What's new
Fantasy Football - Footballguys Forums

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

QB Mac Jones, SF (2 Viewers)

Last year Cam looked like someone who had recovered from injury as far as he was going to and it wasn't far enough. If he truly has made more progress physically, it's going to muddy the waters a great deal.

 
Patriots' QB competition heats up as Cam Newton, Mac Jones impress in preseason win over Eagles

Excerpt:

Competition over, right? I mean, Newton certainly didn't do anything to lose the gig. But Jones did what -- for the most part -- he's done since we got our first look at him on the practice fields behind Gillette Stadium. He looked like he belonged.

His opening drive was a good challenge, playing with the second-team offensive line and backed up inside the 10-yard line. It almost got ugly, with Jones nearly intercepted on a throw similar to one that was picked off in joint practices. Granted a reprieve, the kid locked in against the Eagles' backups, directing the ball away from the inside safety on another deep dig, this one to N'Keal Harry. Given room to breathe, that's exactly what Jones and the offense did. The ensuing TD drive lasted over nine minutes, covering 91 yards on 17 plays. Jones perfectly placed the two-point conversion pass, but Bourne let it clang off his facemask.

After the Pats got the ball back near midfield, with under two minutes to play and no timeouts, Jones threw a beautiful ball to Harry down the left sideline. It would have been a touchdown. But Harry inexplicably left his feet for the pass, not only dropping it but hurting himself in the process. What followed may have been another teachable moment for the coaching staff. Jones then completed a short pass in the middle of the field that ended up a couple yards short of a first down, and he clocked the ball. After some deliberation, the Pats punted, but Jones was greeted by what appeared to be an agitated Josh McDaniels on the sideline. It didn't look like the offensive coordinator approved of the way his signal-caller handled the situation.

McDaniels couldn't have seen much to dislike about Jones in the second half -- two drives, both ending in touchdowns. Jones was 8 of 10 over that stretch, and both incompletes should have been caught. What was really impressive was the rhythm that Jones was in, knowing exactly where he wanted to go with the ball and putting it on the spot when it needed to be there. He gripped it and ripped it.

That's not a surprise. As the summer has progressed, Jones has answered a bad play or a bad series with the bounce back of a SuperBall (am I showing my age here?). He has impressed teammates with a surprising amount of "swag" and left tackle Trent Brown believes Jones can be "special." Why?

"To be so young, I think he makes some throws that not a lot of young guys can make," Brown said last week. "I think it's all about settling down and knowing you can still play the game. It's still football. Yeah, it's a different level, but it's still football. I think that goes for any rookie."

The coaching staff has been impressed with how quickly Jones has digested and processed the playbook. They felt that way back in the spring. The rookie has done nothing but reinforce that faith in his intelligence and overall command. It's been evident a number of times, either in games or practices.

Just ask Bourne. The high-energy wideout was operating with Jones under center during Monday's joint practice in Philly. Jones read one thing. Bourne read another. The loud yell that came as soon as the pass fell incomplete didn't come from the veteran pass catcher. It came from Jones, clearly agitated that Bourne ran the wrong route. Bourne quickly admitted he had done wrong, and later, as Jones was holding his post-practice press conference, yelled "I love you, Mac," making Jones smile broadly and laugh.

He has fit in. He has led. But will it be enough to lead the Pats out of the tunnel Week 1 in Foxborough against the Dolphins? Newton isn't ready to let that happen, even though that day is coming, maybe sooner rather than later.

 
Mac looks the exact same as he did in college to me. Moved the DB off of Harry on the 3rd and 13, proceeded to lead a 90 yard drive. Should have had a 40 yard TD to Harry but the dude slowed down in his route. Still, displayed for the second week in a row the accuracy on deep balls he had in college. Also showed that he can zip a ball when he feels it’s needed on the throw to Olzewski. Called his own plays in the hurry up to start the second half leading a 60 yard drive for a TD. 
 

With how many QB’s are at least putting up 200 yards rushing he’ll probably struggle to ever put up QB1 numbers in his career for fantasy but this looks like a high quality NFL QB to me.

 
Love this...gets me excited as I think he is a perfect fit as a player and personality for BB and McDaniels...Cam may start the season but it won't be long before it will be a joke that Mac was sitting behind him.
If NE is winning and Cam is playing well, do you really think BB would make a move to MJ? I've already given my opinion that Jones will get a chance when Newton eventually gets hurt (real or exaggerated). But I don't see them going to Mac unless they are losing and Cam looks terrible / is the reason. Of course, Cam really COULD be the reason they are losing, but I think in the early going he will be good enough for them to win early in the season.

 
Also isn’t everything Mac has done against 2nd strings in practice and games? Obviously he’s doing well, but you should probably see if he can do well against 1s in regular season before claiming he’s the answer in NE. Guessing that will happen at some point this year but not any time soon. 

 
The other side of things never discussed is what happens if Jones gets into real games and struggles? He's looked good in preseason games against 2's and 3's on defense with vanilla play calls. The Eagles were kind and did not blitz even once the other night. IMO, some of Mac's success is being over hyped by the lack of competition . . . both in practice and in the preseason games.

Once Mac starts, what happens if he has 3 turnovers in back to back games? Then what? Do they start Cam and leave him as the starter? Rookies very often look like, well, rookies.

 
If NE is winning and Cam is playing well, do you really think BB would make a move to MJ? I've already given my opinion that Jones will get a chance when Newton eventually gets hurt (real or exaggerated). But I don't see them going to Mac unless they are losing and Cam looks terrible / is the reason. Of course, Cam really COULD be the reason they are losing, but I think in the early going he will be good enough for them to win early in the season.


If Cam is playing well than we are in a best case scenario but I 100% believe BB will go to Mac if the Pats are winning and Cam is playing average (not bad but average)...I would be shocked if he didn't...two of the biggest decisions in BB's coaching career are going with Brady over Bledsoe (it is easy to forget what a big deal that was at the time) and moving on from a beloved Bernie Kosar in Cleveland...those are far bigger moves than moving on from Cam...also, it is very apparent that the veterans on the team are all in on Mac so the locker room will not be an issue.

 
Also isn’t everything Mac has done against 2nd strings in practice and games? Obviously he’s doing well, but you should probably see if he can do well against 1s in regular season before claiming he’s the answer in NE. Guessing that will happen at some point this year but not any time soon. 
I have been pointing this out in all the NE threads.Cam is only playing with the starters against the starters on defense. Mac is 95% of the time only playing with the second unit against the second unit (he gets to work with the starters in two minute drills). In the preseason games, he's been playing against defenders that may be working a 7-Eleven next week.

IMO, until he gets regular work with the starters against real defenders, talk of Jones starting is premature. I am not anti-Jones . . . I wish they would start him. And I am certainly not pro-Newton, as he looked washed up and was disappointed they brought him back this year.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
If Cam is playing well than we are in a best case scenario but I 100% believe BB will go to Mac if the Pats are winning and Cam is playing average (not bad but average)...I would be shocked if he didn't...two of the biggest decisions in BB's coaching career are going with Brady over Bledsoe (it is easy to forget what a big deal that was at the time) and moving on from a beloved Bernie Kosar in Cleveland...those are far bigger moves than moving on from Cam...also, it is very apparent that the veterans on the team are all in on Mac so the locker room will not be an issue.
Brady sat an entire year learning the offense. The team and Bledsoe were terrible in 2000 (5-11). BB could have made a QB switch at any point . . . even if it were just the last game or two. But he didn't. I still think BB will err on the side of giving Jones more time. BUt like I said, Cam won't stay healthy and Jones will get a chance during the year. The mystery becomes what happens if he is mediocre. Would they let him struggle or go back to Cam?

 
Brady sat an entire year learning the offense. The team and Bledsoe were terrible in 2000 (5-11). BB could have made a QB switch at any point . . . even if it were just the last game or two. But he didn't. I still think BB will err on the side of giving Jones more time. BUt like I said, Cam won't stay healthy and Jones will get a chance during the year. The mystery becomes what happens if he is mediocre. Would they let him struggle or go back to Cam?


Brady as a rookie was a 6th round QB playing behind a franchise QB with a monster contract...totally different scenario than Mac and Cam this year...once Mac is in he aint coming out for the next 10-15 years.

 
There are 2 very good defenses to start the season, Miami in game 1, and TB in game 4. Followed by the Texans & Cowboys in games 5 & 6. Would BB avoid playing Mac in the game versus Brady? 

 
Mike Lombardi, who was the Director of Player Personnel with BB in CLE and was on the Patriots staff in 2014-15 suggests Jones should sit to start the season and Cam will begin the year as the starter. Lombardi's son is also the current WR coach for NE (and their former QB coach).

“If you’re Belichick, do you put Mac in to start the season? And then if Mac struggles and doesn’t look good, are you going to bench him? And then how will you get him back again? How do you renew his confidence?” Lombardi said. “You’re better off being patient. You’re better off letting the crops in the field grow. You’re better off letting it have a little more time to sink its roots.”
Lombardi still hangs out with BB and has been on the field in training camp (and was at all the joint practices with the Eagles). Maybe he is just spit balling and giving his own opinion on what he personally would do . . . but why say anything at all?

 
There are 2 very good defenses to start the season, Miami in game 1, and TB in game 4. Followed by the Texans & Cowboys in games 5 & 6. Would BB avoid playing Mac in the game versus Brady? 


I am concerned about the bad defenses/teams...everyone just assumes the Pats show up and win these games but if Cam plays like he did last year they could get upset in one of those games and looking at the AFC a loss to a team like the Jets could be the difference between making the playoffs and not...the Pats had their bridge year last year and if BB stays with Cam and they lose these type of games it will get beyond ugly with the fans.

 
Brady sat an entire year learning the offense. The team and Bledsoe were terrible in 2000 (5-11). BB could have made a QB switch at any point . . . even if it were just the last game or two. But he didn't.


In Brady's second season, before the first game, Belichick told Kraft that Brady, not Bledsoe, was the team's best quarterback at the time. He started Bledsoe anyway. He didn't start Brady until Bledsoe was in the hospital with a life-threatening injury.

(It seemed like a ridiculous statement at the time. The league's highest paid player versus a sixth-round pick from a year ago with no NFL experience. But it's in the Jeff Benedict book.)

 
In Brady's second season, before the first game, Belichick told Kraft that Brady, not Bledsoe, was the team's best quarterback at the time. He started Bledsoe anyway. He didn't start Brady until Bledsoe was in the hospital with a life-threatening injury.

(It seemed like a ridiculous statement at the time. The league's highest paid player versus a sixth-round pick from a year ago with no NFL experience. But it's in the Jeff Benedict book.)
I am well aware. Bledsoe certainly was a highly paid QB that went to a SB, but by that point his shine was clearly fading. That sounds a lot like Newton.

In 2001, Brady had sat a year in NE already, and he had started for 2 years at Michigan. Jones has only been with the team a few months and started one year at Alabama.

Maybe BB will determine by Week 1 that Jones is the better option and if he stumbles out of the gate won't set the team back or impede his career any.

For that to happen, though, Jones needs to take off the training wheels and practice with the starters against real defenses.

 
In Brady's second season, before the first game, Belichick told Kraft that Brady, not Bledsoe, was the team's best quarterback at the time. He started Bledsoe anyway. He didn't start Brady until Bledsoe was in the hospital with a life-threatening injury.

(It seemed like a ridiculous statement at the time. The league's highest paid player versus a sixth-round pick from a year ago with no NFL experience. But it's in the Jeff Benedict book.)


There are many reports that he was close to making this move right about then but the Mo Lewis hit made it easy.

 
I don't pretend to know what's going on inside the mind of BB but I just don't see what the Patriots have to gain from using Cam. I don't really care how Cam has looked in the preseason (fine-mediocre in my opinion). His play last year was incredibly erratic. The Pats aren't going to the Super Bowl this year and they are going to have a tough time making the playoffs IMO. If they start the season with Cam and he wins a few... so what? I'd rather they send Mac out there to get experience. I don't see what Mac can learn from observing Cam... they're two different QBs in my opinion (as opposed to the Brady/Bledsoe comp).

I guess the pro Cam argument I can see is that they truly do not want to use Mac much at all this year, let Cam take the season however it comes, hope they can build the offense up around Mac during the offseason, and have him come out strong next year.

Or maybe a team doctor puncture's Cam lung week 2 while giving him a pain killer injection and this whole argument is for naught.

 
In his last day at practice without Cam, Jones lit it up today.

At one point Evan Lazar had him 20-of-23 in competitive drills and 21-of-26 in 11-on-11s. Lazar said he threw 56 passes today, so obviously the math is a little off. He also noted the effort level from the Giants was definitely lacking.

With Cam coming back tomorrow,  practice will be telling to see if the roles / snaps / status quo has changed.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
Give me odds on Mac being the W1 starter. I don't see it with Newton there. 
Week 1, the 2 former Alabama QBs face each other against 2 tough defenses. It  would be be compelling and could be telling. IIRC, Harlan will be calling the game. Can't wait.

Actually, the entire AFC East QBs will be very interesting to follow.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
I don't pretend to know what's going on inside the mind of BB but I just don't see what the Patriots have to gain from using Cam. I don't really care how Cam has looked in the preseason (fine-mediocre in my opinion). His play last year was incredibly erratic. The Pats aren't going to the Super Bowl this year and they are going to have a tough time making the playoffs IMO. If they start the season with Cam and he wins a few... so what? I'd rather they send Mac out there to get experience. I don't see what Mac can learn from observing Cam... they're two different QBs in my opinion (as opposed to the Brady/Bledsoe comp).

I guess the pro Cam argument I can see is that they truly do not want to use Mac much at all this year, let Cam take the season however it comes, hope they can build the offense up around Mac during the offseason, and have him come out strong next year.

Or maybe a team doctor puncture's Cam lung week 2 while giving him a pain killer injection and this whole argument is for naught.
I figure there are two ways Cam starts

 1. he looks like he’s back to his prime

 2. BB wants Mac to develop more before throwing him out there. 
 

2 seems far more likely. 

 
dont get too ga-ga over Mac beating up on the Giants, I mean, anyone can beat up on the Giants. it's practice.preseason.meaningless.

Jones should be the opening day starter, throw a ton of INTs and a fair # or TDs, just like nearly every single rookie starting QB over the past 30 years. good days, bad days. 

Pats are in full rebuild mode, they have no WRs that you can name, their defense is a mirage they don't have the same old vet leadership they used to always count on. they're a 8W-9L type of team. U wanna say 9-8? ok fine.they still miss the playoffs. Miami can open a can of whoop ### on them win at least 1 game, same with Buffalo but they'll sweep the Pats, and the Jets will find a way to snag a win. Min 4 losses right there. the the Bucs, thats 5 losses. need 3 more losses to be 8-9.I mean, it's not hard to imagine. 

NE magic worked with TB12, but now they're like Mike Tyson iafter Buster Douglas beat the living $$$$ out of him.never the same fighter . Bullies can't stand to see their own blood. NE was a bully for a long time.kudos to them. but now theyre just an average team. I think they get everyone's best, every week, week in and week out. hard to beat that when you run Mac Jones out there. Or Cam. the bloom is off the rose with this NE coaching staff. 

 
interesting to see the love for Jones in here. I was listening to a few Eagles podcasts and they were updating daily when the Eagles and Pats had joint practice. they aren't necessarily anti-Jones, but they were saying that the beat writers for the Pats seem to be drinking up the kool aid, and from what they saw in those practices they are much farther down on Jones. a few national guys said the same thing too

 
Also isn’t everything Mac has done against 2nd strings in practice and games? Obviously he’s doing well, but you should probably see if he can do well against 1s in regular season before claiming he’s the answer in NE. Guessing that will happen at some point this year but not any time soon. 
I mean, thread over right here. dude beat up a hapless giants team in practice this week?? DePaul high school in Wanye, nj can beat up the same Giants defense. You're spot-on with this. 

He's going to suck just like Tua  in his rookie season., just like the career backup 'Bama QB the Bengals had, AJ McCarron. Seriously, now we go ga-ga over Bama Qbs, Ohio state Qbs, whats next we go nuts over Air Force Qbs and Navy QB's????

just stop. JOnes looks good vs teams that aren't even trying. they're sandbagging. BB is trying, thats for sure. If you think NE wins 9 games this season, I have a bridge i n brooklyn I'd like to sell you. This team is a collection of scrubs, has been, never has beens..all under the guise the BB the genius can 'coach them up'. Miami owns them. Buff does. they're going to get smoked if they start mac-n-cheese at  QB. Ne one of the worst teams in the NFL, and will be for some time. BB is a good coach, with TB12 at the helm. Mac-n-cheese??!?! um, not so much 

 
Last edited by a moderator:
I mean, thread over right here. dude beat up a hapless giants team in practice this week?? DePaul high school in Wanye, nj can beat up the same Giants defense.
this made me laugh, as I spent my early years in Packanack Lake. 
 

carry on. 

 
I don’t understand why Cam would be the starter.  He’s abysmal.
Cams shoulder is done.  Obviously I have watched his entire career and his throwing motion now is just ridiculously bad.  He has trouble doing a full wind up and more times than not has to do his abbreviated half shoulder throw where he depends on his strength to get the ball out.   Ron Rivera wrecked his career.   

 
I don’t understand why Cam would be the starter.  He’s abysmal.
Belichick evidently doesn’t want to start the season with a rookie. Maybe he thinks it is too much responsibility too soon. Doesn’t want to overwhelm Mac. I too wish Mac could start to see if he can win. I don’t think we will make playoffs with Cam at QB. 

 
right now jones looks like the best in class

i realize its preseason but he looks sharp...like herbert last year

 
right now jones looks like the best in class

i realize its preseason but he looks sharp...like herbert last year
Lawrence, Wilson and Fields have also looked great. Fields and Lawrence  also had some very good throws under pressure, or escaping pressure, which I haven't yet seen from Jones.  It's early.

 
It's like people aren't even watching the same games.

Cam's first drive Pats march down the field the the giants 23 and kick a field goal.

Next drive, Cam throws a dime to Meyers backed up in his own end zone and Mackenzie strips it from Meyers for the INT.

Jones does nothing in the first half other than encurring a delay of game penalty.  He then makes hay in the second half against 2s and 3s.

Prior to the game Cam's preseason QBR was 125.  He played better versus 1s than Jones did against 2s and 3s.

But still the clamor for the shiny new toy continues.

 
Cams shoulder is done.  Obviously I have watched his entire career and his throwing motion now is just ridiculously bad.  He has trouble doing a full wind up and more times than not has to do his abbreviated half shoulder throw where he depends on his strength to get the ball out.   Ron Rivera wrecked his career.   
How did Rivera wreck his career? I would say Cam wrecked his own career.  Years of thinking he was invincible because he was so big and trying to run people over and taking more punishment than most QB's took their toll, IMO.  But, let's face it, Cam's strengths meant he was always going to have a short peak.  You can't take that punishment and have a long NFL career.  Even a guy as huge as Cam will fall when getting hit enough. 

 
It's like people aren't even watching the same games.

Cam's first drive Pats march down the field the the giants 23 and kick a field goal.

Next drive, Cam throws a dime to Meyers backed up in his own end zone and Mackenzie strips it from Meyers for the INT.

Jones does nothing in the first half other than encurring a delay of game penalty.  He then makes hay in the second half against 2s and 3s.

Prior to the game Cam's preseason QBR was 125.  He played better versus 1s than Jones did against 2s and 3s.

But still the clamor for the shiny new toy continues.
What about Cam’s 2-5 for 10 yds and 1 INT was impressive?

edit to add:  when you say Cam “marched down to the 23 on his first drive”…..the team started at the 46 yard line on that drive.  He was 1-3 for 6 yards on that drive.  Pretty good stuff.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
It's like people aren't even watching the same games.

Cam's first drive Pats march down the field the the giants 23 and kick a field goal.

Next drive, Cam throws a dime to Meyers backed up in his own end zone and Mackenzie strips it from Meyers for the INT.

Jones does nothing in the first half other than encurring a delay of game penalty.  He then makes hay in the second half against 2s and 3s.

Prior to the game Cam's preseason QBR was 125.  He played better versus 1s than Jones did against 2s and 3s.

But still the clamor for the shiny new toy continues.
He was 2/5 for 10 yards and an INT.

The pick was a great strip by the defender. But Cam gets the INT for throwing it to a wr that was well covered. It is the risk he chose. I could see if it was tipped of Meyers hands to a defender after being open, but that wasn’t the case. I think you are being overly kind to Cam on his performance this game. That looked like the Cam from last year. 

 

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top