NEW ARTICLE: New Patriots QB Mac Jones Brings His Winning Work Ethic to New England

scott99 · May 30, 2021

captain stone said:
I don't believe that his work ethic will be a determining factor of any future success here as much as his physical limitations - lack of ideal height (an overlooked asset in Brady's overall greatness) and likely insufficient Foxboro-in-January arm strength - might be...

Mac was officially measured at 6’2 5/8, which is over 6’2 and 1/2. Aaron Rodgers is 6’2”, Mahomes is 6’2”. I’m not worried about Mac’s size, and I’ve seen him get crushed on sacks, he’s one tough kid.

Also as far as arm strength, he’s got a good arm, he just doesn’t have a cannon like some of the big armed QBs, but he’s got a good arm. Definitely above average. There is plenty of tape of him throwing 50+ yards in the air (I don’t mean catch & run). He also was at 55% on passes traveling 20+ yards.

I’m not saying he’s going to be a great QB, or not become a great QB. I have no clue what’s going to happen. But I really love Mac’s skill set, his self confidence, his never say die attitude, he has that internal self motivation that is very Brady like. He has incredible accuracy, I’ve watched a lot of his games, some of those throws were just perfect, right on target where only his receiver can get it. It’s uncanny how he puts it in the right spot perfectly.

What’s great about Belichick is, his coaching style is, don’t tell me about what a player CANNOT do, tell me what he is good at, and he’ll maximize that skill set. Jones couldn’t have landed in a better spot.

Ivan · May 30, 2021

NormZauchin said:
I'm also a bit concerned about guy born and raised in the deep South making the transition to a New England winter. Brady was from California, but he had four years of seasoning at Michigan. However, I'll be an optimist and hope that he follows the path of Bart Starr, a 'Bama alum who managed to do pretty well in an even colder clime.

Joe Namath, Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers to name just a few. If a QB is a great QB they will adapt to the situation.

Bourne Again Christian · May 30, 2021

scott99 said:
Mac was officially measured at 6’2 5/8, which is over 6’2 and 1/2. Aaron Rodgers is 6’2”, Mahomes is 6’2”. I’m not worried about Mac’s size, and I’ve seen him get crushed on sacks, he’s one tough kid.

Also as far as arm strength, he’s got a good arm, he just doesn’t have a cannon like some of the big armed QBs, but he’s got a good arm. Definitely above average. There is plenty of tape of him throwing 50+ yards in the air (I don’t mean catch & run). He also was at 55% on passes traveling 20+ yards.

I’m not saying he’s going to be a great QB, or not become a great QB. I have no clue what’s going to happen. But I really love Mac’s skill set, his self confidence, his never say die attitude, he has that internal self motivation that is very Brady like. He has incredible accuracy, I’ve watched a lot of his games, some of those throws were just perfect, right on target where only his receiver can get it. It’s uncanny how he puts it in the right spot perfectly.

What’s great about Belichick is, his coaching style is, don’t tell me about what a player CANNOT do, tell me what he is good at, and he’ll maximize that skill set. Jones couldn’t have landed in a better spot.

Agree with everything here, also if the only Knock is mobility and arm strength, those are things that can improve. I wouldn’t be surprised in 2022 to see a much different looking Mac Physically.
This is the NFL everyone is a challenge this isn’t Alabama steamrolling a lesser school on Saturdays.
He knows this having Cam in front the workout monster can only help Mac if Mac improves his strength and velocity by even 10 percent it’s a massive improvement.
I see Mac Jones as a Matt Ryan with a Peyton Manning kind of ceiling.
Yes I know who I compared him too.
I don’t see Brady in his release and Stance I see more Peyton like.
If anything preseason football will be exciting, unless BB does us dirty and has Hoyer playing and Mac on the bench to keep his cards close to his chest.

BTTA · May 30, 2021

Ian said:
The walk up to the stage was a surprise for me. His face got serious and there were no smiles. It was different than what I've seen in the past and I gotta say...I kind of liked it. Granted, he smiled when he got up there, but his demeanor during that walk from the holding area was another reason why I'm really happy about this pick. I think they might have really gotten lucky last night.

My CEO wife was watching the first round with me, and said "he's the one kid who looks like he belongs up there, and knows it" or something like that. Validation from someone much more objective than the rest of us, and who evaluates people's fit to a role for a living.

And I have to think that being told for a month that you are going to be picked 3rd, and then dropping to 15th, with no team confident enough in you to trade up to get you, has a "Brady at 199" potential to motivate him.

1960Pats · May 30, 2021

NormZauchin said:
I'm also a bit concerned about guy born and raised in the deep South making the transition to a New England winter. Brady was from California, but he had four years of seasoning at Michigan. However, I'll be an optimist and hope that he follows the path of Bart Starr, a 'Bama alum who managed to do pretty well in an even colder clime.

I think Brady had grandparents in some winter wonderland and spent a lot of time in the cold and snow as a kid.

Simpelton · May 30, 2021

Ochmed Jones said:
most of Jones’s college tape is him making intermediate to long throws. Can Jones thrive in a shorter passing game, with a superior set of tight ends?

Is he smart, quick with the ball, and a hard worker?

Brady lived by the short pass because he was absolute genius at fitting the ball into small spaces. I expect Mac to be less of a genius in this area but to know what to do. I also expect a different quarterback to be matched with a different offensive plan.

This is one of the reasons I want Jones to sit and practice for a year before getting starts at the NFL level. We need a chance to see who he is in practice, so we can fine tune our offense to that QB instead of expecting him to be Cam or Brady. The lasst thing any of us wants is a string of 3-4 games where they're feeling out their QB in live action. Give the team some time to get some practice tape on Jones and get their offensive gameplan for him hashed out in broad strokes. If they have to fine tune their strategy on how best to use him fine, but let's get the basics out of the way in practice.

Weishuhn · May 30, 2021

This post is not a response to any particular post or poster, just my perspective on Mac Jones. I've followed Alabama football for about 8 years now and have my youngest there as a junior now. Having seen every snap they have taken, Mac is a more complete QB than both Tua and Jalen Hurts. He doesn't present the running threat they do, but shown a greater variety of routes he has thrown( in college) and defensive reads he has made. 75% of Tua's throws were RPO slants to future 1st rounders against slot CBs. Mac's stats last year were record setting, even better than Joe Burrow's. People ignore that they were amassed against probably the toughest strength of schedule in NCAA history, all SEC, no paid wins against So. Miss or W. Carolina et al.

Concerning arm strength, I never saw him underthrow any deep balls to his speedy WRs, and he had no problem muscling balls into tight windows. I can't comment on his ability to throw the out-route to the sideline because that was not a part of Alabama's offense and is not part of most college offenses. His arm strength is at least sufficient enough to run a "dink-and-dunk" offense that a purported "system" QB rode to 3 Lombardis.

Finally, concerning running QB's and Mac's inability there, I prefer the guy who had to go through his progressions instead of taking off when the easy options are covered. He has had more experience in college working through the reads because he was not a gifted runner. NFL health and longevity definitely favor pocket-passers vs. dual-threat QBs, but the passing part of dual-threat guys always requires development at the NFL level for them to become elite. That is tough to do.

The idea that running QBs are "the direction the league is going" wreaks of coaching laziness and inadequcies through every level of football. Most high school football programs run much more than they throw, it's safer and easier to coach and fill your line-up with athletes who can run. Finding accomplished passers to recruit to college programs is challenging, so they recruit dual-threat athletes at QB and run RPO offenses. Again, safer and simpler to coach, and more supply of talent to fit that system. NFL coaches have just reacted to the dearth of skilled passers and greater supply of dual-threat types who are less threatening as passers. BB plays how he has to play with Newton at QB, but you know he prefers to present looks that less common in the league, which now is his preferred play action game.

NormZauchin · May 30, 2021

1960Pats said:
I think Brady had grandparents in some winter wonderland and spent a lot of time in the cold and snow as a kid.

His mother was from Minnesota.

NormZauchin · May 30, 2021

Ivan said:
Joe Namath, Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers to name just a few. If a QB is a great QB they will adapt to the situation.

Agree in the main with your comment, but remember that Namath was a Pennsylvania boy who went to Alabama because he wasn't smart enough to get into the University of Maryland.

oldrover · May 30, 2021

NormZauchin said:
His mother was from Minnesota.

Rob0729 · May 30, 2021

PATSYLICIOUS said:
Wasn’t brady’s Arm strength a bit borderline too when he came in? I could be wrong there, but I do remember hearing he put a ton of work in the weight room the first couple years.

Brady's arm strength was below average coming into league. Brady had to retool his body coming into the league. He worked hard on his mechanics and his body and built up his arm strength over time.

Rob0729 · May 30, 2021

Simpelton said:
I agree that the impression existed. The impression existed because Brady didn't throw as deep as Bledsoe, as often as Bledsoe. Bledsoe had a cannon, which led to a lot of home run TDs (and no small number of turnovers). Brady on the other hand made high percentage throws designed to move the chains and keep possession of the ball. it's a different style of football that has little to do with arm strength.

The reason the impression exists is because there are QBs with below average arm strength (like Kirk Cousins or Alex Smith) who live and die on the short pass because that's all they've got. So if a guy's making a lot of short passes as a matter of strategy he gets lumped in with those guys by stupid people.

Nah! People had that impression of Brady before he came into the league and definitely before he started in the NFL. Brady even reminisced about it several years ago on Instagram.

Pats2000 · May 30, 2021

captain stone said:
I don't believe that his work ethic will be a determining factor of any future success here as much as his physical limitations - lack of ideal height (an overlooked asset in Brady's overall greatness) and likely insufficient Foxboro-in-January arm strength - might be...

Because Brees and Russell Wilson were super unsuccessful due to their height.

The dude can drop a dime 50 yards down the field. He's got plenty of arm

Pats2000 · May 30, 2021

Weishuhn said:
This post is not a response to any particular post or poster, just my perspective on Mac Jones. I've followed Alabama football for about 8 years now and have my youngest there as a junior now. Having seen every snap they have taken, Mac is a more complete QB than both Tua and Jalen Hurts. He doesn't present the running threat they do, but shown a greater variety of routes he has thrown( in college) and defensive reads he has made. 75% of Tua's throws were RPO slants to future 1st rounders against slot CBs. Mac's stats last year were record setting, even better than Joe Burrow's. People ignore that they were amassed against probably the toughest strength of schedule in NCAA history, all SEC, no paid wins against So. Miss or W. Carolina et al.

Concerning arm strength, I never saw him underthrow any deep balls to his speedy WRs, and he had no problem muscling balls into tight windows. I can't comment on his ability to throw the out-route to the sideline because that was not a part of Alabama's offense and is not part of most college offenses. His arm strength is at least sufficient enough to run a "dink-and-dunk" offense that a purported "system" QB rode to 3 Lombardis.

Finally, concerning running QB's and Mac's inability there, I prefer the guy who had to go through his progressions instead of taking off when the easy options are covered. He has had more experience in college working through the reads because he was not a gifted runner. NFL health and longevity definitely favor pocket-passers vs. dual-threat QBs, but the passing part of dual-threat guys always requires development at the NFL level for them to become elite. That is tough to do.

The idea that running QBs are "the direction the league is going" wreaks of coaching laziness and inadequcies through every level of football. Most high school football programs run much more than they throw, it's safer and easier to coach and fill your line-up with athletes who can run. Finding accomplished passers to recruit to college programs is challenging, so they recruit dual-threat athletes at QB and run RPO offenses. Again, safer and simpler to coach, and more supply of talent to fit that system. NFL coaches have just reacted to the dearth of skilled passers and greater supply of dual-threat types who are less threatening as passers. BB plays how he has to play with Newton at QB, but you know he prefers to present looks that less common in the league, which now is his preferred play action game.

I would add that I hadn't watched much of Alabama until the draft, but Mac is dead on balls accurate to 50 yards. 55+ it can be hit or miss. I've seen some underthrows where the receiver had to slow up or adjust back to the ball. So he's not a dude that can chuck it 70 yards downfield all day. But how often are you doing that in the NFL? He has touch, vision, can read a defense and makes good decisions. Sign me up for that guy over any running QB. I mean Mahommes is a special talent. I'll take the Brady/Manning look alike

catent · May 31, 2021

Simpelton said:
There was never anything wrong with Brady's arm strength. People thought there was for the same reason they always did and they continue to do today. Because Brady's bread and butter is the 15 yard pass. He's not a home run passer, not because he's not strong enough to make the throws, but because he's smart enough to stick with high percentage plays

No one ever said there was anything wrong with Brady's arm - people have simply said that he made an effort to get stronger and improve his arm strength his first few years in the league, which is true.

Watch his Michigan highlights and compare those to 2007 -- he has a stronger arm in 2007, as he should.

I don't think Brady's arm strength was ever an issue (just like Mac's arm strength isn't an issue), but he improved it nonetheless.

Ollie · May 31, 2021

Plenty of QB's have come and gone with prototypical arm strength and size because they don't have the right stuff between the ears to use their physical tools properly. I'de take good enough arm strength and size with above average intangibles like intelligence and mentality every time.

BTTA · May 31, 2021

dreighver said:
No one ever said there was anything wrong with Brady's arm - people have simply said that he made an effort to get stronger and improve his arm strength his first few years in the league, which is true.

Watch his Michigan highlights and compare those to 2007 -- he has a stronger arm in 2007, as he should.

I don't think Brady's arm strength was ever an issue (like Mac's), but he improved it nonetheless.

And yet, all the actual evidence indicates that it isn't an issue for Jones.

SHOWTIME15 · May 31, 2021

Mac Jones trying to catch a Cam Special in practice...impressive hands

Toofy · May 31, 2021

TommyBrady12 said:
Mac Jones trying to catch a Cam Special in practice...impressive hands

Was that an intended throw by cam? If not horrible throw..

SHOWTIME15 · May 31, 2021

haripi2 said:
Was that an intended throw by cam? If not horrible throw..

not sure. Mac throws a perfect pass to Cam, while Cam throws the ball a few feet over Mac’s head.

NEW ARTICLE: New Patriots QB Mac Jones Brings His Winning Work Ethic to New England

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In the Starting Line-Up

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In the Starting Line-Up

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