NFL LIVE | Dan Orlovsky details what he likes from offense of Patriots and Cowboys through Week 5

NFL LIVE | Dan Orlovsky details what he likes from offense of Patriots and Cowboys through Week 5

offense has been able to find success. You go out on game day and you just you just let it rip, man. You just let it let it go. And I think that’s how you handle the ups and downs like you know of of this game. And I mean I was tired. The players were tired after Sunday. the emotions of it, up and the downs and the, you know, it’s like a game where you feel like we had the game in hand most of the time, but like there’s constantly things going on and I think really, you know, trying to get these guys to understand to play free and relax is the best way to go out there and be the best version of yourself. This reminds me of our philosophy for NFL Live. We We just let it rip. We ride it lows. Yeah, there’s not many lows. All right, time now for Insight versus Impact. This is a new segment we’re really excited about. Field’s going to dive into some smart moves that were made this off season. So, we’re going to talk about that and then Dan’s going to show us how it’s actually playing out on the field. So, we’re going to stay in Dallas where the Cowboys made some moves this offseason feel. They’ve got you impressed. Yeah, Laura, I think it’s important in life to be able to understand that two things could be true at once, right? You can question the Micah Parsons trade, but still like a lot of what the Cowboys did. Besides that, this offseason, they made a bet on Javvante Williams, a guy who had been kind of been cast off after four years in Denver. He’s a bust. Apparently not, because he’s been one of the best running backs in all of the NFL. George Pickins, who they got for the cost of just two draft picks, none bigger than a third round pick, has been excellent, especially in the absence of CD Lamb over the past few games. And they made a bet on Jake Ferguson, who had zero receiving touchdowns last year. They gave him a 4-year 52 million extension this off season. I would say in terms of impact, he’s right there at the top of the list of all tight ends in the NFL this season, especially with Brock Bowers being banged up. Last week, George Pickkins was kind of slowed down by Sauce Gardner. And then our guy Ryan Floyen, who they drafted a year ago in the sixth round, made a major impact with over a 100 total yards. Jerry, one of my favorite offenses to watch on a week-by-eek basis. I think the way that I’ll describe it is they’re making the simple look complicated to defenses. You go to earlier in the game, this is 22 personnel, two backs, two tight ends, and this is going to be just a counter to your back, Javvante Williams. You’re not looking for home runs. You get down block, down block. You pull the backside guard. This is going to be a good efficient six or seven yard run. But the backside is starting to really creep in and pay attention. Then you go to a couple plays later. Can we take that same thing, dress it up a little bit and run a very different play. Two backs, two tight ends. Motion back off set. Now we’re going to down block, down block, pull the guard. Here comes that counter that we just ran just to the other side. Look at everybody in the back side. Okay, that that’s got to be the same run that just happened for Dallas. It’s that tight end screen to Jake Ferguson. You have three blockers out front with only one defender left, but this is a simple play by the offense. That looks complicated to defense. Flunoi go a little bit later in the game. Here we go. Two tight ends. Now, are we going to get that same action? Is it going to be that counter that we’ve seen the counter run? We’ve seen the counter screen. We just saw this motion. Yep. Here’s the backside guard. Double pullers. It must be that counter run. Get downhill to Javvante Adams. Here’s that little flip reverse to Florenoi that wide receiver. I just think the way that they’re calling their offense is simple, look complicated, and take the complicated for us and make it very simple. I really like that Shanheimer’s like, “Hey, we’re just letting it fly.” But we got to credit him. This offense is incredibly creative and they’re tying it all together. It’s all happening with a lot of offensive line injuries as well. There are three starting Tylers along the offensive line. Have been very banged up of late. Sounds like some reinforcements coming though in the form of Tyler Booker, the first round pick, getting healthier. Yeah, that’s good stuff. And when CD Lamb comes back, just imagine a fun offense. All right, let’s talk about the Patriots a little bit. They’re off and running. Of course, a big big deal. This win over the Bills, the Drake May era with Mike Rabel has had very good returns so far. Bill, just five games into this season. Who what moves from the Patriots off season? They did a lot of different things. What has impressed you the most? Yeah, I don’t know if there’s a relationship in the NFL right now that’s more important between a young quarterback and the play caller who’s tutoring him. And right now the Patriots have found a perfect marriage between Drake May and of course Josh McDaniels back for his third stint with the team. And Josh of course worked legendarily with Tom Brady for a long time. This is his first young quarterback project in quite some time though, right? At least to this level. And Drake May, I think about him like this. He’s got so much improvisation skill in his game and he actually almost feels better when he’s allowed the liberty to do things outside a little bit of structure. Not that he’s not dropping back, no play action. I’m just saying that like that’s abnormal for McDaniels offense. Yeah. He has adapted to the player that he has in Drake Bay who is dissimilar to any quarterback that he has ever coached. So not just Josh McDaniels but also Stefon Diggs who in each of the past two games has gone over a 100 yards for the Patriots. Seeing north of 40% of the targets in those two games he has looked like vintage Stefon Dix. Yeah. Quick learner. That’s the thing that has really started to stand out for Drake May. And you talk about that play caller. When the play caller calls a play there’s got to be a great conversation. I love this. Okay. Number one, double chips on the edges. Let’s give it a chance to get the play off. We’re going to send a post down the field, a deep cross, and a checkdown. This backer’s kind of in between. Drake ts the check down. That’s fine. Happens a little quick. Play call. Call it again. I’ll get it right. It’s going to be the very similar look. There’s going to be this play fake. We’re going to get this double chip on the edges. Let’s give it a chance. Right. Hey, couple plays before we ran this drink. You might have got the check down a little bit too quick. Give our guys a chance. The protection’s going to be there. And all of a sudden we get that deep post and here comes that crosser. Last time he threw that check down right here. That backer’s thinking the same thing. Floated over. Man, I love that. I freaking love that out of Drake May. That is the perfect example of the ingame. A quarterback going to the sideline looking at the tablet. A coach saying, “Hey, I don’t mind the check down. It was first and 10. You got us a good play. I’m going to call it again. If we get a similar look, trust it. Let’s try to take our shot at the over.” It leads to points before the half and ends up winning them the game. Yeah, big time win this past other night. I think for Patriots offenses for the last 20 years, we’ve talked about like precision, knowing exactly where to be and when to be there. There’s an adjustment now because with Drake May, no play is ever dead. Think about at least two throws from this past Sunday night. I mean, the one he’s getting dragged down by a defensive player like you’re telling Stfan Digs, the play is not over until the ref blows the whistle. Another throw down the sideline that nearly was a touchdown for Stfan Diggs as well. Like there’s some backyard football being played right now in New England. A little bit different than years past. The other thing that is stand out is you can tell the quarterback understands the why of the play call. I’m just calling a 5y completion. Get it. Take it out. And so that’s the way the quarterback tells the play caller with this play. Just keep calling it. I’ll make the right choice. And when he’s consistently making the right choice, I think it promotes some of that freedom. You know, I haven’t had the Patriots yet in games this year, but two coaches, Ben Johnson and Liam Cohen, have both said in our coaches meetings, I’m just trying to get the quarterback to visualize the play, to run through it in his head. And it’s so interesting. It feels like Drake May is already there in the early going. Tape absolutely says that. Really cool. You see just his understanding and maybe the confidence too, right? I love that going back to a play. It shows how much the coach believes in him. All right, still to come. The Philadelphia Eagles finally face defeat and the questions continue to fly, but Field, he’s not concerned. How are you, Field? You’re not. Oh, we don’t worry around here. Find out why next. If there’s reason to worry, we

NFL LIVE | Dan Orlovsky details what he likes from offense of Patriots and Cowboys through Week 5