The New England Patriots had to find someone new to run their offense this offseason after former offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels departed to become the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders following the 2021-22 season. The Patriots brought in former NFL head coaches Matt Patricia of the Detroit Lions and Joe Judge of the New York Giants, but neither of them has ever coordinated an NFL offense before.
While New England has yet to name an official offensive coordinator or play-caller even after the start of preseason camp, it seems Patricia has emerged as the team’s top play-caller with Judge and Patriots head coach Bill Belichick also providing some input.
As the team tries to piece together its offense ahead of the 2022-23 season, early reports out of Patriots camp are not great.
Patriots defense is running roughshod over the offense. Highlights for that side were “sacks” by Christian Barmore and Matt Judon during a third-down period.
Offense looks broken. Can’t protect. Losing 1-on-1s. Blitzes getting through. No run game. Miscommunication on routes.
— Phil Perry (@PhilAPerry) August 8, 2022
“Offense looks broken,” Patriots reporter Phil Perry said on Twitter. “Offense looks broken. Can’t protect. Losing 1-on-1s. Blitzes getting through. No Run game. Miscommunication on routes.”
And that wasn’t even the most concerning report from practice, as Patriots insider Tom E. Curran described what he saw from the New England offense as “distressingly bad.”
Patriots No. 1 offense today has been distressingly bad. Run stuffs. Aborted plays. Would-be sacks. Distress lobs into traffic just to get ball out. Beginning to feel it’s less the new offense and more the post-Scar cycle of OL coaches. They are perpetually overwhelmed.
— Tom E. Curran (@tomecurran) August 8, 2022
“The Patriots No. 1 offense today has been distressingly bad,” Curran said on Twitter. “Run stuffs. Aborted plays. Would-be sacks. Distress lobs into traffic just to get ball out. Beginning to feel it’s less the new offense and more the post-Scar cycle of OL coaches. They are perpetually overwhelmed.”
The reports out of the Patriots camp have certainly raised some eyebrows across the NFL world.
I'm starting to think NFL teams need real offensive coaches or something. https://t.co/C10LoZQSxE
— Mike Tanier (@MikeTanier) August 8, 2022
I've searched about fifteen potential gifs for this and not a single one of them is good enough to reflect just how much I enjoyed reading it. https://t.co/oanPnl49Pz
— Jeremy White 🚂 🚂 🚂 (@JeremyWGR) August 8, 2022
The patriots are finishing last in the AFC East. https://t.co/9KYakV0Map
— DJ Bien-Aime (@Djbienaime) August 8, 2022
Hiring Joe Judge and Matt Patricia to install the Shanahan/McVay offense seems like a terrible idea! https://t.co/s7J981ffXi
— JP Acosta (@acosta32_jp) August 8, 2022
— Myles Simmons (@MylesASimmons) August 8, 2022
https://t.co/q1KfXcdGBq pic.twitter.com/2O9gJNhOmB
— Pats Pulpit (@patspulpit) August 8, 2022
While it is just preseason camp and there’s still just over a month until New England opens the season against the Miami Dolphins, these reports are undoubtedly concerning for the Patriots.
