Through two weeks, the Patriots’ passing recreation below Bill O’Brien is undoubtedly higher than it was throughout final season’s catastrophe. It passes the attention check, and there have been optimistic early returns.

Mac Jones is among the many league leaders in a number of passing classes, although that’s been a byproduct of taking part in from behind. But the quarterback and his unit have seemed extra fluid and competent than they did at any level final season. Still, although, there’s a gear and degree they’re nonetheless looking for as they seek for their first win of the season.

“For us, I think it’s about finishing drives,” O’Brien mentioned Tuesday. “I think we moved the ball at times, I’m not saying we moved the ball all the time, but we moved the ball at times. But we’re inconsistent. We have to coach it better and try to get to be more consistent and finish drives. We get in there and we drive the ball 30-40 yards and then we stall, so we have to do a better job of stringing plays together to be able to finish drives.”

A recurring drawback by way of two weeks is the Patriots’ gradual begins. They fell behind 16-0 to the Eagles, then 10-0 to the Dolphins. In each circumstances, the Pats had been shifting the ball effectively offensively earlier than a poorly timed turnover stopped them.

Those begins have pressured the Patriots to play from behind for the overwhelming majority of the primary two video games. The offense, to its credit score, has carried out effectively to struggle again and make each video games aggressive, however the unit failed to finish comebacks with probabilities to win or tie. Whether it’s beginning video games or executing in late-game conditions, the Pats have been too inconsistent.

“The start of the games, we’ve moved the ball and something’s happened, whether it was a pick six or a sack like what happened the past weekend,” O’Brien mentioned. “I do think we have the right idea when it comes to opening these games, but again, we have to be able to string the plays along so that we can come down and get points and not stall around midfield. So we’re working hard to figure that out and hopefully that’ll improve. It has to improve.”

One space that appears to be holding the Patriots’ offensive line play, which has been suffering from accidents, inexperience and an absence of continuity. But O’Brien isn’t fascinated with excuse-making. He pointed to a handful of drives in every recreation by which the Patriots have pushed into opponent territory and are available up empty, which is inexcusable.

“There’s been glimpses of what the offense can be and we have to be more consistent,” O’Brien mentioned. “There’s no excuse on the earth that actually issues to anyone on the market. Nobody needs to win greater than we do on this constructing, and I simply assume it’s coming right down to consistency and like I mentioned earlier than, ending drives. … I feel we’ve gotten the ball contained in the 20-yard line or perhaps the 30-yard line like six occasions and have come away with no factors. Like we will’t do this anymore. We have to come back away with factors. …

“The name of the game is points. And when you don’t score more points than the other team, it’s not good. So we have to come away with points when we get into those areas of the field.”

Need for enchancment

The Patriots’ run recreation has been woeful to start out the season, averaging 82 yards per recreation on simply 3.5 yards per carry. O’Brien acknowledged it’s an space that should get higher.

“We have to improve the running game, there’s no doubt about that,” O’Brien mentioned. “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. I think the players, they’ll continue to work very hard. … We have to get the running game better and we’re going to work very hard on that this week.”

Confidence in ‘Pop’

Rookie broad receiver Demario Douglas didn’t see an offensive snap in Sunday’s loss after his fumble within the first quarter. When requested how he balances prioritizing ball safety and ensuring he continues to play with confidence, O’Brien praised the rookie whereas insisting different offensive packages led to him not taking part in for the remainder of the sport.

“I have a lot of confidence in Pop Douglas as I do all the players that we have,” O’Brien mentioned. “I think as the game played out the other day, because of what we did, the packages that we went to, whether we were in no-huddle or some of the things that we’re doing, it just wasn’t Pop on the field. At the end of the day, I think we have to do a better job of continuing to get everybody involved in the gameplan throughout the game, and that’s what we’ll continue to do. I think Pop will learn from what happened on Sunday, but Pop has had a really good rookie experience so far, from OTAs to training camp to where we are now, Pop has done a lot of really good things. So, we like when Pop is in the game.”

Extra factors

The Pro Football Hall of Fame introduced its record of 173 of modern-era nominees for the Class of 2024 on Tuesday. It contains a number of former Patriots, together with Corey Dillon, Troy Brown, Ben Coates, Matt Light, Vince Wilfork, Tedy Bruschi, Willie McGinest, Mike Vrabel and Rodney Harrison. The record will probably be decreased to 25 semifinalists in November. … Jim Nantz and Tony Romo will probably be on the decision for Sunday’s recreation towards the Jets on CBS.