New England Patriots: 3 reasons Mac Jones will be a top 10 QB in 2022
The New England Patriots as a team are entering the 2022 NFL season with low expectations, but there are high expectations for their quarterback as Mac Jones enters Year 2 “more confident” and “feeling healthier and better.”
Speaking of healthy, Jones has showed off his dedication to eating better in the form of a new physique and training method that has the Patriots young quarterback looking like a man on a mission.
As cutting back on ice cream has been a part of his improved diet, Jones appeared at Hood Park in Charlestown, Mass this past Friday to give out free samples of his limited-edition “Mac Attack” ice cream flavor. In doing so, he also took some time to speak to Phil Perry of NBC Sports Boston, who started off by asking Jones about his new physique and how he feels entering Year 2.
"“I think it’s important to assess everything and that was one of the things I wanted to improve,” Jones told Perry. “I made significant strides in that area, fixing my body and feeling comfortable and feeling healthier and better. But at the end of the day, you’re still a human and you want to eat what you want to eat, but you have to be disciplined as best you can. Hood ice cream is one way to do it, so that’s what I do for my late-night dessert.”"
Mac Jones looking to make significant strides with New England Patriots in 2022
It’s the “significant strides” part that should have Patriots fans excited about the upcoming season. Coming off a successful rookie season in which he completed 67.1 percent of his passes for 3,801 yards with 22 touchdowns and 13 interceptions, there is still doubt about his ability to be a top-notch quarterback in the NFL.
As critics will happily point out, much of the Mac attack in 2021 was short, intermediate passes in a controlled offense that kept him limited when it came to pushing the ball down field. Now Jones did prove he could do so at times, but both Bill Belichick and former offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels kept a leash on him for the most part. That was a smart approach for a rookie quarterback.
This upcoming season, there should be more opportunity for Jones to be more of the quarterback he was at Alabama. While he’s not expected or even predicted to be a top 10 quarterback, there are three reasons why Mac Jones and the New England Patriots will be a surprise in 2022.
There are question marks on both offense and defense, but success in the NFL starts with the coach and quarterback.