What Mac Jones stated about preseason reps, trash-talk, and extra on WEEI

Patriots

“I do assume we’re prepared.”

Patriots QB Mac Jones appeared on WEEI’s “Jones & Mego” present on Monday night, concerning quite a lot of matters akin to his preseason reps, looming roster cuts, and extra. 

Listed here are just a few highlights from Jones’ prolonged radio interview:

Preseason reps 

The Patriots’ preseason slate got here to an in depth on Friday in Nashville, with Jones logging solely three complete sequence over the three-game schedule. All of his reps got here in the beginning of New England’s street recreation in opposition to the Packers on Aug. 19, with the Patriots’ beginning QB finishing six of his 9 cross makes an attempt for 52 yards.

After getting sacked twice in his ultimate two drives of the night time, Jones (together with numerous different Patriots starters) was held out of Friday’s finale in opposition to the Titans.

Regardless of his restricted reps throughout preseason motion, Jones believes that he and a majority of New England’s key cogs on the roster are prepared to show the web page to the common season.

“I do assume we’re prepared,” Jones stated. “I feel the preseason is a superb time to variety get all people collectively, attempt new issues, work with completely different guys, throw to completely different receivers, use completely different offensive linemen, in order that’s all the time one thing I stay up for within the preseason. Felt like we received numerous good work in that regard on each side of the ball.”

Subsequent on the schedule for the Patriots is their season opener in opposition to the Eagles on Sept. 10 at Gillette Stadium.

The reigning NFC champions are arguably essentially the most proficient staff on paper, with Jalen Hurts and Philadelphia’s high-flying offense standing as a tricky take a look at out of the gate for the Patriots’ protection.

However essentially the most regarding matchup will probably come in opposition to Jones and the Patriots offense, contemplating that the Eagles led the NFL final yr with 70.0 sacks — 15.0 greater than the second-place Steelers.

Given the state of New England’s patchwork offensive line, it might make for a protracted day on the gridiron for Jones.

“The Eagles are positively a staff that has each [talented inside and outside rushers. We haven’t really focused too much on that we’re kind of still working through a lot of stuff on our part,” Jones said, adding: “Like what are we going to do schematically to just get better these next couple days… You have to really understand how to get the ball out, when you need to throw it, who you need to throw it to, reading coverage quicker, all those things.”

Even with the injuries and instability found up front on New England’s offensive unit, Jones added that he could alleviate the pressure felt against his linemen by executing and getting the ball out quickly before the Eagles collapse the pocket.

“I think as a quarterback you always want to be on time,” Jones said. “Try to get the ball out to the skill players as quickly as you can. I think that’s super important because they make the yards. The offensive line has to do a good job of blocking up front, and I know they will. You kind of just have to trust everybody, stick to your rules, stick to what you know, get the ball out to the person that it’s supposed to go to.”

Roster cuts underway

The Patriots have already gotten a head start on their efforts of trimming their roster down to 53 players by Tuesday at 4 p.m. Already, New England has officially announced 13 roster cuts, including quarterback Trace McSorley.

Even though McSorley had an uphill climb when it came to unseating an established quarterback on New England’s depth chart, Jones acknowledged that roster cuts are always the most difficult part of the preseason schedule.

“Obviously it’s the tough part, this day and week for everybody.,” Jones said of McSorley’s release. “Obviously Trace was a great addition to our room. He definitely helped me a lot, he’s an older quarterback, played on a few different teams, definitely learned a lot from him and wish him nothing but the best and all that.

“It’s definitely a tough day, but you kind of just have to support your teammates and realize that these guys are people too. You never know when your last snap is going to be. You just hope they get another chance.”

Jones drew the ire of veteran defensive end Calais Campbell last season for his tendency to take it too far with trash-talking habits. 

“Philip Rivers was a good trash talker, but he was never disrespectful, Mac Jones actually, he was kind of disrespectful,” Campbell said, per The Athletic. “I’m like, ‘Hold on, man.’ Just trash talk to the highest level. It was like, ‘You don’t trash-talk me.’”

Campbell, who now plays for the Falcons, already has some history with Jones. While playing for the Ravens in 2022, it was Campbell who dropped Jones to the turf in New England’s Week 3 loss to Baltimore, resulting in a high ankle sprain that sidelined the Patriot for a month.

Despite Campbell’s comments, Jones did not validate the defensive end’s claim that he takes it too far when talking trash.

“I don’t know about that,” Jones said. “But I definitely enjoyed watching him growing up because he was a Jaguar. So he’s a really good player and I try to keep it loose out there. The guys that have played with me and played against me know that it’s all fun and games. So that’s the most important part for me is having fun, and I’m really just having a good time.”

Jones supported Ronnie Perkins’ highlight-reel play last week

There weren’t a whole lot of memorable highlights for the Patriots during their preseason finale against the Titans on Friday night.

The top play of the evening might have come from linebacker Ronnie Perkins, who threw up before a snap and ultimately recorded a tackle just seconds later.