You could boil the Patriots’ budding 2022 offense down to being “simple” as opposed to the more “complex” scheme of yesteryear with Josh McDaniels.
But the phrasing coaches and players have often used when describing team’s developing offensive game plan hasn’t focused much on the detail or complexity.
It’s been about speed and efficiency.
“I feel like it’ll make it able for the playmakers to play faster. It’ll allow us up front to play faster as well,” said left tackle Trent Brown after Wednesday’s practice.
“A lot of adjustments we’ve made to come off the ball faster,” receiver Kendrick Bourne added. “Just to get a head start off the ball is huge. It just feels faster. More speed. More urgency. ... It’s a better feeling keeping the defense on their toes, not allowing them to be ready.”
As Evan Lazar of Patriots.com pointed out after practice Wednesday, New England was flagged for nine delay-of-game penalties last year, which was tied for second-worst in football.
Some of that you could chalk up to having a young quarterback learning the ropes of an NFL offense. Interestingly, the team only got flagged for delay of game three times in the previous two seasons with Tom Brady and Cam Newton combined.
Though Mac Jones is now in his second season, he will now have an offensive play-caller in his ear (likely Matt Patricia at this point) who has never done that job with an NFL offense before. As such, quickening the process of getting the play in and getting everyone lined up before the snap is perhaps more crucial than ever.
Much has been made of old players and coaches, including Jones, having to learn new terminology. But Ty Montgomery, who just signed with the Patriots in free agency, has only known this version of the Patriots’ offense.
The veteran running back/wide receiver told WEEI in a one-on-one interview after practice that his experience with the new scheme and offensive coaches was going over well.
“I love the coaching staff,” he said. “Everybody’s straightforward, direct, matter-of-fact. They coach hard, they coach well…I love Bill Belichick, man. He’s funny, straight to the point, matter-of-fact kinda guy. I love that about him. He’s always straight to the truth. Knows how to get the best out of people.”
That could be the theme to keep in mind for the Patriots this season: direct, to the point, as few frills as possible. As long as they maintain the requisite detail and diversity needed for an NFL offense, that approach could be the best option for this team in 2022.
