New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick instructed his staff not to go too hard on superstar quarterback Mac Jones in 2022, according to a new report.
Jones had a strong rookie season in 2021 as he finished second in Offensive Rookie of the Year award after leading the Patriots to the playoffs for the first time since Tom Brady joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, the 24-year-old struggled to get to grips with the offence in 2022 as the Pats failed to reach the postseason on the back of his inconsistent play.
His passer rating dropped from 92.5 to 84.8, while he endured a lower completion percentage too. As a result, 2023 is shaping up to be a crucial season for Jones in terms of his Patriots future after a difficult season.
According to The Athletic, Belichick instructed his coaching staff to not be too hard on Jones to avoid his starter from suffering from a crisis in confidence. If Jones made a mistake or needed to be corrected, the coaching staff generally took a more constructive approach instead of simply yelling at him - an old-fashioned coaching method.
This will change in 2023, particularly after the Patriots decided to bring back Bill O’Brien as offensive coordinator. The former Houston Texans head coach is known as much for his infamous screaming match with Brady as he is for masterminded a deadly Patriots offence during the franchise’s dynasty.
It is even remarkable to hear Belichick wanted to treat Jones in this way given the six-time Super Bowl champion coach would frequently chew out Brady in an attempt to set the tone for the rest of the team. Belichick - and Brady - understood that if the iconic quarterback was being held accountable in such a way, no member of the team was safe but it appears he has taken a different approach with the 2021 first round pick.
Last season, Jones even commented during a press conference that he wanted to be coached harder after dealing with a demanding and incredibly successful coach at Alabama in the form of Nick Saban. The quarterback is known for dealing with adversity well throughout his career, which makes the disconnect between Jones and the Patriots coaching methods all the more confusing.
Ultimately, it will be interesting to see how the Patriots deal with Jones in 2023 - particularly with rookie backup quarterback Bailey Zappe waiting to pounce on a potential opportunity. Zappe captured the imagination of the Patriots fanbase when he got his opportunity to play after Jones went down with an injured ankle in the Week 3 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
When backup Brian Hoyer was knocked out of the game against the Green Bay Packers, Zappe stepped in and immediately impressed. A fourth round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Zappe challenged four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers as Green Bay secured an overtime win before he led New England to a crushing 29-0 win over the Detroit Lions in Foxborough and starred in a victory against the Cleveland Browns.
However, Zappe lost his starting job when Jones returned and the offence struggled. This cannot be placed solely at the feet of Jones, but it will be an interesting narrative to keep tabs on next season.
