FOXBOROUGH – Patriots offensive line vs. Eagles pass rushers.
On paper, there might not be a bigger Week 1 mismatch in the NFL.
Last season, the Eagles pass rush was one of the best in history, leading the league in sacks by a mile (70). And they just may have gotten better this season.
In 2022, they gave up the most sacks (41) of any Patriots team during the past 14 years. The 41 allowed wasn’t the worst in the league by any stretch. It was middle of the pack, but for the Patriots, who have done such a good job keeping their quarterbacks upright, it was eye-opening.
And, the outlook sure doesn’t seem any rosier ahead of the season opener against the defending NFC champs. In fact, it seems a lot worse.
Starting left guard Cole Strange, who is battling an undisclosed leg injury, is iffy to start in the season opener. Ditto starting right guard Michael Onwenu, who has only recently returned after offseason ankle surgery.
As for right tackle, that starter might come from picking a name out of a hat. That’s how unsettled that position has been through training camp and the preseason.
Sitting behind all that uncertainty?
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Maybe new offensive line coach Adrian Klemm will be able to put a more effective line out there for the opener if the health of several players, namely Strange and Onwenu, improves. Should Strange and Onwenu return, the situation wouldn’t seem as dire.
Or maybe the line will still get devoured by a relentless pass rush.
Let’s just say it’s hard not imagining the Eagles front licking its chops ahead of this one.
Last season, Haason Reddick, Brandon Graham, Josh Sweat and Javon Hargrave each had double-digit sacks.
Hargrave was lost in free agency, but the Eagles were able to land Jalen Carter, who was considered the best defensive tackle in the 2023 draft, with the 9th overall pick.
They also snagged Georgia pass rusher Nolan Smith with the 30th pick overall.
So they’re swimming with players who get to the quarterback.
Meanwhile, the Patriots are trying to avoid having a line filled with turnstiles.
As it is, the Patriots’ braintrust kept Jones out of the third preseason game largely to keep him out of harm’s way. Against the Packers the previous week, he got popped pretty good.
His final play in that game was a strip sack.
With Bailey Zappe struggling with Bill O’Brien’s offense, and newly-signed Matt Corral taking a crash course to get up to speed even if he has some familiarity with the concepts, losing Jones right out of the gate would be a disaster.
Beyond that worst-case scenario, the Patriots really need Jones to continue to build his confidence with O’Brien now calling the shots. They need him to get off on the right foot in what amounts to a make-or-break year for the third-year quarterback.
Running for his life won’t accomplish the mission.
The way it’s shaping up, tight end Hunter Henry, one of Jones’ favorite targets and a key figure in O’Brien’s offense, might have to stay in and help block, much like he did last season.
As it is, O’Brien has had to shape much of the offense around a short, quick passing game to try and combat the pass rush. The Patriots will also rely heavily on Rhamondre Stevenson and Ezekiel Elliott with the run game, which in turn will help set up play action to try and buy more time for Jones.
During his weekly appearance on WEEI’s “The Greg Hill Show,” Bill Belichick essentially confirmed the above, providing a primer on how the Patriots can avoid the Eagles vaunted pass rush.
“We’re going to have to play really good team offense. I don’t think there’s any one person that can stop their aggressive front and pass rush,” Belichick said. “We’re going to have to do a good job of blocking ‘em, but getting open, and getting the ball to the receivers who are open quickly.
“You can’t stand back there and hold the ball all day,” he went on. “Everybody knows that. But it’s a combination of pass protection, receivers getting free and the quarterback getting them the ball.”
Staying out of long yardage situations will also be key. If the Patriots are forced into being one-dimensional, having to throw all the time, they’re cooked. Or rather, Jones is cooked.
“You certainly don’t want to get into a lot of third and longs, second and longs against this team,” said Belichick, “so being able to be produce on first and second down, and manage third down, that’ll be important, too.”
The Patriots, who were one of the most penalized teams last season (tied for 25th) can’t be flagged every series for false starts, holding, etc. That would play right into the hands of the Eagles.
Or anyone else for that matter. Keeping Jones upright certainly won’t be easy against Philly’s ferocious front on Sunday, but as Belichick pointed out, it doesn’t have to be all doom and gloom. There could be a light at the end of that tunnel.
Basically, the Patriots are going to have to do all the little things right, something they were hard-pressed to do last year.
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