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.