Big question: Can Jones return to form?
Welcome to 7 Patriots training camp questions!
Each day leading up to the start of camp, the Herald will explore one of the biggest questions facing the Pats this summer. Several pertain to the offense, which welcomed back Bill O’Brien this offseason and added JuJu Smith-Schuster and Mike Gesicki. Other questions cover the defense and special teams, units that might rely heavily on rookies and must overcome the loss of longtime captain Devin McCourty.
Once the Patriots hit the practice field, here’s what they must learn before the season kicks off versus Philadelphia on Sept. 10.
No. 7: Can Mac Jones return to form?
The understated, unspectacular truth about quarterback play in the NFL is young passers are often made or broken by their environment.
No quarterback can thrive without a stable offensive line or a capable cast of receivers or a competent play-caller. Just ask Mac Jones.
As a rookie, Jones was drafted into a strong infrastructure and well-rounded roster. He beat out Cam Newton in training camp, then helped the Patriots reach the playoffs. Every step of the way, Jones had Josh McDaniels in his ear, a top-10 offensive line protecting him and enough receiving talent that allowed him to exploit a defensive mismatch on most snaps.
Last year? You know the story.
McDaniels left, and Bill Belichick, Matt Patricia and Joe Judge failed miserably in their collective effort to replace him. Under Patricia’s watch, the offensive line crumbled. Leaky protection caused Jones to become so spooked at the sight of incoming rushers, he finished as the NFL’s second-worst passer under pressure last season, per Pro Football Focus.
Not that Jones was blameless — his lack of poise and constant histrionics were largely controllable — but it’s not as if his receiving corps did him any favors. Playing within the same broken system, Hunter Henry, Jonnu Smith, Kendrick Bourne and Nelson Agholor all slogged through the worst seasons of their careers. No surprise, Jones regressed instead of springing into an expected Year 2 leap.
So, what now?
Bill O’Brien is in charge. According to sources, O’Brien has breathed a new confidence into the offense and installed elements of the system he ran the past two seasons at Alabama, where Jones broke several NCAA passing records at the controls of that offense in 2020. More than rearranging Xs and Os, O’Brien and staff must develop the talent they have.
And that starts with Jones. The good news is the quarterback last seen in 2021 still lives inside that No. 10 jersey.
Last season, despite all the turmoil, Jones’ accuracy, downfield aggression and ball security all remained steady. According to PFF, he posted a 74.7% adjusted completion percentage in 2021 compared to 74.3% in 2022 (adjusted completion percentage strips dropped passes, spikes and throwaways from pass attempts counted in the traditional metric). His average depth of target hit 8.3 yards in 2021 and 8.2 in 2022. And Jones’ turnover-worthy play percentage went from 2.5% in 2021 to 2.7% in 2022.
Jones also took more sacks, but scrambled more and fumbled less. In Year 3, he must enhance all areas of his game, with a heightened emphasis on his performance under pressure. That means rebuilding trust.
Trust is the foundation of any good offense. It breeds timing and confidence, from player to player, coach to player and play-caller to quarterback; ties that were non-existent in 2022.
Soon, the Patriots will begin to lay that foundation in training camp.
Jones has already expressed utmost confidence in O’Brien, whose trust he’ll need to earn with his day-to-day performance. Like any other training camp, all eyes will be on the quarterback.
And yet, the level of success Jones ultimately enjoys — as a pocket-bound passer with above average accuracy and unthreatening arm talent — may be out of his control. Because while he will help set the floor for the Patriots’ 2023 season, his teammates and coaches should decide the ceiling.