved. Since McDaniel’s got hired on February 6th, the Dolphins have made no shortage of moves to get better on the offensive side of the football, so far adding Tyreek Hill(WR), Terron Armstead(OT), Sony Michel(RB), Chase Edmonds(RB), Raheem Mostert(RB), Cedrick Wison Jr.(WR), and Alec Ingold(FB). The Dolphins also resigned Mike Gesicki(TE), Durham Smythe(TE), and Preston Williams(WR).
All of these moves are going to benefit the Dolphins as well as Tua Tagovailoa. When Tua was at Alabama, the offense was predicated on him getting the ball out of his hands fast, and into the hands of his playmakers. He also had a very talented, and creative offensive football mind in Lane Kiffin as his play caller. The Dolphins realized this and decided to give Tua a similar opportunity. Giving Tua another talented, and creative play caller like McDaniel, and weapons like Tyreek Hill, Mike Gesicki and a player like Terron Armstead to block for him is just going benefit his development, and hopefully raise the play of him and his teammates. Tua threw for 2,700 yards, 16 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, and a 90.1 QBR in 13 games last season as the Dolphins finished 9-8. With Tua going into his third season, he will be expected to make big strides to prove he can be a starting quarterback in the NFL. Ultimately my only question is this, Can he make the throws to win the game? He has weapons at all positions and now the ball is in his corner to make the plays.
Sleeper Team in the NFC?
My pick for sleeper in the NFC is the Philadelphia Eagles, a team that made the playoffs last year as a 7 seed that I think will surprise some people during the regular season again, and can go even further to cement themselves as a contender for years to come.
After going 9-8 last year and losing to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first round, the Eagles realized some hard truths. They were good on defense towards the end of the year, but some of their key players were getting older. Insert Jordan Davis(DT), and Nakobe Dean(LB) via the draft, also adding players like Hassan Reddick(LB/DE), Kyzir White(LB), and James Bradberry(CB) in free agency. All of these players upgrade what was already a playoff defense after Week 8 last season. I’m very curious to see how this unit does in 2022.
Going to the other side of the football, second year head coach Nick Siranni made water out of mud last season with this offense. The Eagles were the best team rushing the football with 156 yards per game, 21st in passing offense with 202 yards per game, and 12th in the league in scoring at 25.5 points per game. Changes on this side of the ball are necessary for the Eagles to improve next year.
Jalen Hurts threw for 3,200 yards, 16 touchdowns, 9 interceptions, and an 48.5 QBR. Hurts also ran for close to 800 yards and 10 touchdowns. I will be the first one to tell you that I was not impressed with Jalen Hurts when he left Oklahoma, but since that point he has proven me wrong every single step of the way. First by just winning and keeping the starting job, and then to lead the Eagles to the playoffs in your first full season as starter? Yes ladies and gentleman, I am impressed. Adding a top 10 wide receiver in AJ Brown and pairing him with budding superstar, Devonta Smith should push Hurts development through the roof considering Hurts also has guys like Miles Sanders(RB), Boston Scott(RB), Zack Pascal(WR), Dallas Goedert(TE), and Quez Watkins(WR) still to utilize as well. I’m looking for Hurts and the Eagles to win the NFC East next season and for Jalen Hurts to have a great season that firmly puts him in the conversation with Tier 2 quarterbacks.
Austin Kimbrough
Creator of Say What w/ K2
IG: @say.what.k2
Comentarios