The final we noticed of Mac Jones on Saturday, he made an unusually hasty exit from the apply area, seemingly ticked off by what had transpired moments earlier than.
Jones usually hangs round to mingle a bit with teammates, in addition to relations or buddies who attended the apply session.
This day was completely different.
After the offense collectively had its worst day of coaching camp, with Jones additionally contributing to the mess through the ultimate crimson zone interval (2-of-6 with a pick-six), the Patriots second-year quarterback didn’t stick round to socialize.
It’s doable he was in a rush as a result of he had someplace to go. The steam popping out of his ears, nonetheless, advised a distinct story.
What to make of the scene?
It occurs. Every quarterback has dangerous days on the workplace. It comes with the territory.
The essential factor now’s Jones’ response.
And after having a break from apply Sunday, Jones and the Patriots shall be again at it Monday for his or her first padded apply. It’ll be attention-grabbing to observe and see simply how the younger quarterback solutions the problem.
During his rookie yr, Jones rebounded properly extra occasions than not from a nasty throw, a nasty sequence of performs, or the entire enchilada – a nasty recreation.
Most memorable from the dangerous throw class, was his firing a landing go to Kendrick Bourne on the subsequent play from scrimmage after throwing a pick-six to Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs late within the Cowboys Week 6 recreation put the Patriots again forward earlier than an eventual loss.
So how will or not it’s in 2022?
First off, it’s slightly completely different this yr. There’s extra strain on Jones to supply than in his first season on the helm. Expectations are higher. And up to now, he’s stepped in, and embraced all that comes with being the chief of the offense.
Part of being an excellent chief is the flexibility to repeatedly recover from the hurdles. It’s the response if you’re down, however particularly on the scoreboard.
Many of the sport’s nice quarterbacks are impervious to strain. They don’t cave or pack it in when the going will get robust.
They reply.
Given Jones’ make-up, it’s onerous to imagine he gained’t come out on fireplace Monday, and as soon as once more present his teammates what he’s made from, giving them one more reason to imagine in him going ahead.
While the offensive meltdown wasn’t completely Jones’ fault, and largely attributable to his receivers not with the ability to get open, it will nonetheless be an excellent early checkpoint to watch Jones’ potential to reply the decision and elevate his teammates.
It’s a small step towards the larger and extra essential step – and that’s having his teammates imagine he can lead them again to victory in the event that they throw up a stinker within the first half.
It’s solely coaching camp now, however that’s the place it begins when it comes to constructing an id.
Watching him final yr, and listening to about what he’s finished through the offseason, Patriots Hall of Famer and NBC analyst Rodney Harrison can’t assist however suppose Jones will rise throughout any state of affairs, and the gamers will observe swimsuit.
“They respond to him, because they believe in him. They trust him,” Harrison stated when reached Thursday. “Players won’t respond to you, unless they believe and trust you.”
Listening to the gamers through the first 4 days of camp, and watching how they work together with Jones on the sector, it’s simple to see they exude religion of their quarterback.
Running again Damien Harris, who knew Jones from his Alabama days, could be a tad biased, however he hit on how properly Mac has related with the group.
“Mac is just an infectious guy that everybody gravitates to. He’s a great leader, he’s a great football player, he’s an incredibly hard worker and he’s an even better friend,” Harris stated Friday. “So everytime you take all of these attributes and you place them into one particular person, it’s simple to see why so many individuals gravitate in the direction of him, why so many individuals need to be round him and need to observe him.
“I mean, he’s the hardest worker. He works incredibly hard. He always comes out here to do his best, not only to be his best but to make everybody around him better.”
The gamers on protection have additionally pushed all their chips in on the younger quarterback, and the way properly he can lead them.
Linebacker Mack Wilson Sr.,, one other Alabama alum, arrived in March by way of commerce from Cleveland. He’s observed how a lot Jones has grown in a short while.
“When I first got here, just being able to see the maturity from college to now, is through the roof,” Wilson stated throughout his media session Saturday. “He’s been practicing and carrying himself as a pro like he should . . . you don’t see the rookie Mac Jones anymore. I’m super proud of him.”
The offensive teaching state of affairs is unorthodox, to say the least, with three coaches – Bill Belichick, Matt Patricia, Joe Judge – all having their prints on Jones and the offense. It stays to be seen how properly the quarterback adapts to having that troika in his ear.
Jones additionally isn’t armed with any high flight recreation changers on offense, however the cash remains to be on the second-year quarterback to supply and elevate the group.
“I’m glad he’s on our team,” stated Wilson. “I feel we can do something special (with him). We just have to keep stacking days.”
Starting Monday. All eyes shall be on Jones’ response to Saturday’s nightmare.
Source: www.bostonherald.com