jones and mego: bailey zappe joins kadlick and lyons to discuss the patriots win over broncos in denver
What was once a quarterback controversy in New England has turned into anything but.
After a 2-9 start to their 2023 season with Mac Jones under center, the Patriots turned to Bailey Zappe after Week 12, and have gone a respectable 2-2 since the switch. Their offense looks to be hitting their stride as they enter the final two games of the season, and the second-year quarterback is making a strong case to be New England's signal caller beyond this current campaign.
During his media availability on Tuesday, Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien spoke about Zappe's progress and improvement in New England's offensive system:
"With more experience," the OC explained. "He gets more and more comfortable with the looks that he's seeing. Give Bailey a lot of credit. Bailey is a very consistent guy. Calm, poised -- he's got that. What he doesn't have is experience. He's gaining experience, he just doesn't have -- you cannot discount experience and what that means to your career."
On Tuesday's edition of Jones and Mego, Zappe himself joined the show and was asked how experience and being named the quote-unquote 'starting quarterback' has helped his confidence:
"It's helped a lot," The gunslinger said. "The more reps and the more extra reps that we get before and after practice whether it's with the receivers, whether it's with the o-line and the running backs in pass protection and things like that, the more I get with those guys, I think the more comfortable we're all going to get together."
He continued: "I think as far as the confidence and everything, that comes from my teammates and those guys, just speaking on the o-line they played phenomenal this past game. There was a lot of things that we had to take care of as far as pressures and understanding the communication, and those guys did a phenomenal job to stand their ground and play their butts off to where I can get the ball to DP [DeVante Parker] and those guys and let them make plays. You know it's been a wild year and I'm excited to be where we're at now, and I know we're playing a tough team in the Bills but I'm excited to play 'em."
O'Brien was also asked on Tuesday about Mac Jones, who's taken a back seat to Zappe as the team's second-string quarterback over the last four weeks:
"I feel good about Mac Jones," he said. "I really do. I think Mac Jones is a smart guy. He's a very hard worker. He's really done a good job in this situation here of being a good teammate. Look, these are things that happen in the course of a lot of careers. You have some ups and downs. He's approached it the right way. I believe in Mac. I think Mac is going to be just fine."
New England has a decision to make (among many) this offseason on Jones who, as a first-round draft pick in 2021, could have his fifth-year option picked up by the club.
Make sure to follow Mike on Twitter @mikekadlick, and follow @WEEI for the latest up-to-date Patriots and Boston sports news!
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