Tight end Ryan Izzo climbs to the second level to take the nearest player aligned as a linebacker, while Johnson kicks out the end man on the line of scrimage. This is just QB power to the left side with Jakob Johnson as the lead blocker out of the backfield in front of the quarterback. That is exactly what they do on this play, and watch how the defense responds to the pre-snap movement: The Patriots love to start plays in an empty formation to see what the defense does against players like James White, and then move White back next to the quarterback. Usually it is to help in the passing game, but now with Newton there are ways to use movement before the snap to aid some of the option elements that are now in the playbook. One of the things that Josh McDaniels does so well is use pre-snap movement and motion to give his quarterback information. This design puts the linebacker into conflict with two different running options, and whatever he does, the Patriots have a way to make him choose the wrong option. This is an element to the offense that the Patriots could not implement with Brady. Which he does, tracking behind Mason for a six-yard gain. The linebacker does track with White, creating enough of a crease for Newton to keep the football. If that backer crashes down inside, Newton will let White keep the ball around the end. If that player crashes down to the edge in response to the movement of White, Newton will pull the football and follow Mason. Newton reads the linebacker here, shaded in red. If he chooses to keep the football, he has right guard Shaq Mason pulling in front of him as a lead blocker. Newton can give him the football, depending on his read (which we will get to in a moment) or he can keep the ball and attack north/south. White cuts in front of the quarterback, aiming for the left edge. New England runs a power read here with an option element for the quarterback: Newton aligns in the shotgun with running back James White to his right: We can start with this six-yard run from Newton on New England’s opening drive of the third quarter. Taking a look at a few of these plays highlights just how different the Patriots’ offense can be now with Newton’s athleticism, and how it might just make this offense a bit more difficult to defend. That made Newton New England’s leading rusher on the afternoon. The former Carolina Panther ran the ball 15 times for 75 yards and a pair of touchdowns, one of which was a throwback to Jacoby Brissett, when he saw a few starts for New England back in the 2016 season. Newton threw for 155 yards on 15 of 19 passing, but his biggest contributions came on the ground. New England’s new quarterback played a huge role in the Patriots’ 21-11 victory over the Miami Dolphins in Foxborough. If Week 1 is any indication, Cam Newton will be a focal part of their new-look running game. One of the most intriguing storylines this season was how the New England Patriots would evolve offensively after the departure of Tom Brady.
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