{"id":58599,"date":"2020-10-27T16:37:38","date_gmt":"2020-10-27T21:37:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.clnsmedia.com\/?p=58599"},"modified":"2021-08-30T04:33:06","modified_gmt":"2021-08-30T04:33:06","slug":"lazar-patriots-stagnant-offense-isnt-putting-any-fear-into-defenses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.clnsmedia.com\/?p=58599","title":{"rendered":"Lazar: Patriots&#8217; Stagnant Offense Isn&#8217;t Putting Any Fear Into Defenses"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The problems with the Patriots\u2019 offense are far-reaching and go beyond one player or coach; everyone needs to improve.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">New England currently ranks 30th in expected points added per drop-back, 27th in pass DVOA, 22nd in success rate, and has the fewest passes of 20-plus yards through seven games (12).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The Patriots have yet to generate a touchdown on the ground or through the air of over 20 yards, one of two teams, which shows how little explosiveness they have as an offensive unit.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">And they also lead the league with 11 interceptions this season, with ten in their last four games.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">There\u2019s no sugarcoating how lousy the offense has looked recently, they\u2019ve been awful, and it\u2019s tough to watch.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">To salvage the on-field product, we must identify the issues focusing on three categories: quarterback Cam Newton, his supporting cast, and coaching.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Then, we\u2019ll dive into ways that all three can improve to get the best out of this group.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><strong>LACK OF PASS-CATCHING TALENT<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">We can decipher where the Patriots\u2019 passing offense is talent-wise by how defenses are lining up against them.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Julian Edelman still sees a good amount of bracket coverage in the middle of the field, but teams are doing it with zero fear of the other eligible receivers in the pattern.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">In their first seven games, the Pats saw a noticeably high amount of either single-high or zero coverages (no deep safety), with 67 percent of their plays coming against those structures.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Playing with one safety deep, which teams do 60 percent of the time against the Pats, means the defense has another defender in the box to stop the run or close the middle of the field.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The vulnerabilities of single-high coverage come in the deep part of the field and with one-on-one matchups for outside receivers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">However, when defenses don&#8217;t fear those outside receivers, it&#8217;s an easy call to live with one-on-ones for Damiere Byrd, N\u2019Keal Harry, or Jakobi Meyers on the outside.<\/span><\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 62.500%;\"><iframe style=\"width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;\" src=\"https:\/\/streamable.com\/e\/ekol2c\" width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p>Here&#8217;s a great example. The Pats try to space the field with a levels concept (deep dig, short dig) to Newton&#8217;s left and a post route taking the top off to his right. The 49ers rotate into cover-three (single-high), and when the safety jumps the deep dig, Newton throws an interception on a bomb to Jakobi Meyers.<\/p>\n<p>When Jakobi Meyers, who runs a 4.63-second 40-yard dash, is the targeted receiver on a deep post, you know you have issues.<\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">New England currently ranks 30th in expected points added against single-high structures and 28th in EPA against man coverage.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The game-plan against the Patriots is simple: load the box, crowd the line of scrimmage, and force Newton and his receivers to beat you over the top. So far, defenses are winning.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><strong>CAM NEWTON\u2019S STRUGGLES<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Now that we know the defensive strategy, let\u2019s break down some tape.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Plenty of the Pats\u2019 troubles offensively also fall on Newton, who is not making the easy throws consistently and is holding the ball for far too long.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Last week, Newton\u2019s average time to throw was 3.13 seconds, and that\u2019s not going to cut it in the style of offense New England runs.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Although Newton isn\u2019t working with much, the expectation is that he\u2019ll hit \u201cschemed\u201d throws, or layups, as any viable NFL starter would be expected to convert.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">With subpar receivers, nobody expects Newton to complete several big-time throws a week, but he isn\u2019t elevating the talent around him or hitting the easy ones, and that\u2019s a problem.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Mechanically, the Pats quarterback is in a funk after a long layoff due to COVID-19 halted his progress, and his delayed processing is screwing with the timing of the operation.<\/span><\/p>\n<h5><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">PROCESSING SPEED\/MECHANICAL ISSUES\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/h5>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The Patriots\u2019 second series of the game was a microcosm of issues for the Pats offense and Newton\u2019s struggles as a processor.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Like most, the Patriots offense relies heavily on anticipation and timing, and as Newton waits to throw the football, things, such as the protection, are breaking down around him.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">On Sunday, Cam\u2019s time to throw was a lengthy, and the 49ers\u2019 average time to pressure was 2.93 seconds, meaning the heat was mostly a result of Newton holding the ball.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 62.500%;\"><iframe style=\"width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;\" src=\"https:\/\/streamable.com\/e\/z1gswc\" width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">On New England\u2019s second third-down of the game, they face a third-and-four. The 49ers rotate into a robber coverage with the backside safety cutting off Julian Edelman\u2019s shallow crosser. Newton gets stuck on Edelman\u2019s route for nearly three seconds, even pump-faking to a very covered Jules, and is late coming off his first read. Once he does, James White gets a one-on-one against an edge defender dropping into coverage and wins easily. However, by the time Newton throws the ball, 3.15 seconds have passed, and the strong-side safety is already closing on White (he doesn\u2019t care about helping in the deep part of the field).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The end zone angle view gives us a look at two mechanical issues that we consistently see from Newton. One, he steps backward with his lead foot, so he\u2019s throwing with his feet parallel to the line of scrimmage. Two, he locks out his lead leg as he throws. Both of those things contribute to \u201cbreaking the chain,\u201d forcing an errant throw because of poor mechanics.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Newton has to take advantage of favorable matchups when he gets them, and that&#8217;s a first down if he got to White sooner.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 62.500%;\"><iframe style=\"width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;\" src=\"https:\/\/streamable.com\/e\/hu3iz0\" width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p>Here&#8217;s an audio breakdown from last week of Cam missing a potential touchdown on a double-move to Byrd due to poor mechanics.<\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">We need to live with a few funky misses per game from Newton, but his slow trigger-finger is becoming a huge problem.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-58609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.clnsmedia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Screen-Shot-2020-10-27-at-11.39.12-AM-500x296.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"296\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">In this example, the Patriots ran a Yankee Concept with the hopes that N\u2019Keal Harry\u2019s post route would clear out the left side for Damiere Byrd\u2019s over route.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-58611\" src=\"https:\/\/www.clnsmedia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Screen-Shot-2020-10-27-at-12.39.39-PM-1-500x274.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"274\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Once Newton gets to the top of his drop, the defense is bracketing Harry\u2019s post route out of a quarters structure, meaning the deep over is already open. <\/span><\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 62.500%;\"><iframe style=\"width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;\" src=\"https:\/\/streamable.com\/e\/5mfeig\" width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Instead of throwing from a clean pocket, Newton holds for an extra beat, and the pressure by his feet causes an overthrow.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h5><em>ANTICIPATION\/CHEMISTRY <\/em><\/h5>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">There&#8217;s a lack of anticipation between Newton and his receivers. He\u2019s holding the ball, waiting to see definitively that a receiver is open rather than trusting himself to throw to a spot, as he should&#8217;ve above.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.vox-cdn.com\/thumbor\/aumdhQaVNGIWYBYMabWkF7NzAb0=\/1400x0\/filters:no_upscale()\/cdn.vox-cdn.com\/uploads\/chorus_asset\/file\/19190990\/Hoss_Z_Juke.jpg\" alt=\"What the Patriots can learn from the Ravens' win over the Dolphins - Pats Pulpit\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">In this play, the Patriots are running a day-one staple: HOSS Z Juke. Newton\u2019s process isn\u2019t all that bad here. His post-snap read tells him the defense is in a quarters structure, which means Edelman\u2019s option route is isolated on a linebacker from the number three spot to the right.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 62.500%;\"><iframe style=\"width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;\" src=\"https:\/\/streamable.com\/e\/k0ozdo\" width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Harry correctly converts his route to a post pattern against a two-high coverage. Typically, the defense is three over two on the HOSS part of the concept (hitch-seam), so the quarterback works the juke route. But my theory is Newton, who\u2019s first look is to Harry up the seam, would\u2019ve thrown to an open Harry if he trusted his young receiver enough to make an anticipatory throw. If Newton throws the ball as Harry is breaking, he\u2019ll hit him for a nice gain. Instead, he comes off Harry, Edelman is covered, and then mayhem.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 62.500%;\"><iframe style=\"width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;\" src=\"https:\/\/streamable.com\/e\/mp1ozk\" width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Later on, Newton got stuck on the seam again running HOSS. This time, the defense is in a match coverage where they stay over the top of the seam route against single-high. Usually, the quarterback reads seam to hitch from single-high. Here, Newton reads seam, stays there for nearly three seconds, then goes to Edelman again, and throws an interception when Edelman moves late. The hitch to Burkhead to the left is the play there, but regardless, that&#8217;s an example of quarterback and receiver not being on the same page.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h5><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">PLAY ACTION<\/span><\/em><\/h5>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The Patriots are also struggling with producing off under-center play-action, their bread and butter during the Brady era.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">New England\u2019s usage of 21-personnel (fullback) and their ability to mask deficiencies at receiver are suffering greatly from their inability to run play-action effectively; it\u2019s killing their offense.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The Pats use play-action on 38.7 percent of Newton\u2019s drop-backs, the second-most in the league, but they haven\u2019t been effective.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">New England is currently 23rd in yards per attempt off under-center play-action (7.2) and 26th in EPA on those plays. Last season, they averaged 9.1 yards per attempt and were tenth in expected points added.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Most of the play-action struggles are on the quarterback because it\u2019s his job to sell the fake and then make a throw before the defense resets.<\/span><\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 62.500%;\"><iframe style=\"width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;\" src=\"https:\/\/streamable.com\/e\/ggwrun\" width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">On his first interception of the game, Newton\u2019s fake fails to get the linebackers to come downhill to defend the run. He\u2019s not extending the ball out as he would in a handoff, and there\u2019s no deception, where the defense might not see the football for a split-second as Newton turns his back to them. Jakobi Meyers is never open on this play, but Newton forces it to him anyway.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Then, there are Newton\u2019s issues with processing speed off play-action.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 62.500%;\"><iframe style=\"width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;\" src=\"https:\/\/streamable.com\/e\/o5fyzy\" width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Here, the defense is in cover-six with quarters to one side and cover-two on the other. Damiere Byrd is open initially on his go route, and Newton wants it but hesitates for too long, and the safety recovers over the top. The correct process then would be to check it down to three open check-downs. But there\u2019s one more issue; Harry is open on his dig route as well. A deep dig route is perfect against quarters, and if Newton gets off Byrd sooner, he\u2019ll get to Harry, his second read in the progression, and make that throw. Again, he&#8217;s holding the ball and not anticipating passing windows.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Newton isn&#8217;t known for being a consistent thrower or processor, but these are mistakes that people in Carolina say are uncharacteristic of his past performance.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The Pats quarterback isn\u2019t trusting what he sees and is struggling to get through a progression, which is rookie-type stuff, and his mechanics are a mess.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Newton is more than capable of performing better than he has, and that\u2019s why I\u2019m so hard on him for making this many errors.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><strong>COACHING MISCUES\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Although there\u2019s a longer discussion about talent evaluation and development, Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels isn\u2019t doing enough to help the current group.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Most will think the Patriots need to simplify their offense and avoid so many option routes, but it\u2019s more about finding a chunk of the playbook that Newton is comfortable with running.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Another narrative you\u2019ll hear this week is that the Pats need to return to \u201cbully ball\u201d and the game-script they had against the Dolphins in Week 1. In theory, that\u2019s a good idea.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Seahawks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Seahawks<\/a> continue to be the most pass happy team in the league, while the <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Texans?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Texans<\/a> are moving up with Bob gone. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/5twU0VVXFT\">pic.twitter.com\/5twU0VVXFT<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Michael Leone (@2Hats1Mike) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/2Hats1Mike\/status\/1321140028643397634?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 27, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">However, the Pats run on early-downs far more than any other team given the situation, and even with the third-highest EPA per rush on their attempts, they find themselves trailing in games.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">With that formula, New England is middle of the pack in terms of win probability entering the fourth quarter; if you\u2019re going to be a run-heavy offense, you better dominate, and play-action needs to be a factor. Right now, neither of those things are true.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The running game can be significantly more dynamic by adding similar motions and misdirection plays that we see out of the Niners or Ravens.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The Patriots currently rank 18th in utilizing pre-snap motion and shifts (47.2), far too low. In 2019, the Pats were third using motion on 64.4 percent of their plays. For some reason, the motion is missing.<\/span><\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 62.500%;\"><iframe style=\"width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;\" src=\"https:\/\/streamable.com\/e\/jwggl1\" width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Last week, we <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/DzlBxHJ2Kq?amp=1\">discussed<\/a> them borrowing Baltimore\u2019s \u201cescort\u201d motions and arc blocks as a way to take back the numbers advantage when defenses key on their designed quarterback runs.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Unfortunately, we have yet to see those schemes, and New England is also underutilizing another strength of their offense.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The Pats aren\u2019t currently getting enough out of their running backs in the passing game, where they\u2019re only averaging 6.6 yards per attempt.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">One of New England&#8217;s only mismatches is running backs isolated on linebackers and safeties. Yet, the Patriots are only sprinkling in targets for James White and Rex Burkhead down the field.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">White\u2019s family situation and recent absences from practice could be a major factor, but Burkhead is also a talented pass-catcher getting underutilized.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Both White (-0.5) and Burkhead\u2019s (-0.4) average target depth shows they\u2019re mostly running screen passes and short throws. With these skill players, that\u2019s simply not going to work. One target over ten yards for their running backs? Not enough.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The Patriots need to present chances for their pass-catching backs to give them explosive plays or take coverage away from others up the field.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan showed McDaniels what it looks like to utilize their running backs as vertical passing threats.<\/span><\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;\"><iframe style=\"width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;\" src=\"https:\/\/streamable.com\/e\/8a59q5\" width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Here, the Niners call \u201call-go HB seam\u201d with jet motion. The vertical route out of the backfield pulls edge defender John Simon upfield and out of the flat. With the Pats in man coverage, Jon Jones gets caught in traffic and can\u2019t get to his man on the motion, and Garoppolo has an easy completion to Deebo Samuel, a throw behind the line of scrimmage that produces a big play.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The Patriots need to get more creative with their usage of motion in their running game and passing game, which should open up easier opportunities to create explosive plays.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">McDaniels needs to find ways to make up for lousy skill talent, and a stagnant offense heavily reliant on early-down rushing success won&#8217;t work.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The window dressing and misdirection must increase dramatically, or the Patriots offense won\u2019t get any better.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The problems with the Patriots\u2019 offense are far-reaching and go beyond one player or coach; everyone needs to improve. New England currently ranks 30th in expected points added per drop-back, 27th in pass DVOA, 22nd in success rate, and has the fewest passes of 20-plus yards through seven games (12).\u00a0 The Patriots have yet to<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":131993,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[47],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-58599","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nfl"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Lazar: Patriots&#039; Stagnant Offense Isn&#039;t Putting Any Fear Into Defenses - CLNS Media<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The problems with the Patriots\u2019 offense are far-reaching and go beyond one player or coach; everyone needs to improve.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.clnsmedia.com\/?p=58599\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Lazar: Patriots&#039; Stagnant Offense Isn&#039;t Putting Any Fear Into Defenses - CLNS Media\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The problems with the Patriots\u2019 offense are far-reaching and go beyond one player or coach; everyone needs to improve.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.clnsmedia.com\/?p=58599\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"CLNS Media\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/CLNSmedia\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2020-10-27T21:37:38+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2021-08-30T04:33:06+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.clnsmedia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/mac-stock-photo-1024x576.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1024\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"576\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Evan Lazar\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@clnsmedia\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@clnsmedia\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Evan Lazar\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"12 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.clnsmedia.com\\\/?p=58599#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.clnsmedia.com\\\/?p=58599\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Evan Lazar\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.clnsmedia.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/93c183ed668e514721ab2f9a99a90e17\"},\"headline\":\"Lazar: Patriots&#8217; 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