Patriots
“It’s the Patriots [offense], however it’s additionally for me, it’s Alabama [offense] too.”
Patriots QB Mac Jones appeared on WEEI’s “Jones & Mego” present on Monday afternoon, pertaining to quite a lot of matters such because the state of New England’s offense, Isaiah Bolden’s standing, and way more.
Listed below are just a few highlights from Jones’ prolonged radio interview:
Jones continues to heap reward on Invoice O’Brien’s new system
One other day, one other interview the place Mac Jones is singing the praises of Invoice O’Brien and the Patriots’ revamped offense.
New England’s offensive unit was commonly caught within the mud final season, with a simplistic gameplan orchestrated by Matt Patricia and Joe Decide providing up little when it comes to selection or contingency plans for Jones and Co. if drives began to stall.
Underneath O’Brien, the Patriots have already rolled out a number of completely different seems and schemes, resulting in constructive positive factors by each Jones and different key cogs of New England’s first-team offensive unit.
Putting in extra pre-snap movement and run-pass choices has given Jones and New England extra choices in any given scenario, permitting extra gamers to contribute in crucial levels of the sport.
“That’s one thing that’s cool about this technique that’s been right here for therefore lengthy, it’s all in regards to the quarterback and getting us into the appropriate play, however it’s additionally all about everybody else, as a result of all people needs to be on the identical web page,” Jones stated. “It takes 11 guys and we’re attempting to develop that a part of it, and form of get again to what we will do rather well, and having a number of performs run at one time, and issues like that.
Having an offensive coordinator with O’Brien’s resume ought to assist craft a gameplan tailor-made to Jones’ strengths because the conductor of an NFL offense.
Not solely is O’Brien already well-versed in some hallmarks of the Patriots’ offensive schemes (together with Josh McDaniels’ system that Jones thrived in as a rookie), however he gained additional perception throughout his time as Nick Saban’s offensive coordinator at Alabama.
“It’s tremendous distinctive. It’s the Patriots [offense], however it’s additionally for me, it’s Alabama [offense] too, to not convey up the previous an excessive amount of,” Jones stated of O’Brien’s offense. “He’s seen the system I ran at Alabama. … So he has a whole lot of data of not solely this technique however Alabama’s system, in order that’s cool for me, and a whole lot of guys on the crew actually respect that about him.”
After all, the entire constructive positive factors made by Jones and New England’s offense will have to be replicated on the sector as soon as the common season begins.
However to date, Jones has loved the collaborative effort that often performs out between a quarterback and his offensive coordinator, particularly throughout these crucial preseason reps.
“He’s all the time very open to attempting issues, particularly throughout follow. However on the finish of the day, I do know he’s the coach, and he’s going to make the appropriate calls within the recreation, however it’s positively a partnership,” Jones stated of O’Brien. “You need to have the ability to work collectively no matter who your coach is each time you go on the market to have the belief in him, after which him to belief you to do the appropriate factor.”
Jones believes Ezekiel Elliott is already making an impression with Patriots
He’s solely suited up for 2 joint practices (just one that noticed him participate in full contact), however Ezekiel Elliott has already slot in along with his new Patriots teammates, in keeping with Jones.
“I believe Zeke, simply speaking with him and hanging out with him, he’s superior,” Jones stated. “He’s only a nice man. I really feel like he’ll add a whole lot of, not solely on the sector, however issues off the sector. He simply looks like an important chief.
“He’s already bringing the juice to the practices, and I really like that about him. We’ve positively received a whole lot of stuff that we need to work on collectively, however he’s already working actually exhausting within the playbook and every part.”
Elliott didn’t play throughout Saturday’s preseason recreation in opposition to the Packers. However the former All-Professional operating again is predicted to be a key piece on New England’s offense, serving as the following man up behind Rhamondre Stevenson on the depth chart and including extra pass-catching and pass-blocking wrinkles to the Patriots’ roster.
“Mondre’s doing an important job, and the entire operating again room,” Jones stated. “I believe [running backs coach] Vinnie [Sunseri] does an important job in there simply protecting all people to that commonplace.
“There isn’t a whole lot of dropoff between gamers, which I really like. You’re in there with one man, you’re in there with a distinct man, however you already know that they know what to do, and you’ve got the arrogance in everybody.”
Jones not stunned by Demario Douglas’ sturdy begin
Demario Douglas has solely performed sparingly in New England’s first two preseason video games in opposition to the Texans and Packers.
However given his common stand-out performances throughout coaching camp and joint practices, the case will be made that the 2023 sixth-round choose has already earned himself a spot on New England’s 53-man roster, and Invoice Belichick and Co. try to restrict simply how a lot movie groups can compile on the rookie throughout preseason motion.
Despite the fact that the speedy Douglas has put himself on the radar of many NFL followers and expertise evaluators this summer time, don’t rely Jones as somebody who didn’t know that the 22-year-old wideout had excessive potential within the NFL ranks.
“Shock is an attention-grabbing solution to put it, proper? As a result of I’ve form of recognized him for a very long time and I do know what he’s able to,” Jones stated of Douglas. “He’s not the biggest-framed man, not probably the most spectacular if you see him. However if you see him on the sector you’re like, ‘OK, this child can play soccer,’ and that’s what I really like about him.
“He simply has a giant coronary heart, desires to go on the market and win and he’s gonna proceed to try this,” Jones added. “I do know that he’s constructed from the appropriate stuff and actually favored his persona, too. He’s actually humorous and brings a whole lot of juice to the sector. So positively joyful that he’s with us proper now and simply gotta preserve pushing alongside and making these performs.”
Jones stated Isaiah Bolden is “doing higher”
Jones supplied a constructive replace on rookie cornerback Isaiah Bolden, who wanted to be taken off the sector on a stretcher throughout Saturday’s preseason recreation in opposition to the Packers. Bolden’s harm prompted the groups to finish the sport early with 10:29 left within the fourth quarter.
Bolden spent Saturday night time within the hospital, however was discharged on Sunday and traveled again to Foxborough with the remainder of the crew.
“Undoubtedly a scary scenario. I’ve recognized him for a very long time,” Jones stated of Bolden. “And positively he’s doing higher, which I do know for a truth. And I did see him and he did give me a smile. In order that was actually good.
“You by no means need to see anyone go down like that on the soccer subject or actually any subject, proper? It’s robust. So simply felt like we made the appropriate transfer and simply attempting to hope for him. And I’m simply glad that he’s doing higher.”
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