Jeff Howe, theAthletic
Story of the day
Mac Jones was the best quarterback on the field for the second day in a row. And if he wins the job, remember June 15 as the day when the momentum began to shift.
Jones was 17 of 25 and sharp throughout, but two late interceptions will sting. Let’s focus on those first. He underthrew Dalton Keene’s over route, and
Dont’a Hightower made a nice leaping interception in his zone to draw a big cheer from the defense. Two plays later, the pass rush slaughtered the backup offensive line to generate too much pressure, and Jones stepped up for a quick throw that was tipped at the line and intercepted by
Kyle Van Noy.
The interceptions shouldn’t mar an otherwise impressive morning, but it will be important for Jones to eliminate those mistakes – self-inflicted or otherwise – in the final practice of minicamp. For comparison’s sake,
Jarrett Stidham made plenty of nice throws last year during an abbreviated training camp, but two interceptions turned into three more a day later and then a couple more after that. Jones has to avoid that snowball effect.
Jones went second in the rotation throughout the day, but he out-snapped
Cam Newton, who was 9 of 17 with an interception. They largely played with similar personnel groups, too.
The Patriots opened in a seven-on-seven period in the red zone, and Newton’s first throw clanged off a paddle at the line. His second was complete to Jakobi Meyers but a late delivery. Jones then took over and completed 5 of 6 passes, hitting Kendrick Bourne on a crosser then Hunter Henry on an arcing touchdown in the back of the end zone over Kyle Dugger. Jones then hit Brandon Bolden on a quick out route, Devin Asiasi for a touchdown against Adrian Phillips on a right out, bounced a ball off the paddle and found Matt LaCosse on a crossing touchdown against Dugger. Very strong opening sequence for Jones.
The Patriots then broke into an interesting protection period, just as they did Monday. Jones worked on one field with the starting offensive line while Newton was on the other field with the backup line. They each competed against a mix of defensive starters, and the goal was for the quarterbacks and linemen to call out the correct protections against the front-seven blitzers. Just as interesting, the Jones field included Bill Belichick, Josh McDaniels, Steve Belichick, Matt Patricia and Ernie Adams, so the team’s top evaluators were on full display near the rookie quarterback. (Stidham and
Brian Hoyer worked a four-on-four period with the receivers, tight ends and defensive backs.)
The team then broke into an 11-on-11 period, and Newton was 1 of 3. His first throw was too far for Bourne and broken up by Jalen Mills. He then completed a pass to Henry on an over route and was incomplete on a blown screen to Damien Harris. Hard to tell who erred there.
Jones took over and again had more throws, going 5 of 7 in the period. The defense stacked the line with seven players in a line, and Jones called out the protection before quickly hitting Nelson Agholor on an under route. A play later, the defense again tried to create confusion with a picket fence on the line, and Jones quickly hit Agholor on a hitch to the left sideline against Joejuan Williams. Jones then checked down to James White, found Harry on a corner route against a zone coverage and quickly swung a pass left to Tyler Gaffney with Josh Uche barreling in from the blind side. After five consecutive completions, the pressure got to Jones a play later, and a back-footed throw for Harry was broken up by Mills. Jones then misfired to Isaiah Zuber, though the receiver probably should have made the catch on a slant to the end zone.
Stidham then got his first two passes with both falling incomplete. He was 5 of 8 overall and a distant third in the rotation. Hoyer was strictly the scout team quarterback.
Newton and Jones split reps over the final two competitive periods. In seven-on-seven, Newton opened with three consecutive incompletions on balls that were overthrown to Agholor, Henry and Bourne – the last of which was intercepted by Dugger. Newton recovered with a lengthy catch and run to Gunner Olszewski on an over route before checking down to Gaffney and hitting Henry on a drag route.
Jones took over and opened with a checkdown to Bolden with no one open down the field. He then hit Agholor on a hitch to the right before an incompletion to White, who slipped by the sideline. Worse than that, Jones missed Bourne cutting open over the middle on a double move. Zuber next let a deep ball go through his hands against double coverage, which might have otherwise been the play of the day if he caught it. Jones closed the period with a misfire to an open Agholor on a deep throw down the right sideline. Hard to know if Agholor could have tracked it better to the inside for a long completion, but a better throw toward the sideline would have gotten it done.
Next, the team got into an 11-on-11 period, and Newton missed Sony Michel on a screen then hit Kristian Wilkerson on an out route to the left. He then took too long under pressure and would have been sacked in live action but ultimately hit J.J. Taylor. Newton then hit Bolden on an option route, Michel on a screen and shanked a ball to Bourne by the left sideline.
Jones’ four completions in his rotation were solid, hitting Bourne and Harris on out routes, Olszewski on an over route and Michel on an option route, but his period was thwarted by the two picks.
The practice ended with the half-speed two-minute drill. Throws weren’t charted because they weren’t competitive.
Newton targeted Meyers (1 of 1), Bourne (0 of 3, interception), Henry (2 of 3), Harris (0 of 1), Agholor (0 of 1), Olszewski (1 of 1), Gaffney (1 of 1), Michel (1 of 2), Wilkerson (1 of 1), Taylor (1 of 1), Bolden (1 of 1) and hit a paddle.
Jones targeted Bourne (2 of 2), Henry (1 of 1), Bolden (2 of 2), Asiasi (1 of 1), LaCosse (1 of 1), Agholor (3 of 4), White (1 of 2), Harry (1 of 2), Gaffney (1 of 1), Zuber (0 of 2), Meyers (1 of 1), Harris (1 of 1), Olszewski (1 of 1), Keene (0 of 1, interception), Michel (1 of 1), hit a paddle and had a deflected pass intercepted.
The biggest impression this week has been Jones’ decisiveness in the pocket and confidence when pushing it downfield. Since June 4, when Jones checked down on four of his eight completions, the Patriots have had six practices (three open to the media), and his command is growing.
Another interesting point, Jones is 10 of 12 this week when targeting Henry, Agholor, Bourne and Meyers while Newton is 7 of 16 with an interception. Those four targets will be a big part of the passing game, and Jones has hit them with more efficiency in minicamp.
Newton’s accuracy has also remained inconsistent, sailing three passes, shanking one and missing a screen over the final 12 throws. Jones has been more on-point.
The defense is working to make it tough on Jones, too. They were much more aggressive near the line to make him diagnose the rush, and this has been a theme for the past few weeks. Belichick has been testing him mentally, and Jones appears to be holding his own.
So what does it all mean? Jones has been the best quarterback this week, but it will need to continue into August when the Patriots practice in pads, likely with some joint workouts, and play three preseason games. Those will be far more strenuous than non-padded practices in June. That type of atmosphere will also be more conducive to Newton’s ability to make plays with his legs, and that element can’t be discounted.
This week, though, Jones has proven that he is capable of contending for the starting job later this summer.
