New England Patriots: Mac Jones, the ‘Griddy’ and an MVP prediction
Are you ready for some more Mac Jones hype? As the New England Patriots young quarterback enters Year 2 of his NFL career there are some high expectations surrounding the Alabama product.
Whether it’s from teammates, coaches or NFL writers around the league, Jones should be even better in his second season in the league coming off a rookie season in which he was the best rookie quarterback and earned himself a Pro Bowl nod.
In completing 67.6 percent of his passes for 3,801 yards with 22 touchdowns and 13 interceptions, Mac Jones helped lead the Patriots to a 10-7 record and a playoff showdown against the Buffalo Bills.
While that wild card playoff dismantling at the hands of Josh Allen and the Bills left a sour taste in the mouth of New England Patriots fans everywhere, there was still a positive to take away from the season and even that playoff loss. That is that the Patriots have themselves a leader in the making and an absolute competitor.
New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones has a challenge ahead of him
Veteran safety Devin McCourty lauded that competitive nature and shared how that can help Mac Jones in Year 2 with even more pressure placed upon him.
"“The hard thing for him is he’s in Year 2,” McCourty said during an appearance on NBC Sports Boston’s “The Camera Guys.”. “I remember being in Year 2. It was a rough Year 2 for me. You’re trying to figure out a lot of things. He has a lot of pressure on him. A lot of people are going to watch every move he makes. Everyone wants a piece of him now. But I think he’s a guy that’s build for it, being at ‘Bama and all the success they’ve had. So I’m excited for it, to be another older guy – when he wants to ask a question I can answer it and give the guidance that I’ve learned from my experiences and pass that along to him.”"
While a regression is possible for Mac Jones in Year 2, he has done all the things in the offseason needed to improve. That includes getting himself “Jacked up” as far as his body goes and working with his receivers to form chemistry.