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The New England Patriots have won two straight games, are 5-4, and enjoying some time off right during during their bye week.
But that doesn’t mean they don’t have issues because apparently they do, at least one big one on offense, and it’s not something you want to be dealing with.
In fact, it’s a little bit embarrassing.
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick spoke with the media on Tuesday and during his time on the mic he shared that he thought defensive players the past few weeks for the Jets and Colts seemed to know some of the Patriots plays before they were called.
This came just a few days after some players said after their win over Indianapolis that Colts linebacker Shaquille Leonard was calling out plays before Mac Jones took the snaps from center.
That’s not great!
Belichick had this to say:
“That’s what it looked like to me, too. We definitely want to prevent that. I thought that there were two or three plays for sure that Leonard really got a big jump on and stopped us, basically, on those plays. (Jets LB C.J.) Mosley got a couple of those a couple of weeks ago in the Jets game; it looked almost like he heard the play in the huddle he was on it so fast. Leonard had a couple like that too.”
It felt like he heard the play in the huddle?!
Yeah, I, too, think preventing that should be a priority for Jones and the Patriots’ offense because that is not great. Not great at all.
Belichick added:
“Whether that is something we were giving away or something he anticipated based on whatever the keys were that he picked up, we certainly want to prevent that. But I thought that, Leonard for sure did it, and Mosely had a couple of plays like that as well. But that’s what good defensive players do; they anticipate things and sometimes get a read on what they think may happen. They’re not always right, but when they are, they can make you look bad offensively. ”
The Patriots’ offense has not been great this year. They’re 26th in yards gained and Jones has had his struggles in his second year in the NFL. This issue of defenders knowing the plays before they’re called surely can’t be good for the QB and it needs to be corrected going forward if the Patriots are to have any shot at reaching the playoffs.
While this isn’t great for the Patriots, I’m guessing it’s leading to some good jokes about them knowing teams’ plays before the snap in years past and you know what – jokes are fun and jokes are good.
But this issue is a bad one for a team that needs all the help it can get on the offensive side of the ball.
Quick hits: Mike McDaniel’s funny chat with Justin Fields… New NBA mock draft… NFL playoff picture… And more.
– Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel had a hilarious break down of his funny sideline conversation with Justin Fields during last Sunday’s game.
– Bryan Kalbrosky has his latest 2023 NBA mock draft.
– Here’s the NFL playoff picture heading into Week 10.
– An Ottawa Senators fan had a priceless reaction to seeing Ryan Reynolds sitting next to her at a game.