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This has an opening post with good commentary and information, which we definitely recommend reading.

Mac or Zappe

  • Zappe

  • Mac


Results are only viewable after voting.
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But that just makes what Zappe has shown even more impressive with the speed in which he's been able to improve in an NFL setting. Regarding the opposition, we just saw Rodgers, Brady, & Garoppolo lose to Wilson, Trubisky & Mariota. There were 7 upsets this weekend, possibly 8 with tonights outcome. There's way more parity across the league.

Zappe never faced a Myles Garrett level of player and got sacked twice by him, yet had one of the best QB performances this weekend:

Rating: 118.1 (#4)
TD: 2 (#2)
INT: 0 (#1)
Sacks: 2 (#3)
Yards: 309 (#5)
Comp: 24 (#7)
Att: 34 (#8)

Zappe played under OC Kittley (now Texas Tech OC/QB coach) who ran an Air Raid offense out of the shot gun formation with 4 receivers & a RB. This kid does nothing but pass and had the flexibility to audible to any play based on what the defense showed him at the line of scrimmage.

Let me ask you, how difficult is it for Zappe to go from that shotgun offense to being UC in the NFL? I would think it'd be a challenge. This kid is wicked smart.
Since Bacon already answered your question, I’ll just say I love the fact that he was willing and able to hit those throws to the sticks earlier in the game when the Browns were shifting from Cover-1 to Cover-3 and taking away everything in the middle. Most rookies would force things there, and Zappe was firing it outside the hashes. It forced them to shift and he adjusted fine.
 
I really like Zappes pocket awareness and seems to have a nice touch on the ball…Mac hasn’t lit the world on fire in his season + we aren’t talking about an established veteran starter/star and I do think Mac is a little limited long term due to arm strength…

But let’s roll with Zappe a few more weeks and see how he does while Mac gets better.
I want Zappe in there until Mac is 100% and then reassess. If he lights it up like this over next few weeks we have a true controversy.

I guess throw me somewhere in between the “Mac is the starter, end of story” and the “Zappe is better, he’s outplayed Mac” crowds
 
Mac is likely practicing with the # 1s today and will start for Chicago.

But, I have a suspicion that we will be seeing Zappe again very soon.

1 - I do not believe that Mac will pass the ball any better resulting in more turnovers. Jones makes reckless throws and rarely places the ball in the location where his man is the only player that can get it.

2 - I believe that NFL defenses will bring more pressure now knowing that Mac has a gimpy ankle.

3 - I do not believe that Mac can take the pressure of knowing that the Patriot's can win without him. Hoyer and Stidham were never serious threats to take his job and Zappe is short by NFL QB standards and from a school that few people have ever heard of. How times have changed. I have no qualms letting Zappe start vs a Buffalo or Minnesota.
 
Mac ran AWAY, That's my point.

Did you watch him at all last year? Mac has EXCELLENT pocket presence and movement when the pocket is there and receivers are in sync. You can't cherry pick one example based on what you assume is happening and claim it's a bad habit. For that matter I saw two instances -- vs. Green Bay and again vs. Cleveland -- when Zappe turned his back to the rush and took blind turns. If someone had slipped a block in the direction he turned he would've been killed head-on. He's gaining experience and no doubt this is being pointed out to him by coaches. But comparing Mac and Zappe in terms of pocked awareness at this stage is a nonstarter.
 
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I think Mac is the better QB but his #1 problem is he doesn't take care of the football.

In his 21 games as a starter he has 20 INTs and 7 fumbles. That is not acceptable.

In his last 8 starts he is 2-6. Not good.

He needs cut down on the TOs. If he does, winning football will follow.
 
I think Mac is the better QB but his #1 problem is he doesn't take care of the football.

In his 21 games as a starter he has 20 INTs and 7 fumbles. That is not acceptable.

In his last 8 starts he is 2-6. Not good.

He needs cut down on the TOs. If he does, winning football will follow.
Good points except for the lead being Mac is better. Not according to your numbers there. Ideally Mac wouldn't be ready yet so we can get more data on Zappe. He's played well in two starts vs weak teams with bad defenses, and although the next few opponents aren't that much better, it would provide a fuller view of what we may have in Zappe. If he can keep up his current pace within reason then I think the better quarterback is up for debate. In any case the team is starting to build some momentum with Zappe as the starting quarterback, and although it's not all about him, I'm not inclined to make a significant change at this point. Especially when that change is replacing a player who's playing well with a player who wasn't.
 
Good points except for the lead being Mac is better. Not according to your numbers there. Ideally Mac wouldn't be ready yet so we can get more data on Zappe. He's played well in two starts vs weak teams with bad defenses, and although the next few opponents aren't that much better, it would provide a fuller view of what we may have in Zappe. If he can keep up his current pace within reason then I think the better quarterback is up for debate. In any case the team is starting to build some momentum with Zappe as the starting quarterback, and although it's not all about him, I'm not inclined to make a significant change at this point. Especially when that change is replacing a player who's playing well with a player who wasn't.
They absolutely should ride Zappe.

Let the situation resolve itself.
 
Interestingly, Joe Montana was within a half an inch for Zappe’s height

Some thought that if Zappe was 2 inches taller that he might have gone in round 1.
 
NY Jets QB Mike White came from West Kentucky too. He had one good game and then the wheels came off.

Also, Zappe is an unknown. There is no film on him for opposing defenses to break down and gameplan for. The Browns basically did a good job stopping the NE run and tried to force Zappe to beat them.

Well, he beat them.

Since NFL DCs had all offseason to review Jones film, It's no shock that Mac is struggling this season, but the majority of his mistakes are self inflicted.

More Zappe for me.
 
Mac is likely practicing with the # 1s today and will start for Chicago.

But, I have a suspicion that we will be seeing Zappe again very soon.

1 - I do not believe that Mac will pass the ball any better resulting in more turnovers. Jones makes reckless throws and rarely places the ball in the location where his man is the only player that can get it.

2 - I believe that NFL defenses will bring more pressure now knowing that Mac has a gimpy ankle.

3 - I do not believe that Mac can take the pressure of knowing that the Patriot's can win without him. Hoyer and Stidham were never serious threats to take his job and Zappe is short by NFL QB standards and from a school that few people have ever heard of. How times have changed. I have no qualms letting Zappe start vs a Buffalo or Minnesota.

I know you hate Mac Jones, but that might be the most ridiculous thing you have ever said about him. Ball placement is one of his bigger strengths.
 
I know you hate Mac Jones, but that might be the most ridiculous thing you have ever said about him. Ball placement is one of his bigger strengths.
Is that why he has 5 INTs in 3 games?

There might have been 2 more INTs. The Agahlor TD in Pitt was underthrown (as usual) and vs the Ravens where Jones threw to Henry and the ball was nearly picked for another 6 point turnover. Carelessness throwing into double and triple coverage at times with a rubber band throwing arm.

I dont want to hear all the tired old excuses and blame cast on some other guy.
 
Is that why he has 5 INTs in 3 games?

There might have been 2 more INTs. The Agahlor TD in Pitt was underthrown (as usual) and vs the Ravens where Jones threw to Henry and the ball was nearly picked for another 6 point turnover. Carelessness throwing into double and triple coverage at times with a rubber band throwing arm.

I dont want to hear all the tired old excuses and blame cast on some other guy.

 
Is that why he has 5 INTs in 3 games?

There might have been 2 more INTs. The Agahlor TD in Pitt was underthrown (as usual) and vs the Ravens where Jones threw to Henry and the ball was nearly picked for another 6 point turnover. Carelessness throwing into double and triple coverage at times with a rubber band throwing arm.

I dont want to hear all the tired old excuses and blame cast on some other guy.

So we are going to throw out his rookie and his college career and focus on three games where he was learning a new offense, the o-line sucked, and Patricia was learning on the job. Talk about cherry picking.

We all get it. You hate Mac Jones. You don't need to go on and on with the foolishness.
 
Beef Jerky Mac ought to be worried.

If Zap plays good vs the Bears, Mac will be on thin ice for all his mistakes.

“I’m on the fence with this one,” Law said. “Because you usually don’t lose your job to an injury, but when someone comes in and is playing like that, and he has the team somewhat rolling, let him go ahead and play. You can give yourself an internal excuse — say, ‘Hey, take your time, Mac. Let’s get all the way back healthy.’ So, I think Zappe’s going to get another opportunity to start because he earned it.”

 
So we are going to throw out his rookie and his college career and focus on three games where he was learning a new offense, the o-line sucked, and Patricia was learning on the job. Talk about cherry picking.

We all get it. You hate Mac Jones. You don't need to go on and on with the foolishness.
Glad you included college.

6 Bama players went in the 1st round of that draft. 3 played with Mac - LT,RB,WR
 
Glad you included college.

6 Bama players went in the 1st round of that draft. 3 played with Mac - LT,RB,WR

Psst! One of them was Mac Jones.
 
From Giardi, for those asking for Jones highlights:

 
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