FOXBOROUGH – Both Bill Belichick and Bill O’Brien essentially reaffirmed their faith in Mac Jones by naming him the starter against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday.
Given recent performances, it could have gone in a different direction. Jones was yanked against Dallas and New Orleans in successive weeks because of poor play, not to mention committing too many turnovers (6).
For the Raiders game at least, for better or worse, the coaches are sticking with Jones.
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During his media session Wednesday, Jones was asked what it means to still have the coaches back him, and how it might help him going forward.
“I appreciate that,” Jones said of Belichick and O’Brien’s support. “I think a lot of that is really good. There’s a lot of things I need to improve as a quarterback, so that’s what I think of. What can I do better? What are the actual issues instead of just throwing stuff up in the air. Let’s look at the tape, plays in the game, 11-on-11, and really see what’s going on
“That’s the important part to me, ‘cuz you can always try to problem-solve that way. But kind of just chasing different things . . . it’s hard. But when you sit in the room together, and look at the tape, there’s a lot of things that you can say, ‘OK, I’m going to do this. Or, I’m going to try to do this drop on this play, or read it this way,’
“It’s all about trial and error, but at the same time, you want it to be really good on game days. And that’s where I’ve been disappointed in myself because it hasn’t been good on game day. So why hasn’t it? And that’s something I’ve focused on.”
On Tuesday, O’Brien said it wasn’t all on Jones, and pointed to a few areas where his quarterback needed to improve.
“I don’t think it’s about one person. I really don’t,” O’Brien said. “There are definitely things (Jones) can do better. Whether it’s footwork, the read of a route, or the check of a play. There’s also ten other guys out on the field, and all ten of those guys would tell you, ‘there’s things that I can do better.’”
The Patriots have scored three points in their last two games. They haven’t scored a touchdown in 34 straight drives. They’re averaging a measly 11 points per game.
Jones, who seemed much more at ease than he’s been in recent weeks, is well aware all of that has to change. And it starts with him.
“Right now, it’s not looking too good,” he said. “But, we’ve gotta flip the switch, right, and start over, and figure out ways to go out there and have fun, sling the ball around. Have guys go make plays and go celebrate with each other. “
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