The manner Mac Jones characterised his relationship with new Patriots quarterbacks coach Joe Judge on Monday was unsettling to say the least.
With one soundbite, it’s like everybody’s worst fears have been validated with regard to the scenario Jones now faces working with coaches who’ve little expertise working an offense, a lot much less coping with a quarterback.
Speaking following the staff’s organized exercise session, Jones first praised Judge, however then went on to say the aim for himself and the coach who might be coping with him most intently was to “teach each other.”
The latter three phrases have left a odor that’s lingered over Foxboro like skunk spray.
Jones is getting into his second yr within the NFL. So now he has to train his place coach, too?
Maybe if Jones was an completed veteran, somebody with Tom Brady’s stature and resume, that state of affairs wouldn’t elevate so many eyebrows. But for a growing quarterback, even one as superior as Jones, it’s nonetheless a big-time head-scratcher.
While the looks of Bill Belichick hovering over the offense supplies some consolation that every one gained’t be misplaced, and Jones gained’t essentially regress, it nonetheless appears loopy for the quarterback to need to spend time teaching up his place coach.
Or, as Jones described, to “move along and take what he knows and then take the experiences that I have and combine them.”
His experiences within the NFL quantity to 18 video games, 17 within the common season, one within the playoffs.
Having Jones present enter about performs and ideas he likes, or doesn’t really feel snug with, is actually an essential a part of the equation. That’s a part of the give-and-take within the relationship between the quarterback and his offensive coaches. There’s no dispute there.
But instructing the coach shouldn’t be a part of his job description.
ESPN soccer analyst and former Patriot Damien Woody was shocked when he heard what Jones needed to say.
“I came into this thing very skeptical, and worried about that whole situation,” Woody mentioned when reached Thursday. “Man, you’re speaking in regards to the improvement of a younger quarterback who had yr his rookie yr and also you need Mac Jones to take that leap. And now you’re speaking about instructing one another, studying on the job? What are we speaking about right here?
“I mean, I knew it was going to be a problem when Josh McDaniels left, because he’s such a bright offensive mind, really good with quarterbacks,” Woody went on, “but I just don’t understand what they’re doing. Teach each other? That’s just shocking to me.”
Jones wants a coach who will assist him make changes on the sideline to fight what a protection is doing. He wants a problem-solver in the course of the week, however particularly throughout video games.
Maybe that’s not beneath the realm of the quarterback coach who’s doesn’t additionally maintain the titles of offensive coordinator and play-caller, all jobs McDaniels rolled into one when he was with the group. One would assume, nonetheless, that the QB coach wants to assist the quarterback play the place higher.
Judge was a quarterback at Lansdale Catholic highschool. So it’s not a totally international idea, however that’s mainly it with regards to his credentials to develop Jones.
That being mentioned, possibly Judge seems to be nice at mentoring Jones. Maybe he’ll show his doubters fallacious. It’s simply onerous imagining Judge being the form of quarterback whisperer that’s wanted to get Jones to the following degree.
“If I’m a second-year quarterback, you want as much continuity as possible, but I don’t know how I’d feel with a guy who was a former head coach, but also a special teams coach,” mentioned Woody. “I don’t know how comfortable I’d be with that. That is just shocking to me.”
Before leaving Alabama, Jones helped get new offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien in control with the Crimson Tide’s playbook. But instructing O’Brien and doing the identical with Judge isn’t fairly the identical deal. Jones’ time in Alabama was over. He wasn’t going to need to cope with O’Brien each day. He’s now connected to Judge, in order Woody steered, it’s simple to marvel how Jones feels about having to elucidate the offense to his place coach.
Like Jones, Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields have new quarterback coaches in Jacksonville and Chicago respectively, heading into their second seasons, however neither have expressed being in “teach each other” mode.
Mike McCoy, a former offensive coordinator, is now Lawrence’s QB coach. Andrew Janocko, a former quarterback on the University of Pittsburgh and former quarterback coach in Minnesota, is growing Fields.
Woody made point out of Belichick largely staying in-house when individuals go away, or hiring individuals he’s had a earlier relationship with. It applies to each Judge and Matt Patricia.
Having continuity with the offensive and defensive playbooks is important for Belichick, so it’s comprehensible he’d wish to depend on those that know the system. The turnovers on the offensive aspect of the ball, dropping McDaniels, together with offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo, extensive receivers coach Mick Lombardi, and working backs coach Ivan Fears, made a big dent.
“I’ve said, and felt there’s just been so much of a brain drain in New England for several years,” mentioned Woody. “When you’ve gotten so many individuals leaving the group, in some unspecified time in the future it’s going to hit. It’s gonna damage.
“But sometimes you gotta go outside of the family,” he went on. “Sometimes people outside of the family bring different perspectives … sometimes, they will bring something that will be useful.”
Jones is normally very cautious to not present a lot in the best way of soundbites that can have an prolonged shelf life. So it’s onerous to know if it was innocently delivered, or intentional when it comes to purposely offering intel on the scenario.
Maybe one of many media members current for Jones’ availability — current firm included — ought to have requested him to additional make clear what he meant by “teach each other,” even when it appeared self-explanatory.
Whatever the case, it’s onerous to doubt the validity of his phrases.
The backside line, although, is fairly clear. Belichick believes the forged of coaches he’s assembled round Jones will get him to the following degree. Again, it’s actually potential, particularly with Belichick extra concerned, however the look of Jones needing to show his direct place coach, who may even have a hand within the offense, stays puzzling.
“It’s hard to go against Bill, because Bill has achieved so much as a coach,” mentioned Woody, “but at the same time, what are you doing? I just don’t get it.”
QBs bulking up
Like Jones, Jets second-year quarterback Zach Wilson launched into an offseason program to dump the unhealthy weight, and add muscle.
While Jones has trimmed down when it comes to physique fats, Wilson has finished the identical, however has additionally added 13 kilos to his 6-2 body, as he’s now as much as 221 kilos.
Jones, who appeared noticeably thinner, indicated he nonetheless wants so as to add some bulk and muscle to get the place he desires to be.
Woody, who just lately bumped into Wilson, was impressed by the quarterback’s new physique.
”It’s noticeable. He’s greater. I might say he’s crammed out extra,” mentioned Woody. “You see it in his face, his arms, and definitely in his legs. He’s put in some serious work this offseason.”
Unlike Jones, Wilson struggled throughout his rookie season. He ranked thirtieth out of 31 certified passers in Total QBR (28.2).
“I feel better for sure,” Wilson informed reporters following one of many Jets practices final week. “The energy, the ability to have that stamina throughout the whole practice, is better. In the long run, once we get into a game when we can actually get hit and tackled, having more size on me will help.”
He went 3-10 as a starter, with 2,334 yards, 9 touchdowns, 11 interceptions and a 55.6% completion price.
“He missed games last year. If you can bulk up and sustain and stay on the field, that’s what it’s all about,” mentioned Woody. “His talent has never been a question. That dude has a special arm. Now let’s see where he can go.”
First glimpse of rookies
With six gamers from the Patriots 2022 draft class both lacking (OL Chasen Hines, OL Andrew Stueber) or restricted (WR Tyquan Thornton, CB Marcus Jones, RB Pierre Strong, DL Sam Roberts), opening impressions on the rookies have been robust to return by in the course of the first day of organized staff actions the media was allowed to view.
Of those that participated absolutely, Jack Jones, a nook drafted within the fourth spherical out of Arizona State, noticed loads of motion within the staff durations.
He performed outdoors nook throughout these drills, caught punts late in observe, and at one level, acquired some 1-on-1 tutelage from Belichick.
Watching him at nook, his fluidity as an athlete and talent to maneuver appeared pretty apparent. So was his skill to high-point the ball.
Speaking just lately with CBS NFL analyst Charles Davis, who additionally serves as a draft professional for NFL Network, he favored the choose for the Patriots.
“He’s a good athlete, kind of sneaky good,” mentioned Davis. “I think he has the characteristics they’re looking for. That quickness, that feel for the game, ball skills. I think Jack Jones fits the profile of what they’re looking for.”
At 5-foot-11, 171 kilos, he’s not the largest nook, however his man protection expertise and willingness to be bodily have allowed him to play out on the boundary.
While it’s manner too early to plot him within the combine of out of doors corners with Malcolm Butler, Jalen Mills, Terrance Mitchell, et al, he’s simply somebody to control going ahead.
He had some points in school — he was arrested for breaking right into a restaurant, and in addition suspended for combating in observe — however the Patriots needed to test him out fairly totally earlier than bringing him aboard.
“I’m sure they vetted all that,” mentioned Davis. “It didn’t prevent them from taking him, so I don’t think that’s a huge deal.”
In school, Jones had 5 pressured fumbles, 10 interceptions and 39 passes defensed.
Mahomes bullish on receivers
Patrick Mahomes could have misplaced Tyreek Hill, however he’s nonetheless likes the depth of his receiving room.
The Chiefs quarterback educated with lots of his pass-catchers — each new and previous — in Texas for the primary few weeks of the offseason program.
With them on the sphere now for OTAs, Mahomes has gotten a greater really feel for Marquez Valdes-Scantling and JuJu Smith-Schuster, who have been signed in free company, together with a bunch of rookie receivers led by Western Michigan’s Skyy Moore.
Mahomes steered groups gained’t be capable of shut down this group.
“I think you saw last year, defenses had started to formulate a good game plan — at least at the beginning of the season — of trying to kind of maintain stopping Tyreek and stopping ‘Trav’ (Travis Kelce). And we had to find ways to have success other ways so we could get those guys open,” Mahomes informed reporters. “I believe this yr, we’ll grow to be totally different the place you’re not going to know the place you’re going to get the deep ball from, you’re not going to know the place you’re going to get the quick move from as a result of we now have loads of totally different guys that may do all of it.
“I think having all those guys, I think it’ll help us get more of those deep throws that we’ve been accustomed to.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com