If Robert Kraft wasn’t having a bad enough week, losing out on his 13th bid to get into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, his mood had to get worse on Sunday.
The Patriots owner was on hand at Hard Rock Stadium to watch the latest Patriots debacle.
Wonder how he felt watching Tua Tagovailoa shred his defense with relative ease? Or seeing Drake Maye, the new face of the franchise, run for his life on practically every pass play?
- BETTING: Check out our MA sports betting guide, where you can learn basic terminology, definitions and how to read odds for those interested in learning how to bet in Massachusetts.
Kraft couldn’t be pleased after watching the litany of mistakes, the lack of discipline that keeps showing up, and the embarrassing product that was on display, particularly in the second quarter of the 34-15 loss to the Miami Dolphins.
It would be one thing if this was the exception. If it was just one bad game, or one bad quarter. But that’s not the case. Many of these same problems have plagued the team all season.
Between the lack of talent on both sides of the ball, and an inexperienced coaching staff not having much in the way of fixes, it’s been a constant theme.
Yes, Maye’s development has been a plus. He’s been the bright light in a sea of darkness. As Kraft knows, the quarterback means so much in the NFL, and landing Maye has been a godsend in that regard.
But the Patriots boss also knows a quarterback can’t do it alone.
Tom Brady had Bill Belichick. He had terrific offensive coordinators including Charlie Weis, Josh McDaniels and Bill O’Brien. He had the best offensive line coach in the business in Dante Scarnecchia. And the defensive coaches were also pretty good, even if chief mastermind Belichick got most of the credit.
Through two decades, Brady also had enough talent with him on offense, defense and special teams to win six Super Bowls. The GOAT also had offensive lines that kept him safe enough to make plays.
What exactly does Maye have?
Hopefully Robert and Jonathan Kraft have a firm grip on the answer to that question. Because Maye is pretty much lacking in all of those vital areas. There’s still five games to play, and the outlook could change, but right now, the picture is grim.
Let’s start with coaching.
After sending Belichick on his way, Kraft put his faith in Jerod Mayo to lead the team into the next chapter. Mayo was his hand-picked successor. Everyone knew it wasn’t going to be easy following a legend. And that task became even more daunting given the roster Mayo inherited.
Kraft might not be inclined to part with Mayo after one season under those circumstances, but he needs to take a good look at the overall operation.
Mayo, does, too. Sunday’s loss in Miami was a massive step backward. Twelve weeks in, this is supposed to be about making progress, not heading in the opposite direction.
Between the repeat mistakes, the lack of discipline, and players not knowing what to do (Kyle Dugger was completely lost out there trying to decipher all of the Dolphins motion), Mayo has to decide if this is the group of coaches – on both sides of the ball – he’s going to be comfortable with going forward. And that’s assuming he’s still here.
Are these coaches putting the players in the best position to win every week? They had no answers for Tua Tagovailoa on Sunday. There were no fixes to slow down Jaylen Waddle (8 catches, 144 yards, 1 TD) or old friend Jonnu Smith (9 catches, 87 yards, 1 TD).
Offensively, Maye continues to be hindered by the players around him, and an overly-cautious play-caller, and by extension, head coach.
Kraft has reportedly already reached out to league connections for advice on the best way to support Maye, and what needs to be done.
After the loss, Mayo pointed a finger at the players: “Look, once those guys cross the white lines, there’s nothing I can do for them. There’s nothing any coach can do for them once they cross the white line.”
Granted, having two starting tackles who are overmatched practically every week isn’t a recipe for success. So they try to get a jump – hence all the false starts – or hold to try and give Maye some time. Is that coaching?
But how is it, that the group still can’t figure out how to handle a stunt? The amount of free rushers coming in on Maye – at this stage – is mind-blowing.
The offensive line in general has been a huge failure.
That brings us to de facto GM Eliot Wolf.
He certainly has the pedigree to be a good general manager. Whether he actually becomes one is another story. He was here during Belichick’s regime. Ditto Matt Groh.
While the roster failures are on largely Belichick, both Wolf and Groh were heavily involved in personnel under the former coach and chief decision-maker.
Wolf’s first foray into free agency hasn’t been anything to brag about. His first draft class, discounting Maye, already looks like a bust. After quarterback, two of the team’s biggest needs – left tackle, No. 1 receiver – weren’t sufficiently addressed in either the draft or free agency.
Can Kraft live with more missteps going forward? Along with Mayo, how much rope is he willing to give the front office?
There’s five games left to play. The team is 3-9, and once again in the hunt for a top draft pick. We’ll see soon enough how the team finishes, and where the Krafts stand.
Maye has the talent and ability to be a star. Rams coach Sean McVay raved about him last week. So did Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel after Sunday’s game. Maybe it’s a bit of lip service, but McDaniel said he wasn’t looking forward to facing him in the future.
“I think when you’re able to be a pocket passer but then extend plays and make teams pay when you’re in man coverage or two man, it’s a problem,” McDaniel said. “He’ll continue to make plays as he gets better and better in the pocket. It’s a guy that honestly, I’m not really rooting for his development, being in the division, but I can appreciate the player, and they have a very good player to work with at that position. We’ll continue to have to be on our stuff.”
McDaniel won’t have to worry if the Patriots don’t – at the very least – surround Maye with more talent.
After the game, Patriots defensive lineman Davon Godchaux advocated patience. Rebuilds take time.
“There’s going to be ups and downs. Nobody got it in a day. Rome wasn’t built in a day. The Patriots organization under Jerod Mayo is not going to be built in a day,” Godchaux said. “It’s going to take adversity. It’s going to take bumps and bruises. It’s what (Mayo) has got to go through as a head coach. It’s what we have to learn from, him being a head coach and us being players for him, to just go through adversity and get better. Nobody is pointing fingers. Nobody is blaming anybody.”
In the end, assigning blame remains up to ownership. From the coaching staff, to the people assembling the talent, it’s on the Krafts to decide what’s working, and what isn’t.
Spending is also their call. They’re going to have a ton of cap space and plenty of money to invest in players heading into next season. That’s also part of this process.
Before it gets to that stage, they need to decide if the people they have making the football decisions, picking the groceries, making the game plans and in-game adjustments are up to the task.
Having Maye will be a waste if the Patriots can’t make it right with the personnel around him.
