New England Patriots: Nelson Agholor and the threat of the big play

Through his first two games with the New England Patriots, wide receiver Nelson Agholor has 8 receptions for 93 yards and the only touchdown reception thrown by rookie quarterback Mac Jones. After signing a three-year deal with the team in the offseason, the expectations are higher for fans who are starving for a player who can stretch the field.

While Agholor didn’t sign with the Patriots with any expectations, he knows he has an opportunity to be a part of something special in New England.

After a breakout season in 2020 with the Las Vegas Raiders, Jones and the Pats’ offense must find a way to get Agholor the ball down the field.

Given his speed, the plays will be there, but the Patriots as an offense will rely on those opportunities coming off play action.  There will be more opportunities when the offensive line stabilizes, and the Patriots’ offense gets the tight end duo of Jonnu Smith and Hunter Henry going.

New England Patriots wide receiver Nelson Agholor knows his opportunities will come

As far as Agholor’s role in the offense through the first two games, the player has all his trust in McDaniels to put him in positions where he can be successful as he was with the Raiders a season ago.

"“He’s super intelligent,” Agholor said of McDaniels, via MassLive.com.  “He puts guys in a position to be successful and he also understand not only protection, a blitz, coverages, he looks at the whole thing.  He, as an O.C., can understand how the defenses are attacking you at all three levels.  So, I definitely – being here and watching him that’s something I have a lot of respect for.  And he teaches us that.  He teaches us how the defense plans to attack you and offensively we will attack them.”"

Will that attack come in Week 3 against the New Orleans Saints?

Led by Marshon Lattimore, the Saints have a veteran secondary capable of big plays themselves, but that doesn’t necessarily mean McDaniels won’t draw up plays for Jones to finally get the ball down the field.  That is where Agholor can have his most productive game in a Patriots’ uniform so far this season.

Jones will still take what the defense gives him, but if that short passing game leads to big plays, the Saints’ defense will play up and attempt to take away the threat of Smith and Henry along with Jakobi Meyers in the middle of the field.  They will challenge Jones to go over the top and that is where Agholor’s speed and deep threat ability will finally spark some excitement in this New England Patriots offense.

Again, the expectations for Agholor coming to New England was never high, but there are at least expectations that he gives the team the threat he was with the Raiders.  With this Patriots offense, the threat of the big play leads to more offensive success for the team overall.