Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien has a lesser recognized title that figures to be equally as vital this season: quarterbacks coach.
Based on Mac Jones’ efficiency in coaching camp and preseason, O’Brien has put Jones’ growth again on monitor. Jones ran away with the Patriots’ beginning job this summer season. His backups, nevertheless, are one other story.
The Pats claimed ex-Panthers quarterback Matt Corral off waivers final Thursday and re-signed Bailey Zappe to the observe squad after releasing him. At least nominally, Corral is Jones’ backup, although Zappe could possibly be elevated from the observe squad to the game-day roster on Sunday and function the No. 2 for the Pats’ season opener.
On Tuesday, O’Brien pulled again the curtain on Corral’s onboarding course of, which has additionally included assistant quarterbacks coach Evan Rothstein.
“Matt has been here morning, noon and night, and he’s doing a good job of learning,” O’Brien instructed reporters on a convention name. “And we just need to keep progressing him. You can’t throw everything at him at once because that’s a lot of information. So we try to do a good job of giving them the things that are important for him right now. And it’s a team effort, and he’s done a good job of just coming in here and trying to learn and soak it up.”
As for Zappe, O’Brien indicated he nonetheless sees potential within the second-year backup who was launched final week after a disappointing preseason. Zappe additionally posted the very best interception share of all of the Patriots’ quarterbacks in coaching camp.
“I know that Bailey’s improved. I’m really happy that he’s back with us,” O’Brien mentioned. “Bailey’s a younger participant, as a whole lot of these guys are there. When you discuss a man solely going right into a second 12 months, there’s a whole lot of enchancment that’s been made, and there’s a superb future.
“And so, it’s really good that we have Bailey back. We can continue to work with him and he’s a good guy to work with. He works very hard.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com