Let Jones cook during critical stretch run
Need rookie to spread wings to be true contender
Mac Jones’ primary job is pretty clear-cut. He’s the navigator of the Patriots bully ball offense, dishing off to his arsenal of bruising backs.
Basically, he’s been more of a complementary part to Patriots smash mouth identity. When not watching Damien Harris, Rhamondre Stevenson or Brandon Bolden power through the inside running lanes, often with Jakob Johnson bulldozing the path, Jones will pick up the slack throwing the football. And he’s done very well in that capacity.
After 11 games, seeing how he’s responded to every challenge, it’s not a leap to suggest he’s ready for more if the need arises.
Thus far, he’s been pretty much a check down, screen, out route, take what the defense gives you kind of quarterback.
And that’s perfectly fine. The Patriots will take seven wins and the top spot in the AFC East at this stage with a rookie at the helm, thank you very much.
But now the Patriots are about to face the meat of the batting order starting with Tennessee on Sunday, followed by Buffalo the following Monday night, then Indianapolis.
These are three huge AFC bouts, although the bloom has come off the rose a bit when it comes to the Titans, who have been without Derrick Henry, and especially the Bills, who surrendered their lead in the division to the Patriots after being creamed by the Colts.
But that doesn’t diminish the importance of the games, nor the role Jones could ultimately play in the outcomes.
While the ground and pound has been effective, and will continue to be the Patriots preferred method of attack, these games should provide an even greater test for Jones.
They figure to present new challenges, but also provide a clue as to how Jones will manage should the Patriots get to the postseason.
Can he consistently make the big throws in the key moments of these upcoming games?
The answer
lies just ahead. Based on how Jones didn’t blink against Tampa Bay and Dallas, there’s no reason to think he won’t be able to handle more.
He’s passed pretty much every test, and renewed faith in the quarterback position.
Falcons defensive coordinator Dean Pees confused him a bit with some corner blitzes Thursday night. Titans head coach Mike Vrabel, seeing that, is bound to throw the kitchen sink at him and see if he blinks.
Patriots offensive coordinator Josh Mcdaniels will prepare Jones for what he’s about to face. He has a pretty good idea what’s coming during the next stretch.
“Personally, I think Mac has done a really nice job throughout the course of the season of trying to handle almost anything someone has thrown at him. It’s not perfect by any stretch, we all know that,” Mcdaniels said during a video call Monday. “But for his first time seeing some of this stuff, being able to react to it, being able to handle his responsibility, being able to get the ball out of his hand most of the time and to the right place, I think he’s been fairly effective doing that.
“There’s definitely been stretches that’s challenged us,” he added, “and we need to be ready for that coming down the stretch here.”
So we’ve arrived at another checkpoint for the rookie quarterback.
The Patriots are very good as is. The formula is working very well, with their defense backed by a maniacal front seven, their ball control offense eating up yards, and their special teams unit usually winning the field position war.
Maybe that’s good enough to win another AFC East crown, and make some noise during the postseason.
But the view would change if Jones can reach another level in his development. He’s certainly been able to put up points, but can he make that happen with the passing game in the fourth quarter, if needed?
Can he still be efficient, and provide more for the offense? Can he pull out a game throwing the football?
He sure seems ready to attack that next phase.
He keeps re-setting the bar with what he can handle, and has been very good in the two-minute drill, especially before the half.
His play has been consistent, even with a couple rough patches sprinkled in.
He’s ranked in the top 15 quarterbacks in the league with 2,540 passing yards. He’s thrown 14 touchdown passes, with eight interceptions. He’s completing passes at a 70% clip.
The last two games alone, he went 41 for 49 throwing the football. That’s a stunning 83%. He also threw a pick against the Falcons, trying to force a ball into coverage, but that’s also part of the learning curve.
His real baptism probably lies ahead, starting with the Titans.
“They’re going to be a real challenge. They’re one of the top defenses in the whole country. You can see that on film,” Jones said of Tennessee during his Monday appearance on WEEI’S “Merloni & Fauria” show. “There’s not a lot of wide open guys. And they do a good job getting to the quarterback.”
Watching Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert deliver a game-winning drive in the final minutes against the Steelers Sunday night, it’s hard not to wonder how the Patriots rookie would fare in the same situation.
He couldn’t pull out a win Week 6 in overtime against the Cowboys, but delivered a 7-minute clock-killing drive against the Chargers two weeks later.
The evidence at hand suggests he’s ready to make that leap. It’s an important one for the Patriots going forward.