Patriots
“One sport does not outline you, so simply maintain working.”
Patriots QB Mac Jones appeared on WEEI’s “Jones & Mego” present on Monday, relating quite a lot of subjects — together with New England’s spectacular comeback win over Buffalo, Invoice O’Brien’s influence, and far more.
Listed here are a number of highlights from Jones’ prolonged radio interview:
A much-needed win
For the primary time since Jones’ rookie season, the Patriots QB led New England on a game-winning drive within the fourth quarter — lifting the Patriots to a formidable 29-25 win over the Payments on Sunday afternoon.
On a day the place New England’s offense managed to proper the ship after weeks of dysfunction, Jones put collectively one of many strongest performances of his younger profession. The 25-year-old sign caller accomplished 25 of his 30 passes for 272 yards with two touchdowns.
Throughout New England’s game-winning drive — orchestrated simply after Buffalo erased what was a 12-point lead for the Patriots within the closing quarter of motion — Jones related on six of his seven passes for 70 yards in lower than two minutes of motion.
He capped off the sequence with a landing throw to Mike Gesicki with 12 seconds left on the clock to present New England its second win of the yr.
It was a outcome that the plummeting Patriots desperately wanted after trudging by a three-game shedding streak that noticed them get outscored, 93-20.
“I feel the mindset was positively there,” Jones stated of New England orchestrating a fourth-quarter comeback. “That was simply focus, having intentional focus and never solely me, however everyone else as properly — simply deliver the staff collectively within the huddle and inform them that we are able to go do it.
“So, [we] acquired to do it each time if we are able to. If in case you have 4 downs to make a play? Then make the play. I really feel like we are able to develop in that space and proceed to do this.”
Not solely was it a key win for the Patriots, however it was a welcome outcome for a QB in Jones who has confronted questions all season lengthy about his long-term future in New England, in addition to his present standing because the QB1 on the depth chart.
“I imply, each competitor desires to do properly on Sunday or every time they play their sport,” Jones stated when requested if he will get motivated by proving doubters improper. “So I positively simply need to concentrate on that. Deal with what I can do to be higher and proceed to do this.”
Belichick’s three hundredth win
WEEI host Adam Jones did what he may to try to get Jones to speak about Invoice Belichick’s reported “multi-year” contract extension that he inked final offseason.
Mac Jones didn’t take the bait, opting as a substitute to deflect by mentioning how Sunday’s win marked the three hundredth of Belichick’s teaching profession.
Adam Jones: “Did you get an opportunity to congratulate Invoice on the brand new contract but?”
Mac Jones: “Thought you had been gonna discuss concerning the three hundredth win. That’s one.”
Adam Jones: “The contract, no?”
Mac Jones: “The three hundredth win. I feel that’s actually cool that that occurred. And I do know we would like extra. So I assumed that was nice that he acquired that executed. And it’s cool to be the quarterback for the sport.”
Jones acknowledged that he has performed for a number of record-setting coaches throughout his profession, beginning as early as his highschool days at The Bolles College in Jacksonville.
“I feel it’s positively an incredible expertise,” Jones stated of taking part in for Belichick. “Such as you stated, I’ve been very lucky to have performed quarterback for Corky Rogers, who was my highschool coach. He handed away, however he was the winningest Florida coach in historical past. And clearly Coach [Nick] Saban and Coach Belichick.
“So I suppose I’ll have guide at some point. However yeah, it’s good to have that. I feel that’s crucial for gamers when you’ve gotten an incredible historical past of nice coaches that you just’ve labored with, I feel that actually helps.”
Invoice O’Brien’s influence
After New England’s comeback win over Buffalo, Jones famous in a postgame interview with CBS’ Evan Washburn that Invoice O’Brien performed a key position in New England’s sudden turnaround on offense.
“He did an incredible job calling sport, and being aggressive and utilizing issues that I did in faculty that I actually like,” Jones stated of O’Brien’s influence. “So, I actually recognize that.”
On Monday, Jones was requested to broaden on his feedback on what led to New England’s spectacular beneficial properties on offense.
“Like I talked about, simply sticking to the method,” Jones stated. “Simply looking for methods to win. It’s doing the little issues, doing the laborious issues, all of that stuff. Positively made some progress there and need to proceed to develop in that matter. Like I stated, one sport doesn’t outline you, so simply maintain working. I’ll say that each week simply maintain working and belief the method.”
A robust displaying from a revamped offensive line performed a key position in New England’s breakthrough displaying on the offensive aspect of the ball, with Jones lastly given the time wanted to step up into the pocket and execute.
However O’Brien additionally drew up loads of RPOs (run-pass choices) and pre-snap motions that recurrently put Buffalo’s protection on its heels and allowed Jones to seek out open targets throughout his reads after the ball was snapped.
“I feel the schematics and stuff can change week-to-week within the NFL,” Jones famous. “Positively simply need to try to discover our id like we’ve talked about, and go on the market and compete with one another. Soccer is rather a lot concerning the performs however it’s extra concerning the individuals.
“Actually simply getting collectively and taking part in for one another and now we have to do this each week. We will’t do it one week after which not the subsequent, so. Actually gotta flip the web page and focus how we are able to do this this week in opposition to Miami.”
Onwenu steps up
New England might want to proceed to maintain Jones off the turf and win battles within the trenches if it desires to make sure that Sunday’s offensive efficiency isn’t just a flash within the pan.
Protecting Mike Onwenu at proper deal with stands as a sound strategy to maintain that O-line intact, with the 25-year-old’s shift from his traditional spot at guard paying rapid dividends for New England.
With Onwenu anchoring the skin reverse left deal with Trent Brown, New England was in a position to run a reliable offensive gameplan for the primary time in weeks.
“I’ve been in there with Mike at proper deal with earlier than in follow and stuff like that, too,” Jones stated of Onwenu. “Simply nice versatility. It’s not simple to do this as a lineman. I imply, I by no means performed offensive line. However I can think about that’s fairly troublesome to go — perhaps you’re on the left aspect and then you definitely’re on at proper guard, proper deal with spot and flipping round.
“It’s not simple, however I feel it exhibits that he’s a really versatile participant, which is tough to point out as a lineman. Some guys play their complete life at left deal with or proper deal with and for him to do this was actually cool to see.”
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