Of all groups, the New England Patriots should not panic an excessive amount of about what occurs within the preseason. They do not even panic over what occurs in September most seasons.

However for a staff that has been below lots of scrutiny for its offensive struggles with questionable coordinator selections, Friday evening was alarming.

The Patriots performed most of their starters within the preseason finale on the Las Vegas Raiders. Mac Jones, DeVante Parker and Hunter Henry have been amongst these taking snaps. They performed towards a Raiders protection that did not use one locked-in starter. It was Patriots starters vs. Raiders backups, for probably the most half.

In 4 sequence, the Patriots’ beginning offense went punt, interception, punt, area aim. Each punts occurred after three-and-outs. The Patriots had 94 yards after about 20 minutes of soccer. The Patriots trailed 13-Three halfway by means of the second quarter when Jones and the remainder of the beginning offense was pulled from the sport.

In a traditional preseason, that would not be value worrying about. It isn’t supreme to see starters wrestle towards backups, but it surely’s preseason. Nonetheless, the story across the Patriots, just about since Josh McDaniels left his submit as New England’s offensive coordinator to develop into the Raiders’ head coach, has been in regards to the unusual succession plan within the teaching employees. Friday evening’s flop will add to the stress.

Invoice Belichick hasn’t spoken a lot about his offensive coordinator scenario, but it surely has been some mixture of Matt Patricia and Joe Choose. Neither has been an offensive coordinator. Patricia’s final job with the Patriots, earlier than a failed stint as Detroit Lions head coach, was defensive coordinator. Patriots reporters have been making an attempt to determine how the job is being break up up.

Belichick has achieved unconventional issues previously and so they usually work out. Perhaps this can too. However Friday evening wasn’t an amazing displaying.

Jones completed 9-of-13 for 71 yards and a foul interception. Jones moved within the pocket and by no means noticed linebacker Luke Masterson sitting in protection beneath. He threw it proper to Masterson.

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Jones was sacked two instances as nicely. There have been a number of studies from Patriots camp that the offensive line has struggled.

Maybe we’ll lookup in October and November and perceive that the studies of the Patriots’ offensive struggles have been overblown. It isn’t like New England hasn’t made untimely studies of its demise look dumb earlier than. However on Friday evening, on the finish of an uneasy August, it did not look excellent for the offense.