Alabama QB Mac Jones declared for the 2021 NFL draft.
Jones took over as Alabama's starting QB after Tua Tagovailoa went down with a hip injury midway through the 2019 season and led the team to a Citrus Bowl win over Michigan. He capped off his Alabama career with a national title as the Crimson Tide blasted Ohio State in Monday night's championship game. Jones, who shredded the Buckeyes to the tune of 464 yards and five touchdowns, had a statistically stellar 2020 season, completing 77.4 percent of his passes at a 11.2 yards-per-attempt average with 41 touchdowns and just four interceptions. Jones is largely seen as a product of an Alabama offense stacked with explosive play makers who took many of his short -- albeit accurate -- throws to the house. We could see a QB-hungry NFL team reach for Jones in the second half of the first round of the 2021 draft, or -- more likely -- Jones could be picked by a team on day two of the draft.
SOURCE: Field Yates on Twitter
Jan 14, 2021, 3:26 PM ET
Are we sure he's not confusing him with Kyle Trask?
I don't watch college football, but this article is lame. I'll admit, the authors 1st point is understandable, but has more to do with scheme than Jones ability as a QB. Based on his 1st point Kyler Murray is a crap QB too.
It's hard to evaluate a QB when you're surrounded by elite talent on the oline, at WR and RB, and are throwing from a clean pocket. Burrow was able to make lots of plays when the pocket broke down, while Tua and Jones didn't have to. In the NFL, Tua hasn't shown an ability to make plays when the pocket breaks down, he was 2nd worse, better than only Lock. I'm not sold on Jones or Tua being more than average NFL qbs.I don't watch college football, but this article is lame. I'll admit, the authors 1st point is understandable, but has more to do with scheme than Jones ability as a QB. Based on his 1st point Kyler Murray is a crap QB too.
His 2nd point, is redundant. I broke down the YAC with each completion, and compared it with Joe Burrows 2019 stats. The difference between Macs 53.5 and Burrows 45.6 is 1.31 yards per completion. Which in reality, isn't noticeable in a real game, or is it? If you factor in the Authors 1st point, that Mac throws 34.1% of his throws at or behind the line of scrimmage, that would explain the the 1.31 yards per completion difference(and then some).
His 3rd point about 11.3% of Jones pass attempts were made out of the pocket. WTF!?! How is that a bad thing?? It sounds to me like he has a really good o-line, and is a pretty damn good pocket passer.
Sounds like he's just hating on him for no reason. Personally, I think he'd be a pretty good pickup in Dynasty. late 1st-3rd round depending on your league.
I can't argue with anything you said at all. I do most of my "evaluating" for my fantasy team by reading articles and watching games/highlights on youtube. I'm merely pointing out that this article is a piece of crap. lol.. Normally when I see an article like this, where the author is trying to nit-pick and slam the player based on well.... nothing. It usually means that the player doesn't have many faults, and I'd be more than happy to grab him in my rookie draft.It's hard to evaluate a QB when you're surrounded by elite talent on the oline, at WR and RB, and are throwing from a clean pocket. Burrow was able to make lots of plays when the pocket broke down, while Tua and Jones didn't have to. In the NFL, Tua hasn't shown an ability to make plays when the pocket breaks down, he was 2nd worse, better than only Lock. I'm not sold on Jones or Tua being more than average NFL qbs.
33) Mac Jones, QB
School: Alabama | Year: Junior (RS)
Jones has average size and athleticism for the quarterback position. He's operated out of the shotgun and pistol, showing incredible accuracy, efficiency and poise. He is a high-effort thrower, with slightly above-average arm strength. He's at his best on touch throws, where he can anticipate and place the ball on the proper shoulder of his target. He shows toughness to hang in versus pressure, although he rarely faced it with an elite offensive line protecting him. He isn't much of a threat as a runner and he lacks the twitch to consistently escape and buy extra time. Jones should become a starting NFL quarterback, but his lack of twitch and athleticism will limit the playbook with the way the game is trending.
Wow, rare to see someone touting the #5 guy as the #1 guy.
The standard joke here is "that's why he's a 'former' coach".Wow, rare to see someone touting the #5 guy as the #1 guy.
He would be lucky to go a little later. It would likely mean he lands on a decent team where he doesn't have to be a miracle worker.The standard joke here is "that's why he's a 'former' coach".
But it is conspicuous that he basically did what Joe Burrow did but is being downplayed whereas Burrow was anointed.
I have Jones going no later than New England at pick 15, but I can see him leapfrogging Lance to go in the top 10.
I'm monkeying around with a new mock draft and already have, through a series of trades, four QBs in the top 10. I could easily make a case for the fifth.He would be lucky to go a little later. It would likely mean he lands on a decent team where he doesn't have to be a miracle worker.
It should be interpreted as "he has average skills...that add up to way more than the sum of the parts when actually on the field."Too much "average" talk going around on this guy. That's just not gonna cut it in the NFL of today with how QBs operate.
"Alabama has always been one of the best programs in college football, but its record of sending starting quarterbacks to the NFL has been much more spotty. Though it can claim such Hall of Fame legends as Bart Starr, Joe Namath and Kenny Stabler, it’s been decades since a Crimson Tide signal caller has been effective in the pro ranks.can it be possible that the age-old bias against Crimson Tide QBs in the pros is still valid? i mean, if Tua is the failure he appeared to be (which i'm not totally willing to stipulate) and the small fun of Jalen Hurts is attributable to OU more than Ala, arent we still drawing the line of Croyle-JPWilson-McElroy-McCarron-Sims-Coker as overrated, lucky QBs shooting barrel fish?
If he is as head strong as the media made him out to be this season then he has a long career ahead of him. As a backup though.Too much "average" talk going around on this guy. That's just not gonna cut it in the NFL of today with how QBs operate.
Headstrong or mentally tough? One usually implies stubbornness, the other is a compliment.If he is as head strong as the media made him out to be this season then he has a long career ahead of him. As a backup though.
The good one.Headstrong or mentally tough? One usually implies stubbornness, the other is a compliment.
Gotcha. I couldn't tell what you were actually saying and if it was negative/positive or not. Sorry.The good one.
All good - and I think there's still reason to be skeptical. I'm just saying if the media narrative is apt then that's the case. I never trust a media narrative as far as I can throw it.Gotcha. I couldn't tell what you were actually saying and if it was negative/positive or not. Sorry.
I really agree with this...since Alabama is on TV every week I watched pretty much all (or parts) of all their games...love the kid and I like the Brees comp...the kid is so composed and the accuracy is dead on...Sark did a lot of funky things this year and the kid always seemed in full command of the game-plan and he really didn't leave many plays on the field regardless of who the opponent was...I would absolutely love for the Patriots to grab him as I think he's exactly what BB wants in a QB.Honestly I don’t know what scouts see sometimes.
This kids accuracy is insane. He glides in the pocket, feels pressure and has the innate sixth sense on when to get rid of the ball. Everyone seems to be so quick to credit the weapons around him but I see time and again Jones give a nasty pump fake and draw his WR’s open.
Guy is a stud. People are drooling (and rightfully so in many ways) over the athleticism of the other top QB’s but this guy does some incredible things and people are dismissing him too easily off the team he was surrounded with, his predecessor and that he only played one full season as a starter. He moves in the pocket and displays similar accuracy to Drew Brees and his arm is plenty lively.
If he goes to the pats I will throw upBoston said:I really agree with this...since Alabama is on TV every week I watched pretty much all (or parts) of all their games...love the kid and I like the Brees comp...the kid is so composed and the accuracy is dead on...Sark did a lot of funky things this year and the kid always seemed in full command of the game-plan and he really didn't leave many plays on the field regardless of who the opponent was...I would absolutely love for the Patriots to grab him as I think he's exactly what BB wants in a QB.
I am rooting for you to puke!If he goes to the pats I will throw up
Sark was the bama OC for 2 years with macDid some quick math because I’ve been battling some haters on twitter:
Over the course of six ranked opponents in 2020 Jones was:
156/203 76% 2,333 27/3
This was the hardest SOS of the last five years at least (I’ll go back further at some point) and all regular season opponents were SEC while he was with a new OC.
Over both 2019/2020 he had 8 ranked opponents and was:
198/267 74% 2995 34/5
I want to see what other “scheme” or “surrounding talent” has done something like this.
You are correct, my bad. Covid then!Sark was the bama OC for 2 years with mac
He's a strong decision making accurate distributor within the pocket when not under duress on a team with arguably the greatest combination of supporting cast and coaching to ever play.Did some quick math because I’ve been battling some haters on twitter:
Over the course of six ranked opponents in 2020 Jones was:
156/203 76% 2,333 27/3
This was the hardest SOS of the last five years at least (I’ll go back further at some point) and all regular season opponents were SEC while he was with a new OC.
Over both 2019/2020 he had 8 ranked opponents and was:
198/267 74% 2995 34/5
I want to see what other “scheme” or “surrounding talent” has done something like this.
The one thing I have seen that has me slightly concerned was his distribution chart. He doesn’t seem to target the sidelines often.He's a strong decision making accurate distributor within the pocket when not under duress on a team with arguably the greatest combination of supporting cast and coaching to ever play.
An objective evaluation independent of that is pretty much impossible.
'Immobile Lamar Jackson' was something I saw tossed around more than a few times.The one thing I have seen that has me slightly concerned was his distribution chart. He doesn’t seem to target the sidelines often.