Knee Jerk Reactions to Week 4: Patriots vs. Panthers

Things to consider while acknowledging that faking a neck injury to get half a point was the worst thing Europeans have pulled on US soil since the War of 1812:

--When you have your first blowout win in seemingly forever, put 40 on the board for the first time since 2021 (which, not coincidentally, was the last time Josh McDaniels was your coordinator) and your special teams units continue to establish dominance, there are obviously a lot of positives to take away from it all. But all the others pale in significance to this one fact: The Patriots got to take their quarterback out for the good reason:

Lord knows, it's been a minute. Someday we'll all look back at the days of us projecting all our hopes and aspirations onto Bailey Zappe and laugh. But for now, let's just enjoy the feeling and party like it's 2018.

--How well did Drake Maye play, exactly? Good enough to draw statistical comparisons to He Who Maye Shall Not Be Compared To:

… that's how good. With 14 completions on 17 attempts, two touchdowns passing, one rushing, and maybe one throw that you might label turnover-worthy if you feel like being a tough grader. 

--More significantly, over the span of five possessions he led four touchdown drives. To put that in perspective, last year the Pats had five total touchdown drives over their first five games. That was before they finally gave Maye his first start. It used to be our reality that putting seven points on the board was a rare and wondrous thing. It felt like it did when my friends and I would find a stack of Penthouses in the woods. Now we're slowly coming coming around to the point we're starting to expect it. Thanks to having a QB with freakish athleticism who's finally getting the proper coaching. 

--It also goes to show what your offense can accomplish when everyone decides to quit killing drives with fumbles and starts treating the football with the respect of an IED in The Hurt Locker.

--That coaching Maye's receiving is starting to add layers of complexity to take advantage of that athleticism we just discussed. McDaniels has pulled the cork on a bold little power running game. With a vintage I-formation scheme, some full-bodied two-tight end sets, a blend of pre-snap motion for balance, subtle hints of play action, I believe I detect notes of rolling pockets, and with some saucy naked bootleg action at the finish:

--The boot action on that one was set up not just by Maye selling the play fake (an area where his game has needed work and he's improving) of a dive play behind fullback Jack Westover (11 total snaps), but by a run earlier in the drive which stressed the edges of Carolina's front with a fake jet sweep to TreVeyon Henderson. Instead, it goes to Rhamondre Stevenson who gets the benefit of Mack Hollins on the second level walling off Chau Smith-Wade in run force and Austin Hooper (who also threw the key block on Maye's TD) coming from the backside to throw a kick out block on Michael Jackson, giving Stevenson a gap wider and emptier than an HOV lane to operate in:

--Though there was no better example of an OC doing some creative play calling to maximize his QB's particular set of skills like the touchdown to Hunter Henry. Play side motion to Demario Douglas. Play action. Like Hooper did, Henry scrapes across the formation. Maye rolls out. Christian Rozeboom has to respect the run. Henry gets lost in the wash a bit and Maye finds him with a throw like he's tossing darts. And the true hero of this one is Douglas, who was already on Smith-Wade, but peeled off him to hit Nick Scott, effectively plowing both defenders off the road to spring Henry:

--That was the second longest play from scrimmage on a day filled with what we're now calling X-plays, because it's too much work to add the "plo" and "sive." Like Homer Simpsons in the '70s, we don't have a moment to spare. In all the produced seven plays of 20-plus yards. The longest was, as you'd be right to assume, the most spectacular. Stefon Diggs getting separation from Jackson with a stretch release (jab stepping one way and going the other) on a deep cross for 33 yards:

--Next to Maye, Diggs is the reason my heart grew three sizes that day. Because while he's been terrific up until now as a possession receiver, lining up in the slots and working the underneath choice routes, yesterday he emerged as a true WR1. Being everything this team hasn't had a his position in forever: A guy who the other side can't match up against in terms of talent, size and speed. Again, he caught practically everything thrown his way, with six catches on seven targets. But this time for 101 yards. None better than the way he broke on this back shoulder throw to convert a 4th & 3, a ball that was in the air before Diggs broke off his route:

This catch in particular has me feeling good. I mean, like really good. Like I'm ready to throw on some fleece, put my hair in a bun, grab a salted caramel latte and take my dog on a Hot Girl Walk levels of good. Because this was the Patriots doing something I've been longing for for so long now. Running up the score. Taking an opponent that already had the buses back to TF Green running, and not allowing them to die with dignity. Chucking it deep there was looking Carolina in the eye and watching the last flicker of light in their pupils go out like a snuffed candle. Oh, how I've missed that feeling. 

--So it's good to know that same pair of hands that are taking such good care of Cardi B are helping Drake Maye crush other team's will. 

--This was a huge bounce back game for the offensive line. While that unit has been a major upgrade from last year overall, by the end of the Pittsburgh game they were offering Maye less security than you'll find in the changing rooms at Old Navy. And they came into this one facing their first injury, with Ben Brown subbing in for Jared Wilson. And they played a nearly flawless game on Maye's 21 dropbacks. According to the people who track such things, they gave up a total of three pressures. One from each of the interior linemen, and none from the tackles. Especially Will Campbell, who didn't so much play a clean game as one that was antiseptic:

Maybe at some point the members of Arm Measuring Industrial Complex I warned you about will admit they wasted a substantial amount of everybody's time this past year inciting panic among the weak-minded and easily manipulated. But to steal a line from Moneyball and bend it to my own purposes, we're not selling men's dress shirts here. We're protecting a quarterback. Campbell is good at that. And even at the age of 34, Morgan Moses (one sack allowed through four games) has been a godsend. 

--I've been saying since the day Mike Vrabel hired him that one of the positives about having McDaniels around is that he'll never get hired away to be someone else's head coach. That avenue of career advancement is closed to him, permanently. The same can't be said special teams coordinator Jeremy Springer. That is, unless the Joe Judge experiment with the Giants hasn't poisoned poisoned the well for every other special teams coach. Marcus Jones's 88-yarder was a defibrillator to the heart of the Patriots and the entire stadium just as it was beginning to flatline:

--Granted, that return was almost all Jones. Once he slipped the tackle from Akayleb Evans, I counted eight Panthers behind him. And neither they nor the other three were going to catch him. But his other long return was blocked brilliantly. From Marte Mapu on the back end to Alex Austin and Anfernee Jennings clearing the way upfield. And if he hadn't been taken down by the shoelaces, he still had Dell Pettus as the tip of the spear in front of him:

Just the fact you can bust two long returns like this and not have either of them called back with the obligatory penalty flag is a cause for much rejoicing throughout the land. But what makes them even better is that for a couple of years there, the punting game was the Pats best offensive weapon. I'm happy to report it no longer is. 

--Defensively, this was by far their best game. Which should come as no surprise given the fact they finally got Christian Gonzalez back after what had to be the most misdiagnosed hamstring pull in history. Which gave Vrabel the chance to play his "Cat" coverage of manning up both his corners, with Gonzalez on the right side and Carlton Davis III on the left, interchangably taking whomever Carolina lined up opposite them between Tetairoa McMillan and Tommy Tremble. On the day Gonzo took 46 snaps and was (dis)credited with just two receptions allowed for 31 yards. Granted some of Bryce Young's passes had all the accuracy of a North Korean missile. But some of those should be chalked up to the fact his receivers weren't getting open. Which hopefully will start a trend.

--It was duly noted that McMillan is now officially going with his full first name. I guess once it was established Chris Berman wasn't going to call him "Tet Offensive," there was no point in continuing. ESPN has truly lost its way.

--If I have to pick nits, and even after a 42-13 win I suppose I should, it's the over the way this team starts games. I'd even say how they come out of the locker room, period, since this was the first time they didn't start a 2nd half on their back foot. But my big issue is that first Carolina drive. More dumbassery like we saw in the previous three games. Keeping drives alive by lining up in the neutral zone and personal fouls. Preposterously soft coverages, with Christian Elliss sitting back about a $10 Uber ride to the line of scrimmage. And just in general treating the opening possession like your golf buddy who shows up a minute before your tee time, doesn't warm up, and considers the first hole his Breakfast Ball hole. Even at 3:30 in the afternoon. Just once I'd like to see this defense force the early 3 & outs and make the other guys play from behind. That would be nice.

--Milton Williams is well on his way to being one of the great free agent signings in the history of this franchise:

--This Week's Applicable Movie Quote: "It's called Sex Panther, by Odeon. It's illegal in nine countries. Yup, it's made with bits of real panther, so you know it's good." - Brian Fantana, Anchorman, The Legend of Ron Burgundy.

--Craig Woodson is not only a starter as a 4th round rookie, he played all but like one snap. You can tell Vrabel loves this kid. And with good reason.

--I don't know if I'm getting way ahead of myself or what, but for the first time in maybe six years, I'm actually looking forward to the Patriots going to Buffalo and showing a national audience what they're made of. 

--Finally, he might only have gotten half a point and plays in a league run by a foreign oligarchy, but I agree with Bryson DeChambeau: