‘Football IQ’ of Jones is impressing some teams
Alabama quarterback turning heads at pro day
Alabama’s Mac Jones has been a popular mock draft pick to the Patriots, if the team opts to use their first-round selection on a quarterback.
On many levels, it makes sense. He’s a Nick Saban product, and given Bill Belichick’s connection to the Crimson Tide head coach, there’s definitely a hook.
Jones is also considered one of the most intelligent quarterbacks in the draft. Former Patriots offensive line coach Dante Scarnacchia, who appeared on The Sports Hub’s “Sunday Football Show,” said that’s a vital qualification the Patriots look for in a quarterback.
“For me, I think (quarterback) is the most cerebral position in sports,” Scarnecchia said. “What you see before the ball is snapped, what you see after the ball is snapped, and how well you can anticipate, and how well you can — in the passing game — get the ball out in rhythm. If you have to run out of there you run out of there, if you can’t, you move within the pocket and get the ball out on time, and make all the checks correctly.
“I think whoever they draft … has to be able to do all those things, because that to me is the key to it all,” Scarnecchia went on. “Those are the guys that last long in this program. Those are the guys that are successful in this league, and they come in varying degrees of athleticism and speed or not.”
That description puts Jones right in the Patriots wheelhouse.
While he isn’t the most athletic of the top tier group, although he reportedly ran times of 4.72 and 4.68 in the 40-yard-dash during Alabama’s first Pro Day last week, his smarts, competitiveness, and ability to manage a system has put him in the conversation with the Patriots and many other teams, including the 49ers, who now have the No. 3 selection.
During a Zoom call with the media Monday, Jones indicated he had spoken with all 32 teams at the Senior Bowl, but had formal sessions with at least 20 teams, with more on tap.
The Patriots, who would like to draft a future quarterback, are no doubt on the list.
“This quarterback class is a really good class. I’m just blessed to be a part of it,” he said. “Obviously, you can watch all the guy’s tape and see great tape. What separates me is my preparation, and my ability to take what I learn from the coaches meetings, and my own meetings, and apply it to the field. I’m going to do exactly what the coach tells me to do, and I’m gonna play within the framework of the offense.”
Jones doesn’t think his so-called lack of mobility is going to hurt him. He believes he moves just fine, and offers plenty to an NFL team.
“I know the teams that have met with me have been impressed with my football IQ. They watch the tape, and see I have some of the best tape,” he said. “I think it’s more of a media thing that people want to knock me a little bit, but it is what it is.”
At Alabama, he was primarily a drop-back passer, who connected on quick reads, as well as passes down the field. Jones believes he can play in any system.
“If another team wants me to run zone-read, or do something like that, I’ll do that,” said Jones. “I’m willing to do whatever.”
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick was expected to be in attendance at Miami’s Pro Day on Monday, where there are quite a few defensive prospects. It’ll be interesting to see if he swings over to Tuscaloosa for Jones’ second throwing session.
The 49ers will definitely be there, as both head coach Kyle Shanahan and GM John Lynch are expected to be in attendance Tuesday to watch Jones’ second session.
“I try to show different stuff. All (the scouts) want to see is how you move your feet, how the ball comes out, and how you interact with your teammates,” said Jones, “I feel like I did that well (the first session) but this next Pro Day, there’s going to be some deep shots and things like that. The offense we had here is what I’m basing it off. We did a lot of prostyle stuff, some under center, play-action, to show a little bit of everything.”
Jones also talked about having a photographic memory, and the ability to recall plays from the previous year — an ability Tom Brady possesses.
“I’ll remember every detail that all 22 people are doing,” said Jones. “I don’t know what it is, maybe I have a little bit of a photographic memory, I just remember … if it’s a good play, or a bad play, I’ll remember what it was. You don’t even have to roll the tape, and I’ll remember. I take a lot of pride in recall, and stuff like that.”
Jones thought he would fit well in the 49ers offense from what he had observed.
“It’s all stuff that I’m really familiar with,” he said. “Obviously, it’s a super quarterback-friendly offense, and they have great playmakers there. So I’m really looking forward to learning more about that.”
If the Niners go with Jones at No. 3, that would open up other possibilities for the Patriots, namely Ohio State’s Justin Fields and North Dakota State’s Trey Lance.
Saban, meanwhile, thinks any NFL team is going to get an asset, and a great future quarterback in Jones.
“Mac has the ability to make plays because he’s smart, he’s accurate, he’s going to throw the ball in the right place, and he’s always going to help the offensive team be in the right situation whether it’s a run or a pass, or whatever,” said Saban. “I think he analyzes what’s going to happen before it happens in terms of what the expectation is for him on that particular play, and he has a good visualization of what our players are doing, and how the defense is going to react to it relative to what they do, and I think that’s what helps his decision-making process so he makes good choices and decisions.”