Mac Jones, New England Patriots offense is onto Week 1 vs Dolphins
The good thing about the New England Patriots during the tenure of Bill Belichick as head coach is that each week is a new week. That is exactly the approach second-year quarterback Mac Jones is taking as he prepares to shake off those preseason struggles and create a new chapter in his career come Week 1 of the 2022 NFL season.
While the classic “Onto Cincinnati” phrase Belichick made popular is overstated, it’s hard not to reference back to that approach when it comes to this installment of the Patriots. With Jones groomed to be the next face of the franchise any success or lack of success starts with him.
Fair or unfair, Mac Jones is going to be put under a magnifying glass due to his rookie success and the strides he made physically to improve his game. Though just the preseason, that rookie success and progression in the offseason didn’t translate on the field. It wasn’t totally his fault, but he’s the one player who can execute better and get those offensive struggles turned around.
Can Mac Jones and the New England Patriots offense find their identity?
As Belichick also often says, it’s a total team effort, but the progression of the offense must start with Jones, which when asked about that progression during his media session on Wednesday, the Patriots quarterback offered some encouraging words.
"“It’s been good,” Jones said, via Patriots.com. “A lot of learning experiences and [there’s] always room for growth. I think it’s been good. I think we’ve ironed out a lot of things and it’s good that they’re happening now. I feel confident in what we’re doing. We just have to go out there and do it for 60 minutes, and that’s just play-by-play. Obviously during practice, same thing, play-by-play, go out there and execute it and once you turn on the game field and you look back and there’s 45, 50 good plays then hopefully you come out on top.”"
While much of the offensive struggles is being attributed to a new offensive philosophy, the New England Patriots do have the talent to be a solid to very good offense. They have two power running backs in Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson who can break a big play on any snap, they have two pass-catching tight ends in Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith who could and should create mismatches against opposing defenses and they have four solid wide receivers.
Speaking of those wide receivers, if Mac Jones can find the same chemistry with DeVante Parker and Nelson Agholor that he has with Kendrick Bourne and Jakobi Meyers, this Patriots offense may be a lot better than expected. But of course, it all starts with the offensive line and how David Andrews, Trent Brown and the boys can both protect Jones and work in cohesion.
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As it seems the beginning of every season, the O-line is a work in progress that will be tested in that Week 1 matchup against the Miami Dolphins. The entire offense will be tested and given how unimpressive they looked in the offseason, it will take a lot more than X’s and O’s to right the ship.
Jones knows “fundamentals” are part of that road of progression, he also acknowledges knowing and doing his job is key to offensive success during the regular season.
"“I’m very particular about what I’m supposed to do on each play and all of us are and we went to know as a receiver, where do I line up and what do I do,” Jones said about ironing things out on offense. “As a quarterback, what are my reads on this specific play. Everybody has their own job, but it’s all about what you do on that play to make it a better play.”"
Next. New England Patriots: Top 5 concerns heading into 2022 NFL season. dark
As the New England Patriots are onto Miami, the biggest question is Mac Jones and his ability to make the players around him better and his recognition to make better plays when the team needs a boost. A tough ask for a second-year quarterback, but one he seems ready to tackle.