10 thoughts as the Patriots prepare for unbeaten Buffalo
Thoughts on Jamie Collins, Tom Brady, Sony Michel, and more.
COMMENTARY
Ten thoughts on 10 Patriots as New England readies for the Bills and a trip to Buffalo, where first place in the AFC East will be on the line…
Bill Belichick’s team is out to a 3-0 start for the third time in five seasons and, if they continue to handle their business without being beaten, the coach will be in position to notch career win No. 300 on Oct. 27 — fittingly against the Browns, with whom he got his head coaching start. The fast start also puts the Pats in a position where if they go at least 10-3 over the rest of the regular season they’ll be guaranteed of finishing this decade with at least 100 more wins than losses, counting both the regular season and playoffs. They’re currently 132-37 since the start of 2010; the NFL’s next-best in that span is the Packers, who even by going 19-0 this season would still finish the decade just 58 games over .500.
Jamie Collins was the last Patriots’ linebacker named to the Pro Bowl, and the only one since current coach Jerod Mayo was so honored in 2012. Collins’s selection came in 2015, when he had one interception, 5.5 sacks, and eight tackles for loss. Through three games this season he’s already posted two picks, 2.5 sacks, and five tackles for loss — the full capabilities of his instincts and athleticism having seemingly been unlocked in his return to New England.
Devin McCourty is occasionally referred to as “red jacket” by his teammates — and while the degree of difficulty hasn’t exactly been the highest, the three interceptions he’s accrued already certainly won’t hurt his eventual candidacy for the Patriots Hall of Fame. (Three titles won’t harm it, either.)
James Develin’s neck injury “is not considered too serious,” the Globe reported, on the same day Belichick gushed about the fullback and the contributions he singularly makes to the club. That combination makes it look as if the Pats are at least hopeful Develin will return from injured reserve at some point — and that’s not a good sign for the one of the team’s last two top draft picks. Receiver N’Keal Harry and offensive tackle Isaiah Wynn are both on IR, too, but each team is only allowed to reactivate two players from that list per season. If Develin’s one of them, that would either mean the injuries to Harry or Wynn are worse than initially reported, or the Pats have determined they’re in greater need of a fullback than a prime-position player whose acquisition cost them significant draft capital.
Jakob Johnson is an incredible story, with his underdog status perhaps best illustrated by the fact Belichick was willing to acknowledge that Johnson began this summer as the 91st player on a 90-man roster. Usually that’s the sort of detail and candor that only shows up in a “Do Your Job” documentary. Just don’t expect Johnson to fill Develin’s cleats any time soon; in less than two full games, Josh McDaniels included the fullback in offensive personnel packages so often that Develin played 58 offensive snaps. On Sunday, with no other fullback and only one tight end active, Johnson was on the field for just two plays. That indicates how long a way he has to go before he’s entrusted to read a defense and make a hole or pick up a blitz.
Sony Michel played half as many snaps (17) against the Jets as he did against the Dolphins (34), despite the absence of James White, and despite the fact the Pats held a 20-0 lead by the second minute of the second quarter. Again, New England’s offense is just too predictable when it comes to usage of the second-year back. He’s played 74 snaps this season, carrying the ball 45 times and being thrown to only once. If they can diversify the threat, perhaps his production will pick up.
Tom Brady has thrown seven touchdowns without an interception, marking the fifth time in six seasons he has been interception-free entering his fourth game of the season. Even with the outlier of last year, when the quarterback had a 6-to-2 ratio of TDs to INTs, since 2014 Brady has combined for 41 touchdowns and two picks in his first three contests of a campaign.
Julian Edelman was the target of 10 Brady passes Sunday — and he didn’t even play the second half. Based on the personnel without Antonio Brown or White, it made some sense. And it’ll continue to be tempting for Brady to keep feeding and feeding his favorite receiver. But it’s too much. The Patriots need to protect themselves a bit with the bigger picture in mind because, even if it’s relatively minor, Edelman’s current rib injury comes on the heel of a thumb injury, and there are also foot and knee injuries in the not-so-distant past. Edelman is 33, and particularly given the perpetual uncertainty around Josh Gordon he’s absolutely critical to what the Patriots are trying to accomplish. Whether it’s by the coaches or the quarterback, some conscience action needs to be taken to try and preserve such a vital piece.
Jake Bailey’s punts were outstanding on Sunday afternoon. Included among his seven kicks were a 56-yarder that was fair caught at the 12, and a 55-yarder that was fair caught at the 8. The crown jewel en route to AFC special teams player of the week honors might’ve been the 41-yard boot that Matthew Slater leapt up to leave at the 1, and Bailey had two other short punts that pinned the Jets inside the 10. Part of never giving New York hope was forcing Luke Falk to repeatedly open drives by standing behind center with 90-plus yards and the NFL’s best defense in front of him. (The concern with Bailey, of course, is whether his presence as a new holder has crept into the head of placekicker Stephen Gostkowski.)
Gunner Olszewski, speaking of rookies prominent in the punting game, did not have as good an afternoon. His muff resulted in the first touchdown the Pats have allowed this season, and so it’ll be interesting to see if the Pats still feel they can rely on him to field a punt in the fourth quarter of a tight game. His 6.8 yards per return rates in the middle of the pack league-wide, behind former Pats Cyrus Jones and Kenjon Barner — but working in Olszewski’s favor in terms of retaining his roster spot is that he has experience on both sides of scrimmage in addition to playing on every special teams unit.
