Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from all of us here at BSJ. We're all very thankful for you, and for the means you provide us to do what we do. We do not take it for granted.
Going to post the tech tips related to our update to the site, as I see more service requests coming in. I will get to them all soon.
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Hello there,
To answer many people’s questions, hopefully this will help.
We underwent a badly needed update to BSJ on 12/5. For the most part, it’s been fine.
What I was told:
- Some of your users may have to log out and back in, others may just refresh and have no issues at all. If you're not getting full articles, a log out and back in will likely solve it. Possibly a hard refresh (google hard reset with your browser and device type ... for me it's "hard reset chrome on mac")
- We have had a few instances where iOS users have to either clear their cache or just reinstall the app.
- I also noticed that sometimes the initial attempt to log in fails on the first screen, but it does go through on the next screen, so try again (it’s been added to the fix list).
- Also, someone else reported the URL changed slightly, so you may need to change your bookmark.
- For the time being, we no longer support the ANDROID app. It’s complicated - it has to do with our former tech firm not releasing ownership to me - and we hope to solve that in the offseason. Best solution is to add the page to your home screen. It's basically the same thing since our app is browser-based (and you can save your passwords). https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/15085120?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DAndroid
Thanks for your continued support of BSJ! We couldn’t do this without you.
GB
Please use our support portal to receive help
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Simply put, Christian Gonzalez did not play well against the Ravens on Sunday night. In fact, it was one of his worst games as a Patriot until he woke up late in the game.
His performance included two touchdowns from Zay Flowers and Derrick Henry, where you could make an argument that Gonzalez showed questionable effort on both. Definitely on the Flowers touchdown, where he started on the other side of the field, but, with hustle, could have made a stop before the goal line with backside pursuit. On Henry's touchdown, it appeared Gonzalez wasn't eager to take on the pulling guard, but appearances can be deceiving. So we're not as strong on that one. He also had a tough time in pass coverage a handful of times, including on a pass that dropped.
And then Mike Vrabel had an interesting comment about Gonzalez after the game, in a reply to a question that wasn't even about the third-year cornerback. It was about the two punchouts for fumbles.
"That was something that we’ve been practicing and focused on," Vrabel said. "Even just looking at Gonzo’s tackle, when it got on the edge and the stiff arm and breaking it down. Something that we talked about and practiced and tried to get it, and [he] held him to four yards. I thought there was a switch there especially from ‘Gonzo’ in a sequence where he stabs the ball out. We blitzed him. He blitzed with a demeanor. Then I look out there, because we need him, and he’s out there as the corner on the punt return. I told him this isn’t going to be a shock but those are the efforts that we need to have from him. Our best players have to play good each and every week to win."
It's games like Sunday that make you question, at least somewhat, whether Gonzalez has a long-term future in New England. There's no doubt that he has the type of talent that is right there with the best in the game. The question about his future here is complicated and multi-layered. Let's start with this: Gonzalez did not deserve a Pro Bowl nod this season. Marcus Jones was the team's best corner, and Carlton Davis was pretty close to Gonzalez. In fact, PFF has Davis ahead in total defense, but Gonzalez was better in coverage:
I have Gonzalez slightly ahead of Davis:
What's not up for debate is that Gonzalez was better last season, when the Patriots were second in the league with a 45.3% man coverage rate. This season, the Patriots are at 30.5%.
And that's where the discussion about Gonzalez starts. He's a premier man cover corner. He is not as good in zone or off coverage, which is where most of coverage issues have happened. His focus seems like it wanes a bit. He reminds me of Stephon Gilmore when he first came to the Patriots. Who could ever forget the horror show that was his performance in a zone-heavy loss to the Panthers? Later in 2017, Bill Belichick went to more man-to-man coverage, and Gilmore skyrocketed to the point he was first-team All-Pro in 2018 and '19, and NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2019.
The same thing could absolutely happen with Gonzalez ... if Mike Vrabel follows a similar path, either the rest of this season (I've been holding out how he plays his "cat" card in the postseason to bewilder an opponent), or next season.
The big question is, will Vrabel and his defensive assistants do that?
It's certainly possible that in the early stages of this rebuild, the Patriots just don't think they have two other players (normally a linebacker on a running back, and a safety on a tight end in addition to Gonzalez, Davis and Jones) capable of playing a lot of good man coverage, and the coaches fear getting exposed. With another free agency and draft next offseason, maybe that changes and the Patriots become a high man coverage team in 2026.
But what if these coaches just do what they do and really like their scheme? There's validity to that because, dating back to Vrabel's final three seasons with the Titans (as far back as my data takes me), the Titans played less man coverage than this year's Patriots.
Now, again, there could be circumstances to that, like injuries to starters.
But the essential Gonzalez question is this: If the Patriots are going to be a man team only 30% of the time, are they really going to play him $33 million a year with upwards of $100 million guaranteed this offseason, when he can get a new contract? Because that's what it's likely going to take.
It's certainly possible the Patriots entertain trading him — Sauce Gardner and Jalen Ramsey both went for two first-round picks — and replenish with cornerbacks that better fit their scheme.
Again, that's if they're married to it. What's clear is that after the season, the Patriots need to figure out what they're going to do with their scheme, and then go from there. Of course, top cover corners don't exactly grow on trees, and the Patriots have one. It'd be better for the player and team if they used him as such, or you're keeping a Ferrari in the garage (thanks Jalen Reagor).
Here are the positional ratings against the Ravens:
OFFENSE
Quarterback (3 out of 5)
The story of the game was Maye's fourth quarter. That he did something like that, now his teammates can truly believe, "We can do this, we have 10." And the kid's confidence will be off the charts after this. ... I liked how most of the two drives were just dink and dunks, and how he hung in and delivered the ball. I had him for a +8.5 (Williams throw)/-1 in the fourth quarter. But he got really lucky. Nearly got picked off, and if the DB doesn't slip on the 4th and 2 to Diggs, the game is all but over. ... He was not good in the third quarter, with +3.5 (Diggs throw getting belted) and -6. I thought we were looking at a redux of last week (+8/-13). ... First half wasn't much better +4.5 (Hooper throw)/-7. He made four turnover-worthy plays in this game (interception was half on him and Boutte, sack fumble was him, fumbled the ball off Westover's leg, near INT. He was responsible for 2.5 sacks in the first half. ... For three quarters, he was not seeing the game well. Then it turned on a dime in very Bo Nix-ing fashion. ... I give him about a D+ for three quarters, and an A+ for the fourth.
Running backs (3 out of 5)
Outside of one knockdown, Rhamondre Stevenson was the complete package in this game running, catching and in pass protection. He showed why he's so valuable to this team as the team's best running back, and someone who should be leaned on more. ... In contrast, TreVeyon Henderson had three poor runs where he left more yards on the field again.
Receivers (4 out of 5)
The entire group seemed to have at least one big moment, which you'll need in the postseason. ... Stefon Diggs was the best and he made me eat some crow, even if it wasn't quite as physically impressive as the Week 5 game. More of a good possession game, but his first catch was absurd. Why did he suddenly look better? It could have been being back in Maryland and in prime time. He could have heard the December Diggs chatter, or it was pointed out to motivate him. Or it could be simply that he was challenged to step up after putting out some poor film in a game the team lost. ... Shoutout Kyle Williams for his TD catch, drawing a penalty and a nice run block on Stevenson's TD. ... Kayshon Boutte needed to keep coming back to the ball, and Maye's pass was going to be just beyond the sticks.
Offensive line (3.5 out of 5)
The pressure rate was higher, but that was a bit misleading because Maye (3.5 pressures) and the Ravens (4 team pressures) contributed 35 percent of it. When I say team pressure, it's usually either a free runner do to good scheme, or there was nothing the lineman could really do, or it was a coverage pressure and not on the line. ... Still, Vederian Lowe and Jared Wilson had a little bit of a rough go of it, but it was far from bad. I think you could make the argument that the offensive line has performed the best in the last three games. Yes, I know that's since Will Campbell went out. No, I don't know what, if anything, it means. It could mean the scheming by Josh McDaniels is the true MVP of the pass pro. But I don't know. ... The other three linemen were very good. Thayer Munford was a pleasant surprise, especially run blocking as the jumbo TE.
DEFENSE
Defensive line (1 out of 5)
K'Lavon Chaisson was the only one to really make any plays up front, but he had multiple issues on the edge against the run. So did Christian Barmore, Harold Landry (zero pressures in just 30 snaps), Joshua Farmer, Elijah Ponder and Eric Gregory. ... They just pushed around by a more physical Ravens line. This is happening a lot.
Linebackers (1 out of 5)
A sprinkling of impact plays, but the whole group was pretty bad with run gaps, penalties and missed tackles. Jack Gibbens factored into two touchdowns.
Secondary (2 out of 5)
We've been over Gonzalez, but the rest of the group was a mixed bag and likely helped out that Lamar Jackson was injured. Carlton Davis made the most plays and, of course, the Patriots might not win without the Jaylinn Hawkins punchout when the Ravens were rolling.
THREE UP
Drake Maye (fourth quarter): They don't win without him revealing the Superman costume under his uniform. And he did it with a lot of patience. Learned from last week.
Stefon Diggs: And Maye couldn't have done it without his wingman being on the same page this week.
Rhamondre Stevenson: A very mature running back performance — and he didn't get the ball punched out like the Ravens did!
THREE DOWN
Drake Maye (first three quarters): If the Patriots had lost, Maye (factored into three turnovers) and the fake punt decision would have been the two chief reasons.
Linebackers: All three of them were bad, and the defensive line wasn't much better. Lucky the Ravens sat Derrick Henry.
TreVeyon Henderson: Before exiting with an injury, Henderson had five rushing attempts for 3 yards, and he factored into three of them.