OCTOBER 15: Ian Rapoport of NFL.com confirms that Jones is indeed on a short leash, and that if he should struggle in the first few series of today’s game against the Raiders, Belichick could pull the plug and insert another quarterback.
Who that quarterback would be, however, is unclear. Greg Bedard of the Boston Sports Journal recently told 98.5 The Sports Hub (as relayed by Karen Guregian of MassLive Sports) that Grier would likely be the next man up if Jones is benched. While Rapoport does not go that far, he does say that Grier and Zappe split reps in practice this week and that, despite Grier’s current status as QB3, the former third-round pick of the Panthers could be the one to get the nod.
It is also worth noting, as Mike Reiss of ESPN.com writes, that Cunningham received increased quarterback reps in practice this week after spending the majority of his pro career to date working on his transition to wideout. That surely does not mean that he would be called upon to replace Jones, but O’Brien believes Cunningham — who was just signed to the active roster — is one of the Pats’ most improved p-squad players. Rapoport adds that the club does have a package installed for the versatile weapon.
OCTOBER 12: Mac Jones and the Patriots offense has struggled mightily this season, especially over the past two weeks. The third-year quarterback has tossed four interceptions, lost a pair of fumbles, and earned two benchings in those two contests, with the offense failing to find the end zone in either of those two losses.
Many have started to question if Jones will continue as the QB1 for the Patriots. While it doesn’t sound like the leash is very long, the Patriots coaching staff made it clear this week that the former first-round pick will be under center this weekend against the Raiders. Coach Bill Belichick told reporters that the team won’t be “making any changes” (via NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport), while offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien said he expects Jones in the lineup on Sunday.
“It’s not about one guy,” O’Brien said when asked about Jones’ struggles (via ESPN’s Mike Reiss). “He’d be the first to tell you that there’s things that he has to do better, whether it’s obviously take care of the ball, maybe read the route better, or get us into a better play. But it’s a collective effort.”
While Jones is expected to stay in the starting lineup, it sounds like the team is prepared to make a change if needed. Jeff Howe of The Athletic tweets that this will be an important week of practice for the starter, and the Patriots will continue to “evaluate every position on the roster.” Following New England’s Week 5 loss to the Saints, Belichick acknowledged that the team was “starting over,” an indication that everyone’s spot on the depth chart would be reconsidered.
Part of the reason the Patriots haven’t already pivoted away from Jones is because of their lack of faith in the organization’s other QBs. As Andrew Callahan and Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald write, 2022 fourth-round pick Bailey Zappe has struggled during his second season in the NFL. A source told the Herald that Zappe had a “rough transition to the new offense” under O’Brien, and that ultimately led to the team cutting the quarterback at the end of the preseason.
The other 31 teams passed on Zappe, and he ultimately landed back on the Patriots’ active roster (following a quick stop on the practice squad). The team has since shuffled through multiple options at QB3. Will Grier is the current third option at the position, but even Belichick recently noted how difficult it is for players to climb the depth chart during the season. While rookie Malik Cunningham intrigued during the preseason, the Patriots seem committed to the player’s transition to wide receiver. The lack of alternative options explains why Jones will continue as the starter.
Following a successful rookie season, it’s surprising that the Alabama has taken such a significant step back over the past year-plus. According to the Herald duo, much of the blame has been placed on the organization, as Jones has shuffled through three offensive coordinators, an inconsistent and injury-plagued offensive line, and an underwhelming receivers corps.
However, sources also noted that Jones hasn’t done anything to help his case. The quarterback’s tape is “littered with inexcusable errors,” and while the lack of protection and weapons hasn’t helped, Jones is still making fundamental mistakes. In fact, according to the Herald, some in the organization recognized that Jones wasn’t the guy following the 2022 campaign, but the Patriots hoped the QB wouldn’t be bad enough to sabotage their chances.
“We know Mac isn’t going to win for us. He needs to be comfortable,” a team source told the Herald this summer. “But we think we can win with him. We’ll see.”
The team hasn’t done much winning this season, with their lone victory coming against the Jets. Jones will get another chance at redemption this weekend, but it’s uncertain how much longer he’ll stick atop the depth chart if the offense continues to struggle.
I mean at this point … why not just tank for a high draft pick? Especially if a new HC comes in next year.
New HC & GM.
I think that it’s worth hiring a GM and giving Belichick one more year to try it out. There’s not really any way that he rights the ship this year, in my opinion. I don’t expect that to happen, though, and frankly, Belichick had done that to himself by assuming that he could replace his front office staff with himself.
It’s a different league than it was when Brady was drafted twenty some years ago. Defense is not as impactful as it was then, and Belichick’s defense, while overachieving in many ways, just doesn’t have the same elite talent that it did in their early Super Bowl runs. Belichick can either choose to accept that he needs talented players, or can continue to fail to adapt.
I’m not predicting this at all, by the way, but wouldn’t be interesting if Cousins found his way to NE next year?
When you pass on Addison/Flowers/Q Johnson and JSN this past draft, not giving Mac a true WR1, then you get what you deserve. Even last year, Watson and Hall were available. They never wanted to get Mac any help after his rookie year, and now it shows.
What do you mean, they got Zeke
Christian Gonzalez had been more of an impact than all of those guys prior to his injury
Christian Gonzalez had more of an impact than Mac as well. That’s not necessarily a good thing. He needs weapons around him, and CG doesn’t help his growth.
BB tried to trade for AR this past off season because he knew Jones wasn’t worth a crap
Nobody tried to trade for him except the Jets. The Jets were competing with themselves.
If what you said is true, then blame their GM (hint Bill) and scouts right? Bill’s good friend, Saban, highly recommended Mac to him.
Mac is a hack. Zappe is crappy. Mac Manziel should go to the cfl.
#FreeZappe
Zappe Attack over Fat Mac any day
Going down w/the ship.
Belichick is sneaky smart for not making a change at QB, as much as it pains me to admit that. As long as Jones is out there and playing poorly, Belichick has a bit of a shield from taking the full blame for the losses. I know he’s rumored to be on the hot seat, but I don’t know how much that matters to him. It’s about keeping as much shine on his legacy as possible.
Even if the Patriots don’t win another game this season Belichicks legacy is quite secure and he will wind up in the HOF.
Clear now without Brady, Belichick is another Wade Phillips. A quality defensive coordinator, but not HC/GM material.
Actually Belichick is no better than Jeff Fisher, he of “7-9 Forever”.
9 seasons of proof verifying your statement. 5 years in Cleveland and 4 now in NE. I hope he continues to coach and show how awful of a coach he is. I want a full decade of incompetence on his resume. GOAT my back side.
9 more.
Doable this season.
Sure are a lot of crappy teams this year. I don’t think that’s a coincidence. Looks more like a race for that first or second pick in the draft.
Owners are meddling more than in the past which is a sure fire way to have a crappy team. Other teams simply wanted to know what it’s like to go on a “darkness retreat”.
Crosseyediemon….. exactly and the reason why Mac Jones is not only still starting QB or even still on the team has soley to do with Kraft. Bellicheck wanted to trade him over the off season, but Kraft wouldn’t let him.
Bill the HC is so desperate that he’s going to use Bill the GM’s 3rd string QB??? Why not improve the QB room last offseason? Same 1st and 2nd stringers from last season.
Dear Football Gods, I ask very little, but PLEASE let Bill swap both his 1st and 2nd string QB’s to be replaced by their 3rd stringer. And not due to injury.
Bill likes to stock pile draft picks and usually has multiple late round options.
With that in mind maybe he should use a strategy similar to his Brady choice, and SF dart throw, pick a QB late. If he fares well then Bill is a genius again and if not then it’s ‘expected’. Use any early round choices on defense where the Pats also need help.
Raise the our hand if you feel sorry for Belichick and/or the Patriots..
Nobody should feel sorry for a team (and coach) that are more hated than any other team in any sport in any nation on any continent.