An FYI On Mac Jones

[Triumph]

Kraft said that he wants to see improvement in Jones this season and wins in the post season.

Where the Pat's are competitors again. Nobody expects Jones to win the Suoer Bowl this year. But, it must be clear that he is the Pat's QB of the future. This team is good enough to reach the post season right now.

The ball is in his hands when he returns.

 

[farn]

Now, @Ian don’t you be hassling us with measured logic and stats. Remember, drafting bad, play calling bad, everything bad.

 

[PatsFan2]

Big "if". He very well may and if he does he's special. He has to show me though

Zappe will have opportunities at least three more games. I have Mac missing a month.

 

[Ian]

Zappe will have opportunities at least three more games. I have Mac missing a month.

I think he comes back after the Cleveland game, which is about a month (10/24) from the date of the original injury (9/25). That one is also a home game against Chicago, which gives him some additional treatment ahead of the game since they wouldn't have a travel day mixed in.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

It seemed like there were way more slants and screens and quick outs called for Zappe than Mac. That may have been my geezer brain. But if my brain doesn't deceive me, then that play calling style might help Mac too.

We did that for Mac last year and at the end of the season we got destroyed, including the playoffs, when we played good teams. It will work for the next 4 or 5 games when we play bad teams, but after that we will get destroyed again down the stretch in 2022. You were not watching the Pats last year?

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

I think he comes back after the Cleveland game, which is about a month (10/24) from the date of the original injury (9/25). That one is also a home game against Chicago, which gives him some additional treatment ahead of the game since they wouldn't have a travel day mixed in.

29 days after his injury, you think that having 1 extra day before the Chicago game, 30 days after the injury, is key to Mac's recovery?

 

[Schmo]

We all saw how Mac competed against Cam. At this point in his career, it might be a bad thing for him to assume he's #1. He has quite a bit to learn still. Job is still his, but a silver lining is that he got to see a rookie qb win 29-0. If he has the competitive juices to be a top tier qb, then he will react positively.

On the other hand, it's a great learning process for a rookie to come into the NFL, watch how things are done, play and test yourself, then move onto the next stage of learning. Zappe just received invaluable training.

 

[Ian]

29 days after his injury, you think that having 1 extra day before the Chicago game, 30 days after the injury, is key to Mac's recovery?

No idea. I'm just saying if it's close (ie: he's still in some pain but gets cleared) and he decides he's going to play, it probably makes more sense and would be easier for his return to come ahead of a home game vs traveling. I just think after next weekend he's going to be itching to get back out there if he's not able to go again this week.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

No idea. I'm just saying if it's close (ie: he's still in some pain but gets cleared) and he decides he's going to play, it probably makes more sense and would be easier for his return to come ahead of a home game vs traveling. I just think after next weekend he's going to be itching to get back out there if he's not able to go again this week.

Do we know exactly who would be the guy that clears jones to play and who that guy he works for?

 

[Ian]

Do we know exactly who would be the guy that clears jones to play and who that guy he works for?

No idea. The other thing I'm thinking is if Zappe does start again Sunday and he goes and lights things up against Cleveland, I feel like it makes sense for Jones to say "screw it" and sit out until he feels closer to 100% given that any misstep could potentially cost him his job.

Obviously, he's going to have to play well and despite playing better, the offensive line still saw Zappe flushed out on a few plays Sunday and if Jones can't move laterally, which anyone here who has ever had an ankle injury knows is painful, that's probably going to have a negative impact on his play and potentially re-aggravate it. So it probably doesn't make much sense to push it if he's not there yet.

Although, I'm not a doctor and my opinion is meaningless, so take that for what little it's worth

 

[oldrover]

We did that for Mac last year and at the end of the season we got destroyed, including the playoffs, when we played good teams. It will work for the next 4 or 5 games when we play bad teams, but after that we will get destroyed again down the stretch in 2022. You were not watching the Pats last year?

I was. And I recall the losses being primarily due to the defense not stopping the Colts... or the Bills... twice... or the Dolphins. You saw those, right!

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

I was. And I recall the losses being primarily due to the defense not stopping the Colts... or the Bills... twice... or the Dolphins. You saw those, right!

Changing the subject? Convenient.

Mac sucked down the stretch and in the playoffs due to playing vanilla against good teams. But you want to change the subject to talk about the defense because you think that makes your point about the offense stronger?

 

[Ochmed Jones]

No idea. The other thing I'm thinking is if Zappe does start again Sunday and he goes and lights things up against Cleveland, I feel like it makes sense for Jones to say "screw it" and sit out until he feels closer to 100% given that any misstep could potentially cost him his job.

Obviously, he's going to have to play well and despite playing better, the offensive line still saw Zappe flushed out on a few plays Sunday and if Jones can't move laterally, which anyone here who has ever had an ankle injury knows is painful, that's probably going to have a negative impact on his play and potentially re-aggravate it. So it probably doesn't make much sense to push it if he's not there yet.

Although, I'm not a doctor and my opinion is meaningless, so take that for what little it's worth

Can’t disagree with any of this and I hope zappe starts against Cleveland, because I doubt jones can be ready to go by then.

 

[Ian]

Changing the subject? Convenient.

Mac sucked down the stretch and in the playoffs due to playing vanilla against good teams. But you want to change the subject to talk about the defense because you think that makes your point about the offense stronger?

I don't think they'll play vanilla this time around regardless of who is out there. That stretch you're talking about is six weeks away and they've already made massive gains in terms of the evolution of the play calling in just two weeks since the Baltimore game. I'm hoping they continue to grow in that regard and that things are running even more smoothly by then. The running game has obviously been a big key in a lot of that success and I do feel like if that continues (hopefully Harris' hamstring doesn't become an issue), they'll have a shot to be in each one of those games with a chance to win as long as they don't beat themselves.

 

[Hyped]

It seemed like there were way more slants and screens and quick outs called for Zappe than Mac. That may have been my geezer brain. But if my brain doesn't deceive me, then that play calling style might help Mac too.

Lazar wrote about this today. Let me find it...

 

[Hyped]

Lazar wrote about this today. Let me find it...

After Further Review: How the Patriots Changed the Offense for Rookie QB Bailey Zappe

The Patriots offense is taking on a different style with the rookie under center.

www.patriots.com

Tl:dr version: Zappe is running the Mac Jones 2021 offense, but we need Mac to take the offense to another level..hence the learning curve.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

I don't think they'll play vanilla this time around regardless of who is out there. That stretch you're talking about is six weeks away and they've already made massive gains in terms of the evolution of the play calling in just two weeks since the Baltimore game. I'm hoping they continue to grow in that regard and that things are running even more smoothly by then. The running game has obviously been a big key in a lot of that success and I do feel like if that continues (hopefully Harris' hamstring doesn't become an issue), they'll have a shot to be in each one of those games with a chance to win as long as they don't beat themselves.

I understand your point but you are guessing. Yesterday was back to a vanilla game plan like we ran last year with Mac.

Will it change going forward with Zappe? I doubt it because no QB picks the game up fast enough in their first season.

Will it change when Mac returns? I think Yes. But there is no hurry to return Mac since our schedule is so weak for 4 more weeks.

We will not win against the good teams (like in the playoffs) if we are not more aggressive offensively (pushing the ball downfield). With TB12 we could strike deep anytime. Now, not so much, so teams put 8 and 9 men in the box. Yesterday was no exception, but Detroit could not execute. Like you say our running game mixing power and zone blocks is more effective than last year.

 

[sportnik]

I don’t care what Mac’s numbers were. If he doesn’t stop turning the ball over, he’s going to find himself benched for Zappe.

 

[sportnik]

I understand your point but you are guessing. Yesterday was back to a vanilla game plan like we ran last year with Mac.

Will it change going forward with Zappe? I doubt it because no QB picks the game up fast enough in their first season.

Will it change when Mac returns? I think Yes. But there is no hurry to return Mac since our schedule is so weak for 4 more weeks.

We will not win against the good teams (like in the playoffs) if we are not more aggressive offensively (pushing the ball downfield). With TB12 we could strike deep anytime. Now, not so much, so teams put 8 and 9 men in the box. Yesterday was no exception, but Detroit could not execute. Like you say our running game mixing power and zone blocks is more effective than last year.

There’s nothing wrong with plain vanilla. It’s so much better than sloppy turnovers.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

There’s nothing wrong with plain vanilla. It’s so much better than sloppy turnovers.

Plain vanilla works OK against weak teams. Against the good teams plain vanilla rarely works. See the end of 2021 (last 5 games) and the 2021 playoffs as an example of plain vanilla against good teams.