What Mac Jones informed JuJu Smith-Schuster after pricey drop in opposition to Commanders

Patriots

“It’s a bang-bang play. It’s at all times like that within the NFL, proper?”

Patriots QB Mac Jones appeared on WEEI’s “Jones & Mego” present on Monday, pertaining to quite a lot of subjects — together with JuJu Smith-Schuster’s pricey drop on Sunday, Kayshon Boutte’s reps, and extra. 

Listed here are just a few highlights from Jones’ prolonged radio interview:

Mac’s message to JuJu

Sunday marked yet one more irritating afternoon for the Patriots, who didn’t capitalize on a number of alternatives in each side of the sport en path to a 20-17 loss to a tanking Washington Commanders staff.

In one other sport the place little appeared to fall New England’s method, JuJu Smith-Schuster’s pricey drop within the remaining minute of play was the icing on the cake.

With New England trailing by three factors and the ball on Washington’s 41-yard line, Mac Jones and the Patriots’ offense had been on the cusp of placing themselves in field-goal vary.

With Chad Ryland warming up on the sidelines, Jones hit Smith-Schuster with an eight-yard move that hit him sq. within the palms. However the veteran wideout couldn’t corral the pigskin, with Jones’ move bouncing off of him and ultimately into the grasp of Washington rookie cornerback Jartavius Martin for a game-sealing interception.

It was one other crushing consequence for Smith-Schuster, who’s trudging via a disastrous first season in New England after inking a three-year, $33 million contract with the Patriots in March.

On Monday, Jones was requested about what he informed Smith-Schuster following his pricey drop.

“We’re good,” Jones mentioned. “I informed him should you don’t make the play earlier than that one, then we’re not there. It’s soccer. It’s a bang-bang play. It’s at all times like that within the NFL, proper? It goes in some way. You make the play and perhaps you go into time beyond regulation. And should you don’t, you don’t.

“It’s what it’s. I can do issues higher all through the sport to not even be in that place. Everybody desires to place one factor on one participant, however we’re all on this collectively. That’s how we strategy it.”

Boutte nonetheless ready

Invoice Belichick provided up some excessive reward for rookie wideout Kayshon Boutte within the days main as much as Sunday’s loss to Washington.

“This has most likely been his finest week,” Belichick informed reporters on Friday of Boutte’s effort in apply with Kendrick Bourne out for the yr and DeVante Parker recovering from a concussion.

However even with these added reps and powerful apply performances, Boutte was nonetheless positioned on New England’s inactive checklist on Sunday.

It stays to be seen if the 2023 sixth-round choose has the expertise and mettle to develop right into a stable participant within the NFL ranks. However New England additionally will be unable to evaluate Boutte’s potential if he doesn’t begin getting snaps in sport conditions.

And with New England already floundering with a 2-7 file, it does seem to be Sunday was the perfect alternative to see what this staff has within the 21-year-old wideout.

“I imply, I don’t [make] these selections,” Jones mentioned of Boutte’s standing. “And on the finish of the day, I’ve quite a lot of belief in all these guys. I actually do. And quite a lot of these guys are younger soccer gamers they usually have quite a lot of talent, quite a lot of expertise and truthfully they’ve achieved a superb job. So I’ve been pleased with all people.”

Separating from the pack

Jones’ personal decision-making and lapses in execution have value the Patriots in a number of video games this season.

However New England’s lack of playmakers round Jones hasn’t made issues any simpler on the third-year QB.

As famous by Patriots.com’s Evan Lazar, New England’s receivers generated simply 1.8 yards of separation on Sunday, forcing 36 % of Jones’ throws to enter tight home windows when the Commanders’ protection performed man protection. 

In the meantime, Washington QB Sam Howell solely threw into a decent window 4.5% of the time, along with his receivers gaining 3.1 yards of separation in opposition to New England’s man protection.

Regardless of a season-long development of his receiving choices struggling to interrupt unfastened in opposition to defensive backs, Jones opted to not throw any of his teammates below the bus on Monday.

“I feel that we have now guys on the market which are actually making an attempt and doing a superb job. Actually, it’s soccer, proper? It’s the NFL — the window for separation may be very fast. And it is perhaps there for .1 second and you bought to sort of match it in there. So it simply will depend on the play too, proper? One play may very well be — perhaps the protection isn’t taking that away, or they’re providing you with the shorter throws or whatnot.

“So there’s loads that goes into every play. Actually, it’s primarily based on the play. Some performs, there’s a decent home windows, some performs, the fellows are extensive open, some performs, it’s sort of 50/50 both, there’s a man there, however is he actually there? And that’s sort of the NFL.”

Even with just a few constructive developments corresponding to Demario Douglas’ emergence as a viable receiving risk, New England hasn’t been capable of construct any momentum throughout these uncommon stretches the place issues have gone their method.

“The file wouldn’t say so, however that’s actually what you get judged on,” Jones mentioned of New England’s total play this season. “It’s the efficiency enterprise. For us, it’s quite a lot of issues. You need to have higher video games. You need to stack video games. You need to stack days.”