Patriots Metrics: Deep Dive On 4-0 Start (Part 1)

The New England Patriots have jumped out to an undefeated start through their first four weeks of play. Which players have had the most significant impact on that strong start?

Patriots Offense

Quarterback

Patriots rookie quarterback Jarrett Stidham played four snaps against the Dolphins. He completed two of his three passing attempts (66.7%) for 14 yards, got sacked once, then threw an interception that wound up being a pick-6. The Patriots then went on to sign quarterback Cody Kessler to the active roster, though I do not expect him to be ahead of Stidham on the depth chart.

Receivers 

Julian Edelman leads the Patriots with 32 targets, catching 21 of them, for 226 yards and a TD. He made up 22.07% of Brady’s total pass attempts and has a drop rate of 9.4%.

Josh Gordon was second with 27 targets, catching 14 of them, for 221 yards and a TD. He made up 18.62% of Tom Brady’s passing attempts and has a drop rate of 7.4%. 

Phillip Dorsett was third with 23 targets, catching 15 of them, for 197 yards and 3 TDs. He made up 15.86% of Brady’s passing attempts and has yet to drop a pass, according to Pro-Football-Reference. 

Jakobi Meyers was fourth with four targets, catching three of them, for 60 yards. He made up 2.76% of Brady’s passing attempts and has yet to drop a pass.

Ryan Izzo was fifth with three targets, catching two of them, for 44 yards. He made up 2.07% of Brady’s passing attempts and has yet to drop a pass.

Matt LaCosse was sixth with two targets, catching both of them, for 33 yards. He made up 1.38% of Brady’s passing attempts and has yet to drop a pass.

Matthew Slater and Gunner Olszewski have yet to garner any targets on offense, as both are used primarily as special teamers. 

Running Backs 

Sony Michel has led the way with 62 total touches. He has recorded 62 carries for 171 yards (2.8 yards per carry) and 2 TDs. He averaged 1.85 yards after contact, as well as recording four broken tackles. Michel was targeted once in the passing game but did not catch it. He made up 0.41% of Brady’s passing attempts, without a single drop.

Rex Burkhead is second with 38 total touches. He has 24 carries for 112 yards (4.7 yards per carry) and a TD. He averaged 3.28 yards after contact, along with six broken tackles. Burkhead was targeted 18 times in the passing game, catching 14 of them, for 117 yards. He made up 12.41% of Brady’s passing attempts, without a single drop. He has 229 total yards this season. 

James White is third with 24 total touches. He has eight carries for 37 yards (4.63 yards per carry). He averaged 1.97 yards after contact, along with one broken tackle. White was targeted 21 times, catching 16, for 132 yards and a TD. He made up 14.48% of Brady’s passing attempts, without a single drop. He has 169 total yards this season. 

Brandon Bolden is fourth with six total touches. He has four carries for nine yards (2.25 yards per carry) and a TD. He averaged 1 yard after contact, with one broken tackle. Bolden was targeted three times, catching two of them, for 21 yards. He made up 2.07% of Brady’s passing attempts, without a single drop. He has 30 total yards this season.

James Develin is fifth with two total touches. He had both touches come in the form of carries for three yards (1.5 yards per carry). He averaged 0.5 yards after contact, with no broken tackles. Develin did not receive a single target and was then placed on injured reserve after week three. There is a chance he could return week 11 from his injury.

Jakob Johnson and Damien Harris are the only running backs/fullbacks not to garner a touch so far this season.

Offensive Linemen 

Right guard Shaq Mason allowed the most pressures, surprisingly, so far this season. Mason gave up ten total pressures, all of which were hurries. He allowed 25.64% of the total pressures allowed, not counting the sacks and QB hits that Brady took himself for holding onto the football for “too long.”

Marcus Cannon, Marshall Newhouse, and Ted Karras all gave up seven total pressures. Newhouse, who played snaps at both right and left tackle, as well as center Ted Karras, allowed a sack, along with six hurries. Cannon, who plays right tackle, allowed a QB hit and six hurries. Those three combined for 53.85% of the total pressures (17.95% each).

Left guard Joe Thuney allowed four total pressures. Of those four pressures, one was a sack, and the other three were hurries. He made up 10.26% of the total pressures.

Korey Cunningham, who slotted in at right tackle for a short time in week two, allowed two total pressures. Both of the pressures he allowed were hurries. That made up 5.13% of the total pressures allowed. 

Left tackle Isaiah Wynn and tight end Ryan Izzo both gave up one hurry each. They both gave up a QB hit. They combined for 5.13% of the total pressures allowed (2.56% each). 

Jermaine Eluemunor, Jakob Johnson, James Develin, James White, Rex Burkhead, Brandon Bolden, Matt LaCosse, Phillip Dorsett and Sony Michel all had pass-block snaps and did not give up any pressures. 

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All stats gathered by Doug Kyed of NESN, via Pro-football-focus