Getty Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury (left) and defensive coordinator Vance Joseph.
The New England Patriots offense has struggled, and now even opposing coaches are calling out its passive play.
“It’s a very conservative pass game — lot of screens, all kind of screens,” said Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, according to a December 8 story by ESPN’s Mike Reiss. “It’s how a defensive guy would call offensive plays. ‘Let’s not turn the ball over, let’s get 4 yards a play and let’s try to burn clock.'”
Joseph said ahead of the teams’ December 12 Monday Night Football matchup that he “sees an offense that’s running the ball well.” But second-year quarterback Mac Jones appears to have taken a step back after an impressive rookie season. He has thrown for fewer than 2,000 yards along with seven touchdowns and seven interceptions, and New England’s offense is 29th in the league in total yards.
“That’s what they’re doing and that’s what [Jones is] going to do on Monday night,” Joseph said. “He’s going to be patient. Maybe take a shot from time to time. But for the most part, it’s run game, it’s quick game, and it’s screens.”
Who Else Is Calling Out the Patriots?
Joseph is far from the only person to call out New England’s offense. Heavy Sports’ front office insider Randy Mueller, a former NFL general manager, called the Patriots the least talented team in the AFC East.
“They have a QB who is, at best, the third best — and if we are talking just talent, probably fourth-best — in the division,” Mueller wrote on December 9. “They have very little team speed and almost none on offense, which makes people defend them differently.”
Mueller said the Patriots’ biggest offensive play of the season was made by a defensive player, referring to Marcus Jones’ December 1 highlight on Thursday Night Football.
“The one big play made by the Pats on offense was made by rookie DB Marcus Jones, who caught a bubble screen and ran 48 yards for a score,” Mueller wrote. “Their offensive line looks overwhelmed at times and their scheme, well, that’s a whole other [story].”
How Are Patriots Preparing for Cardinals Defense?
Jones and New England’s offense will be tested on Monday night because the Cardinals (4-8) blitz around 50% of the time.
New England (6-6) and its quarterback have struggled when facing pressure. According to ESPN Stats & Information, Jones has completed just 37% of his passes when pressured. He is also averaging just 2.9 yards per pass attempt when pressured. Jones has also thrown the most interceptions while pressure (5) in the league.
“They bring a lot of different guys from a lot of different places — show you one thing and bring something else. [They] keep you guessing and put you on your heels,” Jones said, according to a December 11 story by Reiss.
The Patriots’ offensive line will be shorthanded, with two tackles expected to miss the game and two more questionable. Isaiah Wynn is out with a foot injury and veteran backup tackle Marcus Cannon is on injured reserve. The questionable are Trent Brown (illness) and Yodny Cajuste (back and calf).