Stop us in case you’ve heard this one earlier than, however Patriots head coach Bill Belichick wouldn’t title a beginning quarterback forward of Sunday’s contest with the Chiefs.
Belichick mentioned Monday morning on WEEI’s “The Greg Hill Show” that he’s “not announcing who’s doing what.”
Still, Belichick appears pretty happy with Zappe’s efficiency during the last two weeks, when the second-year professional has began two video games and led the Patriots to a 1-1 document.
“Bailey’s been pretty consistent. For the most part, he’s done a good job of taking care of the ball at the quarterback position. We haven’t had a lot of negative plays, turnovers and just negative plays, penalties that are related to the quarterback position, like delay of game, things like that,” Belichick mentioned. “He’s accomplished a very good job of managing the workforce and taking good care of the ball.
“There’s at all times performs that gamers and coaches can perform a little higher once you look again over the sport. But once more, everyone who performs within the recreation feels that means. Bailey works exhausting, tries to appropriate his errors, tries to be taught every week and be taught every day. So I’m positive he’ll proceed to try this.
“But good preparation and attention to detail certainly puts him on the right path to better performance in the games. That’s what we’re all here for.”
The Patriots’ offense actually moved the ball higher within the first half of Thursday night time’s 21-18 victory over the Steelers higher than it has for a lot of the 2023 season. Zappe led the offense to a few touchdowns within the first half earlier than the unit slowed down and stopped scoring within the closing two quarters.
Belichick was requested why the workforce didn’t bench Mac Jones to start out Zappe earlier within the season.
“Bailey played earlier in the year,” he mentioned on WEEI. “He played in the preseason — played a lot in preseason. We made the decision when we thought it was the right time to make it.”
Even after Thursday’s win, Zappe has accomplished simply 55.4% of his passes this season for 539 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions. His 27.2 QBR ranks decrease than all 30 certified quarterbacks in Pro Football Reference’s rankings this season.
Zappe additionally struggled within the preseason, main the Patriots to waive him throughout roster cuts after he was 30-of-51 for 253 yards with one landing and no interceptions with six sacks and three fumbles. Zappe mentioned final week that he had affords to affix different groups earlier than signing to the Patriots’ observe squad earlier than the season and becoming a member of the 53-man roster forward of Week 1. Amazon Prime reporter Kaylee Hartung handed alongside on Thursday night time’s broadcast that Zappe had expressed confidence to his former faculty offensive coordinator Zach Kittley after being lower that he might nonetheless beat out Jones for the beginning position.
The Patriots had been 2-9 with Jones as a starter. His 36.7 QBR ranks twenty sixth out of these 30 certified QBs. Jones was benched in 4 video games earlier than getting what seems to be a everlasting demotion.
Belichick was requested if there could be a quarterback competitors this week.
“We’ll talk about that,” he mentioned. “We don’t practice until Wednesday.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com