Photo by Kathryn Riley/Getty Images This week’s Patriots mailbag answers questions about Bailey Zappe, Demario Douglas, and more. As the New England Patriots welcome the Los Angeles Chargers to Foxboro this weekend, it seems they will finally be making a change under center. Based off numerous reports and a short glimpse of positional drills during Wednesday’s practice, Bailey Zappe looks set to start his first game since last season. But no matter who starts for the Patriots, the game plan should be simple: run the dang ball. The Chargers defense has been one of the worst statistical defenses against the run since they hired Brandon Staley back in 2021. That trend has continued this year, as Staley’s Fangio-style defense features a lighter box (with typically two safeties deep) and a defensive line that has often been overmatched. If Staley stays true to his defense and does not game-plan for New England’s poor quarterback play — instead stacking the box and forcing Zappe to throw the ball — it could be music to New England’s ears. With question marks at the quarterback spot and a rushing attack that has been one of the best in football over the past month or so, it should be leaned on down the stretch. That attack has been paced by running behind Sidy Sow and Michael Onwenu on the right side, while Rhamondre Stevenson has looked like 2022 Mondre of late. Running the football will help New England move the football, but they’ll need Zappe to make plays through the air as well to keep pace with Justin Herbert on the other sideline. Last week in relief, Bill O’Brien kept things simple for Zappe relying heavily on the screen game as he finished with an average depth of target of just 1.4 yards. With potentially a full week of practice reps, O’Brien should open things up a bit for his second-year signal caller — specifically by attacking Los Angeles down the field with play-action. New England has struggled with such concepts this season, but Zappe was sharp off of play-action last season throwing four touchdowns and a perfect 158.3 passer rating. Based off of New England’s current offensive state, it may not be pretty, especially with Demario Douglas (concussion) likely missing Sunday’s game. But at 2-9, New England has nothing else to lose at this point. So, let’s move on from Sunday and get into the rest of this week’s #PostPulpit mailbag. I keep hearing people saying Demario Douglas has things to improve but he seems like our best receiver by a long shot. What needs to get better? — Kevin The sixth-round rookie out of Liberty has been New England’s best receiver this season. He’s the only option that has legitimate separation skills and ability after the catch, ranking third in football among qualified receivers averaging 7.4 yards after the catch per reception. With that being said, he does look like a sixth-round pick at times specifically with his route running, with at least a pair of miscues popping up in each game. Last week against New York, Douglas and Jones had the chance to connect on what should be an easy chain mover on the second drive of the game. With the Giants’ corner sitting with inside leverage, Jones is expecting Douglas to break towards the sideline away from the leverage and into space. Instead, Douglas just sits down and the ball sails incomplete. It should be an easy conversion, but it’s another example of how nothing is coming easy for this offense. 
As a sixth-round rookie, who had route running inconsistencies coming out of college, a mistake or two is expected at time. But the consistent miscues are noticeable and extend beyond Douglas as well, which brings wide receiver coach Troy Brown into focus. It’s been two-plus years with similar issues and a change might need to happen with receivers often being repeat offenders. How will JC perform against his old team? — SM While the benching of Mac Jones will certainly dominate the headlines, J.C. Jackson also ending up on the bench against his former team would not surprise me this weekend. In his return to the field last week after not traveling with the team to Germany, it was a bad display from Jackson. The corner gave up a team-high seven catches for 107 yards, but it could have been much worse as he was beat other times and busted several coverages (a reoccurring theme). The play below had two coverage busts that could have led to Giants touchdowns, as Wan’Dale Robinson is left uncovered to the left while Jackson is all out of sorts to DeVito’s right. Lucky for him, Jabrill Peppers does an excellent job bailing out of his zone to cover Jackson’s ground and DeVito checks it down. 
Jackson appeared to again be at fault in this cover three look below, as he bites on the out route underneath and fails to take his deep third of the field. It results in tight end Daniel Bellinger running wide-open, but Keion White gets home fast enough to record a sack. #Patriots rookie Keion White recording his first career sack against Andrew Thomas - potentially saving a big play from a coverage bust in the process. pic.twitter.com/XUn8QqJiI6— Brian Hines (@iambrianhines) November 28, 2023 It would not be surprising to see New England lean on players like Shaun Wade at cornerback going forward, as the mental lapses with Jackson cannot continue. If they do, Justin Herbert and the Chargers certainly have the ability to make them pay. @zach_d68 Think MHJ will be available at 2? If so do you draft him and take a quarterback later? It would be shocking to see Marvin Harrison slide out of the top three selections, but where he goes could be decided down the stretch. Chicago and Arizona will be worth watching with Justin Fields and Kyler Murray. Both teams could decide to build around their current QBs with a piece like MHJ, or they could move on and pull the trigger on Caleb Williams or Drake Maye. As for my selection with a quarterback and Marvin Harrison Jr. on the board, I am always siding with the QB. @PatsUnis What are the chances that we draft our round one pick, then trade back in to the first round? Bill Belichick has historically stood pat and used his high draft picks when he has them. But, one of the biggest parts about potentially moving on from him this offseason would be that we put aside all of our well-known draft tendencies. While a new potential coach/regime would truly impact this decision, I am typically not in favor of trading down when selecting that high in the draft (especially if there is a QB available I like) as you push yourself out of the top tier talent range. This year, however, moving back a few spots in the top ten may be reasonable as they can still add a blue-chip talent. If that’s the case, I would then use the capital I receive to try and move back in the first-round as you explained. @TheNotoriousOlu Jayden Daniel’s to #ForeverNE ? If the Patriots were to follow the plan above and move back a few spots in the first-round, Jayden Daniels would absolutely be on my short list. The LSU QB has been sensational this year and should be the Heisman trophy winner. While Daniels makes highlight reel plays as a scramble, his work as a passer in the pocket has been just as good this season. Plus, he has plenty of game experience and is still just 22 years old as a fifth-year senior who started his collegiate career at Arizona State. Moving down a few spots to grab Daniels and then moving back up in the first-round (as detailed in the question above) to potentially grab an offensive tackle or one of the top wide receivers would be a really strong path. That’s all for this week’s #PostPulpit mailbag. If you have questions you’d liked to be answered next week, submit them on Twitter using #PostPulpit. Make sure to be following @iambrianhines and @PatsPulpit as well. Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/2023/12/1/23 ... iley-zappe
