What happened to Mac Jones? 

Belichick completely destroyed that kid.

He’s going through the Baker Mayfield experience. Baker also went through 3 different OC’s through his first 3 years in the league. I fear it’s only a matter of time before we see Mac bounce around as much as Ryan Fitzpatrick did.

Three offensive coordinators. When McDaniel left, Bill messed him up by hiring a defensive coordinator to be the offensive coordinator…..that was so dumb.

Mac absolutely could have been better and helped himself, but I truly think Belichick has regressed as a head coach and GM. He tried to trade Gronk in 2018 and that’s something that isn’t talked about enough. The last 1st round pick he resigned was Donta Hightower. The coaching staff he assembled is definitely the worst offensive coaching staff in the NFL, not even talking O’Brien, they guys Bill picked to coach position groups are terrible

From a Bills fan, I feel sorry for Jones! Crappy offensive line, No quality receivers, 3 offensive coordinators, & O’Brien sucks! But he gets the blame. He needs to be somewhere else , start over, be a backup, learn & get his confidence back! BB ruined this guy, but I Hope he turns it around with another team!! Good luck Mac!!

Any player Jones has developed a rapport with on the field has been jettisoned. His go to guy (Myers) was ran out of town in favor of someone else. He played at Alabama with a running back in Damien Harris, who was also ran off. This kind of personnel management sabotages player development at the quarterback position. Bourne was another dependable player for him and he tore his ACL just as he was hitting his stride. The Patriots spent no money on the offensive line, expecting an also ran like Reiff and journeyman Anderson to be sufficient. Shaq Mason was traded for next to nothing and the team drafted a guard with a 4th round grade in the 1st round. The terrible fits of free agent acquisitions at receiver and tight end didn't help at all (Agohlor, Smith and Gesicki). The failures of players and coaches is always a two way street. The coach/GM left the offense bereft of elite talent that would cover the flaws of the quarterback and get him into good habits. The quarterback failed to properly read the situation, did not make adjustments or work in his game to mitigate his own shortcomings and the lack of elite talent on offense.

I'm old enough to remember what Jim Plunkett went through here in New England. BUT...Mac Jones is no Jim Plunkett. Howie Long put it best: "Jones looks like he is traumatized."

Honestly, Mac would be better off with a new head coach, a new offensive coordinator, a more protective offensive line, and wide receivers with better grips. Mac doesn't have to go to another team, he just needs to be in a position where he is more comfortable whether he becomes a starting quarterback again or remains a backup.

Having great talent is useful, having a great supporting cast in a TEAM game is essential.

People forget our schedule was piss easy in 2021, we played the Panthers, Falcons, Chargers, Browns/Texans/Jags before they got good, and that doesn't even factor in the two divisional games against the Jets or Dolphins dirt poor defenses. Mac's rookie year was snoke and mirrors from the beginning, his best performance was vs a mediocre Titans D missing multiple starting LB's due to injury (and no AJB on offense didn't hurt gamescript either). There's a reason the only time we beat the Bills out of 3 attempts was with the biggest single game run committ offense in the NFL

I've said it for over a year now, Mac's regression didn't start in year two, but after the bye week against the colts in year one. To me he never looked the same and that run of form continued into his second season.

Long read but very insightful after watching every Mac 2021 and 2022 dropback. Strengths -Pre snap processing -Precision (even though not particularly accuracy). Few throw a better 3 yd slant - deep ball accuracy (even though the arm is not there) - quick release Flaws - immobile - bad pocket IQ - Awful velocity on throws. Bad arm - not accurate on the middle of the field - post snap processing is well below average - general decision making (thinks he is Brett Favre) - general awareness is bad Mac Jones is and always was a good backup QB. A Kyle Orton w a worse arm. In 2021 Josh McDanieks hid his flaws the first half of the season and teams hadn't figured out the Pats new Looking offense. They hadn't figured out Mac can't throw vs Man coverage. Once they started playing man - that was it. Josh McDaniels ran the most castrated offense I have ever seen. Very contradictory. Not a lot of plays or concepts but every play used a misdirection or a fake. Mac was asked to complete short ordinary passes everyone can hit (Colt McCoy passes) and not asked to read the play post snap. Just throw to the primary. Of all the dropbacks he had 3 elite throws in 2021 (by far the worst I have ever seen since 2018. 2020 Brady had 61, 2021 Brady had 53 for comparison and those are the 2 most I ever seen) and also Mac had 26 interceptable throws. Only Lamar, Fields and Tua in 2021 had a hifher turnover per dropback rate. Only Lamar had a worse self inflicted sack per dropback rate. So not only is Mac a very unexolosive QB - He also is quite the turnover machine. Josh McDaniels, OLine, WRs/TEs who were forced to create after the catch carried Mac in the first half of 2021. Every pass conceot was a screen, slant or PA crosser. Rarely a cimeback. Maybe a fade in the endzone every once in a while. He wasn't even good on film - his stats just look fine cause of that situation whoch teams hadn't figured out. Just got watch the dropbacks and take away throes everyone can hit. You will see the real Mac. Same as Thr Cam Newton year. He stunk all yr long but the first 3 weeks - teams were not used to the Josh McDaniels NEW Tim Tebow esque offense. That was the thing. Pats since then have run the Josh McDaniels offense but with less tweaks and fakes. Teams have adjusted to it and Mac can't make the throws. He got a bad arm and bad oocket presence. WRs better be wide open or bail him in some legendary 50/50s for him to complete throws. Can't throw over the middle much cause of the lack of velocity. Worst of all - he thinks he got Brett Favres arm. He thinks he got some gunslinger in him. Mac always been like this. Got to watch the film and not the stats cause they always lie. Got to take away throws that are ordinary that every backup can hit. Then you will find our the real QB. OFFENSES get figured out. The Greg Roman offense of the Ravens took the league by storm in 2019 and won Lamar the MVP. Then got figured out. The new Erhard Perkins/college offense Josh McDaniels invented for Mac got figured out quick.

He landed on a team with little talent on offemseĺ including the OC

Great break down..Mac downfall was going to Alabama. That team hid all his flaws by surrounding him with high end talent. He was never developed to be an NFL qb. He was developed to be a backup as insurance with a great team around him

People, mac jones was never the answer. Love it when they bring up the "pro bowl" year. He was decent, at best, many times lucky, plus the only reason he made it to the pro bowl is because the first 6 selections didnt want to play in that meaningless game.

Said many times: the Patriots “dynasty” was not some god-tier organization with all the right pieces brought together under a legendary coach. It was an average team hard carried by a once-in-a-century talent that they stumbled upon in the sixth round of the draft. That’s why the team went straight into the sewer the moment Brady left, and why Tampa Bay could suddenly win a Super Bowl before going back to sub-average. Patriots fans got quite a humbling. One man carried you all to 5 rings in the most stunning display of luck possible. You’re paying it back now. However, to argue anything else isn’t just a comforting lie, but a slap in the face to Brady.

Why doesn’t this guy get more views. He’s so interesting. Edit: I put this comment out after a couple hours when he had like 200 views. Now he has 16K. RU-vid heard me?!🤣🤣🤣

To me, this is more proof that a developmental spring football league like the XFL-USFL is beneficial towards rookies getting ready for the NFL. If they're still torn about being under pressure by being in the NFL then the spring leagues can be a perfect opportunity for future stars to begin. Not all football players work the same. Or hell, do an NFL Europe type of thing but with XFL-USFL teams it can work.

He’s not someone who has the tools to elevate the team around him. The Pats o-line and WR core is horrible too, and Josh McDaniels is a better OC than anyone else he’s had with the Pats.

Broken? He honestly wasn’t that good in the first place. I think people overestimated his abilities.

I didnt scream after the Colts pass. I just sighed

He is not equipped to deal with NFL pressure

The Patriots absolutely ruined him. This is an offense built out of cast-offs and it looks the part.

Mac’s turning point was his injury early last year. I swear, that picture of him in agony where he looked like he got his leg blown off storming the beaches of Normandy essentially killed his presence as a potential threat in the NFL and turned him into a living meme.

You can't just blame Mac. Look who played in this last game. Same ugly reality. This team needs to be built around Mac. And bring in young players. A few years down the line with a good Qb coach you will be surprised.

Excellent video as always mate, I always look forward to seeing a new episode from your channel

I remember the Dallas game from when he was a rookie. What impressed me was a sequence where he threw a pick 6 to Diggs and like 3 plays later hit Bourne with a laser to force OT. Contrast that to the game this year where the Dallas D ate him up. They’ve messed him up bad. The line stinks, no playmakers, and Matt Patricia and Joe Judge. Dude was set up to fail. Belichick made the mistake of thinking he could do what he did with Brady, and Mac would elevate everyone up. Only Mac isn’t Brady. Not even close.

Bill never really had to worry about QB development due to Brady being so successful for 10+ years . I wouldn’t doubt most of his Offense staff just focused on creating dynamic plays for Brady to execute instead of trying to develop players. Look at Jimmy G he spent the first few years with bill , even cam failed when he was brought in. Now Mac jones, bill never really had to spend time on the offense since Brady made it work . And now as gm/ coach he’s gotta spend time on every aspect of the team trying to develop every player in both sides of the field while being the gm

Mac Jones is a cautionary tale of how the NFL can break you

You nailed it, every aspect of this video is spit on.

Great breakdown!

The in-division defense are much better this year vs three years ago. In 2021 2/3 of his games were against weak teams - that's now been reduced to 1/3. He's not broken. He never had the talent to be anything more than an NFL backup. Put him on the loaded 49ers to serve as Purdy's backup's backup next year.

Tbh I don’t think Mac was mature enough to deal with a system like Belichick’s.

I see everyone in the comments blaming Belichick for all the problems. This is not a one person problem, Jones has some blame. The WR group and OL also deserves a good deal of the blame. However I do agree that Belichick has continuously failed to pick good offensive players. So let him have a say in the defensive (which he hits on a lot), and let someone else do the offensive. As a head coach. Brady or not, he won 7 Super Bowls and has proved himself a smart and able head coach.

Video isnt perfect, but i admire the hustle.. Definitely subbing

What happen? This one's gonna sound weird but he should have spent one more year at Alabama to marinate just a little bit more But the following 1. Josh McDaniels leaving to implode in Las Vegas, I have no idea how McDaniels was the Mac Jones whispherer but that hurt his deveopment 2. Bill Belichick's incompetence in hiring Matt Patricia and Joe Judge to be in charge of Offense in 2022 3. Bill Belichick's failures at roster building and roster management since Brady left and failures at drafting 4. Bill Belichick getting pissed at him that Mac Jones dare go outside for help 5. Bill Belichick browbeating him into paste and shattering his confidence 6. BILL BELICHICK

as a life long patriots fan and new england resident i always was a huge fan of mac n had the most faith in him. this season has just been sad to watch.

I feel the best thing they could do for Mac is to let him sit behind someone who knows what they are doing for a while. Let's say we draft Marvin Harrison Jr and sign someone like Kirk Cousins this offseason. Kirk could lead this team for a year or two and then hopefully Mac would be ready by that time. I know the most popular plans are going to be drafting Maye or Williams (and for good reason) but I don't hate this strategy either.

its not ALL his fault but he also doesn't have anything special about him. he was never going to be a "franchise QB" he does nothing that stands out.

I'm just going 2 go out on a limb here & say that it ain't his fault 💯

the patriots version of joey harrington.. not the exact situation but he’s in the joey harrington stage now… it’s been rough

Such a way to put it, the guy gets benched *regularly* Crazy stuff.

as a pats fan i hated mac jones but now that i see this it makes me sad.

It is a shame what has happened to Mac Jones. He was destroyed last year by the fiasco of have a defensive coach running the offensive side of the game and unfortunately it carried over to this season. He has the talent to be a great qb in this game but his confidence needs to be restored or he will never see a game again in his career.

I saw this coming as soon as McDaniels left for Vegas and belichick refused to get him a real OC, saddling him with Patricia and Judge, that led to the whole relationship between Mac and the team to deteriorate and now he's completely broken and a total basket case. Mac has been really bad this year but it's really hard to say how much blame he deserves with a completely dysfunctional O Line and the worst group of offense skill position players in the league. I don't think Mac will ever be a true stud QB but could be a competent game manager in a better situation, with a decent line and some weapons, I could see him having a late career renaissance if he matures a bit and ends up somewhere without all the toxic baggage of New England, something akin to the better play we've seen from Baker in TB and Geno Smith in Seattle this year

EMOTIONAL DAMAGE

It's hard/ sad to watch (thanks Bill)

I think he could be a good back QB under Sean McVay and the Rams next season

honestly as a pats fan I have been so annoyed with the decisions around team building especially offense the last few years a few examples are drafting nkeal with the 32 pick I was in a chat with my friends yelling draft DK letting Jacobi leave for the same contract we give juju this year I loved Jacobi like wtf and a few others like that o-line but god what infuriates me is benching mac jones 5 times and starting him every time the next week just making him lose confidence like what is the point if you change nothing this is not brady you dont bench him and he drops 300 yards 4 tds macs rookie year I thought he would be a kirk cousins type player good but not top level but even that will be a high ball now. I am not a big zappe hype guy so I am not sure what the pats should do but something needs to change I thing bill needs to lose GM privileges but he prob not be on the team when that happens.

he has clearly gone backwards since his first season, there is no question that is due to coaching and the team circumstances. i think he could be salvaged, if he just managed to have one decent season on a different team where he had a decent line and he could start getting some touchdowns he could get his confidence back

Two things that I want point out about New England's passing game. One is the point you made that the offensive line is not very good. But the second point is that the offensive coordinator isn't that great either. One things that we seeing is that a lot times that receivers are not getting the right depth in their routes, and this throwing off the timing. That why you not seeing a great improvement when another quarterback take the field.

Idea AND in saying this i don't know if Arthur Smith is the one to do it But the falcons need a QB and there is so much potential in Jones. Hate to see him be discarded as I think this experience will affect other aspects of his life... being broken goes beyond football 🏈

Hard to say if he has any future in this league. I think there’s teams that could definitely take him on as a backup, but then who knows how many opportunities he’ll get. There are a lot of QBs that get injured these days now that most of them are mobile QBs. If he does get an opportunity he better make the best of it, because I don’t think he has many chances left

As a Miami fan, I know all too well how frustrating it is to root for a QB that the team itself seems to be actively sabotaging. Makes me feel sorry for Mac honestly, I think he could do a lot better if he had a coach and team that treats him like Tua has now. I mean look at him, ever since McDaniel came around he has so much more presence. I hope Mac can find that someday, be it with the Pats or with another team.

I'm happy for Pats fans, they get to experience poor QB play for at least one season like the rest of the league.

As a Chargers fan Staley and his defense will fix him😂

Feel bad for Mac… definitely dealt a bad hand with the offensive clown show last year and even this year with Belichick lackeys. Definitely needs a change of scene with a better competent system…. Bill is definitely a GOAT but he needs help on a good offensive coordinator and at GM

Try living up to the expectations you are the next Tom Brady or just simply knowing you are being compared to the most successful QB ever. Pressure is unimaginable.

No receivers no O-line no consistency with the coaching staff… pats ruined him, he’ll be hearing footsteps the rest of his life

I get the same feeling, brokeness and sadness everytime I play Madden. I know where he's coming from.

Jones problem is that this is the NFL, not college. Simple. Just the most college QBs just can’t hack it. Clearly, he’s one of the

Look at his college career. His rookie year. They traded Jacobi Meyers and it all went downhill from there. He has no one to throw to, no one to block him and no one to run. Brady had great teams. Mas has nothing. I was a Patriots fan but not sure now if he is out. I hope Mac has his revenge. They put in a second string quarterback as if that would fix this really bad team. Good luck Mac.

There are so many variables to these blighted seasons... that I can and cannot hold it against him?! I wish him well, wherever he goes on from here?

Josh McDaniels and Artur Smith are very good when they got a backup QB like Mac or Ridder. They are good at essentially taking him out of the game. Cause they limit him. Like Sean Payton has limited Wilson this yr. But they are bad when you give them a great QBs like Rivers, Ryan, Allen or Brady cause they limit them too. Good play designers but very conservative. Not very good playcallers. League also hadn't figured out the new Josh McDaniels college ish offense the first half of 2021. They hadn't figured oit Mac is a backup QB with no arm and no pocket presence that can't throw vs Zone.

I think that's a big thing you mentioned in the video it's better for him to throw it out or just take the hit rather than keep throwing fluttering balls that leads to an interception. Better to take the L and lose the yards and downs have another chance than the Patriots losing the ball yet again.

This topic definitely makes me think football matters

The Pats definetly did him no favors but his fear of getting hit is the root cause of all his issues. He has never had elite arm strength so his footwork and reads have carried him. Now that hes timid and his footwork is terrible because of it he's just throwing absolute ducks.

I think teams should get fined for ruined QBs due to mismanagement 🤷‍♂️

Mac was a 2nd alternate pro bowler. He wasn't great his rookie year, he was ok but couldn't win from behind. Basically, he's playing exactly like he did his rookie year without the benefit of the league not knowing him. Mac has no heart

I'm not even a Patriots fan,but I actually do feel bad for Mac..the pressure definitely hit him,bad coach decisions to hype him so much when she really could've had like more time. He doesn't suck,but he was rushed into this a bit.

I hope Zappe kicks butt today😂

I would say i feel bad for the Pat's, but I would be lying through my teeth. Seeing them this bad after 20 years of dominance feels REALLY good

Dude started out like prime rib his rookie year, but over the past two seasons he has defaulted to his true level - Mac-aroni.

Not go lie but there's a hole bunch of holds on that center you see the guy being held

Very well explained, terrible situation for him. I think it was that Dallas game that killed his confidence. Hopefully Bill can get a WR and Mac can be another Tua

I honeslty think Mac Jones would be perfect on a team like the Saints, the saints have all the weapons he could ever want

Jones is going to go summer where else and ball.i believe

I feel sorry for Mac Jones he needs to leave patroits and find a new team who will help him on his weakness and also rebuild his confidence back up

I don't think he has the base level talent necessary for bouncing back upon restoration of confidence/poise it takes quite a supporting cast for a not physically very gifted naturally quarterback to be unbroken after this long of a tenure having been a broken quarterback. He's ruined indefinitely the metaphorical broken bone can't heal if the bones aren't set and immobilized quickly enough. Like all things there are exceptions and for this multiple different things could grant the exception at that. Unfortunately for Macorkle he doesn't have any of the blessed freakery needed. You mentioned Trubisky he is the same the time has passed to be fixable no matter what but there are other examples too Darnold notably had the indication of potential career renaissance that was a false positive he is still atrocious as he will remain forever. Maybe you already remember the situational incongruity but in case you don't I shall remind so if you see Geno Smith having a renaissance now isn't contradictory to what I claim if you think that is a counter example. Not everyone remembers the origin story of Geno that demonstrates it but Geno is a lot more genetically blessed than almost every 2nd rounder normally is. It is no moral or professional failure of Mac to be so but he is so regardless without impressive genetic gifts by pro athlete standards. I think he could have been salvageable but the opportunity has passed.

No one is going to do well behind that line. They had 12 picks. And they took two kickers and zero tackles. My god.

Maybe a fresh start with a new team is what he needs. 🤷‍♂

Nice

And the coaching sucks. Like I think it all comes from QB coach. McDaniels while he is terrible head coach. I think he is a tremendous QB coach. They are just a different set of traits to play that position and McDaniels resonates with them.

Bill the GM happened. Throw in Zappe, draft whatever Golden Boy you want... The Pats will ruin him too

Does anyone in this comment thread play football at a reasonably high level? Or at least one can understand different kinds of personalities of players most certainly need to be coached up or down in different ways. A q.b. is arguably the most demanding, pressure-filled, under-a-microscope position on a football field. He handled this well, in fact, beat out Cam, came out of the gate hot, and was doing great things. Handling blitzes properly and moving his progressions and checking down when he had to. He also had a smile on his face every single throw because the dude was putting where he wanted to. Now, his eyes are wide and he is thinking about every move, every release, everything. He is playing in complete fear because he knows if he slips out he is done. The problem is anyone who competes will tell you thinking will lead to a mistake. The best players ball out on instincts and confidence in themselves to make the plays they need to. Bill fucked this kid up year two, where instead of showing support and having his back he was already trying to move on. He sucked cams peen, yet would never support Mac. Imagine needing guidance, or a pat on the back anf the guy with the most influence shakes you off and keeps putting the "backup" in. Rookie and half of year 2 was spent throwing with good to great technique. Now it's all off-balance backfoot throws. That purely because he is being hit or sacked on 90 percent of his drop backs, he is stuck in his head, feeling phantom pressure and noone is supporting him emotionally of mentally. Get out of NE and make a name somewhere else kid. Bills washed and unfortunately since Robert pushed for you to be picked, Mac is the final fuck you to the krafts from BB.

Maybe not on Brock Purdy's level but Jones would be an elite QB if he played for the 49ers.

They need Josh McDaniels back…. Simple as that

How would you like to be the QB that succeeds Brady in New England? It's a no- win situation.

i think its obvious he never wanted to play for them and was not coachable. but the patriots need to restructure their entire organization to compete like they did before. they are holding onto bill belichick for way too long while getting nothing from the draft and playoff appearances.

As a Dolphins' fan, I am OK with all this.

Mac doesn’t have the physical talent to be a starter in the league. Bama masked all his flaws with tremendous talent. He’s tall but looks small. He’s got decent 40 time but looks slow and flat footed. And again, he’s got a weaker than average arm. He threw a 53 air yard Hail Mary against Cincy last season. So a starting NFL Qb can only throw a ball 53-54 yards max IF he steps up into the pocket and gets a full rotation. That’s the issue, the greats can roll to their opposite shoulder and flick a ball that far.

He needs a Mike McDaniel to access his potential. It's sad as this is a human being AND it's a game... The Patriots system while successful in trophies But the human cost has been high due to Bill's pride.

Now look at what zappe did with all the weapons Mac had being out 😒almost 3tds in one quarter with the same oline

Even Brady would look shit with a paper towel O line, a garbage receiver corps and overrated coaches. Give him some HELP and he’ll be an excellent QB. But sadly the Pats won’t give him that chance.

Mac Jones is just a potential career backup.He has no arm strength and his processing speed is very slow when reading defenses.

What's wrong with Mac is the coaches. Same thing Tua went through.

I can't relate to losing

The OC's are not the issue. All three were under the same system, using the same terminology. All the really changed, from year to year were the formations. So cut that out. Bad is just bad. the whole offense, not just not just Mac.

Mac, there's a new regime in New England now. You have to come back! Pats draft a WR and give Jones someone to throw to! But Jones, you'll regret it if you don't come back!!!!!

Its tough for any QB to do good a good job with that BUM offense