If Mac Jones ever develops into a QB who can win playoff games for you and contend for championships, I’ve become convinced he’s going to need exceptional line play in front of him to reach that level.
It’s not because he gets overly jittery when pressured. All QBs, even the one honored today, can look pedestrian when being the pressured. But, the real problem is his lack of functional height (shoulder height plus arm length) lowers his release point which all too often has him flipping the ball out of a well to get his passes over the extended arms of rushers rather than being able to drive the ball for maximum velocity or distance. That’s why some of his passes look crisp with more than adequate velocity while others just float towards their target. It all depends on whether he has a clean passing lane to step into the pass or not.
It’s just a shortcoming Jones and the Patriot coaches are going to have to develop work arounds for if he’s to fully reach his potential. Deeper drops or moving pockets would be helpful in certain situations. But, the best solution is to have an Oline capable of preventing rushers from not only getting to him but also from getting too close to him as well.
I think this helps explain the emphasis on the Oline, especially interior linemen, in the Pats’ last two drafts.
