Will Mac Jones make the Leap?

     

    Mac Jones was the 5th ranked prospect coming out of the 2021 NFL draft from the Alabama system. Jones out of 30 games Jones went 28-2 his rookie year Mac Jones was the only quarterback in the 2021 class that would make the pro bowl under Josh McDaniel's as offensive coordinator. In his rookie year Jones had a passer rating of 92..5 on 3,801 yards in the air, 22 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in all 17 games of his rookie year. Not bad at all especially for a rookie qb in the NFL, I/m not here to make excuses, last year was bad... his passer rating in 2022 dropped to 84.8 touchdowns dropped well down to 14, along with 11 interceptions. Mac's passing yards dropped all the way down to 2,937 yards. It was bad it can't sugar coated. 

    Mac Jones at the end of the day is not free completely from a slice of the blame pie, btu the argument that he takes on a significant if not the largest slice is preposterous, the incompetence coming from the Quarterback coach and offensive coordinator were not only the highlight but the overall only talking point regarding the 2022 New England football Patriots. Vance Joseph the defensive coordinator for the Arizona Cardinals was quoted before their matchup against the Patriots saying "It looks like a defensive guy is calling offense (Andrew Callahan Boston Herald)" The offense in a sense of the word was non existent it was essentially try to have Rhamondre Stevenson create something out of nothing via power backing through the back field or catching screen passes. 

    I still haven't lost faith in Bill Belichick, call me optimistic, call me glass half full, call me blind, I believe Bill knew he had O'Brien in the pipe line he just had to wait a year of transition to go from McDaniels to O'Brien. The trouble is that it really distressed the asset that was the Patriots 15th overall selection. How much did it set back the development of Mac Jones, how much pressure was added to the kid... loads. The situation going into the 2023 season for Mac Jones comes with extreme insensitivity, the kid will be under a microscope the whole season. He thrived in a competent offensive system under Josh McDaniels he suffered in the chaos under Matt Patricia and Joe Judge, he is back now with a real offensive play caller in Bill O'Brien it is make or break this season for Mac Jones. 

    The statue style of quarterback while is from a distant offensive style compared to the modern game the Patriots and Belichick know how to thrive in it. As of course they had the greatest quarterback and overall player of all time in Tom Brady who was a statue pocket passer QB, who could read defenses, possessed elite quick decision making and in the clutch was simply impossible to stop. The Patriots want to recreate a similar offense under the play style of the passer, so you can see that coaching and play calling can play a huge roll in this and when the coaches bring 0 creativity and even offensive game knowledge to the room that would be exactly how a player like Mac Jones would suffer. 

    The 2023 season is make or break for Mac Jones, the fans are fed up with the Patriots not making the playoffs and not even winning a single game since Brady left. Not only this but Robert Kraft is fed up with it as well, the Patriots need to make the playoffs last year. Without a doubt the defense was not the problem last year, the Pats had a top 3 defense last year that improved tremendously this year through th e off season and draft. They could potentially be the best defense in the league, the offense has to carry its weight this season and Mac Jones needs to be the center of it to finally make the playoffs and bring a fighting chance to the Patriots postseason picture.