New England Patriots: 2014 First Quarter Report Card
Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
The New England Patriots' season has been quite bad so far by their standards. Really by anyone’s standards. The 2-2 Patriots have no offense, an over-hyped defense and a coach unwilling to change anything. It's a good thing I waited to write this after the Monday night massacre or else these grades would have been way to generous. Here’s the Patriots' report card (prepare for some harsh grading).
Offense
Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Offense
Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Grade: D-
This offense has been the worst I have ever seen from a Patriots team. Tom Brady looks like a rookie quarterback constantly worried about pressure and force feeding his go-to reads. Anyone not named Julian Edelman has failed to contribute and running back is an all but useless position now.
Defense
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Defense
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Grade: C-
Had this been written before Monday night, the defense would have been a B+ and I would be singing their praise. But alas, this defense was shown to be a fraud against the Kansas City Chiefs. They couldn’t stop a hobbled Jamaal Charles and made Alex Smith look like…well, look like Tom Brady. Yikes. This was suppose to be the strength of this Patriots team, but it has yet to show that consistently, if at all.
Special Teams
David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
Special Teams
David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
Grade: B+
The only highlight on this miserable team. Stephen Gostkowski has been as good as ever kicking in field goals. Ryan Allen has quickly become a household name since he has had about as much field time as Brady. And Matthew Slater has become the team’s MVP and reminds us all, once to fifty times a game, what a good player with energy and passion looks like. It’s a beautiful sight.
Coaching
Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
Coaching
Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
Grade: D
This has got to be the worst coaching I have ever seen from Bill Belichick. It has made me question the man as a coach, which I never thought was possible. Horrible play calling, silly line ups, looking wildly unprepared, benching half of your wide receivers, the list goes on. Belichick is going to have to get his head back working if he wants to turn this season around. Otherwise, it’ll be time to renounce the Hoodie.
Draft Picks
Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
Draft Picks
Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
Grade: C
First-rounder Dominique Easley does have an interception, but besides that, hasn’t shown much. Center Brian Stork as taken over the duties at center and played well, unlike his fellow rookie Cameron Fleming who struggled next to him against Kansas City. Not the best draft, except for Jimmy Garoppolo, of course, who is the future of this franchise and a brilliant quarterback. Obviously an exaggeration, but hey, he looks pretty good.
Peter Rogers is a New England Patriots writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @petahrahgas, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.