FOXBORO — Mac Jones isn’t solely leaning on his offensive line and playmakers for assist this summer time. The Patriots quarterback can be selecting the brains of his defensive teammates, and it’s led to veteran security Adrian Phillips seeing a “way better quarterback” practically 4 weeks into coaching camp.
It’s been obvious on the follow area. Jones had maybe his finest follow as a Patriots quarterback Thursday in Green Bay throughout joint practices with the Packers. He adopted that up with a powerful efficiency in Saturday’s preseason recreation.
The Patriots have been anticipated to conduct a quarterback competitors this summer time. Jones by no means let backup Bailey Zappe get shut sufficient to problem him based mostly on his play on the sector.
“I’ve seen him grow and change a lot. I don’t want to give too much detail into it just because I don’t want to give up his little tidbits,” Phillips stated. “He took last year on the chin. He’ll be the first one to tell you that that’s not how he wanted to play. For all of us, that’s not how any of us wanted to play. He’ll be the first to tell you that.”
Jones was prepared to surrender a few of his secrets and techniques.
He’s all the time requested Patriots defenders how he can enhance based mostly on what they see in follow, however he’s ramped it up this summer time. The third-year professional stated he isn’t attempting to determine the Patriots’ defensive performs, he’s attempting to find out how he can higher idiot the opposition.
“Just speaking with him, asking him questions and going towards them like, ‘Hey, what did I do there?’ He’s like, ‘Hey, good job looking me off on that man-to-man coverage’ or no matter. Just attempt to take it from the follow area to the sport area and use these instruments that I’ve. …
“Just trying to figure out like, ‘Hey, did that work that time?’ And sometimes they’re like, ‘No, it really didn’t work,’ whether it was the play or the head fake or whatever. So, it’s all things you have to add to your toolbox. And that’s what practice is about is trying new things, trying throws you maybe wouldn’t throw in the game. Things like that, which I’ve tried to do during fall camp.”
Jones has stated prior to now that he’s lucky to go towards a posh protection that reveals so many various seems every single day in follow. The Patriots’ protection ranked as top-of-the-line within the NFL final season and introduced again practically all of their contributors. Safety Devin McCourty retired, however the Pats have been capable of draft three defensive gamers within the first three rounds who appear like fast contributors in cornerback Christian Gonzalez, edge defender Keion White and linebacker/security Marte Mapu.
The QB, who made a Pro Bowl in his rookie season however fell off dramatically final season as he handled accidents and inexperienced offensive teaching, makes every single day a contest.
“He’s coming out here every single day and trying to light our defense up,” Phillips stated. “Like literally light us up. I’m talking bombs, anything that he can do. You just love to see that. He’s always checking plays. He’s always ready to give you something that you have to think about. I just think his confidence is through the roof right now.”
Jones went 6-of-9 for 52 yards in three offensive sequence Saturday. The Patriots’ banged-up offensive line triggered two of the Patriots’ drives to finish prematurely as a consequence of a sack on third down within the second drive and a strip sack on the third drive.
The Patriots’ offensive line ought to enhance as soon as injured guards Cole Strange and Mike Onwenu are again within the combine. Calvin Anderson would add further depth at offensive sort out if he can return from the non-football sickness listing, as effectively.
Jones expressed confidence in his extensive receiver corps, which immediately seems deep due to the coaching camp contributions of rookies DeMario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte enjoying behind JuJu Smith-Schuster, DeVante Parker and Kendrick Bourne. Mike Gesicki was again at follow Tuesday to affix Hunter Henry within the tight finish combine. The Pats added working again Ezekiel Elliott final week to take some strain off of Rhamondre Stevenson.
But if the Patriots’ offense goes to enhance this season, all of it goes by Jones. Phillips sees a “way better quarterback.”
“Obviously, we haven’t even played a game yet, so I’m not sure if that’s true or not,” Jones stated.
We’ll discover out in September.
Source: www.bostonherald.com