Mac Jones dinked and dunked his way to a high completion percentage, but it is also why the Patriots couldn't score in the red zone and only scored 16 points in a losing effort. The Patriots aren't good enough to game manage their way to a good season. If they are going to have any real success, they need to take the training wheels off and let Jones go. Maybe Jones can't do that, but if he does, that is the only real way for New England to have any real meaningful success this season.
They did score in the red zone. Mac through a TD pass to Nelson Agholor. The reason they lost is because that RB’s couldn't hold on to the ball. I do think there will be more passing Plays in future games, though.. Mac looked great and he outperformed Tua. Also had a better game than Wilson or Lawrence.
The Patriots won the time of possession basically 37 to 23, outgained Miami basically 400 to 260, and had 24 first downs to 16. They weren't as clean committing significantly more penalties and having the 2 turnovers to 1, but the difference in the game was Miami was 2 for 2 in the red zone and New England was 1 of 4 (for TD's). They just didn't trust Jones. I'd rather see a team let a QB go all out like Jacksonville did and deal with the growing pains of a young QB who needs that experience. If they are going to keep the training wheels on Mac, they aren't going to have a very good year and will keep losing games that statistically they dominate.
Glad you don't run the Patriots because your idea of opening up the whole playbook, to a starting rookie, in their first game ever, and risk destroying his confidence and perhaps his health due to trying to do too much, might be about the absolute worst take you have ever made on this board.
The history of not properly managing rookie QBs and stunting both their long and short term development is a very, very, very long one. On the other hand, Belichick managed the first few years of the greatest QB in history before letting him go all out....and that seemed to workout fine.
I will trust Bill here, not your poor opinion.
There are countless examples of QB's being managed or QB's being let loose that both succeed and fail. There is no right answer. I was more objecting to the notion that Mac played well because I have no idea. He barely threw the ball more than 10 yards. His throws all game long were short safe throws. Those tell you basically nothing about the level of QB play.
Did you watch the game? I mean actually watch it rather than skim over the box score, read a quick article and come out with an opinion?
Mac threw it down field for at least 25% of his attempts. He completed 7 passes over 10 yards and 4 over 20. And when he threw it most of those throws were perfect. That 26 yarder to White was a thing of beauty that a lot of veterans would have trouble throwing.
And most of his short passes were fast read check downs because he was under pressure and his medium and long options were covered. The short check down was the 100% proper thing to do rather than force something longer that could lead to an INT.
Given Mac's experience, he played with intelligence and maturity and put his team in the best position to win.
Open the playbook 100% for a rookie.
Let the 1st time playing in the NFL QB go all out.
Don't throw a lot of short intelligent passes.
Don't properly manage a rookie QB.
Shaking my head at that type of horrible football coaching. Clearly, Belichick is right here and you, once again, dead wrong. He put Jones in the best position to win the game. Jones wasn't why the Pats lost. Mac was why, except for a fumble in the end zone late, they should have won
