NFL Analysts Stress Patience From Patriots About Mac Jones

The New England Patriots have a reason to trust Mac Jones. Head coach Bill Belichick gave him the keys to the offense and Jones entered the new season with a huge responsibility. The Alabama quarterback didn’t have the best start of the regular season. Critics slam his performance, but Belichick hasn’t changed his mind.

The Patriots entered the 2022 season with a loss, but beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 2. Jones wasn’t too efficient in the first two games of the season. Phil Perry from NBC Sports Boston reacted to a question from a fan. It was related to Jones and his performance on the football field. Should we be worried?

“It’s early yet. New system. New coaching staff. An injured back after a punishing Week 1. It should come as no surprise that Mac Jones hasn’t clearly progressed from where he was as a rookie. This is why the coaching conversation was such a focus all spring and summer,” Perry wrote. “But he hasn’t regressed from an understanding-of-the-game standpoint. I think it’s too early to say he’s regressed from a mechanics or arm-strength standpoint. (Additionally, I was told before Sunday’s game, he still wasn’t quite at 100 percent even though he’d been removed from the injury report. His back injury may have impacted him some in Pittsburgh.)

“It’s certainly worth paying attention to whether or not the offensive braintrust in Foxboro is putting Jones in the best position to succeed on a weekly basis. It’s worth wondering if the staff is doing enough with other positions — on the line, especially — to get the best out of Jones. But, to steal a line, the coaching situation is what it is at this point.”

Patriots fans have high expectations from Mac Jones

Perry is not the only one to make these comments. Brad Gagnon from Bleacher Report wouldn’t push the panic button at this point. According to him, Belichick and the Patriots have to be patient with the young quarterback. He reminded everyone that the league tends to wait “longer for young quarterbacks.” Should we even mention that Peyton Manning led the league with 28 interceptions in 1998?

“Plus, fast starts from recent sensations like Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Dak Prescott, Kyler Murray and Justin Herbert have moved the goalposts for guys like… and Mac Jones,” Gagnon wrote. “There was a time when the league waited longer for young quarterbacks. And you don’t even have to go back to when Peyton Manning led the NFL with 28 interceptions as a rookie in 1998.

“Regardless, while it’s not on brand for 2022, my advice to NFL decision-makers is to chill out.”