Jones Should Be Greatly Improved In 2022

[PatsFanInVa]

People act like Jones could never get much stronger and faster. But the guy is doughy and clearly not in his peak physical shape. From a physical standpoint, he has a lot of potential to grow if he dedicates himself. Now if he was in great physical shape, you might have a great argument that won't improve all that much.

I have been doing CrossFit for nearly a decade. I have seen my fair share of young guys who come into the gym out of shape (and I am not talking about really fat guys, but just guys who have doughy bodies like Jones) and barely able to lift an empty bar (exaggerating a bit here, but not by a heck of a lot) and within a few years being able to lift 225-250 lbs over their heads. I look at Mac Jones that way. If he works at it and puts on muscle mass and loses the baby fat, he could potentially go to have a good to very good arm. And then you add improved throwing mechanics.

We saw a huge leap in arm strength by Joe Burrow from year one to year two and he came into the league much better shape than Jones. So we can see it with Jones. And Burrow did it mostly by improving his mechanics. Jones can improve by getting into shape and improving his mechanics. So the room for growth is higher at least on paper.

FIFY but also, agree. You can say all you want what shape Brady was when he came INTO the league, but fior every time they tell that story of the skinny kid with the pizza box saying "I'm Tom Brady, Mr. Kraft, and I'm the best decision this team ever made," they should show ten clips about how he is the first guy in the weight room in the morning asking what took you so long when you get there at 7 a.m. We'll see pretty soon whether he has that work ethic. We've seen he had a great rookie year, as rookie years go. But we haven't seen what he accomplishes to take that next step. Get yer popcorn and hope he gives us a show!

 

[zipster9]

Tom Brady did not improve on his own. He had help. The question is who do you connect Mac with to improve and evolve?

 

[venecol]

Tom Brady did not improve on his own. He had help. The question is who do you connect Mac with to improve and evolve?

Is this guy still around?

 

[crawhammer]

I think his arm strength will improve. It's not like the guy is manning in his last year. His arm is below average but people are really over exaggerating how weak is is

Also who cares about mobility. Both QBs in the Superbowl this year are not mobile guys. And the not mobile guy win last year

P. Manning was past his prime and running on fumes in his last year so I would hope Jones didn't look like that. All I'm saying about Jones arm strength is I don't think it will ever be an asset. Same with the mobility, he's never going to have the escape-ability or running ability of some other quarterbacks. There are a bunch of dual threat quarterbacks in the league now… Allen, Jackson, Watson, Murray, Hurts… Mahomes to a lesser extent, Russell Wilson is running less now but it used to be a big part of his game. Even Herbert runs enough where defenses have to watch for it. This other component gives these other quarterbacks a potential advantage over Jones. I think that's a fair assessment.

I get this year's SB is not featuring running quarterbacks but the Rams are a stacked roster with few weaknesses and the Bengals are very fortunate to have had two opposing quarterbacks completely ruin their team's chances.

Obviously Brady is the ultimate counterexample to the "mobile quarterback" but he had above average pocket mobility and was exceptional at literally every other aspect of his game.

 

[venecol]

With Bill being the OC, I wonder how many more gameplans he'll feature with Mac having less than a dozen attempts.

Lombardi: Bill Belichick will run this Patriots' offense

With people wondering what the New England Patriots’ offense will look like without Josh McDaniels, Mike Lombardi offered some insight into how much Bill Belichick will be involved.

www.audacy.com

 

[Ochmed Jones]

We have to give jones some receivers with nfl speed and hands this offseason. Best way to do that is via the draft. But bb can not make the pick. Let wolf make the pick. Olave, Dotson or burks, if we use a first round pick at receiver.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

We have to give jones some receivers with nfl speed and hands this offseason. Best way to do that is via the draft. But bb can not make the pick. Let wolf make the pick. Olave, Dotson or burks, if we use a first round pick at receiver.

Wolf but not dog. I am really beginning to think Nike doesn't belong in the war room based on his 2020 haul. Come on Nike. WTF is a Dalton Keene?

Sirrously, though... with our focus firmly on Jones, it's worth remembering that O-line makes a guy with a quick release and good decision-making look like a god, even with middling receiver talent. This is not an argument for middling receiver talent, but a turning up the next phenomenal LT pick (example) is basically almost like using that pick at receiver, by giving Jones that other quarter second... or more... that he needs.

Kendrick Bourne outperformed, Nelson Agholor underperformed, Jakobi Meyers, like Bourne, performed like a decent WR2. Agholor will be intresting to watch this year, and I'd argue will be more interesting based on O-line performance (enabling longer-developing routes,) unless it's just time to move away from him NOW.

Kristian Wilkerson will be really fun to root for in camp. They didn't see him as the way to go vs. Buffalo, but he does have the perfect NE draft pedigree, an UDFA. Important consideration with Wilkerson, we have to make sure we're playing Jacksonville every week if we're counting on him to save us.

It's also worth recognizing that while we were embassingly unable to answer the Buffalo onslaught, we didn't have the defense to even slow down Josh Allen, despite looking like we did during the magical mid-season run of apparent contention.

So through the lens of Mac Jones, we need receivers and/or O-line upgrades. I agree if we're going receiver, BB does not have the greatest draft track record, so sure, Wolf.

 

[Degen]

Patriots fans opinions of Allen are incredibly skewed. He killed us this year and he did in KC too (before Mahomes outdid him), but I watch the guy for 17 games because I live in Buffalo.

If he had to face the Cincy front, the Rams front, the 49ers front, he's a different QB. Don't be so impressed because you saw him against Wise Jr., Guy and a hurt Barmore, a one legged Hightower and a molasses slow Bentley.

I'm more worried that he'll dominate us because we can't build a decent defense than I am in awe of him potentially running over the league. He's not going to do it. He gets flustered and becomes incredibly inaccurate when pressured.

I'll only say that KC's D is not the best barometer either.

I do give Allen a lot of credit, one of the top QBs in the league, but I would--even today--take Mahomes and Herbert over him in the AFC.

Allen last year vs Donald and the Rams. 320 yards and 5 TDs. 35 points and a W.

Lmfao.

News flash... All QBs have bad games.

Allen is an elite QB, top 2 in the league, and a problem.

If you are putting Herbert ahead of him, you clearly don't watch the Bills, or any football at all.

 

[venecol]

We have to give jones some receivers with nfl speed and hands this offseason. Best way to do that is via the draft. But bb can not make the pick. Let wolf make the pick. Olave, Dotson or burks, if we use a first round pick at receiver.

 

[Sicilian]

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Diplomatic answer. He gains nothing from burning any bridges with any of those guys. I do think he likes them, and if nothing changed on offense, I expect the operation to be better just because of increased chemistry. But if they told him they had a chance to trade for Cooper Kupp (for example) I doubt he'd be like, "Nah, I'm good."

 

[upstater1]

Allen last year vs Donald and the Rams. 320 yards and 5 TDs. 35 points and a W.

Lmfao.

News flash... All QBs have bad games.

Allen is an elite QB, top 2 in the league, and a problem.

If you are putting Herbert ahead of him, you clearly don't watch the Bills, or any football at all.

Another table breaking dirtbag chimes in.

 

[RobertWeathers]

View attachment 41177

I wouldn't expect him to say anything different.

 

[Cohle]

Top 10 group of WRs? Where?

Drake London would be a good one for you guys. Good size, speed, physicality.

 

[Brandon_Cox]

I wouldn't expect him to say anything different.

Exactly. Look what Joe Burrow had to say about a historically bad offensive line.

 

[Triumph]

Tom Brady did not improve on his own. He had help. The question is who do you connect Mac with to improve and evolve?

Tom Brady struggled somewhat in year 2.

Marty Schottenhiemer figured out that if you made Brady move from his spot that he was less effective passing. An off season of 31bFL teams breaking down film on Mac should bring challenges.

 

[Triumph]

Exactly. Look what Joe Burrow had to say about a historically bad offensive line.

Very Brady like comments.

Burrow is very humble. Unlike Mahomes who showed up in Super Bowl commercials.

 

[Stu Pidassle]

Exactly. Look what Joe Burrow had to say about a historically bad offensive line.

Good example, no leader worth anything publicly rips the members of his team in any profession. Brady being so critical of the receiving corps at the end was a bad look and a clear message that he wanted out. Mac answered the question the only way possible and let his teammates know that he has their backs.

 

[captain stone]

We have to give jones some receivers with nfl speed and hands this offseason. Best way to do that is via the draft. But bb can not make the pick. Let wolf make the pick. Olave, Dotson or burks, if we use a first round pick at receiver.

Drake London would be a good one for you guys. Good size, speed, physicality.

I do NOT want a WR with our first pick.

What I DO want is a trade-back with either Jax or Detroit for 65/66/70 and use that extra pick on a WR, preferably Mac's buddy John Metchie if his knee's good for TC.

I want my first two picks (32/33/34 & 53) & our own 3rd-rounder to be spent on Outside CB / Pass-Rushing DE / Nose Tackle... Then with our first pick of Day 3 take the Best Left Tackle Available.

 

[Zuma]

I do NOT want a WR with our first pick.

What I DO want is a trade-back with either Jax or Detroit for 65/66/70 and use that extra pick on a WR, preferably Mac's buddy John Metchie if his knee's good for TC.

I want my first two picks (32/33/34 & 53) & our own 3rd-rounder to be spent on Outside CB / Pass-Rushing DE / Nose Tackle... Then with our first pick of Day 3 take the Best Left Tackle Available.

I think trading back this year is a good idea...but no speedy LB's? Are you counting on the youngsters on the team to provide that? Their are several that will be healthy and should step-up.

 

[jal]

Drafting WR has been poor use of capital for BB historically. I'd rather keep building up the lines on both sides if it's a "tie" but obviously take the best player available generally.

With respect to type of pass-catchers, we don't necessarily need a classic win on the outside WR, we just need more bodies that can win 1v1 period. The gameplans can shift to find those matchups, we just don't have enough good matchups in the passing game. Doesn't matter if it's WR, TE, or RB.

Looking back on the season, I do wonder what happened to the team's morale down the stretch. Maybe it was injuries to Mac or Judon that weren't disclosed, but overall the team peaked in the middle of the season and faded into the end, especially with the linebacking group and the OL. Broadly the team needs more talent - hopefully this was our 2009 season equivalent (team in transition) and we have a 2010-type draft coming up with real starpower added. It will take another 1-2 years of successful talent additions to get this team into top contention. Bill has done it once before in the early 2010s and will have to do it again (the early 2000s dynasty by contrast was largely built on inherited talent with some select upgrades - notably Brady of course).