Welcome to 7 Patriots coaching camp questions!
Each day main as much as the beginning of camp, the Herald will discover one of many greatest questions going through the Pats this summer time. Several pertain to the offense, which welcomed again Bill O’Brien this offseason and added JuJu Smith-Schuster and Mike Gesicki. Other questions cowl the protection and particular groups, models which may rely closely on rookies and should overcome the lack of longtime captain Devin McCourty.
Once the Patriots hit the follow discipline, right here’s what they need to be taught earlier than the season kicks off versus Philadelphia on Sept. 10.
No. 7: Can Mac Jones return to type?
The understated, unspectacular reality about quarterback play within the NFL is younger passers are sometimes made or damaged by their surroundings.
No quarterback can thrive with out a secure offensive line or a succesful solid of receivers or a reliable play-caller. Just ask Mac Jones.
As a rookie, Jones was drafted into a powerful infrastructure and well-rounded roster. He beat out Cam Newton in coaching camp, then helped the Patriots attain the playoffs. Every step of the best way, Jones had Josh McDaniels in his ear, a top-10 offensive line defending him and sufficient receiving expertise that allowed him to use a defensive mismatch on most snaps.
Last 12 months? You know the story.
McDaniels left, and Bill Belichick, Matt Patricia and Joe Judge failed miserably of their collective effort to exchange him. Under Patricia’s watch, the offensive line crumbled. Leaky safety precipitated Jones to turn out to be so spooked on the sight of incoming rushers, he completed because the NFL’s second-worst passer beneath strain final season, per Pro Football Focus.
Not that Jones was innocent – his lack of poise and fixed histrionics have been largely controllable – but it surely’s not as if his receiving corps did him any favors. Playing inside the similar damaged system, Hunter Henry, Jonnu Smith, Kendrick Bourne and Nelson Agholor all slogged by way of the worst seasons of their careers. No shock, Jones regressed as a substitute of springing into an anticipated Year 2 leap.
So, what now?
Bill O’Brien is in cost. According to sources, O’Brien has breathed a brand new confidence into the offense and put in parts of the system he ran the previous two seasons at Alabama, the place Jones broke a number of NCAA passing information on the controls of that offense in 2020. More than rearranging Xs and Os, O’Brien and employees should develop the expertise they’ve.
And that begins with Jones. The excellent news is the quarterback final seen in 2021 nonetheless lives inside that No. 10 jersey.
Last season, regardless of all of the turmoil, Jones’ accuracy, downfield aggression and ball safety all remained regular. According to PFF, he posted a 74.7% adjusted completion share in 2021 in comparison with 74.3% in 2022 (adjusted completion share strips dropped passes, spikes and throwaways from cross makes an attempt counted within the conventional metric). His common depth of goal hit 8.3 yards in 2021 and eight.2 in 2022. And Jones’ turnover-worthy play share went from 2.5% in 2021 to 2.7% in 2022.
Jones additionally took extra sacks, however scrambled extra and fumbled much less. In Year 3, he should improve all areas of his sport, with a heightened emphasis on his efficiency beneath strain. That means rebuilding belief.
Trust is the inspiration of any good offense. It breeds timing and confidence, from participant to participant, coach to participant and play-caller to quarterback; ties that have been non-existent in 2022.
Soon, the Patriots will start to put that basis in coaching camp. Jones has already expressed utmost confidence in O’Brien, whose belief he’ll have to earn together with his day-to-day efficiency. Like some other coaching camp, all eyes will likely be on the quarterback.
And but, the extent of success Jones finally enjoys – as a pocket-bound passer with above common accuracy and unthreatening arm expertise – could also be out of his management. Because whereas he’ll assist set the ground for the Patriots’ 2023 season, his teammates and coaches ought to resolve the ceiling.
Source: www.bostonherald.com