Cardinals DC: Patriots look like 'a defensive guy's calling offense'

Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator Vance Joseph has become the latest individual to intentionally or unintentionally take a shot at New England Patriots offensive assistant Matt Patricia. 

"I see an offense that’s running the football well," Joseph said of New England, per Zack Cox of NESN. "It’s a very conservative pass game. Lots of screens — a ton of screens. It’s like a defensive guy’s calling offense. It’s how a defensive guy would call offensive plays, right? Let’s not turn the ball over, let’s get four yards a play, let’s try to burn clock, and that’s what they’re doing.

"And that’s what he’s going to do on Monday night. He’s going to be patient, maybe take a shot from time to time, but for the most part, it’s run game, it’s quick game and it’s screens." 

Patricia previously served as New England defensive coordinator and, later, as head coach of the Detroit Lions before he began (allegedly) calling plays into second-year New England quarterback Mac Jones this season. Jones went viral during the 24-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills back on Dec. 1 when cameras caught him seemingly yelling that the Patriots needed to "throw the f------ ball!" because "the quick game sucks!" 

Phil Perry of NBC Sports Boston offered troubling stats about New England's offense as the 6-6 Patriots prepare to play at the 4-8 Cardinals this coming Monday night. 

"Mac Jones is sixth in the league among 28 qualifiers in screen percentage (14.5 percent), according to Pro Football Focus, which actually slots him in behind Arizona's Kyler Murray (fourth, 15.0)," Perry wrote. "Since taking over as the full-time quarterback for Bill Belichick in Week 8, nobody has thrown screens at a higher rate than Jones (17.7 percent)." 

Perry added: 

"Since Week 8, Jones' average depth of target is 6.0 yards beyond the line of scrimmage, which is shortest among 29 qualifiers." 

ESPN stats show the New England offense ranks 24th with an average of 318.9 yards per game and tied for 19th in scoring with an average of 20.8 points per contest. 

"I think we all know that as players we can play a lot better, execute better, do all the things better," Jones said on Thursday, according to Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. "You have the things you want to get better at and the plan to fix them or get better at them. It’s a constant grind and battle with it. A lot of it’s fundamentals. You’ve got to finish strong. We’ve got the guys to do it, we’ve got the coaches to do it, and it starts with this week."