Suffice to say the 2022 Patriots offense has, shall we say, struggled to attain any consistency and score the ball from anywhere on the field thus far. How else to explain Nick Folk having more than double the points of the rest of the offense the past two games. While there could be a veritable cornucopia of reasons as to why they’re having trouble getting into the end zone, it never helps when the other team knows what play you’re going to run.
According to MassLive’s Mark Daniels, Indianapolis linebacker Shaquille (formerly known as Darius) Leonard was calling out Patriots plays at the line before Mac Jones snapped the ball on Sunday. Daniels said he overheard multiple Patriots players discussing as much in the locker room following the Patriots' 26-3 win over the Colts. Leonard is one of the best linebackers in the league, having made the Pro Bowl four times, so he certainly knows the game. Calling out screens and passes and which direction plays were going is either an indication he’s taken his game to the next level…or there’s yet something else on the Patriots offense that needs fixing.
What could be the cause of Shaquille Leonard playing the part of Alan Turing, deciphering the enigma code of the Patriots offensive signals? Could it be Indy’s defensive familiarity with the Pats, having played them just last December, a Colts win? Leonard is joined by former Patriot Stephon Gilmore at corner, who certainty has some familiarity with the team and their plays, though now Raiders coach Josh McDaniels was OC back in Gilly Lock’s time.
Could Mac be telegraphing plays, perhaps with certain tells in body language or at the line? Or is the play-calling from unofficial OC Matt Patricia easy to decipher? The how and why of this issue will have to be discovered and rectified during the bye week, which comes at a perfect time for a Pats offense that ranks 24th overall in the NFL and a dreadful 29th in red zone TD efficiency. Though it’s unlikely Leonard’s intel or recognition helped stymie the Patriots offense entirely, fact remains they can ill afford to give their opposing defense any extra advantage when they’re having such a hard time getting their own act together.
