Patriots
“I believe the essential factor there may be to just accept the problem. He’s making an attempt to make it exhausting on us.”
FOXBOROUGH — After one other productive, aggressive follow at Gillette Stadium, Patriots quarterback Mac Jones mentioned a number of matters with the media on Thursday.
Together with the state of New England’s offense, Jones mentioned a promising rookie on offense, his personal rising position inside the group, and extra.
Listed below are a number of highlights from Jones’ newest media scrum.
Jones, Patriots offense settle for ‘problem’ thrown their means by teaching workers
After a dominant offensive efficiency on Wednesday morning the place Jones accomplished 13-of-15 cross makes an attempt, New England’s teaching workers opted to ramp up the issue for New England’s QB1.
Throughout 11-on-11 drills Thursday, Jones labored primarily with the second-team wideouts and tight ends in opposition to the first-team protection. Rhamondre Stevenson did work with Jones, as did New England’s first-team offensive line, though that unit was nonetheless lacking three starters in Mike Onwenu, Trent Brown, and Cole Unusual.
Jones acquired picked off by Kyle Dugger off of a miscommunication with Tre Nixon, nevertheless it was nonetheless a fairly spectacular day for New England’s prime sign caller.
Jones accomplished 19-of-25 passes on Thursday, and tossed two touchdowns to Kendrick Bourne and JuJu Smith-Schuster throughout red-zone drills after being reunited with most of his prime offensive weapons close to the top of follow.
Put up-practice, Jones welcomed the adversity that Invoice Belichick and the teaching workers threw his means with the personnel reshuffle. For Jones, it’s no totally different from the challenges he confronted throughout his time in school.
“I believe it’s nice,” Jones stated. “I truly had to do this lots at Alabama. I used to be on the scout group and we’d go in opposition to 11 NFL starters. Nothing new there. I believe the essential factor there may be to just accept the problem. He’s making an attempt to make it exhausting on us. That’s a superb factor, so that you get to the sport, it’s at all times tougher whether or not it’s a moist ball or the clock is run down quick.
“No matter who’s in there, I believe these guys did an awesome job at this time and I instructed them to go on the market and play and have enjoyable. It doesn’t actually matter the place you might be on the depth chart. It actually doesn’t. Every thing is essential to go on the market and play and line up and execute your task. From there, be free and go play.”
Jones not dwelling on any speak of QB competitors
Regardless of all the speak main into this 2023 season a few potential quarterback competitors, that narrative has quieted with every passing day throughout coaching camp in Foxborough.
Past Thursday’s personnel tweak, Jones has nearly completely frolicked with New England’s first-team offense, incomes priceless reps alongside gamers located on the prime of the depth chart like DeVante Parker, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Hunter Henry, and so forth.
Bailey Zappe has been a step behind Jones in passing drills, and has spent most of his time with the backups and reserves.
Despite the fact that Invoice Belichick has been mum by way of definitively appointing a QB1 at this stage of the preseason, the writing is on the wall that Jones would be the man underneath middle all through the 2023 season — barring damage or different unexpected circumstances.
As such, Jones didn’t spend a lot time talking about his battle in opposition to Zappe on the depth chart on Thursday, opting as a substitute to focus extra on how the competitiveness solid throughout July and August pays dividends when the calendar flips to the autumn.
“I believe yearly it’s a must to have the mindset that you just’re competing, not solely in opposition to your self, you’re competing in opposition to the groups you’re about to play, which is admittedly essential for me,” Jones stated. “Understanding that it’s the NFL, and each week you’re going to go in opposition to an awesome quarterback.
“In order that’s my greatest concern and simply making an attempt to guide the group on daily basis and produce everyone alongside. You realize, I’ve been lucky to be in lots of quarterback rooms which are actually good. So, simply making an attempt to study from everyone, clearly study from Coach [Bill] O’Brien, and Evan [Rothstein] and Coach Belichick. On the finish of the day, it’s all about bettering every day. While you go on the market on Sunday, you need your guys to be assured in you, and that’s what I’m making an attempt to instill in them proper now.”
Jones on recruiting expertise to Foxborough
He might not be as lively on social media as Matthew Judon in the case of making an attempt to recruit expertise to New England, however Jones is not any slouch, both.
After Ezekiel Elliott’s free-agent go to to New England earlier this week, Jones was noticed having dinner with the previous Cowboys working again out in Boston.
For Jones, taking on such efforts comes with the territory as one of many leaders and faces of the franchise.
“I believe it’s actually essential as a pacesetter to only attempt to go on the market and present them that we’re all right here to be collectively and to win. … It’s by no means a foul factor, proper,” Jones stated. “You need to have as many nice gamers as you may. I’ve simply been actually happy with the fellows now we have within the room, as a result of it’s loads sufficient, and we simply have gotten to return collectively and make it work.”
When requested for what his pitch can be by way of luring free brokers to Foxborough, Jones as soon as once more reiterated his perception within the present roster in place.
“I at all times say now we have an awesome group of fellows already, so coming collectively as an offense is admittedly essential for us,” Jones stated. “Anyone that we are able to speak to, if they’ve questions, reply their questions, proper? That’s all you are able to do as a participant.
“Simply attempt to clarify all the pieces to them and the remainder is less than us, proper? However, like I stated, I’m pleased with the fellows now we have within the room, so it’s exhausting to reply these questions. As a result of I actually do suppose now we have sufficient and I believe now we have loads sufficient.”
Jones impressed with rookie Douglas
Depend Jones as the newest within the rising line of Patriots coaches and gamers who’ve been impressed with what they’ve seen from 2023 sixth-round decide Demario “Pop” Douglas.
Douglas’ route working and acceleration have stood out up to now throughout camp, however even along with his 5-foot-8 body, the Liberty College alum was powerful to take down throughout Thursday’s live-tackling drill.
“Yeah, Pop Shotta. That’s my man. I’m going to name him Pop Shotta,” Jones stated of Douglas. “He’s an awesome child, works actually exhausting. I believe lots of the younger receivers are actually studying from the older guys, which is one thing that I believe is admittedly cool. … Pop simply must hold working, you already know, simply hold his head down and work. Don’t take heed to any of the noise, good or dangerous, and he’ll simply hold doing his factor.”
Jones welcomes newest Edelman go to
Despite the fact that accidents pressured Julian Edelman to hold up his cleats earlier than Jones’ arrival in Foxborough, the Patriots QB stated that the previous wideout has been a helpful useful resource to him by his younger profession up within the execs.
Edelman visited Thursday’s follow at Gillette Stadium and provided up loads of recommendation to each Jones and various different gamers throughout the roster.
“Jules has been superior,” Jones stated. “I at all times textual content him. He sends voice memos; it’s sort of fascinating. However, he does an awesome job speaking with me. He loves the Patriots and he’s simply an all-time Patriot.
“We see him on the movie on a regular basis and any questions I’ve for him he at all times solutions. So, I don’t know him that effectively, however each time I’ve talked to him, he’s simply been superior. So, it’s been a superb useful resource for us.”
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