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MORSE: 15 Observations From Patriots’ Embarrassing Loss to Chargers

Mark Morse

December 28, 2024 at 6:01 pm ET

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MORSE: 15 Observations From Patriots’ Embarrassing Loss to Chargers

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Embarrassing from the coaches to the players and to the front office. Everyone got to see what Eliot Wolf gave away in Ladd McConkey (8 catches, 94 yards and 2 TDs). The fans booed them off the field at the end of the game. “They stink” according to Scott Zolak on the 98.5 Sports Hub broadcast.

No pass rush whatsoever. Keon White made it known that he is thinking of moving on from the Patriots because of how he is being used. He had 1 pressure all day. It’s been nice knowing you! He is only effective rushing from the DT position, and he is complaining because the Patriots don’t want him rushing up field (losing containment and letting the QB out of the pocket). All he wants is sacks to pad his stats when he becomes a Free Agent and boost what he will get paid. He was on the Davon Godchaux podcast complaining about the Mass Millionaires tax. You are that selfish player that other players have been talking about. White added a 15-yard Horse Collar penalty later in the game (2nd of the year) and he blew past Herbert on the last TD. When he was drafted by Bill Belichick, he was a player without a position. He is 6’5” 285-pounds and runs a 4.79 40-yard dash. Not fast enough and doesn’t have the pass rush moves for the edge and isn’t stout enough against the run to be anything but a 3^rd and long, pass rusher from the DT position. Looks like Tarzan but plays like Jane. After the game White told Phil Perry of NBC Sports Boston “that he meant everything he said” to Karen Guregian of Mass Live earlier in the week.
Let’s add Yannick Ngakoue to the bonehead list. I would have taken him out of the game. His roughing the QB for a stupid late hit would have found him on the bench and released after the game.
There is no accountability by Jerod Mayo on this team. Steveson has never been made to account for his turnovers. He started the game at RB this week after his 7^th fumble last week and that doesn’t count the backward pass that was right in his hands (fumble charged to Maye).
Since we are on a roll here, let’s throw Kyle Dugger under the bus. First, let’s roast the Defensive Coaching staff, in particular DeMarcus Covington and Safeties coach Steve Belichick. Kyle Dugger is not a safety and should never be playing Free Safety. On the 1^st McConkey TD, he was passed off to Dugger and Dugger took the wrong angle for the TD. On his 2^nd TD, McConkey used his 4.36 speed and blew by Jonathan Jones. Dugger was late coming over from his safety position and gave up the TD. Why are they playing him there. He should be at LB and taken off the field on 3^rd and long.
Dan Shaugnessey just said that the Krafts should clean house before next weekend. Hiring Jerod Mayo and Eliot Mayo were mistakes.
McConkey set the Chargers rookie record for receptions by a rookie with 77, breaking Keenan Allen’s record of 71. He also eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark with 1,054 yards. He had 8 catches for 94 yards and two TDs. Color Analyst Ross Tucker said that he is uncoverable. That’s exactly what I said about him in my Patriots draft projections. Ja’Lynn Polk was 0-1 and Javon Baker was 0-1 and badly missed a block in late game action. McConkey had more yards in one game than both Patriots rookies have had all year.
Drake Maye had a pitch dropped by Demario Douglas. It appeared to be a poorly designed play where it looks like Maye is trying to pitch the ball to Rhamondre Stevenson, but the ball is supposed to be caught by Demario Douglas on a counter play. Douglass was late getting there and only knocked the ball down.
Derwin James had two sacks and on the 2^nd one, Austin Hooper stayed inside to block and doubled Joey Bosa. That left James, who was on the line of scrimmage. He rushed and Antonio Gibson came over to pick him up. James had his hand in Gibson’s face and no call for hands to the face.
Speaking of bad calls … Joe Alt was lined up 2 yards off the LOS and no call on the TD pass. The hit to Drake Maye head, temporarily knocking him out of the game, was not called because he was a runner, according to Gene Steratore the NFL Referee and Rules analyst. However, what Steratore failed to note was the hit was after the whistle for Maye going out of bounds. The opposing player should have been thrown out of the game. If they are serious about player safety, they would have tossed that player and the second player that hit Maye in the head on his 1^st play when he came back.
Credit to Drake Maye for coming back and continuing to run. He also made a great decision to thrown deep on a free play because the Chargers were offside. On the play, Demario Douglas made a great adjustment to the underthrown ball and rolled into the endzone untouched for the TD. Maye 12 of 22 for 117 yards a TD and no INTs. He was sacked 4 times.
Kayshon Boutte chipped in with 4 catches on 5 targets for 28 yards. Demario Douglas led the team with 4 catches on 5 targets. 46 yards and a TD.
Hunter Henry was shutout today. The Chargers did a good job taking him out of the game, the #1 target for Drake Maye. Neither Henry nor Austin Hooper can block. We need to draft a TE that can block or do what LA did and have a 285-pound Fullback and a DT as a 2^{nd fullback.}
On Defense the team was hurt by Christian Gonzalez when he was knocked out by a concussion. Jahlani Tavai led the team with 10 tackles and 5 solo. Kyle Dugger was 2^nd with 9tackles with 6 solo. Davon Godchaux had a very good game with 8 tackles and Sione Takitaki also had 8 tackles.
The Chargers had a punt return TD called back. There were two penalties against the Chargers on the play that sprung Davis. Both penalties (Holding and Block in the Back) were against the Patriots gunners at the point of the Punt Catch. Those penalties allowed Davis to avoid being tackled and run to the end zone. Everyone in the stadium knew it was coming back.

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About Mark Morse

Merrimack Valley native and lifelong fan of the New England Patriots. My earliest memories of the Patriots were attending as a child with my dad, the off-season practice at Phillips Academy. I was at the Patriots game at Harvard Stadium in 1970 where Bob “Harpo” Gladieux was called out of the stands by the stadium announcer over the PA to play in the game. Analyzing the draft since ESPN first started to televise it in 1980 and former writer for the Lowell Sun Newspaper.

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JimK

4 hours ago

Mark is right on Keion White. When Godshaux says to the press that the pats had some guys “free lancing” for sacks and losing containment, it was White as the culprit. White is playing for his second contract and not the pats. He’s got that inverted as what team wants to pay you big bucks if they can’t count on you. And yea, he could mouth off if he’s got 14 sacks and shows he has to be doubled, but that’s not the case. The Pats have some fundamental problems as to why they lose. (1) No pass rush. Teams… Read more »