Patriots Daily News Thread Patriots Wednesday 10/4/23

[Wozzy]

Ok, we agree on certain things.. let's be realistic what has transpired since he's been here.. he showed promise his rookie season.. last yeah he was ruined.. this season he seems like isn't trusting what he's seeing or the people around him.. sucks is what fields has been prior to the last 2 games, what Russell has been.. that's what sucks I would not say Mac sucks.. can he play better absolutely positively.

Mac started playing poorly after week 13 of his rookie season, started turning the ball over at a much higher rate. It wasn't simply him getting ruined last year, Zappe played much better in the same exact conditions.

Mac is making mistakes, it's not anyone else's fault.

 

[Wozzy]

Maybe. I don't think Zappe is going to turn into a franchise QB at this point. I don't think he makes it through being cut and every team having a shot at him and no one taking a chance on him to realize that he's not the answer. We need a new QB who is not on this roster and we're probably not getting him until the offseason.

Every team had a shot at Kurt Warner when he was on the practice squad, every team passed over Brock Purdy at least seven times in the last draft.

Where you come from means nothing once you enter the league, only how you play.

 

[mike_usagisan]

Every team had a shot at Kurt Warner when he was on the practice squad, every team passed over Brock Purdy at least seven times in the last draft.

Where you come from means nothing once you enter the league, only how you play.

Zappe is in the league and has played.

 

[Wozzy]

I'll agree on that coaches can loose the game players win it..

Mac's been losing games.

 

[Wozzy]

Zappe is in the league and has played.

This is true, only twice has he practiced the entire week as a starter and played. The result:

 

[mike_usagisan]

This is true, only twice has he practiced the entire week as a starter and played. The result:

Ok. I'm not going to convince you, and I don't disagree that we should try him. But this feels like the Stidham arguments all over again.

 

[Wozzy]

Ok. I'm not going to convince you, and I don't disagree that we should try him. But this feels like the Stidham arguments all over again.

I'm not saying Zappe is the answer. I'm saying the same exact thing about him that I said about Stidham or Mac before they played.

Nobody has any clue how a young inexperienced QB will react or play, until you give them a real opportunity. And I don't mean cleaning up Mac's mess in the rain against the Bears last year, or taking over in garbage time in a route against the Cowboys last week.

I mean prepare Zappe like a starter, prepare his teammates to work with him and give them the best tools to go out and do the job.

If Zappe fails... the season is completely over anyway. It means they have no QB.

I'd rather know that sooner than later this season. Mac has been given every chance to prove himself, last week was a statement game. He had his starting offensive line, he had an indoor climate controlled environment, he had everything he needed. Our defense was down their top four CB's, they needed Mac to shine... and he folded like a cheap futon instead.

I held out hope for Mac, he ripped that away from me.

My hope now lays in the only other good untested QB prospect left on the roster.

 

[mike_usagisan]

I'm not saying Zappe is the answer. I'm saying the same exact thing about him that I said about Stidham or Mac before they played.
...
I'd rather know that sooner than later this season.

I think that Zappe isn't being given a chance is them telling you that you should know sooner. If Mac sucks the rest of the way through the season, they're turning to a QB not on the roster. They're not turning to Zappe in the same way they didn't turn to Stidham.

 

[Wozzy]

I think that Zappe isn't being given a chance is them telling you that you should know sooner. If Mac sucks the rest of the way through the season, they're turning to a QB not on the roster. They're not turning to Zappe in the same way they didn't turn to Stidham.

That's like saying Brady sitting on the bench behind Bledsoe was the correct decision.

It wasn't, but creme always rises to the top eventually.

Stidham proved he sucked when he actually played, Zappe played extremely well... apples/oranges.

 

[mike_usagisan]

That's like saying Brady sitting on the bench behind Bledsoe was the correct decision.

It wasn't, but creme always rises to the top eventually.

Stidham proved he sucked when he actually played, Zappe played extremely well... apples/oranges.

It was well reported that Brady practiced better than Bledsoe. No one is saying that about Zappe. You could be right, but it's crystal clear the coaching staff (the ones who decide who plays) have made up their minds.

 

[Chevy]

Solely from watching the QB School videos, I get the sense that Mac is a good QB (with the exception of the Dallas game where he completely unraveled), but that our offense is built on an insanely high degree of efficiency. And I'm pretty sure Mac can't do that. And if we're not going to give him better weapons, he's definitely not going to get there.

So I look at it like either we get him better weapons or we get a QB that can play in an offense that doesn't require such a high level of efficiency. And at this point, I'm kind of okay with both.

Randy checked out because his QB’s, who both were out of the NFL within a season, stunk to the high heavens.

Mac is mentally soft, no heart, no fight, poor decision maker, snowflake.

I said they should have stuck with the hot hand in Zappe last season before the Bears game. I said prior to the Ravens game that Mac was in danger of losing his job if he didn’t stop turning the ball over… I wasn’t alone, Mike Lombardi said the same thing.

The only thing that saved Mac’s job was getting hurt in that Ravens game and the staff feeling terrible about starting Mac against the Bears three weeks later only to hear the home crowd chant Zappe’s name.

Mac showed some contrition and stopped turning the ball over… at least until later in the season. If the coaches had the balls to keep Zappe in there, he may have taken the job and never looked back.

Now here we are, with mediocre to poor QB play and a mentally fragile starter who loses a little more confidence after each game.

Looking like Mac is the new Eason.

 

[Real fan 02]

I

I think that Zappe isn't being given a chance is them telling you that you should know sooner. If Mac sucks the rest of the way through the season, they're turning to a QB not on the roster. They're not turning to Zappe in the same way they didn't turn to Stidham.

I Think so too.. it's easy to kick Mac while he's down. Ok fair enough he hasn't played his best we all know that. I'm a realistic fan if zap were the starter I'd want to see him do well. That usually adjucates to success. As you have been following wozzy, and I post back n forth. He makes points and I make points. The organization for some reason just hasn't taken the measures that other franchises have with thier QBs. I don't know why?

We have a 2005-2006 era roster not an 2023 NFL level roster. This team in that era would be very good. A stout defense and possession WRs. Alot is going to determine on how this offense looks going forward. Me personally I'd just throw out the Buffalo game coming up.. concede a loss. So outside of Buffalo can the offense look competent? Can they move the ball and score.

 

[Wozzy]

It was well reported that Brady practiced better than Bledsoe. No one is saying that about Zappe. You could be right, but it's crystal clear the coaching staff (the ones who decide who plays) have made up their minds.

But they started Bledsoe… and the coaches are always right.

 

[mike_usagisan]

But they started Bledsoe… and the coaches are always right.

Nobody said they're always right. I only ever said that they're the ones who make the decisions. The same situation happened last year and they put Mac back in when he was "healthy." You're right to want to see Zappe start. You're just very unlikely to get it.

 

[Real fan 02]

Looking like Mac is the new Eason.

If so they RK should trade Mac... why haven't they? He's a bad QB right?

 

[Wozzy]

Nobody said they're always right. I only ever said that they're the ones who make the decisions. The same situation happened last year and they put Mac back in when he was "healthy." You're right to want to see Zappe start. You're just very unlikely to get it.

They were wrong before the Bear's game last season as well... which I said at the time, that they should stick with the hot hand.

Of course I said Mac was in danger of getting benched before the Raven's game and would have called for him to be benched after it, had he not gotten hurt... there was no need to.

I gave the coaches the benefit of the doubt regarding Mac, if they thought he could improve, then they should stick with it.

I was with them right up until the Cowboys game last Sunday. The coaches are wrong.

Now Mac will probably make minor improvement, he'll probably turn it over a little less... they're also playing lesser opponents the next two weeks. Hanging onto to Mac if he provides more dull, average play will still be wrong. If you're not improving in the NFL, you're sitting still.

They'll get slaughtered in three weeks by Buffalo, and we'll be having this conversation all over again.

 

[Wozzy]

If so they RK should trade Mac... why haven't they? He's a bad QB right?

Yes, he's played bad... like crap.

If you're in denial about that, you're watching the wrong sport and should switch to something you understand.

Nobody wants to trade for Mac, why would they?

 

[Chevy]

If so they RK should trade Mac... why haven't they? He's a bad QB right?

Eason, like Mac, started off fairly well. He had good touch on the ball, and ran the offense. Even came back after the leg break in 85. But once he started feeling the heat he never recovered. There's a reason why Grogan, bad knees and all, outlasted the younger Eason.

Mac, though for different reasons (maybe) is following that path. I wonder if, skills or not, he can actually recover and play to that first year potential.

 

[Real fan 02]

Yes, he's played bad... like crap.

If you're in denial about that, you're watching the wrong sport and should switch to something you understand.

Nobody wants to trade for Mac, why would they?

I'll just go by what you say? I don't understand the NFL can you let me know how it works? Please sir.. I'm sure the patriots would heavily value your opinion.. tell you what I think BB has an opening on his staff. You have the answers right ? I need to learn from a football savant I don't understand the NFL.

 

[Real fan 02]

Eason, like Mac, started off fairly well. He had good touch on the ball, and ran the offense. Even came back after the leg break in 85. But once he started feeling the heat he never recovered. There's a reason why Grogan, bad knees and all, outlasted the younger Eason.

Mac, though for different reasons (maybe) is following that path. I wonder if, skills or not, he can actually recover and play to that first year potential.

I can RESPECT your opinion. Fair point. I'll tell you the reason why Mac won't be traded. MONEY. He's on his rookie deal Making literally pennies on the dollar. Tha patriots are not going to trade him becuase theu don't have anything behind him on the roster at QB they can win with.

However as the season goes it's worth paying attention too. If this thing gets ugly then ..