The New England Patriots are at a crossroads in 2023 and it will be a make-or-break season for young quarterback Mac Jones, as well.
Third-year quarterback Jones is on the hot seat. How he performs will determine the team’s and his own future with New England Patriots.
Jones has had a proverbial up-and-down roller-coaster ride of a two-year tenure with the team. In 2021 he had a fine rookie season and even before that looked like a sure-fire top NFL QB.
He led his team to a playoff berth in 2021 while making a questionable yet factual Pro Bowl berth, for what they are worth. In 2022, his play fell way off leading to questions about whether he was the quarterback for the long term or not.
His 2022 performance was a letdown for the team, its fans, and certainly for the player. himself. There is lots of blame to go around including poor coaching staff decisions by Bill Belichick, poor drafting decisions, and little effort in free agency acquisition at all.
Time for New England Patriots QB Mac Jones to show his shine
Yet now, entering his third season, Jones is on the cusp of his Patriot tenure. He will either nail down the Patriots QB position long-term or fall aside and let someone else take the reigns.
The halcyon days of Tom Brady taking the title in the AFC East annually and the Super Bowl an average of almost every two years are long past now, as is Brady’s active career now. Those years are in the rearview mirror and won’t be back.
It’s time for someone else to step up. The question is, will it be Mac Jones, or will some other player swoop in to seize that role?
Let’s take a look at the challenges that Jones will have to face if he is to earn the former rather than the latter situation.
New England Patriots QB Mac Jones needs to take charge and lead
Quarterbacks must be leaders, whether they like it or not. Mac Jones has to put the team on his back if the Patriots are to have a chance of becoming relevant, not only in the AFC East but elsewhere in the NFL.
Jones will likely be the starting quarterback in 2023 though nothing is guaranteed in the NFL. Bailey Zappe and any other new quarterback the New England Patriots may bring in through the draft or trade may have something to say about that.
Assuming he is, Jones must galvanize an offense that has hopefully been reinforced at several positions. The goals are to make first downs, extend drives, and score points, lots of them.
It ain’t rocket science and now having a qualified offensive coordinator, Bill O’Brien, and a solid staff can’t help but be an improvement in the all-important coaching department. Jones seems to be taking things seriously this offseason. That’s a good portent.
Yet, in addition, Jones can’t deliver everything himself. Others need to block, run, and catch the football if the team is to score those points and win games.
The Patriots need game-breakers and difference-makers, especially in the offensive line and the skill positions, most certainly at wide receiver (always seemingly a necessity) and to a somewhat lesser extent tight end and running back.
That responsibility falls on the personnel administration. This space feels this operation has fallen well short of expectations for years if not longer. Even owner Robert Kraft has taken them to task for poor drafting. If they fail to deliver, don’t expect miracles from Jones.
New England Patriots need several additions to their offense
The Patriots need to bolster the offensive tackle position dramatically. The best in the business, Tom E. Curran prioritizes the need. Here’s what he says at nbcsports.com,
"It’s a 5. Top priority. The team needs far better play at both tackle positions. They need to shore that up through the draft, free agency and through coaching. The return of Bill O’Brien will help. Klemm and Yates together (presumably) should give the team more cohesion with the day-to-day coaching, discipline and execution."
It is barely average at present. In addition, new weapons are needed at wide receiver, tight end, and maybe even a running back if Damien Harris is not re-signed.
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That’s a big order to fill but if the personnel operation can’t perform as needed, forget advancing in an ever-competitive AFC East, never mind in the playoffs.
If they do their jobs (a huge “if” for the New England Patriots), then it’s all on Jones to coalesce the divergent pieces into a proverbial well-oiled machine. The goal is to regain competitiveness, real competitiveness in the divisional beyond.
Jones’ weaknesses are evident. His pocket presence is average at best. In addition, perhaps Jones’ biggest deficiency is his inescapability in the pocket. These faults somewhat offset his accuracy which can be superb.
He also has poor footwork and turtles rather than use a short step up or sideways to avert pressure (ala Tom Brady) and make a completion. A better offensive line providing a clean pocket will certainly help there.
Hopefully, he’ll get one. But escapability if it’s lacking will always be an issue in the NFL. It’s a necessity. If there is any deficiency that could keep Jones from becoming the quarterback he can be, that’s it. Not sure if it can be taught or if it’s innate. It is what it is. We’ll see.
So here are a few thoughts on Mac Jones and 2023. What do you think are Jones’ biggest opportunities and hurdles this season? We’d like to hear.