Bedard: Mac running out of gas?

[Rob0729]

I don't want to be viewed as his defender, but in fairness Bedard has been #1 on the Jones train since day one.

Curran was the first to say he thought BB was choosing Mac, but Bedard was pounding the "Mac should be named starter" drum before anyone local on the beat.

Again, I know that Bedard has been mostly positive on Jones if not overly positive. Just pointing out one circumstance where he repeatedly make the claim that he thought that Jones may not be able to see over the line and that may be why he could not throw deep.

 

[patfanken]

this is a good take by Bedard, and I'm only wondering why he would be the only one mentioning it. We all wondered in the spring about whether Mac had the body yet to survive an NFL season, with some thinking that he needed a year to get stronger, much like Brady did in 2000.
So it is legitimate for one to wonder if his stretches of inaccuracy over the last 2 weeks is a function of him getting hit WAY more than he experienced in college. Half the season still to go. We shall see.

 

[Family]

this is a good take by Bedard, and I'm only wondering why he would be the only one mentioning it. We all wondered in the spring about whether Mac had the body yet to survive an NFL season, with some thinking that he needed a year to get stronger, much like Brady did in 2000.
So it is legitimate for one to wonder if his stretches of inaccuracy over the last 2 weeks is a function of him getting hit WAY more than he experienced in college. Half the season still to go. We shall see.

All these type of writers are forced to consistently arrive at unique ideas.

This one certainly has credibility from a writer who is a fan of the player.

 

[Tunescribe]

this is a good take by Bedard, and I'm only wondering why he would be the only one mentioning it. We all wondered in the spring about whether Mac had the body yet to survive an NFL season, with some thinking that he needed a year to get stronger, much like Brady did in 2000.
So it is legitimate for one to wonder if his stretches of inaccuracy over the last 2 weeks is a function of him getting hit WAY more than he experienced in college. Half the season still to go. We shall see.

He's got two breaks coming up that might help: after the Atlanta game next Thursday and then the bye week four games from now. I'm really anxious for Trent Brown to come back and beef up the running game/protection to take some pressure off Mac, especially with cold weather coming. The RB injuries aren't helping any.

 

[scott99]

I do feel he has regressed the last 2 weeks. Whether that’s a rookie wall, who knows. Really need him to play his best the last 8 games. Next 4 games before the bye, we really need to go 3-1. So he’s gotta be more than a game manager, probably going to have to win a couple of them by being the guy. If they could be 8-5 going into the buy, get a little healthier during the break, they have a shot. But if they go 7-6 or god forbid 6-7 going into the break, well they’ll be playing for next season.

 

[sb1]

The next 6 games are the meat grinder of our season. That group of teams has a combined record of .600. The passing game needs to show up now especially with our RB's banged up. If Mac is hitting the rookie wall that does not bode well for a winning season and a playoff run. Time to dig deep and show us what he's got.

 

[TheRazorsEdge]

Rookies go from the college season (extended in Mac’s case) to the combine and prodays to mimicamp, OTAs, the rookie football development program and into TC and then the season. It’s a long haul.

Bingo.

So I don't think that's ground breaking news. What I'm more interested in is what the pats do to counteract it given that they've now gotten them selves into potential playoff run.

Even more run? MORE Days off? Mandatory week he's held out - pre bye to get 2 full weeks off?

 

[Tunescribe]

I do feel he has regressed the last 2 weeks. Whether that’s a rookie wall, who knows.

I don't think it's really a matter of "regressing," he's facing new defenses every week that all play him a bit differently. Some are faster than others and the Chargers/Panthers probably are the fastest he's seen thus far. Speed of the pro game is a huge adjustment for rookies. I can't imagine the load this kid is carrying mentally and physically, Mac is one tough little cookie.

 

[patfanken]

He's got two breaks coming up that might help: after the Atlanta game next Thursday and then the bye week four games from now. I'm really anxious for Trent Brown to come back and beef up the running game/protection to take some pressure off Mac, especially with cold weather coming. The RB injuries aren't helping any.

One of the great competitive DISADVANGES each year is the one the away team has on the Thursday night game. I think if you look over the long term you will find the home team wins at a far higher percentage than the normal home field advantage. On the other hand Bill has been very good at preparing his team for these short weeks. Still tough to be on the road after what will likely be a very physical game with the Browns

 

[Pats1971]

I don't think it's really a matter of "regressing," he's facing new defenses every week that all play him a bit differently. Some are faster than others and the Chargers/Panthers probably are the fastest he's seen thus far. Speed of the pro game is a huge adjustment for rookies. I can't imagine the load this kid is carrying mentally and physically, Mac is one tough little cookie.

Isnt he carrying the load all QB's do?

 

[catent]

Isnt he carrying the load all QB's do?

Perceived workload varies based on a lot of things. Experience, mettle, mental toughness, physical strength, prior experiences, mood, etc. A lot of that comes with time, which is to say that managing that workload becomes significantly easier, mentally and physically, after several years of experience on the job.

Mac's personal workload, in a vacuum, may be comparable to other QBs, but that doesn't mean he isn't dealing with more of a burden because of his circumstances.

It's like watching a 175lb 30 year old who's been lifting weights for 5+ years bench pressing 275lbs, and then sitting a 130lb 20 year kid next to him who has barely touched a dumbbell, putting the same weights on the bar, and saying "no biggie. you're lifting the same load everyone else who bench presses here does".

 

[PScottman]

I would assume "rookie wall" as a term has about 500 different definitions.

That said, it only makes logical sense that Jones is both mentally and physically experiencing something he has never has before. As an example, as was said earlier, he's seen like a 700% increase in sacks vs his historical norm - some brutal. That is absolutely a contributing factor in his "too quick" throws last week as his internal clock has likely not caught up so that he's actually sensing the rush instead of anticipating the rush (two very different things).

Others have already posited correctly that the key to having a good idea about Mac's potential for the future is his reaction to the wall. Can he push through the struggles? Does he see fundamentals as key to consistency? Are the dips followed by surges back to previous (or hopefully even higher) mean plateaus of output?

We spoke of how Darnold and now Wilson were ruined by very similar circumstances of being constantly beat up/sacked/harrassed - in addition to just being Jete. (The difference being the Patriots are winning right now) The measure of Mac will be can he mature as a QB past the rough patch and emerge on the other side better for it or does he regress and become "just another QB"?

 

[Nunchucks]

Again, I know that Bedard has been mostly positive on Jones if not overly positive. Just pointing out one circumstance where he repeatedly make the claim that he thought that Jones may not be able to see over the line and that may be why he could not throw deep.

He also couched that statement saying he did not think it would be a problem...he just noticed a few plays where guys were being missed.

 

[amfootball]

Isnt he carrying the load all QB's do?

I would say no because our coaching is so demanding. We all have wondered how another Qb would fare under the demands of Bill and our system and we are about to find out if the grind has its downside too. Many non Qb players have left here because they could not hack the demands required. Mac seems mentally tough but you dont really know for sure until they go through the fire.

In terms of the rookie wall. I think that could be part of it but I also would not discount defenses figuring Mac out after half a season. 8/9 games is a lot of film for defenses to adjust to what we are doing.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Last 2 games have been shaky, but I don’t think due to fatigue or anything. Just bound to have a couple of those after a good start

 

[masterbouncer]

Last 2 games have been shaky, but I don’t think due to fatigue or anything. Just bound to have a couple of those after a good start

they played good D# as well, you can't play the JETE every sunday

 

[TinhWoodhead]

big Mac runs diesel, not gas

 

[sb1]

Then there's Justin Fields who gets criticized a lot - but the truth is he's been quite a bit better than Mac in the last couple of weeks. He seems to have figured things out in Chicago - and he had just as long a college season as Mac did. He's also been sacked more than Mac has.

So while the rookie wall could be a thing, I don't know if we can say that's what it is for sure.

I think more likely a combination of two things - the Pats have stepped up in weight class when it comes to opposing pass defenses (and it doesn't get any easier from here) and there's plenty of tape on Mac and the league now knows how to play against him. It's up to Josh and Mac to adapt to that.

 

[RIpats88]

It's more like 1 1/2 games he's been shaky. Was on fire to start vs the chargers until he took that massive hit. Could be nursing a minor injury.

 

[FreeTedWilliams]

Alabama was in the CFB playoff, every year mac was there, meaning thier seasons lasted until mid january every year, then spring ball.

At least now he doesn't have to worry about classes or the draft. He will be fine.