Patriots Offensive Coordinator Bill O’Brien: ‘Trust in Mac’
FOXBORO —Following a disappointing 8-9 finish in 2022, New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones knew that improvements were needed in a big way heading into 2023.
Rather than destroy and recreate his style, however, the 24-year-old Pats starter is taking a more “back to basics” approach to both his and the team’s evolution — thanks, in part, to the influence to new Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien.
“The basics of football,” Jones said when referring this week to the catalyst for New England’s improvement plan. “I think there's still things we need to work on, but the rules and standards have been set. we just have to meet that as players. I think the coaches have done a great job. OB [Bill O'Brien] lays out the operation times, what we're trying to get out of a play. each day, we try to clean it up get a little bit faster, too. You want to play fast; and you want to be precise.”
Whether deservedly so or not, Jones bore much of the fanbase’s blame for a dismal offensive performance last season. Despite entering the year on the heels of an impressive rookie campaign, the former 2021 first-round pick (no. 15 overall) struggled to recapture his previous success. From a high ankle injury sidelining him for three games in October, to his palpable his discontent with the Pats new offensive system under de factor coordinator Matt Patricia, Jones toiled through a campaign in which he ranked in the bottom 10 of NFL quarterbacks in completion percentage and positive plays when pressured.
For the majority of the season, Jones struggled to maintain his presence in the pocket, often finding himself under duress. Teams having the most success against him were those who deployed strategically placed blitzes from the second and third level of the defense. The pressure confused Jones, causing him to open at the top of his drop in the wrong direction, leading to suspect decision-making.
With inadequate protection from the team’s offensive line, Jones has had insufficient time to operate. As a result, he has had little-to-no choice but to take short-yardage check downs, especially when the Pats opponents’ perimeter corners took away his preferred routes and targets.
In contrast, O’Brien’s hiring has brought the Pats offense back to the “basics” about which Jones spoke on Thursday. New England has noticeably returned to a timing-based scheme, predicated on vertical routes and completions from quick, accurate throws. While the Patricia-led regime attempted to incorporate more zone reads into their repertoire, Jones is at his best when leading his receivers under the defense, releasing the ball quickly and delivering it accurately — as well as using the run to facilitate play-action passes.
In short, O’Brien’s coaching style has allowed Jones to reclaim control of his own on-field fate.
Throughout training camp, Jones has looked especially sharp during his red zone work with the Pats starting offense. Rather than settling for check downs, he is using the short game to his advantage, while taking chances downfield when the opportunity presents itself. Not only has Jones taken the initiative to make improvements to his game, he has embraced the “clean slate” provided to him by his new offenisve coordinator. For his efforts, O’Brien has given Jones greater authority at the line of scrimmage.
“Mac’s done a really good job,” O’Brien said of Jones during a Friday video conference with reporters. “Mac has worked really, really, hard since I’ve got here. And it’s been fun to coach him. We have a lot of trust in Mac. [He] puts a lot of work in. Mac’s very prepared every day."
Though he may have stooped short of anointing Jones with the coveted title of “QB1,” the trust he has already shown in the Alabama product appears to be adequate evidence of Jones’ maintaining the starting job. Still, he is taking it one moment at a time. Of course, the competitor within Jones makes certain that he does so while facing the toughest possible opposition.
“That makes really great teams,” Jones said of working against the Patriots starting defense during camp practices. “They’re a top defense in the NFL, so it’s a great way to prepare … It's sometimes draining, but at the same time, you’ve got to go out there and compete and have fun. Whoever you’re with out there, our job as an offense is to go out there and have the same mindset. It’s to compete and win.”
Jones and the Patriots will return to the practice fields adjacent to Gillette Stadium at 1 p.m. on Sunday for their tenth training camp practice.
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