I think that Mac is the last chance for Belichick.

[Ian]

Yes, but Bledsoe waited for the play to open up before passing.

Jones is the same.

Brady was anticipatory in his passing.

Jones isn't the same. If you go back and look at 2021, he played much faster and anticipated a lot more. Last year, he looked unsure, uncertain, and hesitant on a lot of plays. That wasn't by accident. The footage from 2021 is so remarkably different, it's not even funny. It honestly looks like two completely different players.

 

[duc359]

Yes, but Bledsoe waited for the play to open up before passing.

Jones is the same.

Brady was anticipatory in his passing.

In todays NFL you can't wait on guys to get open, in particular with poor OL pass blocking (both LT and RT play declined notably in '22). You have to throw to spots ahead of time. The fact that the O Coaching staff didn't have the guys ready for cutting off routes - which was brought up by several Pat players is going to lead to meh results.

Mac is a plus QB at the line for recognizing coverage and adjusting the call, he is accurate within his limitations. The Staff this year is maxing out for what he does well. The team cannot be expected this year to come back from 28-14 down with 9 min to go. But the TOP will be much better, Mac will be accused of being a game Manager, dink and dunk QB. But a 67%/23 TD/8 Int/3700+ year with a stronger running game, a much better ST, and a plugged in attack D will be much more satisfying to watch than last year. Results? 9-10 wins 60%, 8 25%, 11 and 7 combined 15%. The schedule is nasty, 8-9 is no progress on paper, but last years team might go 5/6 wins this year. It's a process. No HOF QB taking less $$ to improve the roster around him in house.

Make Mac the best he can be - then take the next step with results in hand. Anything else is just not optimum.

 

[Rob0729]

Jones isn't the same. If you go back and look at 2021, he played much faster and anticipated a lot more. Last year, he looked unsure, uncertain, and hesitant on a lot of plays. That wasn't by accident. The footage from 2021 is so remarkably different, it's not even funny. It honestly looks like two completely different players.

I think it is a lost cause. Triumph has his own narrative and is trying to shape reality to fit his narrative.

Jones is far more closer to Brady in style of play than he is to Bledsoe. That is the reason why so many people thought the Patriots were the best team for for Jones and Jones might have been the best fit for the Patriots of the five top QBs in 2021. Jones isn't in the same stratosphere in terms of talent as Brady (at least not yet and probably never), but Jones definitely comps out better to Brady than Bledsoe.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

Of course it was both of them and they both were lucky and knew it. Bill got the perfect QB for his authoritative style and Tom got the benefit of Bill's X's and O's. I think the problems come when we try to quantify that success. There was a thread here many moons ago that asked for a % breakdown between Brady, Bill and Bob for their contribution to the team's success.

There's also the added question of why Bill didn't want Tom to stay if he felt like they were such a great team. Is it possible that the rumors were true and Bill thought that he could win without Tom?

If Tom and Bill both feel like they helped each then they should want to share their HOF inductions in some way.

Well, it's impossible to know what can't be known...

 

[Ian]

I think it is a lost cause. Triumph has his own narrative and is trying to shape reality to fit his narrative.

Jones is far more closer to Brady in style of play than he is to Bledsoe. That is the reason why so many people thought the Patriots were the best team for for Jones and Jones might have been the best fit for the Patriots of the five top QBs in 2021. Jones isn't in the same stratosphere in terms of talent as Brady (at least not yet and probably never), but Jones definitely comps out better to Brady than Bledsoe.

The voices/style of speech are very similar, which is also where a lot of people get that from.

 

[VJCPatriot]

Belichick must do all he can to support BOB and Mac over the next 3-4 years. That's plenty of time if it is clear that Mac is the plan. I suppose that he could still switch this year to Zappe or trade for someone next year, I just don't see it happening.

BB's whole attitude is that he is much more important to the team than any QB.

If Mac Jones flops, BB will just turn to the next man up. That would be Bailey Zappe, and if Zappe fails, BB will draft a new QB in 2024.

It's that simple. This coach showed no hesitation in getting rid of the GOAT at QB and Mac Jones has not shown us nearly as much as TB12.

What has Mac Jones done that has earned BB's loyalty?

Get chosen as a Pro Bowl alternate? That's overblown and only happened because the starter was injured.

Go behind his back in 2022 and seek help from other coaches? BB keeps grudges and this move by Mac did not sit well with him.

If anything BB shows with his body language and everything he says to the media that he doesn't like Mac Jones and probably secretly hopes that Mac fails so that he can go out and get a new QB next year.

Let's be real. If Bob Kraft hadn't so vocally come out in support of Mac Jones, he would be wearing a different uniform right now.

 

[Triumph]

Jones isn't the same. If you go back and look at 2021, he played much faster and anticipated a lot more. Last year, he looked unsure, uncertain, and hesitant on a lot of plays. That wasn't by accident. The footage from 2021 is so remarkably different, it's not even funny. It honestly looks like two completely different players.

I should have specified long throws.

Yes, the short dink and dunk is good. Its the long throw where he waits too long. You can see examples of this in the 21 post season vs Buffalo. INT to Poyer. Again, in 22 @ Miami, Parker INT. Again in the 22 post season vs Buffalo. Romo comments "throw it NOW" on the replay Henry INT.

As someone else pointed out. Bledsoe had a cannon for an arm and could get away with waiting for the play to develop.

 

[Triumph]

In todays NFL you can't wait on guys to get open, in particular with poor OL pass blocking (both LT and RT play declined notably in '22). You have to throw to spots ahead of time. The fact that the O Coaching staff didn't have the guys ready for cutting off routes - which was brought up by several Pat players is going to lead to meh results.

Mac is a plus QB at the line for recognizing coverage and adjusting the call, he is accurate within his limitations. The Staff this year is maxing out for what he does well. The team cannot be expected this year to come back from 28-14 down with 9 min to go. But the TOP will be much better, Mac will be accused of being a game Manager, dink and dunk QB. But a 67%/23 TD/8 Int/3700+ year with a stronger running game, a much better ST, and a plugged in attack D will be much more satisfying to watch than last year. Results? 9-10 wins 60%, 8 25%, 11 and 7 combined 15%. The schedule is nasty, 8-9 is no progress on paper, but last years team might go 5/6 wins this year. It's a process. No HOF QB taking less $$ to improve the roster around him in house.

Make Mac the best he can be - then take the next step with results in hand. Anything else is just not optimum.

Its all about the wins.

Which ever QB delivers. Cant waste another season of good D and RBs.

 

[1960Pats]

Well, it's impossible to know what can't be known...

If it's called a "report" does that give it merit?

 

[PatsFanSince74]

If it's called a "report" does that give it merit?

Yes, I guess "rumors" can be considered a "report"...much of the "news" these days seem to meet that set of criteria.

 

[crawhammer]

According to CBS Sports and their early QB rankings for 2023, Belichick's "last chance" is the 29th ranked starter in the NFL. They have Mac listed only above Mayfield, Ridder, and Sam friggin Howell. Ouch!

2023 NFL QB Power Rankings: Lamar Jackson, Aaron Rodgers both crack top 10 in first rundown of all 32 starters

Assessing every team's starting QB for 2023, including three rookies

www.cbssports.com

 

[JackBauer]

According to CBS Sports and their early QB rankings for 2023, Belichick's "last chance" is the 29th ranked starter in the NFL. They have Mac listed only above Mayfield, Ridder, and Sam friggin Howell. Ouch!

2023 NFL QB Power Rankings: Lamar Jackson, Aaron Rodgers both crack top 10 in first rundown of all 32 starters

Assessing every team's starting QB for 2023, including three rookies

www.cbssports.com

Pretty lousy ranking, but hey it fits your narrative.

 

[crawhammer]

Pretty lousy ranking, but hey it fits your narrative.

What narrative is that? I'm just providing the link. This is pretty consistent too with many other QB rankings. It's evident there's a lot of skepticism about Mac Jones and he'll prove a lot of people wrong if he's able to sustain a successful career as a franchise quarterback. It's just the truth.

 

[crawhammer]

You'll scoff at this because it's ESPN's fantasy football rankings, but it's a good indicator of QB production expectation. And it pretty closely aligns with the ordinary rankings that are out there in the wild wild web.

Fantasy football rankings 2023: Quarterback

2023 fantasy football draft rankings from Matt Bowen, Mike Clay, Tristan H. ****croft, Daniel Dopp, Eric Karabell, Liz Loza, Eric Moody and Field Yates.

www.espn.com

8 ESPN staffers individually ranked the top 25 QBs in the NFL. Mac got exactly 0 votes. Not 1 vote in the top 25 from 8 different people.

 

[duc359]

You'll scoff at this because it's ESPN's fantasy football rankings, but it's a good indicator of QB production expectation. And it pretty closely aligns with the ordinary rankings that are out there in the wild wild web.

Fantasy football rankings 2023: Quarterback

2023 fantasy football draft rankings from Matt Bowen, Mike Clay, Tristan H. ****croft, Daniel Dopp, Eric Karabell, Liz Loza, Eric Moody and Field Yates.

www.espn.com

8 ESPN staffers individually ranked the top 25 QBs in the NFL. Mac got exactly 0 votes. Not 1 vote in the top 25 from 8 different people.

But aren't these the same sort of folks who dinged BB on the last few picks because they are not at all polished D performers, but actually athletic studs to see if they can play ST? 20% of the game and 35% of the scoring is ST, but most "analysts" are focused on O or D.

Age/injury/defections stripped the ST down over the last 2 years to leave the Pats with a dreck unit last year. There is an overage of these type guys on the roster now compared to this time last year, which hopefully leads to very good results. If the last 2 guys get cut, is that a failure, or that BB has the ST's loaded up?

As for Mac's rating, it's the poor year/coaching/team that's fed into a lot of it. I'm quite sure that in Purdy's or Tua's shoes he would have matched or exceeded those guys. if so, it's circumstances figuring to a large degree. Dollar/performance (AAV/$$) wise this coming year if him and the O is of average health, I'm not surprised a bit if he cracks the top 8. Without the money, with the tough schedule, his QB Rating could be say #18, but what if the scoring and TOP is 11th? Does Mac get any aura from that, or is he relegated to the "dink/dunk" category by his detractors/wish Brady was still here folks.

Lots of subjective factors in some of these comments (me too). I'm in the "show me" mode, and have much more respect for BB's roster ideas/plans than Pete Prisco/Mel Kiper. If he can't cut it, deal him, and try for the next guy.

 

[JackBauer]

You'll scoff at this because it's ESPN's fantasy football rankings, but it's a good indicator of QB production expectation. And it pretty closely aligns with the ordinary rankings that are out there in the wild wild web.

Fantasy football rankings 2023: Quarterback

2023 fantasy football draft rankings from Matt Bowen, Mike Clay, Tristan H. ****croft, Daniel Dopp, Eric Karabell, Liz Loza, Eric Moody and Field Yates.

www.espn.com

8 ESPN staffers individually ranked the top 25 QBs in the NFL. Mac got exactly 0 votes. Not 1 vote in the top 25 from 8 different people.

Oh, wow, "QB production expectation." You're right; I will scoff at that.

 

[crawhammer]

Lots of subjective factors in some of these comments (me too). I'm in the "show me" mode, and have much more respect for BB's roster ideas/plans than Pete Prisco/Mel Kiper. If he can't cut it, deal him, and try for the next guy.

Belichick doesn't have enough time left to "try for the next guy." It's gonna work with Mac or Zappe or "the next guy" will be trying to make it work for a new head coach of the Patriots. Belichick's window is why I would have accepted a run at Rodgers or been elated with a run at Jackson. Either of those two quarterbacks, on this team, could be successful within the next 2-3 seasons (which is the approximate time BB has left).

 

[Real fan 02]

I think it is a lost cause. Triumph has his own narrative and is trying to shape reality to fit his narrative.

Jones is far more closer to Brady in style of play than he is to Bledsoe. That is the reason why so many people thought the Patriots were the best team for for Jones and Jones might have been the best fit for the Patriots of the five top QBs in 2021. Jones isn't in the same stratosphere in terms of talent as Brady (at least not yet and probably never), but Jones definitely comps out better to Brady than Bledsoe.

Exactly right! Charlie Weiss mentioned Mac was drafted becuase he has the same intangibles at #12.

Now Mac has support around him from a coaching aspect. OC/QC. I believe Mac will have a bounce back season and if the QB is playing well that's usually conducive to winning football.

 

[Rob0729]

You'll scoff at this because it's ESPN's fantasy football rankings, but it's a good indicator of QB production expectation. And it pretty closely aligns with the ordinary rankings that are out there in the wild wild web.

Fantasy football rankings 2023: Quarterback

2023 fantasy football draft rankings from Matt Bowen, Mike Clay, Tristan H. ****croft, Daniel Dopp, Eric Karabell, Liz Loza, Eric Moody and Field Yates.

www.espn.com

8 ESPN staffers individually ranked the top 25 QBs in the NFL. Mac got exactly 0 votes. Not 1 vote in the top 25 from 8 different people.

Fantasy Football rankings are crap in judging QBs.

First, it skews to mobile QBs because QBs get more points for rushing yards than passing yards. Brady was always a crappy fantasy QB compared to what he was in real life. Brady was consistently ranked lower than a lot of lesser mobile QBs over the years.

Second, the Patriots emphasize the run more than most teams. That means the QB is likely to get fantasy yards and TDs.

Third, who cares where Jones is ranked. I bet if you look back to this time last year, Geno Smith was the last or one of the last ranked QBs on every list. He is ranked 14th on the CBS list you posted.

 

[crawhammer]

Brady was always a crappy fantasy QB compared to what he was in real life. Brady was consistently ranked lower than a lot of lesser mobile QBs over the years.

2021 Brady finished as the 7th overall ranked player and 3rd ranked QB (behind only Allen and Herbert).

Second, the Patriots emphasize the run more than most teams.

Well, you mean, now they do. The alternative isn't as good as it used to be.