Patriots report card No. 3: Have there been any signs of progress?

The Patriots are off with their bye, re-charging before hitting the final stretch of the season.

The first 13 weeks have gone about as well as prognosticators had predicted at the outset. Three wins seems about right.

And yet, it’s disappointing the Patriots don’t have a better mark.

Counting last Sunday’s 25-24 loss to the Colts, Jerod Mayo’s team has been involved in seven one-score games. They’re 2-5 in those games. With better play in the clutch, better coaching, they could have easily come away with a few more wins in those games.

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That might not seem like much, but for a rebuilding team, with a new head coach, having five or six wins at this stage would have done wonders.

The latest loss to the Colts was especially disheartening considering the Patriots were better than Indy in every important stat that matters save one – the final score.

“We have to find a way to get over the hump and win those games,” Mayo said during his weekly appearance on WEEI Monday. “I gotta do a better job.”

At 3-10, with just one win at home, Mayo and the coaching staff haven’t exactly won over the fan base. There have been too many questionable decisions, and rookie mistakes made by a first-year head coach, along with first year defensive and offensive play callers. Having the NFL’s worst roster talent-wise – with the front office doing little to help the cause in free agency – also hasn’t helped.

The good news?

The Patriots have Drake Maye. They have the quarterback. That’s the most important piece of the puzzle.

Maye, the team’s third overall pick, is the beacon of hope. He looks better every time he steps on the field. The Colts game was his best of the season. At the very least, he’s given fans a reason to watch.

“I don’t think we’ve seen all of what he can do,” running back Antonio Gibson said of Maye. “I think he’s just getting started.”

Maye brings the promise of a much better future, assuming the front office puts a better cast around him next season.

His development this season is one sign of progress.

As for the rest, the positives have been few and far between.

Here’s report card No. 3, with one more to come at season’s end.

QUARTERBACK: A-minus

Previous grades – C-minus, B

Of course, it’s way to early to deem Maye a savior after the first eight starts of his career. His star, however, is on the rise. It’s impossible not to be impressed with what we’ve seen. He’s 22, but commands the huddle with a maturity that belies his years. His skills are obvious. Between his strong arm, ability to throw receivers open, throw on the run, or just plain run, Maye has the talent to be something special.

He’s already made plenty of highlight reel plays, his final second touchdown throw to Rhamondre Stevenson, buying time in the pocket for nearly 12 seconds, chief among them. The problem is none of his heroics have translated into wins. At least for now.

Jacoby Brissett was largely responsible for one of Maye’s wins, coming on in relief when Maye had to leave the Week 8 game against the New York Jets after being put in concussion protocol. The veteran performed admirably in helping take down the Jets.

The only element keeping this from a better grade is Maye’s turnovers. He’s thrown 10 touchdown passes, but has thrown seven picks, and turned the ball over 11 times with four lost fumbles. Some of the turnovers have come on tipped balls, or trying to do too much to produce wins. Many of those produced points for the other team.

As for Joe Milton, he’s done good work on the scout team and has been praised by the coaching staff.

RUNNING BACK: C-minus

Previous grades – B, C-minus

It’s been a tough season for Rhamondre Stevenson, both on an off the field. He recently lost a close friend, and has done his best to battle through some tough times.

He appeared to have fixed his early season fumbling issues, but they’ve crept up again. He’s put the ball on the ground two of the last three weeks but managed to maintain possession. His 3.7 yards per carry average – a career-low – isn’t great. The team’s bell-cow back has had just one 100-yard game, that coming in the opener against Cincinnati.

Stevenson, who signed a four-year, $36 million extension in June, acknowledged Monday that the season hasn’t gone as he had planned.

He does have six touchdowns, so that’s helped the cause.

Antonio Gibson, meanwhile, has been a good addition to the running back room. He’s made plays coming on in relief of Stevenson and looks more suited to the team’s zone-running scheme. Against the Colts, Gibson had seven carries for 62 yards and a touchdown. It would be nice to see OC Alex Van Pelt utilize Gibson’s pass-catching ability a little more.

Ja’Mycal Hasty has been used largely as a third down back. He’s caught 10 passes for 59 yards with a touchdown.

WIDE RECEIVER: C-minus

Previous grades – C-minus, D

Two of the team’s top three pass catchers are tight ends. That pretty much tells the story about the collection of receivers on the team.

DeMario Douglas, more involved than earlier in the season, leads the group with 52 catches for 497 yards and a touchdown. It’s doubtful any of the receivers will approach 1,000 receiving yards with just four games left to play.

Maye has done his best to get everyone involved.

Kayshon Boutte has been a bit of a bright spot, taking advantage of his opportunity in Year 2 after seeing little time his rookie season. Kendrick Bourne started slow after coming off the PUP list, and getting benched, but has been more of a presence in recent games.

Rookie Ja’Lynn Polk still can’t get out of his own way. Ditto Javon Baker.

There are still issues with drops, and penalties, just not to the degree it was happening earier.

Free agent acquisition KJ Osborn hasn’t been used much of late, while 2022 second-round pick Tyquan Thornton was released.

TIGHT END: A

Previous grades – C, A-minus

Hunter Henry has been Maye’s primary go-to-guy. On the season, he’s made 15 first down conversions, and one on fourth down. Overall, he’s had 58 catches for 610 yards with a touchdown.

Both totals lead the team. Henry has also done a decent job blocking.

Austin Hooper, meanwhile, is the team’s third leading receiver with 42 catches for 337 yards. He’s caught three touchdown passes. That’s tops from the receiving group as a whole.

So the production from the tight ends has been one of the plusses for the offense. The tight end involvement makes sense in Van Pelt’s offense, and Maye clearly feels comfortable throwing the ball to both, especially when he’s up against it.

Rookie Jaheim Bell, meanwhile, has been used sparingly.

OFFENSIVE LINE: D

Previous grades – D-minus, D

Has the line improved over the course of the last five weeks, or has Drake Maye’s escapability, swift decision-making and quick delivery made them not seem as bad?

It’s mostly the latter. Maye’s ability to process quickly, and feel for where the rush is coming from has aided the line.

That said, left tackle Vederian Lowe has had some decent games as a pass protecter, but he was also whistled for three false starts and a holding penalty against the Dolphins a few weeks back.

Left guard Michael Jordan was so bad, he’s no longer with the team.

Right tackle Demontrey Jacobs has struggled in pass protection, and with penalties, while right guard Michael Onwenu hasn’t been nearly as good as he was in previous seasons, and admitted as much.

Center Ben Brown has been serviceable. All together, it’s not pretty. The line continues to be a problem even with Maye helping the cause.

DEFENSIVE LINE: D

Previous grades – C-minus, D-minus

One of the biggest disappointments has been the play of the D-line. The boys up front haven’t been able to consistently win the trench wars, if at all.

The opposing run totals haven’t been quite as bad as an earlier five-game stretch, but, when the game’s on the line – see Indianapolis Colts – the Patriots have gotten pushed around.

The Colts had their way with the Patriots’ front during their 19-play game-winning drive. There was little resistance against the run, and quarterback Anthony Richardson couldn’t be stopped.

Davon Godchaux and Daniel Ekuale haven’t been as stout as needed in the middle. Not consistently, anyway.

As for the pass rush, save for taking Caleb Williams down nine times, the Patriots haven’t been able to generate much outside of that game.

Keion White had four sacks after the first two weeks, and just one since. The defense as a whole has 27 sacks, which is 23rd best in the league.

On the plus side, Christian Barmore returned, but he’s still in the process of working his way back to form.

LINEBACKER: C-minus.

Previous grades – C, D

This group has clearly missed Ja’Whaun Bentley, especially when it comes to assisting the front and stopping the run.

Jahlani Tavai hasn’t been quite as good without Bentley riding shotgun, but he’s currently the team’s leading tackler.

Raekwon McMillan took on a bigger role with Bentley’s absence, but was eventually released. Because of that, Christian Elliss, who was primarily used on special teams, has seen more time. He’s made some plays, but has also allowed his share.

Sione Takitaki was activated from the PUP list. He’s played a bit, but hasn’t done much save for contributing with his play on special teams.

SECONDARY: B-minus

Previous grades – B-minus, B-minus

Let’s start with the corners.

Christian Gonzalez has been the team’s best player defensively. He’s made a case for All-Pro status. He’s done well in man-to-man situations against the opposing team’s best receiver. He’s also been effective with his tackling.

Jonathan Jones has struggled at times. Ditto Marcus Jones, who leads the group with 10 passes defensed. Gonzalez is next with eight.

Alex Austin was recently activated off IR after missing eight games. He played pretty well against the Colts.

As for the safeties, Kyle Dugger has been a liability of late. He’s battled an ankle injury, although no one is using that as an excuse. It’s obvious watching he’s a step slow. He also hasn’t been doing the best job reading situations.

Jabrill Peppers has played in one game since being removed from the league’s exempt list. There was some rust, but he was one of the better players in the secondary against the Colts.

Brenden Schooler has been used and been effective when he’s been utilized, largely to blitz or spy the quarterback.

Jaylinn Hawkins, Marte Mapu and rookie Dell Pettus have also seen time at safety.

SPECIAL TEAMS: B-minus

Previous grades – A-minus, B-minus

There’s no question Joey Slye has a big-time leg. He’s made a few bombs. But he’s also missed some makable – even lay-up – types of kicks.

Slye, missed a 25-yarder in the loss to the Colts, hooking it left. Of course, then he barely missed a 68-yarder that would have given the Patriots the win.

On the season, he’s converted 22 of 28 kicks. The breakdown is: 5-of-6 from 20-29 yards, 10-0f-11 from 30-39 yards, 3-of-5 from 40-49 yards, and 4-of-6 from 50 yards and beyond. His long was a 63-yarder.

Punter Bryce Baringer has been good, not great. He’s the only Patriot registering a blip on the early Pro Bowl voting.

Marcus Jones has been terrific as a punt returner. He’s a threat every time he touches the ball. The coverage teams have been so-so.

COACHING: D

Previous grades – D, D

Jerod Mayo leads the league in walk-backs. That’s never the best sign for a head coach, saying something one day, taking it back the next.

Of course people make mistakes, but the frequency with which Mayo has had to recant things he’s said hasn’t done him any favors.

Beyond that, Mayo has made some questionable decisions. He errs a little too much on the side of caution. As a first-year coach, he’s learning, but that only cuts him so much slack.

Outside of that, 13 games in, players are still lining up wrong on the offensive side of the ball.

Defensive communication also remains an issue. When teams attack with tempo, the Patriots have had trouble getting set.

Defensive coordinator DeMarcus Covington also hasn’t always chosen the wisest times to send the house on zero blitzes.

Alex Van Pelt, meanwhile, had no idea Marcus Jones was a weapon he could employ on offense.

The list goes on, and on.

The development of Drake Maye, however, is a feather in their cap and keeps the group from avoiding an ‘F.’