The biggest problem facing the New England Patriots isn’t wide receiver, nor a revamped defensive line lacking elite edge-rushers, and it took a former assistant coach to prove it.
Brian Flores, who won four Super Bowls as a scouting assistant, position coach and defensive coordinator with the Pats, exposed the fatal flaw on this season’s team. He did it in his role as DC for the Minnesota Vikings, who engaged the Patriots in joint practices on Wednesday, August 13.
The session was dominated by a Minnesota front seven executing the blitz-heavy concepts Flores likes. As NBCS Boston’s Phil Perry reported, “Brian Flores gave Patriots pass-protectors all they could handle. During one stretch when he brought extra rushers (or at least showed all-out blitzes), the Patriots allowed three consecutive sacks.”
Although Patriots quarterback Drake Maye still made some noteworthy plays, he was too often beset by pressure. This dichotomy was summed up by Chad Graff of The Athletic, who described how “the Pats’ O-line has gotten beat way too often by the Vikings’ front 7. — But when Drake Maye has had time, he and the passing game have been great.”
Maye produced a great throw or two, but he’s still a prized asset in for a rough time this season because of a suspect group up front. A group that continues to struggle, despite the addition of several new faces.
Brian Flores Showed NFL Blueprint for Beating Patriots
The Patriots can expect to see the blitz early and often after what Flores and the Vikings did to their protection, starting with a preseason game in Minnesota on Saturday, August 16. What’s worrying is the Pats were hardly caught off guard by what Flores threw at them.
Perry told his colleague Tom E. Curran on the “Patriots Talk” Podcast how the Vikings “live in this exotic world where they’re just always there. It’s not just on third down. It feels like they have a different look and a different style and approach for every down, every situation.”
Flores duly delivered what Perry outlined and what the DC also called against the Houston Texans in preseason Week 1, when the Vikings ran “10 corner/safety blitzes,” according to Purple FTW! Podcast.
Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels knew what to expect. He told reporters on Monday, August 11 how “they’ll align in different spots. They’ll pressure us in different ways that maybe our defense hasn’t yet.”
McDaniels won’t have been happy to see his line falter so often, even against perhaps the most creative proponent of pressure in the NFL. It’s an untimely reminder of some of the problems the Patriots are still dealing with in the trenches.
Patriots Have Problems Along Offensive Line
They used the fourth pick in this year’s draft to select Will Campbell to solidify the key left tackle spot. Unfortunately, Campbell has struggled enough in protection to cause a sense of panic this offseason.
Campbell’s struggles continued and were matched by fellow rookie Jared Wilson against the Washington Commanders in the first preseason game. Wilson is supposed to be making the left guard spot his own while the Patriots sort out their situation at center.
Former Vikings pivot Garrett Bradbury arrived in free agency to start, but Cole Strange remaining in the mix is not a good sign for that plan. There’s a lack of positive omens in general from a remade line with a vital role to play in Maye’s development.
Not every defense the Patriots face will be as multiple and aggressive as the Vikings, but other defensive coordinators around the league won’t hesitate to push the blitz button if protection remains a weak point.
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