Bill O'Boring: Patriots' Plodding, Predictable Offense Culprit For 0-2

Bill O'Brien's offense is void of playmakers, and the New England Patriots are void of a victory this season.

Dink. Dunk. Defeat. Rinse and ... repeat?

Bill O'Brien was summoned back to Foxboro to improve the New England Patriots' offense. Through two games it's more efficient, but not more productive. And so far the offensive coordinator's product is wholly lacking in pizzazz.

A patchwork and porous offensive line, a running game stuck in the mud, and a receiving corps void of a big-play threat are the main culprits for the Patriots 0-2 start and their deepest hole to start a season since 1975.

“We have to improve the running game, there’s no doubt about that," O'Brien said this week in preparation for Sunday's game at the New York Jets. "I think that starts with us as a coaching staff. We have to do a better job with what we believe we’re going to see and what we actually see on game day.”

Because of injuries to Cole Strange, Mike Onwenu and Trent Brown, the Patriots have yet to start their desired five across the offensive line. The team recognized the problem after allowing seven sacks in the preseason finale, and attempted to solve it with two trades. But the result has been a mix-'n-match group that started two rookies in the season opener and has failed to open holes in the running game or provide protection for quarterback Mac Jones in the pocket.

The instability and inconsistency up front has forced O'Brien to essentially abandon the running game and limit Jones to short drops and quick releases. Jones throwing three-step, four-yard passes to stationary targets may be good for completion percentage, but it hardly strikes fear into a defense.

New England has rushed 47 times for only 164 yards (3.4 per carry), and has a long pass play of just 32 yards (to running back Rhamondre Stevenson). Only one Pats' receiver has a catch of 20-plus yards, and he - rookie Demario Douglas - was benched early in last week's loss to the Miami Dolphins for fumbling after that play.

How predictable and plodding is the offense? No Patriots running back has a carry of more than 12 yards and no receiver is averaging more than 10 yards per catch. The Dolphins and Jets both have two receivers averaging more than 16 per reception.

Only five teams have a long play shorter than the Pats' 32-yarder, and it's never good to share space with the Houston Texans, Arizona Cardinals and Carolina Panthers ... all 0-2.

“They don't really have a complex offense," said Jets' star cornerback Sauce Gardner in giving the Pats a back-handed compliment. "It's pretty simple for the quarterback to get. The gap scheme, everything is really simple. But they excel at it."

The Dolphins entered last Sunday night with a defense torched by the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1 to the tune of 433 yards and 34 points. The biggest play the Pats mustered was an 18-yard scramble by Jones.

And it's not just that they don't have playmakers. They've dug themselves two early holes - 16-0 to the Philadelphia Eagles and 17-3 to the Dolphins - because of a Jones interception and fumbles by Douglas and Ezekiel Elliott.

“We’ve all got to play better,” said center David Andrews. “I appreciate everyone’s effort and things like that, but it’s not good enough."

Last year the offense was propped up by a league-leading seven touchdowns by the defense and special teams. Without that, a unit without explosive plays has to be keenly precise to score points. The margin for error has proven fatally thin.

Other than improved health by the offensive line (which is on track to happen Sunday against the Jets), what can O'Brien do? The Pats drafted speedster Tyquan Thornton to be a difference-maker in the passing game, but he's been inconsistent and unavailable (he's out at least two more games on injured reserve). With a 42-yard catch-and-run touchdown in the preseason, rookie Kayshon Boutte proved his has the skills. Yet he was inactive against the Dolphins. And Douglass provides obvious quickness and speed in the slot, but Bill Belichick yanked him off the field after his turnover.

"Douglas has to play. And not just like, show up a little bit. He needs to be out there a lot," says former Patriots safety-turned-NBC analyst Devin McCourty. "Because you need guys that put some fear in the defense."

Until Thornton's return or until Belichick trusts his rookie racers, the Pats will continue to attempt to win games via 16-play drives rather than quick-strike touchdowns. They enter Sunday with the league's seventh-lowest average yards per play and an eighth-worst 18.5 points per game.

“Obviously it sucks," Jones said, "but when you're close you just have to do more."

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