Tom Brady’s former backup says Patriots dealing with ‘young mistakes’ from QBs

Mac Jones has struggled mightily in an important Year 3 for the Patriots. The quarterback is only two years removed from his strong rookie season, but hasn’t been able to find that kind of success since.

If Jones had a veteran quarterback alongside him, might that have been a difference maker?

On the latest episode of “Eye On Foxborough,” former Patriots quarterback Jim Miller joined MassLive’s Karen Guregian to discuss the QB room New England has and how them being young could be impacting the lack of success under Bill Belichick.

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“I don’t think Bill Belichick has ever had a quarterback room as young as what it is right now. I think he’s always had a veteran guy in the backup mode — even when Drew Bledsoe was there, Brady takes over (and) Bledsoe is the backup,” Miller said. “And then you got Scott Zolak and you could just go through the list. It’s always been veteran guys that have been there. All these guys are as green as grass. Malik Cunningham, very talented player, but he’s a very raw player. Will Grier hasn’t played a lot. Bailey Zappe’s still a very young player. He hasn’t even played as much as Mac Jones. So this is a very young group that they’re trying to bring along, and I think there’s just a lot of growing pains that that you’re gonna go through because these guys haven’t experienced a lot. Mac’s experienced the most because he’s started for the most part. He’s still a very young player in terms of his playing career.”

Miller referenced New England’s Week 10 loss in Germany to the Indianapolis Colts when Jones was benched for the final drive of the game for Zappe — who ended up throwing an interception. Had there been a veteran guy on the bench, things might have turned out differently.

“You’re dealing with young mistakes by young players. And I’m not saying just that one interception wasn’t the greatest play call either,” Miller said. “You’re faking a spike and then throwing the middle of the field is kind of a shot for any quarterback if that’s called. But you’re still going to have your share of mistakes with Bailey just because he hasn’t done it.”

Belichick still hasn’t named a starter for Week 12 against the New York Giants, but wants everyone to be ready to go. Some point soon, the Patriots are going to have to decide which direction to take with Jones. Maybe bringing in a veteran would benefit him, or maybe a change of scenery would be better. Those questions still need answers, and they probably won’t be answered before the end of the 2023 season.