As he lifted the Vince Lombardi trophy after his New England Patriots defeated the Los Angeles Rams at Tremendous Bowl LIII in 2019, it appeared unthinkable that Invoice Belichick, essentially the most profitable coach in NFL historical past, might ever enter a season together with his job on the road.
It was the end result of a marketing campaign through which he had led the Patriots to a top-place end within the AFC East for the sixteenth time in 19 seasons, and for the tenth yr in succession, in addition to claiming the AFC championship for the ninth time. His sixth Tremendous Bowl triumph confirmed his standing as skilled soccer’s most embellished coach.
But, after three years of stagnation, uncharacteristically ill-advised selections and substandard performances, Belichick enters the brand new NFL season – his twenty fourth in control of the Patriots – teaching for his future in Foxborough.
The Patriots have posted a 25-25 cumulative report over the previous three common seasons. They’ve featured in only one playoff recreation – a blowout 47-17 loss to the Buffalo Payments within the 2021-22 wildcard spherical – since Tom Brady left for Tampa Bay after that Tremendous Bowl LIII victory.
Now the NFL’s most dominant crew of the century enter the upcoming season as something however playoff certainties.
One of many main questions lingering over the Patriots’ hopes surrounds Mac Jones’s aptitude as a beginning quarterback on a crew unfamiliar with mediocrity.
Jones was a first-round draft decide in 2021, and loved a promising rookie marketing campaign, throwing for 3,801 yard and 22 touchdowns to information the Patriots to a 10-7 report and a return to the playoffs after lacking out in 2020. Though he lacked the athleticism of a lot of his contemporaries, Jones appeared to have the poise, arm expertise and self-confidence to, if not fill, a minimum of develop into Brady’s sizeable cleats.
However Jones struggled final season, throwing for simply 2,997 yards, 14 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, with the Patriots shedding eight of the 14 video games he began. When Bailey Zappe, a rookie fourth-round decide, changed the injured Jones for 2 weeks, New England received each video games and there was a clamor for the back-up to maintain his place. When Jones returned to face the Chicago Bears in Week 7, he began poorly and, after throwing an interception within the second quarter, followers cheered when Zappe was returned to the lineup. Zappe instantly threw a 30-yard landing. Had the rookie not gone on to throw two interceptions in what was in the end a 33-14 loss, Jones may need been out of a job.
One of many causes cited for Jones’s sophomore struggles was Matt Patricia, who was the crew’s offensive playcaller final season. It was a putting error of judgment from somebody as wily, skilled and profitable as Belichick to have handed the keys to his offense to Patricia, who is understood extra for his defensive acumen.
It’s a mistake Belichick, the Patriots’ de facto GM, has tried to rectify. Belichick has employed Invoice O’Brien, who briefly labored with Jones at Alabama, to interchange Patricia because the play-caller on offense this season. O’Brien’s reign as head coach on the Houston Texans ended disastrously, though that was extra to do together with his abilities as an administrator than his playcalling.
Zappe has gone from the 53-man roster, too. He was waived this week because the Patriots trimmed their roster (although quickly introduced again for the apply squad). There have been stories again in April that Belichick may look to commerce Jones, however with Zappe and Patricia out and O’Brien in, the Patriots have moved to empower their third-year quarterback, who turns 25 subsequent week, forward of what’s going to be a make-or-break season.
New England have added former Steelers and Chiefs large receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster to supply an skilled, high-calibre goal for Jones, however the truth that DeAndre Hopkins selected to affix the Tennessee Titans over a transfer to Foxborough is indicative of the Patriots’ fall-off in recent times. Within the Brady period, they had been a chief vacation spot for ring-chasing free brokers.
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They appear to have misplaced their contact within the draft, too. It was lengthy an indicator of Belichick’s tenure that the Patriots would unearth gems outdoors the primary spherical. The likes of Sebastian Vollmer (58th decide in 2009), Rob Gronkowski (forty second in 2010), Marcus Cannon (138th in 2011) and Logan Ryan (83rd in 2013) all went on to contribute to a number of Tremendous Bowl successes. In latest drafts, New England have struggled so as to add worth.
Nonetheless, there are causes for optimism. The Patriots boasted one of many higher defensive models in soccer final season and they’re prone to be sturdy on that facet of the ball as soon as once more. The offense ought to enhance below O’Brien’s stewardship and if Rhamondre Stevenson can construct upon his 1,040-rushing-yards 2022 marketing campaign, they’ll have a high-quality operating again to ease the strain on Jones.
The Patriots should take care of a powerful division although. They haven’t completed final within the AFC East since 2000, Belichick’s first season with the crew. However that’s now an actual risk, given the energy of their divisional rivals: led by Josh Allen, the Buffalo Payments are among the many AFC title favorites; the Miami Dolphins, supplied quarterback Tua Tagovailoa can overcome his concussion points, are in form to be one of many league’s most electrical offenses; and the New York Jets, the division’s perennial strugglers, have acquired four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers.
The previous New England linebacker Jerod Mayo is properly regarded inside the Patriots group. He’s at present inside linebackers coach on Belichick’s employees and, after his contract was prolonged this low season, he has been tipped by some to ultimately succeed the 71-year-old as head coach, with the anticipated plan being that Belichick will ultimately transition right into a front-office position. Feedback from crew proprietor Robert Kraft earlier this yr brought on hypothesis that future could arrive before anticipated.
“Look, I believe Invoice is outstanding at what he does. And I’ve given him the liberty to make the alternatives and do the issues that should be completed,” Kraft mentioned in March. “His soccer mind and data is unparalleled from what I’ve seen, and if you speak to him, the small issues analytically that he seems at.
“However ultimately, it is a enterprise. You both execute and win, otherwise you don’t. That’s the place we’re at. I believe we’re in a transition part. I believe we’ve made some strikes this yr that I personally am snug with, and I nonetheless imagine in Invoice.”
One other season of underperformance will take a look at Kraft’s resolve. Belichick wants one other 31 victories to go Don Shula as the pinnacle coach with essentially the most wins in NFL historical past. If the Patriots miss the postseason once more, he could also be pressured to chase that report elsewhere.
