New England Patriots: Mac Jones and the mastery of quarterbacking
New England Patriots have a young quarterback who can make the throws
Mac Jones has been criticized for not having a strong arm. Yet at his pro day, he was clobbered for overthrowing two receivers. That’s more baloney. Jones just makes the right throws at the right time and finds the right receiver in so doing.
In addition, he’s well-versed in play-action which he used all the time at Alabama. He’s a master of offensive sleight of hand, deception. In addition, he can operate an RPO-type offense. He may not be a top running threat but he’s familiar with that offense and can run it.
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Alabama uses play-action extensively, as well as trick plays. Jones can execute all of it. He can also deliver a nice, soft throw in a hurry on a quick screen. James White will appreciate that.
Watching his film, it also occurs that it is a true shame that one Julian Edelman will not be on the end of some of those quick throws to the sideline to make 7-10 yards upfield in a snap.
Jones also is a master at looking off one receiver and then turning and throwing to another.
In addition, he masterfully uses the pump-fake often (why more quarterbacks don’t is a mystery) thereby freezing defenders and further allowing his other receivers to get more open.
It’s an amazing trait that is too often overlooked and underused by even the best of NFL quarterbacks. Jones uses it to perfection, all the time.
Jones puts the ball where it’s supposed to be. Jones’s completion percentage of 77.4 percent speaks to that in a tangible, measurable way for certain.
He also has great field vision. He can find the open receiver and lay the ball out on a dime to maximize the potential gain on any and all plays that need some time to develop.
Jones will likely have some time with New England’s top-shelf offensive line on a good many plays and he will hit a receiver or in many cases his excellent tight ends as a result.
He also doesn’t need lots of space to find a receiver.
While his top guys got open in space because of their superior talent, Jones also found them and his tight end in a short window, often. It wasn’t all playing pitch-and-catch, even at Alabama, although Jones made it look that way.