FOXBORO – Mac Jones wasn’t complaining.
Not in regards to the quarterback plan heading into the sport. Not about being yanked after simply three collection. And not having to take heed to followers chant “Zappe, Zappe, Zappe” after each collection he performed in the course of the 33-14 loss to the Bears.
After his re-entry turned out to be only a cameo, Jones stood by Bill Belichick’s choice to tug him in favor of Bailey Zappe, and can reside with regardless of the fallout goes ahead.
“I think Coach Belichick had a really good plan for us. Obviously, that’s kind of internal stuff, but I understood the plan and what was going to happen,” Jones mentioned following the loss. “Obviously, want we received off to a greater begin, and I performed somewhat bit higher, however I’ll have an opportunity to apply and get again into my routine.
“I’m excited for this week,” he went on. “That’s all you can do, right? You can’t really look back in the past. Obviously, the game wasn’t good by any of us, and it starts with me.”
Jones, who made his return after struggling a excessive ankle sprain Week 3, went three-and-out in his first two collection. On his third and last collection, he moved the ball a bit, principally together with his legs, earlier than throwing an interception.
That could be it for Jones.
He claimed he didn’t have an issue together with his shortened stint as a result of he was made conscious each he and Zappe would get time within the sport.
“Honestly, like I always say, I just try to control what I can control. That’s my attitude and my effort,” he mentioned. “That’s something that I’ve done since high school. Obviously, I need to be able to play better, and we do as a team as well. So I just have to lead the team and do that.”
Officially, Jones completed finishing simply 3-of-6 passes for 13 yards with the choose. He really ran for extra yards, with 24 yards approaching three speeding makes an attempt.
When he dropped again to move, he appeared skittish within the pocket, taking off on the first signal of hassle. Jones wouldn’t acknowledge that, or if he was attempting to check out his ankle.
“I think it’s just football. Sometimes there’s lanes to run, and I’m not necessarily a running quarterback, but I’m just trying to get yards and move the ball,” mentioned Jones. “Obviously, we get extra yards when the ball is in another person’s arms.
“I have to be able to throw it to the open guy and get it to them. We have great skill players, a great offensive line, great backs, great coaches. There’s no excuses. I’ll play better and watch the tape and figure out kind of go back to my bucket system, what do I need to do better and what am I doing okay. I’m going to do that again here.”
Asked about studies of being 85-to-90 % with respect to his ankle, Jones wouldn’t go there. He mentioned his ankle felt high quality, it was that straightforward.
“I didn’t really do the whole percentage thing. You are either able to play or not. In the NFL you don’t get any credit for playing hurt or not, and there’s no excuses. So I felt like I was good to go. Like I said, with time it will get better. Just got to play the game of football better.”
Did he anticipate beginning in opposition to the Jets subsequent week?
“I guess when Sunday comes, we’ll know,” he mentioned. “I just, like I said, want to become a better player and prepare like I always prepare and put the hours in every day. My schedule doesn’t change. I’m just going to continue to do that, and hopefully the results will take care of themselves.”
Jones didn’t mope after getting pulled. He tried to be a very good teammate, as he was one of many first to congratulate Zappe after every landing.
He additionally prevented addressing all of the “Zappe” chants that might be heard early within the sport.
“Yeah, I think I’m always going to be a good team player. I did that at Alabama when I waited my turn, and I did it in high school. I did it in Pop Warner,” he mentioned. “I do know I’m a very good teammate, and that’s one of many issues that I satisfaction myself on probably the most. Whether I’m within the sport or not, I attempt to be a very good teammate.
“We have a lot of good players on this team, and obviously, tonight we didn’t play our best. Like you said, there’s always a chance to turn around. I think you look in the past, and really good teams, they don’t just climb all the way up to the top. There’s a little bit of a mountain that you have to go up, and you might have to stop or go down to get some air, but you better be able to shoot back up. That’s my plan, and that’s our plan. I know we’re going to be able to do it.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com