For nearly twenty years, the New England Patriots' offensive system has been stigmatized as complex and challenging to learn and run. In that time span, we've seen talented receivers, both veterans and rookies, struggle on the field in New England when it comes to the X’s and O’s of it all.
Arguably, the most important element to the system that isn’t talked about enough is the offensive line and how the offense as a whole is only successful if the foundation up front understands the concepts, protection schemes, and they all view the field and their opponent the same way. It takes time for this to develop, but it’s not impossible, even for a young quarterback and offensive line.
Former Patriots center and two-time Super Bowl champion David Andrews doesn’t believe the “Josh McDaniels System” is as complicated as it’s been made out to be over the years. He talks about it from the perspective of an offensive line, which isn’t talked about when it comes to the sophistication of the “McDaniels System”.
Former Patriots C David Andrews Believes Josh McDaniels Offense Isn’t Complicated
Andrews joined the Pats Interference Podcast with Andrew Callahan to discuss the X-Factors for the season, to which he notes it has to be the offensive line that has four new starters along it.
“You can’t win without an offensive line and the truth is you’ve got four new starters. Four new players who have never played in the system and I’m tired of hearing people say ‘Josh McDaniels’ system is hard’. It is not a hard system, it is a very different system. And if you understand the system it’s very easy to play in because everything works together and everything ties together,” Andrews said.
He added, “The system, in my opinion, gives the quarterback all the tools to protect himself, know where his problems are, and we barely threw hot [routes] with Tom. Now Drake is not going to go out and operate this system exactly like Tom Brady did Week 1. But if he has learned it and the team has learned it and works together, there’s not a lot of problems you can’t fix.”
The “system” consists of rules and concepts that the offensive line needs to abide by, and it can only happen if the quarterback and the offensive line are on the same page with each other. They need to see and understand the same thing, almost in sync with each other for it to be successful.
Now, Andrews had the opportunity of a lifetime to work with Brady and also be coached by the best offensive line coach in NFL history with Dante Scarnecchia, when he joined the Patriots in 2015 as an undrafted rookie who later became a starter the same year. He fit like a glove and went on to become a statue figure on the offensive line for the next ten years.
With the Patriots having an offensive line with four new starters, two of whom are rookies on the same side, they have the unique opportunity to learn the system together and build a solid foundation on the line that can contribute to a successful offense.
In May, during rookie minicamp, Will Campbell said that he doesn’t have too much experience being in a three-point stance and that there’s rules built into the playbook to follow that tell them when to be in what position.
“We have rules, things we have to abide by within the playbook. But whatever they tell me to do, I’m going to do it and whatever they need me to do to help the team win in any certain way is what I’m going to do,” Campbell stated.
The Patriots are set to start two rookies on the left side of the line with Campbell and Jared Wilson at tackle and guard. Both rookies have been praised for being quick learners and for their intelligence of the game. Also during rookie minicamp, Campbell said McDaniels is a “big O-line guy” and to play for him is an honor.
It’s been mentioned multiple times at this point that if the offensive line follows their rules and concepts, the offense will be successful. That’s what Andrews believes will happen because he has the firsthand experience of doing it.
“I guess I would say offensive line play, for me, and the understanding of the system and those two things right there because if you got guys that will play within the system, play by the rules, you’re going to have success. I’m just telling you in that offense, you’re going to have success.”
The Patriots' rebuilding of the offensive line with head coach Mike Vrabel was a point of emphasis for him this offseason to better protect Maye in his second year. But as Andrews said, the system will give the quarterback all the tools to protect himself.
Maye and the offensive line just need to learn the system together for the offense to be successful.