Mac Jones Is Our QB1

[Mazz22]

I'm thinking more of the problem that Zolak's seeing, which is his all too frequent habit of throwing off the back foot. That's something that's got to stop if he's going to stay in the NFL, because his arm is not strong enough to be throwing off platform any more than is absolutely necessary.

It is stunning to me that BoB has not corrected it.

 

[Big/Sky/Fly]

you mean "throwing games"?

He's doing a fine job!

 

[TommyD420]

It is stunning to me that BoB has not corrected it.

I mean, I'm pretty sure they're showing him throwing off his back foot every time he comes to the bench.
Last two games it's gotten Jones benched. O'Brien can't go out there and throw for him, he actually has to take the coaching and do it, or watch from the sideline.

 

[HSanders]

he's an error repeater. period. he should be sitting.

 

[Deus Irae]

I mean, I'm pretty sure they're showing him throwing off his back foot every time he comes to the bench.
Last two games it's gotten Jones benched. O'Brien can't go out there and throw for him, he actually has to take the coaching and do it, or watch from the sideline.

You generally throw off your back foot for one of two reasons. It's either bad form that's "always" been there or has been wrongly coached, or it's a habit developed in the face of being sped by the pass rush up too often. If it's the latter, you could end up having a QB with David Carr syndrome.

And Mac's inability to settle in the pocket makes me lean towards option 2 being at least a part of it.

 

[ViperGTS]

You generally throw off your back foot for one of two reasons. It's either bad form that's "always" been there or has been wrongly coached, or it's a habit developed in the face of being sped by the pass rush up too often. If it's the latter, you could end up having a QB with David Carr syndrome.

And Mac's inability to settle in the pocket makes me lean towards option 2 being at least a part of it.

I think a lot of it is the shock of what college open at Bama was to NFL open. That causes hesitation and then the window closes and or the rush gets there. He needed to just throw it earlier in his career, but his arm strength is still a major issue. You cannot in today's NFL throw on schedule at all times. I'd say it's 50/50 on vs off.

 

[Mazz22]

I think a lot of it is the shock of what college open at Bama was to NFL open. That causes hesitation and then the window closes and or the rush gets there. He needed to just throw it earlier in his career, but his arm strength is still a major issue. You cannot in today's NFL throw on schedule at all times. I'd say it's 50/50 on vs off.

I agree. His game has not translated well to the pros.

 

[Deus Irae]

I think a lot of it is the shock of what college open at Bama was to NFL open. That causes hesitation and then the window closes and or the rush gets there. He needed to just throw it earlier in his career, but his arm strength is still a major issue. You cannot in today's NFL throw on schedule at all times. I'd say it's 50/50 on vs off.

It's not fair comparisons for different reasons, but....

In the same underlying system, Brady was able to do it, and he was able to do it, basically, from the moment he became a starter. On the other hand, we had Cassell show that he could do it in New England, only to get sped up and ruined in K.C., even while the team was winning early on. And we've seen that JAG had a ceiling that's lowered because he's started reacting to pressure more quickly over time, too.

And, yeah, Jones' arm is where the nexus of the problems can be found.

 

[PumpDee]

If Bill sends that blind idiot out next week, I'm turning off the tv and pushing leaves around my yard for the next 3 hours.

Also, I wish Troy Brown knocked out Ju-Ju Smith-Sh*tbag for even THINKING of mouthing off with the season he's had.

 

[HSanders]

If Bill sends that blind idiot out next week, I'm turning off the tv and pushing leaves around my yard for the next 3 hours.

Also, I wish Troy Brown knocked out Ju-Ju Smith-Sh*tbag for even THINKING of mouthing off with the season he's had.

i feel like if bb didn't start someone else this week after a bye and after he pulled mac w/2 min left and a chance to win, mac is the starter the rest of the year.

 

[Hawg73]

I think what we've been seeing here is that Bill has tried his level best to give Mac Jones as much leeway as he possibly can to hope
he works his way out of whatever confidence/mental issues the kid has.

The ironic thing is that yesterday was probably the best game the OL has played all year and Mac was still unable to settle himself
down and solve the puzzles that every QB has to in order to play at an NFL level. I think the team around him is getting better, but
Mac is actually getting worse.

During Mac's rookie year I read a thing about how Mac was studying a form of relaxation breathing which he referred to as the
Navy Seal Method. It's one of many such techniques and many find this form of what is known as "breath work" to be effective in calming
themselves down when shit starts going sideways. I've known about this stuff for a long time and will sometimes practice it myself when, say,
I find myself stuck in a traffic jam and am late for something. It's a solid life skill to have, imo, and I encourage anybody to look into
it on Youtube.

Anyhow, ever since I read that I have sometimes noticed Mac pursing his lips and exhaling slowly, which is part of the process and he now
seems to be doing it very frequently. He's got major anxiety issues, which override the breathing stuff, and it's preventing him from reaching
his potential as a player and that is sad and brutal to watch, but.....the NFL isn't a therapy session. In fact, it's designed to push people to
their breaking point. Jones' has obviously passed his some time ago and now it's time to move on. He's had plenty of chances and nobody
can say otherwise.

Even though Zappe is not necessarily an attractive option, I noticed something during our first drive after the half that I thought
was quite noticeable. Everybody's body language changed. There was a little bit of hope for those guys who have been slogging their
way though games with a leader that they all know is freaking out and now they had a new one who, while he hasn't done much to inspire
confidence, is at least not a basket case. Not yet, anyway.

I think the time has come to give Bailey the starters reps and see what happens. There was never much hope that Jones could work his way out
of it, but what little, perhaps, there was has been extinguished and it's time to make the move.

I will be shocked if Zappe isn't made the starter this week.

 

[HSanders]

@Hawg73
true,in game thread i definitely noted guys on o picking it up.

i too have noticed mac doing that breathing. and it is constantly. since he has to do this all the time,i think he needs more than just a seat on the bench to try to be productive again. i think he needs a sports psychologist,and a new team where he sits and learns/chills for a bit behind a solid vet.

The ironic thing is that yesterday was probably the best game the OL has played all year and Mac was still unable to settle himself
down and solve the puzzles that every QB has to in order to play at an NFL level. I think the team around him is getting better, but
Mac is actually getting worse.

i was thinking very similar thoughts while i was between workouts in the car earlier this am listening to nfl sirius talk about this game. not as many penalties,non qb turnovers,time mgmt stuff, and much better protection and run blocking than earlier but he is now seeing stuff that isn't even there a la sam darnold in nj.

 

[Roberto71]

I think what we've been seeing here is that Bill has tried his level best to give Mac Jones as much leeway as he possibly can to hope
he works his way out of whatever confidence/mental issues the kid has.

The ironic thing is that yesterday was probably the best game the OL has played all year and Mac was still unable to settle himself
down and solve the puzzles that every QB has to in order to play at an NFL level. I think the team around him is getting better, but
Mac is actually getting worse.

During Mac's rookie year I read a thing about how Mac was studying a form of relaxation breathing which he referred to as the
Navy Seal Method. It's one of many such techniques and many find this form of what is known as "breath work" to be effective in calming
themselves down when shit starts going sideways. I've known about this stuff for a long time and will sometimes practice it myself when, say,
I find myself stuck in a traffic jam and am late for something. It's a solid life skill to have, imo, and I encourage anybody to look into
it on Youtube.

Anyhow, ever since I read that I have sometimes noticed Mac pursing his lips and exhaling slowly, which is part of the process and he now
seems to be doing it very frequently. He's got major anxiety issues, which override the breathing stuff, and it's preventing him from reaching
his potential as a player and that is sad and brutal to watch, but.....the NFL isn't a therapy session. In fact, it's designed to push people to
their breaking point. Jones' has obviously passed his some time ago and now it's time to move on. He's had plenty of chances and nobody
can say otherwise.

Even though Zappe is not necessarily an attractive option, I noticed something during our first drive after the half that I thought
was quite noticeable. Everybody's body language changed. There was a little bit of hope for those guys who have been slogging their
way though games with a leader that they all know is freaking out and now they had a new one who, while he hasn't done much to inspire
confidence, is at least not a basket case. Not yet, anyway.

I think the time has come to give Bailey the starters reps and see what happens. There was never much hope that Jones could work his way out
of it, but what little, perhaps, there was has been extinguished and it's time to make the move.

I will be shocked if Zappe isn't made the starter this week.

Very good post Hawg and it's spot on. I agree totally that Bill has gone out of his way to accommodate Mac and has gone above and beyond in giving him every chance to try and dig himself out of this terrible hole.

It was so sadly stark the difference in everyone when Zappe came in. And Zappe, to be clear, is not a good QB. The O line seemed to find an extra gear as did Mondre and Zeke. And Zappe to his eternal credit, never lets loose with any histrionics or waving his arms, or letting his emoton show. he keeps the same calm expression before or after every play. As said, he's not a good QB but by good you have to love his attitude and mentality. Offenses feed off the QB's mood, we knew this for some 20+ years.

 

[Mazz22]

Very good post Hawg and it's spot on. I agree totally that Bill has gone out of his way to accommodate Mac and has gone above and beyond in giving him every chance to try and dig himself out of this terrible hole.

It was so sadly stark the difference in everyone when Zappe came in. And Zappe, to be clear, is not a good QB. The O line seemed to find an extra gear as did Mondre and Zeke. And Zappe to his eternal credit, never lets loose with any histrionics or waving his arms, or letting his emoton show. he keeps the same calm expression before or after every play. As said, he's not a good QB but by good you have to love his attitude and mentality. Offenses feed off the QB's mood, we knew this for some 20+ years.

It's a shame Zappe does not have more physical talent. I was saying on the game thread he reminds me of Case Keenum.

 

[ViperGTS]

Draft a top tier QB and have Zappe as the backup imo. He certainly has the correct attitude as has been pointed out.

 

[TommyD420]

i feel like if bb didn't start someone else this week after a bye and after he pulled mac w/2 min left and a chance to win, mac is the starter the rest of the year.

Yeah, Mac will start next week, give him a chance to throw 2 picks in the first half again, and then get pulled for the really noodly-arm.

The soft tank is upon us.

 

[TommyD420]

It's a shame Zappe does not have more physical talent. I was saying on the game thread he reminds me of Case Keenum.

I don't agree with a ton of your posts but you're right on here - although Keenum has an absolute laser rocket arm compared to Zappe.

 

[TommyD420]

In fact, I'll go one further. Mac will be the starter every game until Week 18, assuming he stays healthy.
Zappe starts the Jets game.

 

[Big/Sky/Fly]

I think what we've been seeing here is that Bill has tried his level best to give Mac Jones as much leeway as he possibly can to hope
he works his way out of whatever confidence/mental issues the kid has.

The ironic thing is that yesterday was probably the best game the OL has played all year and Mac was still unable to settle himself
down and solve the puzzles that every QB has to in order to play at an NFL level. I think the team around him is getting better, but
Mac is actually getting worse.

During Mac's rookie year I read a thing about how Mac was studying a form of relaxation breathing which he referred to as the
Navy Seal Method. It's one of many such techniques and many find this form of what is known as "breath work" to be effective in calming
themselves down when shit starts going sideways. I've known about this stuff for a long time and will sometimes practice it myself when, say,
I find myself stuck in a traffic jam and am late for something. It's a solid life skill to have, imo, and I encourage anybody to look into
it on Youtube.

Anyhow, ever since I read that I have sometimes noticed Mac pursing his lips and exhaling slowly, which is part of the process and he now
seems to be doing it very frequently. He's got major anxiety issues, which override the breathing stuff, and it's preventing him from reaching
his potential as a player and that is sad and brutal to watch, but.....the NFL isn't a therapy session. In fact, it's designed to push people to
their breaking point. Jones' has obviously passed his some time ago and now it's time to move on. He's had plenty of chances and nobody
can say otherwise.

Even though Zappe is not necessarily an attractive option, I noticed something during our first drive after the half that I thought
was quite noticeable. Everybody's body language changed. There was a little bit of hope for those guys who have been slogging their
way though games with a leader that they all know is freaking out and now they had a new one who, while he hasn't done much to inspire
confidence, is at least not a basket case. Not yet, anyway.

I think the time has come to give Bailey the starters reps and see what happens. There was never much hope that Jones could work his way out
of it, but what little, perhaps, there was has been extinguished and it's time to make the move.

I will be shocked if Zappe isn't made the starter this week.

Good post…sans the start Zappe stuff.

The Pats need Mac to keep doing his thang for the rest of the season.

 

[dchester]

It's a shame Zappe does not have more physical talent. I was saying on the game thread he reminds me of Case Keenum.

IMO, Zappe's main problem is with reading defenses. I think his arm is a little better than Mac's, (OK maybe that's not the highest standard). He also doesn't panic as much in the pocket, as Mac does when under pressure. He would benefit from a mentor to work with him on deciphering what defenses are doing. I wish they'd give him all the starter reps, and find out if he can at least be a legit backup QB. It was a shame that the kicker couldn't make a 35 yard field goal, and give him a chance at an OT win.