One factor that Patriots present beginning quarterback Bailey Zappe definitely doesn’t lack is confidence.
Patriots working again Ezekiel Elliott praised the QB for that high quality after Thursday evening’s 21-18 win over the Steelers wherein Zappe threw three first-half touchdowns.
“Zap was balling tonight,” Elliott mentioned. “He commands our attention in that huddle. He was out there making the checks, making the points; just has so much confidence and the offense definitely can feel that.”
Amazon Prime reporter Kaylee Hartung handed alongside an anecdote throughout Thursday’s broadcast that illustrated it.
“Zappe said it was a wake-up call when he got cut by the Patriots in camp,” Hartung mentioned, as transcribed by NBC 10 Rhode Island reporter Nicole Menner. “And yet even as he signed with their practice squad, the very next day he told (college offensive coordinator Zach) Kittley, ‘Trust me. I’ve got this. Eventually, I’ll be the starter.’”
He was proper. Mac Jones was benched in 4 video games for Zappe earlier than it turned official in Week 13. Zappe and the Patriots had been shut out by the Chargers final week, however his efficiency within the first half of Thursday’s recreation was sufficient to guide his staff to victory. It was his best efficiency of the season and will depart little doubt who would be the Patriots’ starter Week 15 in opposition to the Chiefs.
Ultimately, Zappe accomplished 19-of-28 passes for 240 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. Over 80% of his manufacturing got here within the first half.
So, the place does Zappe’s confidence come from?
“It comes from those guys,” Zappe mentioned of his teammates. “They help me out a lot. They deserve today. So to be able to have this moment, have it with these guys, to be able to go out there and have a game that we had was awesome. And I think as far as confidence, that just comes from preparation, what you do in the week before, and also having confidence in these guys, that these guys go and make plays like JuJu (Smith-Schuster). I mean, giving those guys a chance, that also gives you confidence when you see him go make a play. Then you’re like ‘alright, I’m gonna do it again.’ And that just continues to build up.”
Zappe is now 3-1 as a starter with the Patriots, relationship again to his 2022 rookie season. He struggled all through coaching camp and the preseason, resulting in his launch. The Patriots shall be on the lookout for a beginning quarterback for the 2024 season. If Zappe can maintain producing, then maybe he might nonetheless be within the combine for that function shifting ahead.
Source: www.bostonherald.com