Mac and the "It Factor"

[captain stone]

A Yahoo Sports writer, Darren Hartwell, said "A "top (NFL) executive" from a team that faced the Patriots this year (so, either the Eagles, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets or Cowboys), summed up the Mac Jones Experience well to Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer.

“... He’s a quick-trigger, efficient, rhythm-and-timing passer," the exec added. "If you’re playing a quick game and play-action with him, that’s great. If you have him sitting there processing, and throwing into tight spots, that’s not great..."

But Corky thinks the quick game sucks.

 

[captain stone]

Maybe it looks bad for Bob, or maybe it clarifies that the groceries were just bad?

So why in the world would you want the same grocery-shopper then?

 

[upstater1]

FIFTEEN YEARS AGO!

We haven't found WRs. Everyone knows this. But--I will say this repeatedly--what were the alternatives?

Instead of Gonzalez, Zay Flowers.

Last year was worse as the 1st 6 receivers taken busted. I mean, Treylon Burks is absolutely awful.

Belichick deserves the blame for Tyquan over Pickens.

BUT it makes sense to take the guys he has taken if it mean building a better team in the end.

Would taking Flowers have given them a better chance to make the playoffs this year? I could make that case, but I could also say it gives them a worse chance of getting to the Super Bowl in 2 years. It might've also saved Mac Jones's job!!!!

 

[mike_usagisan]

So why in the world would you want the same grocery-shopper then?

Look, I think they took Mac because he had potential to work in our system, came recommended by Saban, and they thought he'd develop. If he doesn't, I don't think that means that the guy who drafted him was wrong, nor does it mean that it was a risk that wasn't worth taking. It just didn't pan out. Mac is either the first or second best QB in his class and was taken 5th. If we have to draft again, then we keep doing it.

Again, I'm ok if Kraft wants to fire him. But I'm also ok if he stays as other than Mac, he's got a better hit/miss ratio on QBs than anyone else who would be making the call.

 

[upstater1]

Look, I think they took Mac because he had potential to work in our system, came recommended by Saban, and they thought he'd develop. If he doesn't, I don't think that means that the guy who drafted him was wrong, nor does it mean that it was a risk that wasn't worth taking. It just didn't pan out. Mac is either the first or second best QB in his class and was taken 5th. If we have to draft again, then we keep doing it.

Again, I'm ok if Kraft wants to fire him. But I'm also ok if he stays as other than Mac, he's got a better hit/miss ratio on QBs than anyone else who would be making the call.

People think Belichick is done, but if he gets fired it's 90% certain he takes a job elsewhere. We'll have the same kinds of discussion as we did between 2019 and 2022; much of the board (don't know how many) said Brady was done in 2019. And many of those same people lamented who we came up with.

The idea that a new set of coaches are going to come in here and have more success than the Patriots have had from 2019 on is not at all given, and we see this repeatedly across the NFL as coaches are replaced on that carousel line. Few teams have any continuity.

 

[IcyPatriot]

Laughing my ass off ... Felgah and Mazzhole playing a short Clip 'Nutslap'
based on the B52's Love Shack. Never cared for them much but anything is better than Mego.

 

[archstanton543]

The idea that a new set of coaches are going to come in here and have more success than the Patriots have had from 2019 on is not at all given, and we see this repeatedly across the NFL as coaches are replaced on that carousel line. Few teams have any continuity.

The Pats are headed that way sooner rather than later. Do you think BB is going to be coaching when he's 75 or 80?

 

[upstater1]

The Pats are headed that way sooner rather than later. Do you think BB is going to be coaching when he's 75 or 80?

This is the tail end of a rebuild. We have very young players on this team. 54 new players since 2021. We are hurting badly at QB and a #1 receiver. Otherwise everyone needed is here for Belichick. If allowed, he will see it through until they are contending for AFC Championship. I expected that year to be next year because I had some confidence Mac would be an average QB. I thought Belichick would be here for the next 3 years before retiring.

 

[condon84]

Look, I think they took Mac because he had potential to work in our system, came recommended by Saban, and they thought he'd develop. If he doesn't, I don't think that means that the guy who drafted him was wrong, nor does it mean that it was a risk that wasn't worth taking. It just didn't pan out. Mac is either the first or second best QB in his class and was taken 5th. If we have to draft again, then we keep doing it.

Again, I'm ok if Kraft wants to fire him. But I'm also ok if he stays as other than Mac, he's got a better hit/miss ratio on QBs than anyone else who would be making the call.

I'm not gonna get on Belichick's case for drafting Mac. The draft is a crapshoot and GMs are taking chances on college players. However, at a certain point once you've seen enough evidence, you gotta pull the plug. Mac probably plays great in practice, better than any of our other QBs but in live games he has been a liability playing in a position that determines the success of the offense.

Why do our offense suck? Mac was here last year and it sucked, we changed OCs. It's still the same. The stretch our offense looked decent was the two games Zappe started. I'm not advocating Zappe be the starter but it illustrates that you remove Mac from the equation, the offense, even with fat Mat as OC, looked like an NFL offense. Mac is the common denominator the past two years.

I feel like the only way we're gonna get a QB change is because of an injury.

 

[mike_usagisan]

The Pats are headed that way sooner rather than later. Do you think BB is going to be coaching when he's 75 or 80?

True. I'll be sad if Bill gets fired and goes somewhere else, just like I was sad when Brady went elsewhere. But it's the nature of the league that nothing lasts very long.

 

[Brady6]

I really wanted to be a Mac Jones fan but I can’t get there. In my opinion he has self-esteem issues. I think he has been on a spiral since the wind bowl in Buffalo his rookie season, and I honestly think that lack of confidence in his arm strength has lingered with him since. He was 8-5 with 8 interceptions going into that game and he is 8-16 with 22 interceptions since.

 

[upstater1]

I really wanted to be a Mac Jones fan but I can’t get there. In my opinion he has self-esteem issues. I think he has been on a spiral since the wind bowl in Buffalo his rookie season, and I honestly think that lack of confidence in his arm strength has lingered with him since. He was 8-5 with 8 interceptions going into that game and he is 8-16 with 22 interceptions since.

I'm the same way. I was dreading this post-Brady era because I expected a bunch of people to sour on a developing new QB who wasn't as good as Brady.

I was a Mac-backer. Some things gave me a lot of pause last year. In the Miami game this year, I came to the realization that this was not to be.

 

[203Pat]

This is the tail end of a rebuild. We have very young players on this team. 54 new players since 2021. We are hurting badly at QB and a #1 receiver. Otherwise everyone needed is here for Belichick. If allowed, he will see it through until they are contending for AFC Championship. I expected that year to be next year because I had some confidence Mac would be an average QB. I thought Belichick would be here for the next 3 years before retiring.

Lol what this is the tail end? So this is the near finished product? You make it sound so easy like "Oh just upgrade the QB and get a receiver" and boom we're in the AFCCG. We are moving in reverse. Bill shouldn't get another year.

 

[upstater1]

Lol what this is the tail end? So this is the near finished product? You make it sound so easy like "Oh just upgrade the QB and get a receiver" and boom we're in the AFCCG. We are moving in reverse. Bill shouldn't get another year.

You both underestimate the importance of a QB and how bad Mac is.

 

[mike_usagisan]

I'm not gonna get on Belichick's case for drafting Mac. The draft is a crapshoot and GMs are taking chances on college players. However, at a certain point once you've seen enough evidence, you gotta pull the plug. Mac probably plays great in practice, better than any of our other QBs but in live games he has been a liability playing in a position that determines the success of the offense.

Why do our offense suck? Mac was here last year and it sucked, we changed OCs. It's still the same. The stretch our offense looked decent was the two games Zappe started. I'm not advocating Zappe be the starter but it illustrates that you remove Mac from the equation, the offense, even with fat Mat as OC, looked like an NFL offense. Mac is the common denominator the past two years.

I feel like the only way we're gonna get a QB change is because of an injury.

I think it doesn't matter who we change to this year, there's no saviors. This was the season to judge Mac, and I think he's quickly failing. 3 years to judge a drafted QB doesn't seem unreasonable.

 

[203Pat]

You both underestimate the importance of a QB and how bad Mac is.

The QB is the single most important position in team sports. The only QB that could take this roster to an AFCCG is Mahomes. I have never really liked Mac from the start but I don't think he is horrible. Weak arm, questionable leader, poor under pressure, poor off platform, just generally annoying to look at? Yes, all of those things but he isn't the worst quarterback in the league. Bill picked him but seems to be married to him more this year when he's playing even worse than last year when they were in a pissing contest. If Bill goes I assume Mac is gone and a new coach and GM are picking a new QB in the top 10 and by the time that guy develops most of the young talent on this team will be on their second contract here or elsewhere. That's why whiffing on a first round QB generally sets a franchise back anywhere from 5-7 years.

 

[upstater1]

The QB is the single most important position in team sports. The only QB that could take this roster to an AFCCG is Mahomes. I have never really liked Mac from the start but I don't think he is horrible. Weak arm, questionable leader, poor under pressure, poor off platform, just generally annoying to look at? Yes, all of those things but he isn't the worst quarterback in the league. Bill picked him but seems to be married to him more this year when he's playing even worse than last year when they were in a pissing contest. If Bill goes I assume Mac is gone and a new coach and GM are picking a new QB in the top 10 and by the time that guy develops most of the young talent on this team will be on their second contract here or elsewhere. That's why whiffing on a first round QB generally sets a franchise back anywhere from 5-7 years.

One of the 3 worst starters in the league. I'd rather have Baker Mayfield

 

[p8ryts]

Yeah the undrafted rookie free agent who played multiple positions this summer that no one claimed when he was cut is the answer.

Tongue in cheek, but there are no answers. Let him run around and see what happens. Maybe he could at least complete a dump off.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

One of the 3 worst starters in the league. I'd rather have Baker Mayfield

I was a Mac supporter too. Tired of seeing him throw off his back foot. Just not aggressive, seems to be panicking all the time. Hard not to look a Mayfield and see an average QB. Mac is not average.

 

[Guts]

One of the 3 worst starters in the league. I'd rather have Baker Mayfield

Yeah Mayfield at least has grit even though he's more turnover prone career wise