We’re running a mailbag on Fridays during the offseason. If you have questions on the Patriots, NFL, or want gripe about past answers, email cmason@masslive.com or tweet @bychrismason. Now let’s get to this week’s questions!
Do we think Bill Belichick has a bigger plan for the Patriots? — Matt K.
No, and I think a lack of long-term vision is the best case to move on from him at the end of this season.
Take a step back.
What was best case scenario with this offense? Was it the 2021 group, that finished 15th in total offense and got skunked by a high-octane Bills passing attack in the Wild Card round?
This depth chart looks even more archaic than that.
There are no explosive play-makers and that’s simply not how teams win in 2023. Belichick’s offense currently sits dead last in the league in big passing plays — yup, 32nd — as they’ve completed 10 passes of 25+ yards all season long. For reference, DeAndre Hopkins has personally hauled in eight of those with Will Levis throwing him the football. But yeah, who needs players like that?
Going back to last year’s draft, not taking an offensive player until Day 3 was painfully negligent. It’s one thing to take Christian Gonzalez in the first round. He was a Top 10 talent that fell into their lap and looks like a real building block. Good pick, albeit a no-brainer. But Keion White in the second round and Marte Mapu in the third? Those were both luxury selections not based on need, and the offense was starved for help.
Free agency wasn’t any better. Belichick opted to let Jakobi Meyers walk and signed five veterans in March: WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, TE Mike Gesicki, RB James Robinson, OT Riley Reiff, and OT Calvin Anderson. He’s gotten absolutely nothing from that group. Offensively, the Patriots are wholly devoid of talent. There’s not even a Pro Bowl candidate — let alone an actual 2023 Pro Bowler — in this group.
Belichick was the architect. What he built was a house of cards.
And that’s not even getting into the quarterback, who began regressing under the watchful eye of Matt Patricia and has since become unplayable all together. Doesn’t really reek of a bigger picture plan, does it?
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Jim Harbaugh is one name that often comes up as a candidate for Pats coach. Would the Krafts really endure the “Pats replace Belichick with another cheater” headline? — Brian N.
If they could actually get him, absolutely.
Everywhere Harbaugh has gone, winning has followed. He obviously took the 49ers to a Super Bowl, his final seasons at the University of San Diego and Stanford were 11-1 and 12-1 respectively, and Michigan (9-0) should be in the hunt for a National Championship this season. Beyond that, I don’t think the Michigan sign-stealing transgression is really that major. After those allegations came out, an assistant from a Power 5 school texted me that they were, “Absurd. Everybody does it.”
Having said all that, I think getting Harbaugh to Foxborough is a pipe dream. Other NFL jobs are more appealing — if he even leaves Michigan at all.
Let’s say Bailey Zappe surprises us with a competent but unspectacular run at QB similar to his Lions and Browns games last year. Where do the Patriots go with the QB situation? — Jim
The same spot they’re heading right now — trying to nab a franchise guy in the draft — but Zappe could stake a claim to the backup gig next season. As it stands, that spot couldn’t be more wide open.
When do you start sitting players like Jabrill Peppers and Christian Barmore to save them for next year? — Miller
You don’t. Fans are still paying money to see this team and deserve some excitement. The start of the 2024 season is 10 months away; even if they get banged up down the stretch, injuries heal.
How much does the abysmal performance of this team and ever since Tom Brady left tarnish the legacy and reputation of Belichick? — Darryn W.
It certainly doesn’t help it, but six Super Bowl rings are six Super Bowl rings. Belichick could go 0-17 for the next five years and he’d still be the winningest playoff coach in NFL history.
When is this team going to start playing real football? — Craig M.
2024.
Who’s playing Santa at the Patriots holiday party this year? — Ed H.
Lawrence Guy.
On Thursday, he said he’d be hiding an Elf on the Shelf in the Patriots locker room and challenged the media to wear an ugly sweater on every day in December. There hasn’t been much to celebrate in Foxborough this season, but Guy is clearly looking to get in the holiday spirit.
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