Jets star CB Sauce Gardner: Patriots ‘don’t actually have a fancy offense’

Patriots

“It’s fairly easy for the quarterback to get. The hole scheme, every little thing is admittedly easy.”

Cornerback Sauce Gardner #1 of the New York Jets intercepts a pass from the Buffalo Bills during the second quarter of the NFL game at MetLife Stadium on September 11, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Sauce Gardner is already one of many prime cornerbacks within the NFL. Elsa / Getty Photos

The Patriots’ offense has been a blended bag thus far this season — and that is perhaps placing it calmly amid a irritating 0-2 begin.

Mac Jones is at present sixth within the NFL in passing yards (547), tied for fourth in passing touchdowns (4), and at present paces all QBs in each completions (66) and makes an attempt (96).

However these encouraging returns by way of the air have but to translate into wins, with a porous O-line, stagnant run recreation, and an absence of separation from receivers hindering the Patriots’ offense from any big-play capabilities or constant play. 

Jets cornerback and reigning NFL Defensive Rookie of the 12 months Sauce Garnder is already top-of-the-line within the recreation relating to shutting down high-powered offenses. 

However when requested Wednesday about what Invoice O’Brien’s revamped offense can throw at groups, Gardner was candid about what he’s seen thus far on the tape. 

“They don’t actually have a fancy offense,” Gardner informed reporters Wednesday, per SNY. “It’s fairly easy for the quarterback to get. The hole scheme, every little thing is admittedly easy.

Any discuss of a simplified offensive recreation plan ought to strike worry into the center of Patriots followers, particularly after enduring 17 video games of Matt Patricia’s unimaginative, cookie-cutter playbook in 2022.

However Gardner did spin his sentiment into some reward as he continued to speak about how New England executes in its revamped scheme.

“However they excel at it,” Gardner stated of the Patriots. “What they attempt to do is get different individuals to mess up and make errors. They simply do every little thing proper.”

Even when O’Brien and the Patriots haven’t precisely dipped into their bag of methods and dialed up loads of RPOs (run-pass choice) or different play-action calls thus far by way of two weeks, a few of which may even be a byproduct of the restricted time Jones has been in a position to throw behind a banged-up offensive line.

By way of cohesion, O’Brien’s offensive execution has at the least been purposeful and streamlined, in contrast to a 2022 season the place receivers have been recurrently colliding into each other.

Jones and the Patriots will look to proper the ship on Sunday after they head all the way down to MetLife Stadium to tackle the Jets in what’s already a must-win recreation this early within the 12 months.

The lack of Aaron Rodgers beneath heart bodes properly for New England’s probabilities of touchdown within the win column. However a proficient Jets protection anchored by stars like Gardner, C.J. Mosley, and Quinnen Williams may give an already laboring Patriots offense much more points in Week 3.

“Yeah, he’s a fantastic participant, clearly had a fantastic rookie 12 months,” Jones stated of Gardner on Wednesday afternoon. “He’s going to make quite a lot of progress. He appears nice on the market, him and D.J. [Reed]. So, robust group to go in opposition to.

“I’ve been impressed with what I’ve seen on movie, undoubtedly lengthy, athletic guys throughout the protection. So, highly effective up entrance, linebackers play with quite a lot of vary. C.J. [Mosley]’s superb. He’s a fantastic participant, at all times has been on this league. Undoubtedly, he’s the bell cow, however you may inform all of them have their very own distinctive issues they will do. So, undoubtedly one of many – most likely probably the most spectacular staff I’ve seen on movie.”