Fans love an underdog. They additionally love discovering out concerning the unknown.
Welcome to Bailey Zappe Fever.
The rookie quarterback whet everybody’s urge for food together with his reduction look in opposition to the Packers final week, and now individuals are dying to see extra.
Backup quarterbacks do are typically widespread, and Zappe is having his quarter-hour of fame in Foxboro. But let’s pump the brakes a bit of.
In the top, he would possibly become nothing greater than an honest backup, if that. Right now, he’s only a younger quarterback with prospects. He’s nonetheless a thriller, the shiny new toy that’s contemporary out of the field. And that’s all good. But let’s not make him out to be any greater than that.
That was a part of the enchantment of Mac Jones final yr. The distinction is he was a first-round draft choose who was anticipated to be good. And he delivered with a rookie season that was higher than all the remaining.
Zappe was taken within the fourth spherical. That’s the place the underdog state of affairs suits in, together with the opportunity of him doing the surprising and turning out to be a star.
But let’s see him do it first, let’s see how he performs in opposition to the Lions, and maybe past, earlier than anointing him.
Listening to sports activities discuss radio, there’s already a contingent of followers who need Zappe to be the person going ahead.
The Patriots aren’t there but. In actuality, it’s not even shut. And chances are high, they’ll by no means be at that time.
While the entire calm and poise Zappe confirmed in Green Bay was admirable, there’s way more to enjoying the place. So there are extra questions than solutions with this child.
What do we all know proper now?
He did properly being utterly managed by Bill Belichick, Matt Patricia and Joe Judge after approaching in reduction in opposition to the Packers. He wasn’t overwhelmed by the second, or the circumstances he was put in. That’s an awesome place to begin for the rookie. But let’s see the place it goes from right here if it will get past having him hand the ball off and make primary performs, which is what he did in Green Bay.
To be clear, he’s not the No. 1. That’s Jones. If something, he’s pushing to be the No. 2 with Brian Hoyer now on IR, and out for a minimum of 4 weeks. That’s Zappe’s actuality in the intervening time.
Once Jones is wholesome sufficient, he’s the starter. Period.
This week, Jones was as soon as once more pushing the bounds, and doing his greatest to attempt to play, in keeping with a supply. Whether he advances to the purpose the place Belichick would truly let him play in opposition to the Lions is one other matter.
Sitting at 1-3, it’s a vital sport for the Patriots within the huge image scheme of issues. That’s why Jones is pushing the envelope. And that’s why the Patriots have left the door open, itemizing him as “doubtful” on the harm report Friday.
Jones is maniacally powerful, like most soccer gamers. Tom Brady by no means missed video games, besides when he tore an ACL. He’s performed with damaged ribs, a sprained AC joint, sprained MCL, busted fingers, a big gash that wanted greater than 10 stitches on the within of his throwing hand and, sure, excessive ankle sprains.
Brady, nonetheless, is the exception. Most gamers want a minimum of 4 weeks earlier than even contemplating to play with a excessive ankle sprain.
While Jones regarded higher in the course of the brief media viewing window from Wednesday on, he nonetheless had a noticeable limp. So whereas he the Patriots haven’t dominated him out, it stays a longshot for him to play.
One report on Friday had Zappe beginning in opposition to the Lions. That’s the way it ought to be. Unless Jones is ready to transfer to keep away from a rush, there’s no sense enjoying him. He’d be a sitting duck within the pocket and danger additional harm to the ankle, or different physique components.
That’s the chance the staff has to weigh. What good is it if he comes again too quickly on an unstable ankle, after which endure additional harm and be finished for the season?
The hope right here is that frequent sense prevails, which seems to be the plan of action. Jones’ job proper now could be to get wholesome, then assume his rightful spot on the helm.
Beyond that, there’s some thought that the emergence of Zappe could be pushing or motivating Jones, who hasn’t gotten off to the best begin.
Maybe there’s one thing to that, however Jones looks like a fairly self-motivated man. He most likely doesn’t want the push.
Still, it is going to be attention-grabbing to see if Zappe is certainly the person underneath middle in opposition to the Lions.
Of course, the Zappe dynamic makes all of it a bit of extra attention-grabbing.
In Dallas, Cooper Rush has already received three video games in Dak Prescott’s absence with a thumb harm. Now there’s polls to see the followers view on whether or not or not Prescott ought to maintain his starter’s job, or if “Cooper Clutch” ought to proceed to guide the Cowboys.
Former NFL journeyman quarterback Jim Miller, who together with Rohan Davey was a backup to Brady in 2004, definitely understands the clamor for Zappe by the followers.
“When I was in Jacksonville with Mark Brunell, everyone wanted Rob Johnson (to play). About the only place I was where they didn’t want the backup was New England,” cracked Miller, who was a backup for eight completely different NFL groups throughout his profession alongside. “Then Neil O’Donnell took his shots when I was in Pittsburgh. They wanted to turn the page there. I think it happens in a lot of cities where the position isn’t solidified.”
Added Miller: “But I do think it’s solidified in New England. Once Mac Jones gets healthy, he’ll be playing. It’s just about getting him healthy.”
If Zappe does properly on Sunday in opposition to the Lions, assuming he begins, and helps produce a win, the fascination will develop.
But the highest job nonetheless belongs to Jones. Make no mistake about that.
“Mac is the guy. There’s no question about it,” stated Miller. “Bill knows that. That coaching staff knows that, the whole team knows it quite frankly.”
For what it’s price, Miller was on the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, earlier within the yr, and watched Zappe play. He was impressed with the Western Kentucky quarterback.
“I like Zappe, I will say that. I thought he was a baller off the bench. He impressed me down at the Senior Bowl, and I think that’s why Bill took a flier on him,” stated Miller. “There’s a lot to like about him. I thought he handled himself nicely on the road, in Green Bay, with how he performed.”
When Miller noticed Zappe in Mobile, he got here in in the course of the fourth quarter, and carried out properly.
Zappe ran the Air Raid offense at Western Kentucky and amassed a whopping 62 landing passes together with 5,967 passing yards his ultimate yr. At the Senior Bowl, he went 8-13 passing for a game-high 103 yards.
“That’s what he does, he energizes a team,” stated Miller. “I think it’s kind of his role, him coming off the bench like that, it’s perfect for him to make his mark. Because I think guys do believe in him. He provides a level of energy and spark to your team.”
Still, Zappe wasn’t one of many extra highly-touted quarterbacks getting into the draft. Some thought the Patriots overdrafted him within the fourth spherical.
But that hasn’t tamed the infatuation degree with the child. It stays to be seen if that degree grows, or if Zappe comes again to earth.
Pats vs. elite QBs
Losing back-to-back video games to Lamar Jackson and Aaron Rodgers merely served as extra proof the Patriots have been unable to beat higher quarterbacks post-Brady.
Jackson and Rodgers are simply the newest within the pack of elite quarterbacks to beat the Pats.
Since the beginning of the 2020 season, the Patriots are winless in opposition to an entire host of different studs, specifically KC’s Patrick Mahomes, Dallas’ Dak Prescott, Denver’s Russell Wilson, Cleveland’s Deshaun Watson and Tampa Bay’s Tom Brady.
Buffalo star Josh Allen is 4-1 in opposition to them in that very same time-frame, with the lone loss coming in a monsoon in Buffalo.
The Patriots have had luck going up in opposition to Chargers stud Justin Herbert, successful twice, however that’s about it, as they’ve gone 4-11 total in opposition to the perfect of the perfect underneath middle, counting the losses to Jackson and Rodgers.
Part of the Patriots struggles are on account of not having an elite quarterback themselves to match scores.
It wasn’t as a lot of a difficulty when Brady resided in Foxboro.
Sauce needs Tyreek
The Jets secondary goes to get its first crack at attempting to comprise the Dolphins dynamic duo of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle when Miami heads to the Meadowlands. Rookie nook Sauce Gardner, who has performed properly for the Jets, is wanting ahead to dueling with the Dolphins receivers.
“It’s a big challenge,” Gardner stated by way of the New York Daily News. “It’s a huge opportunity for the secondary to why we belong and why we are one of the best in the NFL. I’m looking forward to it and I know the rest of my guys are.”
During the primary 4 video games, Gardner, the fourth total choose within the 2022 NFL Draft, has lined up in opposition to Bengals receiver Ja’Marr Chase, Browns receiver Amari Cooper, Steelers receiver Diontae Johnson and Ravens tight finish Mark Andrews.
Gardner appears to have his eyes set on Hill, who leads the NFL in receiving yards with 477. Hill, nonetheless, confirmed up on the harm report this week with a quad harm. The Dolphins had been “hopeful” their star would be capable of play.
“Some of my individual goals line up with me going up against guys that are great like Tyreek Hill and the other receivers that I’ve went against,” Gardner stated.
With starter Tua Tagovailoa sidelined, Teddy Bridgewater shall be on the helm testing out Gardner and the Jets secondary.
Is Jack Jones too cocky?
Speaking of cornerbacks with angle, Patriots Hall of Famer Ty Law was essential of Patriots rookie Jack Jones for having a bit of an excessive amount of swag following the loss in Green Bay.
Jones had sport in opposition to the Packers final week with a pick-six of Aaron Rodgers together with a pressured fumble and restoration. It wasn’t all good, nonetheless, as Jones noticeably missed some tackles.
After the sport, when requested about his choose of Rodgers, Jones informed reporters: “Personally, I feel like it’s disrespectful to throw an out route on me.”
Law, who by no means lacked for confidence when he performed, expressed his displeasure throughout an look on “The Greg Hill Show” on WEEI.
“You make a couple plays, you get an interception, but to say something like that, you’ve got to have some swag, and go out there and make some plays,” stated Law. “I don’t think anybody in that secondary, especially a rookie, can say something like that. You ain’t making enough plays to say something like that. Shut up.”
At his locker Wednesday, Jones was requested if his remarks had gotten him into any scorching water.
“No, not really,” stated Jones. “I mean, I’m just gonna keep stacking them week-to-week. That’s all I can do, play my role, do my assignment and just play hard.”
And that most likely contains ensuring groups don’t full any out routes on him.
“Yeah, for sure,” Jones answered with a smile.
Jones additionally stated it’s onerous for him to vary who he’s. His confidence in his capacity and perception in himself is a part of the package deal. He’s at all times been that manner.
“I don’t know what it is. Sometimes I ask myself why I’m like that,” Jones informed the Herald final month. “I have no answer. That’s just who I am.”
For probably the most half, his teammates get a kick out of his braggadocio.
Asked if he’d ever met a cornerback who was extra cocky than the rookie, Jonathan Jones laughed.
“Yeah, he’s confident,” stated the veteran. “As a corner, you want that. You need that.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com
