It’s championship week for the New England Patriots as they get set to welcome the Buffalo Bills to town with a chance to clinch the AFC East. Off a bye week, the Patriots are healthier as they’ll additionally
look to sweep the season series against Buffalo after defeating them 23-20 back in Week 5.
With that, let’s get into this week’s #PostPulpit Mailbag.
The biggest issue this team needs to clean up this year and beyond is the short running game. Would it look different with a healthy Antonio Gibson and/or Brock Lampe? Or does the O-Line deserve the blame? What’s the path to correcting this going forward? – slunkywontergreen
The Patriots run game enters the week 30th in rush EPA and have also been one of the worst rushing attacks in short yardage situations. That led to Josh McDaniels breaking out some wrinkles (six o-lineman, unbalanced lines, wildcat) against the Giants on Monday night to try and find answers.
I actually do think that Lampe’s absence is a sneaky one after landing on injured reserve in the summer. Jack Westover is a different type of fullback than Lampe which has led to using Khyiris Tonga in that role to generate more power. Where they are at now, I don’t think they are ever going to be a dominant rushing team this season. But, they have taken small steps in the right direction and should be able to find some more consistency with improved execution (while I wonder if more wrinkles such as getting Maye’s legs involved in key areas are coming).
This will be a good week to continue that trend, as the Bills run defense is among the league’s worst ranking 28th in rushing yards allowed per game and 29th in rushing yards per carry allowed.
With an opportunity to secure the AFC East at home, what’s the best way the defense can get after Allen to make him jumpy leading to some bad decisions? – Kingratt
I’m in favor of being on the aggressive side and bringing some pressure — especially with his lack of weapons on the outside. Some five or six man unconventional rushes to plug escape gaps and not allow Allen and his offensive line to get comfortable. The key word when rushing him this week, however, has been coordinated.
“Coordinated and relentless is probably the best way to phrase it,” Mike Vrabel said. “Because, again, you say, ‘Well, keep him in the pocket.’ And then guys are just standing there and they’re cautious, and we don’t want to coach that way. We want to make sure that we’re trying to remain aggressive, but certainly sound. When he does extend, then we’re going to need to plaster and have guys be able to come up and help us.”
New England only blitzed Allen eight times back in the Week 5 matchup. Bumping that number up could led to Allen getting jumpy and led to some of those bad decisions the Patriots defense can capitalize from.
Is there a possibility we lose Zak Kuhr to a HC job this offseason?
With how well Zak Kuhr has done as the acting DC, do we think Terrell Williams will be back as DC if he is able to? If not, does Terrell Williams get some kind of odd title to be able to stay on the team? And who do we get to replace Zak Kuhr as the Inside Linebackers coach? My bet would be we either promote Vinny DePalma or we hire Vrabel’s man Shane Bowen. – math blaster 97
I would be very surprised at this point if Kuhr got head coaching opportunities this offseason. Not that he hasn’t done a good job in his role, but he is a first-time play caller and there are several other defensive minds (Jeff Hafley, Chris Shula) atop the job market.
As for next season, I still wonder about the possibility of a (hopefully) healthy Williams sliding into an advisor role with Kuhr taking defensive coordinator duties. I think you nailed the linebacker replacements then, with either defensive assistant Vinny DePalma or perhaps Bowen, who’s background is linebackers, taking that spot.
Other than Tonga and Chaisson, are there any other in house candidates for contract extensions? – wrw921
Unless New England plans to add a premiere safety, Jaylinn Hawkins, who has played 95 percent of the defensive snaps in the 11 games he’s suited up, seems like a candidate to bring back. Austin Hooper (54%) falls in a similar bucket depending on the team’s plans at tight end, while Ben Brown and Jack Gibbens come to mind as key depth/reserve options.
As that group is all unrestricted free agents, New England can also start extension talks with the 2023 draft class that includes CB Christian Goznalez and wide receivers Kayshon Boutte and DeMario Douglas.
Do you believe they will get Gonzalez extended before the start of next season or wait till year 5 after picking up his option… do you believe waiting would cause issues between him & Pats? – KissBillsRings
Speaking of Gonzalez, working to get the extension done as quickly as possible it the best course of action with these deals. As seen around the league, the quicker things get done the better the deal and less problems follow.
But, I’m also not ruling out the team potentially exploring his value elsewhere especially after the Sauce Gardner trade netted the Jets two first-round picks plus. As Gonzalez does not appear to be the ideal style that Mike Vrabel looks for in his corners, New England could opt for the draft capital and invest the resources into a game-changing pass rusher. May not be my ideal way of doing things and New England could ultimately just opt to pay the 23-year old All-Pro, but don’t think that path is truly one to completely dismiss.
If the last game of the season turns out to be meaningless, rest the starters and start Cutlets or Dobbs? – BrassBonanza
Dobbs has remained the backup, so imagine it would go to him. The only question is if they clinch the No. 1 seed and have a bye, do you play Drake Maye or sit him which would lead to two weeks off and potential rust? Would be a good problem to have.
That’s all for this week’s #PostPulpit mailbag. If you have questions you’d liked to be answered next week, submit them online in our weekly submission post or on Twitter using #PostPulpit. Make sure to be following @iambrianhines and @PatsPulpit as well.
