On his first-career sack, the Patriots spun the dial with a zone pressure where Jones blitzed from the slot. While blitzing the nickel, the Pats simulated pressure over the left side of the line ot get the line to slide away from Jones. They then rotated into a cover-three structure, with RB Alvin Kamara seeing the blitz late to get a piece of Jones as EDGE K’Lavon Chaisson is winning on the stunt inside. The pressure causes Rattler to climb the pocket, and Jones is there to get the third-down sack.
Jones is thriving playing the slot/nickel spot in Vrabel’s defense, growing into a leadership role as a captain, and is an electric punt returner. In a contract year, Jones is on the shortlist for team MVP behind Maye.
6. Patriots Lean on RBs Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson vs. Saints
A top storyline heading into Sunday’s game was how the Patriots would replace the 16.6% snap rate left behind by RB Antonio Gibson’s season-ending injury. The Pats elevated practice-squad RB Terrell Jennings, who played a role on kickoff returns, but didn’t play a snap on offense. Henderson and Stevenson were taken off kickoff returns to play exclusively on offense. Stevenson led the way with 41 snaps (13 rush attempts), while Henderson had 17 snaps and nine rush attempts. As mentioned, the Patriots need more from their rushing attack, and it will likely be the Henderson and Stevenson show the rest of the way.
7. Discussing the Fourth Down Decisions and Challenges in New Orleans
Another interesting takeaway from Sunday’s game was a few key challenges and fourth-down decisions by Vrabel. We got our first shrewd challenge by the Pats decision-making duo when Vrabel challenged that Boutte was still in bounds on his third-and-11 conversion. The challenge was successful, allowing the Patriots to kneel out the clock. New England also won an earlier challenge that overturned a call on the field into a fumble and recovery for a takeaway by the Pats defense.
The only iffy decision was on a failed fourth down in the first half. The Pats ran the ball on third-and-7, knowing they’d go for it on fourth down. After the third-down run was stuffed, Ben Baldwin’s win probability model favored kicking a long field goal. It’ll be interesting to hear from Vrabel in the coming days about why they stuck with going for it after the third-down run was stuffed for no gain. The fourth down result was an aborted snap that gave New Orleans the ball on the NE 47.
8. WR Efton Chism III Debuts on Special Teams, Makes a Tackle in Kickoff Coverage
Lastly, undrafted rookie WR Efton Chism III made his NFL debut with a role on special teams. Chism joined practice-squad elevation Terrell Jennings as the Patriots kickoff returners, likely a move made to get Henderson and Stevenson off returns after Gibson was lost for the season returning a kickoff last week. Chism averaged 25.8 yards per return with a long of 28 yards. He also recorded a special teams tackle on the opening kickoff. Although it wasn’t the dynamic play Vrabel wants, the Patriots need to keep their two backs healthy, so they might need to sacrifice some explosiveness by taking Henderson off kickoff returns.
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