Former NFL player and scout Bucky Brooks knows the ins and outs of this league, providing keen insight in his notebook. Today’s installment covers:
- What motivated the first in-season coaching change of 2024?
- A shutdown defense that deserves more love.
But first, analysis on the beginning of a new era for one of the NFL’s most succession franchises …
After taking Drake Maye with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Jerod Mayo and the New England Patriots stressed that the rookie would not be forced into the lineup prematurely. But sitting in the AFC East cellar at 1-4 with Jacoby Brissett averaging the fewest passing yards per game (139.2) and throwing the fewest passing touchdowns (two) among 32 qualified quarterbacks through Week 5, the Pats are now turning to the 22-year-old to spark an offense that ranks second-to-last in points and yards.
While some observers think the Patriots are unnecessarily throwing the first-year signal-caller to the wolves, I believe Mayo is handing the ball to Maye at the perfect time to maximize his short- and long-term development. By allowing the 6-foot-4, 225-pounder to take over the offense at this point, the team is giving him a five-game stretch where he will only face one 2023 playoff team (the Texans on Sunday) and a group of inconsistent squads attempting to find their way (Jaguars, Jets, Titans and Bears).
Regardless of what everyone thinks about Maye’s timeline, though, he’s officially taking the reins. Now, New England must set up its young quarterback for success by implementing a plan that enables him to play to his strengths as a dual-threat playmaker. The former North Carolina standout started 26 games for the Tar Heels over the past two years, putting up some impressive numbers as a dynamic athlete with a live arm. At UNC, Maye completed 64.9 percent of his passes for 8,018 pass yards and 63 touchdowns (against 16 interceptions), adding an additional 1,209 yards and 16 touchdowns on the ground. In 2022 and ’23, per ESPN, Maye gained 953 yards on scrambles, the second-highest FBS total in that span, behind only Jayden Daniels.
Considering how mobile quarterbacks challenge defenders in various ways, Maye’s insertion into the lineup adds a different dimension to Alex Van Pelt’s offense. As an experienced RPO (run/pass option) playmaker, Maye is a masterful ball handler with a knack for putting defenders in conflict and exploiting their poor decisions. In addition, he is a skilled thrower with exceptional arm talent and limitless range. When he plays with sound footwork and fundamentals — still areas that need work — Maye can make every throw in the book with touch, timing and precision. All in all, the rookie displays superstar potential, but he needs to refine his game to maximize his talent.
With Maye evoking comparisons to Josh Allen, New England’s coaching staff must put the prized pick in the right offense to take full advantage of his skills. Though the thought of a would-be franchise quarterback running around makes some executives and scouts cringe, Maye’s athleticism and mobility are an asset for a team that has averaged just 8.7 points per game over the last three contests. Despite having the league’s eighth-best rushing attack (131.4 ypg), the Patriots have been unable to create explosive plays or consistently control the game. With Maye enhancing the ground game via his running skills and improvisational playmaking ability, New England has a QB1 who can be incorporated into the game plan on designed runs and option plays, particularly in the red zone. In addition, Maye’s ability to elude and evade pass rushers in the pocket could produce more big plays on impromptu scramble tosses that take advantage of undisciplined defenses.
Maye’s athleticism could mask some of the offense’s woes as the Patriots reshuffle the line in an attempt to put their “best five” on the field. Moreover, it could help that unit — which has featured five different combinations through five games, struggling mightily for large stretches — cement its identity as a “ground and pound” crew that bludgeons opponents between the tackles. If the running game becomes more potent with Maye under center, New England will be able to generate more big plays through the air on play-action passes. Whether utilizing bootleg/naked passes, RPOs or traditional play-action passes from the pocket, the threat of a legit ground attack can help the rookie produce explosives despite a pedestrian collection of pass catchers on the perimeter. Though Kendrick Bourne has returned from injury, the veteran is not regarded as an elite player. But he could thrive as a designated playmaker in a run-based offense with a complementary play-action passing game.
The Patriots have prepped the rookie for his big opportunity since Week 1 by giving him 30 percent of the practice reps to foster his development as a future starter. This valuable experience with the 1s enabled Patriots players to fall in love with Maye’s talent and endorse his promotion after Mayo announced it this week.
With the rookie offering more arm talent and athleticism than his predecessor, the Patriots’ decision to hand the ball to Maye gives them a better chance to win today while also developing the top pick’s game for superstardom down the line.
Green alert: Why the Jets changed pilots
The New York Jets’ decision to fire Robert Saleh five games into the 2024 season sent shockwaves through the league. The energetic, defensive-minded coach had Gang Green’s star-studded D playing at a high level, but an underperforming offense limited New York to a 2-3 start, ultimately resulting in Saleh’s dismissal.
In a vacuum, it’s hard to fathom a team dumping a coach who fielded a top-five unit on the side of the ball that’s his specialty. But the “Super Bowl or bust” mentality spawned by Aaron Rodgers‘ arrival in 2023 increased the tension around the facility, and it felt like the team could be cratering under the weight of expectations. Though Rodgers consistently denied having an acrimonious relationship with Saleh, the duo’s interactions over the past month suggested issues between the quarterback and head coach. From the mixed messaging on New York’s cadence in press conferences to the “bro hug” gone awry, Rodgers and Saleh just didn’t seem to be on the same page. This motivated Jets owner Woody Johnson to take action.
“I wanted to give this team the most opportunity to win this, this season,” Johnson said on Tuesday. “I feel that we had to go in a different direction and that’s why I did that today. This change, the change that we made today, that I made, I believe will bring new energy and positivity that will lead to more wins, starting now.
“I’ve been doing this for 25 years now. This is probably the best team I’ve had in 25 years. I just felt that the best way to go forward was with a new direction.”
Now, the Jets hope Jeff Ulbrich — the defensive coordinator who was promoted to interim head coach — helps the team rediscover its identity to spark a playoff run. The former NFL linebacker is well-respected throughout the league and regarded as a no-nonsense leader with a hard-nosed personality and strong attention to detail. He earned rave reviews for his work as a head coach at this past winter’s Reese’s Senior Bowl. Speaking to coaches and executives who worked with Ulbrich during the college all-star game week, they lauded his management and organizational skills. Those traits should serve him well as he attempts to right this wayward ship.
Studying New York’s recent games, the team needs an offensive identity. Through five games in 2024, the Jets have scored the exact same amount of points (93) and amassed nearly the same yards-per-game average (286.6, as opposed to 283.6) as the Zach Wilson-led unit did in the first five games of 2023. Rodgers’ struggles suggest a need to take some of the responsibility off the four-time MVP’s shoulders to carry the offense. Considering the 40-year-old quarterback just posted back-to-back games with a completion rate below 60 percent, the Jets should reassess their offensive approach, especially with a trio of promising young playmakers (running backs Breece Hall and Braelon Allen, plus wide receiver Garrett Wilson) capable of fueling the unit. If Gang Green’s patchwork offensive line can hold up, the offense should be able to rely on a ground-and-pound/play-action attack to move the ball against top defenses based on their personnel.
This is why Ulbrich’s decision to demote offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, replacing him with Todd Downing as the offensive play-caller, could significantly impact New York’s performance. Though Downing cannot completely revamp the playbook or call sheet at this juncture, he can start transitioning the offense to a different approach to maximize the individual and collective talents of top players. Whether the tweaks involve utilizing more motions and shifts to create favorable matchups or quickening the pace to change the game’s tempo, Downing can make subtle adjustments to help this offense find an identity and rhythm. Moreover, he can modernize the attack to make it more difficult to defend in matchups against the defensive heavyweights in the AFC.
Furthermore, Ulbrich now gets an extended trial run in the big chair, with the possibility of landing the permanent job if he plays his cards right and demands more accountability from his players. As a former NFL player himself — having spent 10 years as a linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers — Ulbrich automatically commands respect from his troops, but he must hold his team to a higher standard to see better results on the field.
By demanding more effort and better execution from the offense, defense and kicking units, the Jets’ interim head coach can seize control of a winnable division and earn a spot in the postseason tournament. And once you make the playoffs, anything’s possible.
Return of the ‘Orange Crush’ in Denver?
With Sean Payton at the helm and rookie quarterback Bo Nix under center, the Broncos’ offense is an unavoidable topic of fascination. But Vance Joseph’s defense is the unit that has guided Denver back to relevance.
Last Sunday, when the Broncos extended their winning streak to three games with a 34-18 victory over the rival Raiders, they wore throwback jerseys that paid homage to the dominant “Orange Crush” defense of the mid-1970s. The look fit this team perfectly, given the way Joseph’s old-school blitz-happy defense has been terrorizing opponents at Mile High.
Led by cornerback Patrick Surtain II and an unheralded collection of playmakers, the Broncos rank in the top three in the NFL in scoring defense (second, with 14.6 points allowed per game), total defense (third, with 271.2 yards allowed per game) and sacks (third, with 19), relying on an aggressive, blitz-centric approach that relentlessly pressures quarterbacks from every angle. The Broncos pace the league with a blitz rate of 45 percent thanks to the fearlessness of the defensive play-caller, who is willing to send six-man pressures (17 attempts, third-most in the league, per Pro Football Focus) and seven-man pressures (four, tied for second in the league) at a breakneck pace.
Some play-callers are afraid to leave their defensive backs on the island when attempting to attack the quarterback, but Joseph does not mind putting the onus on Surtain, Riley Moss and others to hold up in coverage, inherently allowing him to create one-on-one pass-rush opportunities for a dynamic front line led by Zach Allen.
By attacking opponents with blitzes that neutralize their preferred pass-protection plans, the Broncos eliminate double teams and exploit weak blockers unable to handle their matchups at the point of attack. In addition, the relentless pressure enhances the complementary simulated pressures and drop-eight coverages that keep quarterbacks guessing within the pocket.
While opposing quarterbacks and play-callers struggle to decipher the pressure and coverage behind the pre-snap alignments, the Broncos ramp up the mental and physical strain on the signal-caller over the course the game. Considering how many passers wilt under stress and duress, the blitz-and-bluff tactics surely create sleepless nights for teams trying to prepare for the chaos created by Joseph’s bold approach.
The Broncos (3-2) are on the rise despite ranking 28th in yards gained per game (270.6) and tying for the third-least offensive touchdowns scored (seven). As these unlikely playoff contenders forge ahead, this new version of the “Orange Crush” undoubtedly deserves our attention.
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