Thanks to another impressive performance by popular fourth-round rookie fill-in starter Bailey Zappe, the possibility of a Patriots’ quarterback controversy will almost certainly explode this week.
Even with the NBA title-favorite Celtics tipping off the season and the Bruins’ hot start to the new year, New England’s dubious, debatable situation at the most critical position in all of sports will dominate the Boston sports scene this week.
As it should. How could it not?
Zappe improved to 2-0 as a starter with Sunday’s laudable 38-15 win in Cleveland, completing 24 of 34 passes for 309 yards with a pair of touchdowns and no interceptions for a 118.4 passer rating. It was another impressive performance from the youngster who’s looked cool, calm, collected and poised for nearly three full NFL games. He’s shown veteran-worthy pocket presence for a green passer from the green pastures of Western Kentucky who was thrust into the spotlight three weeks ago at Lambeau Field.
Zappe has absolutely and admirably gotten better each time he’s stepped on the field over the last three weeks. That fact is undeniable.
Whether you want to call it a conversation, situation or cut right to the point and label it a controversy, whatever the story is with the Patriots quarterback position really isn’t about the what-have-you-done-for-me-lately tale of Zappe. Nope. This is a narrative rooted in what Jones has done – or not done, really – to open his second NFL season.
Objective realists are well aware that Jones was a rookie revelation a year ago. He snagged the starting job in a summer competition with Cam Newton, won 10 games, led his new team back to the postseason and earned all the respect he possibly could from his coaches and teammates as he Griddied his way to Pro Bowl status.
But that was last year. Ages ago, it seems. Back when Josh McDaniels’ offense was criticized for being too restrictive and too conservative with its impressive No. 15 overall pick QB.
An offseason of curious coaching staff changes – defensive expert Matt Patricia taking over offensive line and play-calling duties, while special teams expert Joe Judge slid into the role of QB coach – and “streamlined” scheme alterations led to Jones’ frustration throughout training camp and preseason action.
That frustration turned into early-season turnovers and suspect offensive play for both Jones and the attack he oversees. Too many interceptions in a 1-2 start to the new season. Too little evidence of a Year 2 Jump.
Then came the high ankle sprain in the loss to the Ravens, opening the door after a short-lived Brian Hoyer appearance for Bailey to take over Patriot Nation. Unlike Jones, who faced high expectations, Bailey had nothing to lose.
Now, there’s plenty of support for No. 4 as Zappe Fever has hit Patriot Nation. Three weeks. Three relatively impressive performances.
Two wins.
And one quarterback controversy not so much because people are suddenly smitten with the baby-faced Zappe but more because at some point they clearly lost some faith in the supposed franchise QB Jones.
Had jones thrown six touchdowns and no interceptions while winning a couple games through the first three weeks this would be a completely different story. But he didn’t. He didn’t look good. Key FOB (Friend of Belichick) and former Patriots assistant Mike Lombardi wondered if Jones was in line to lose his job even before Zappe threw a single pass.
More recently NFL Network wondered if Jones “tried to do a little too much” in his first three turnover-filled starts. You know, for an offense that had a different philosophy from the new-found coaches of getting the ball down the field and taking shots on 50/50 balls. There’s even been rumblings that Jones hasn’t exactly been seeing eye-to-eye with Patriots leadership.
As is so often the case a new marriage between a QB and his new coaches with a new scheme didn’t hit the field running. Ask Russell Wilson and the Broncos how that can be.
How would Zappe have done if he’d started the first three weeks in a new New England offense looking to find its way? We’ll never know.
What would Jones have done over the last three weeks against the suspect Packers, lousy Lions and beatable Browns? One can only speculate.
Limited sample size and recency bias tells us that Zappe is playing well and Jones was not last we saw him take the field. For some, that’s all that matters. That’s all it takes to want to turn the keys not just to the Patriots’ offense but to the franchise’s future over to Zappe.
If Jones were a real, true established franchise quarterback we wouldn’t be having these conversations right now. If Jones had obvious elite, lust-worthy physical tools like a strong arm or running ability we might not be talking the QB controversy talk these days either.
Because this newfound love for Zappe isn’t as much about what the young passer is doing to win the hearts of Patriot fans, as it is what Jones didn’t do early this season to lay unquestioned claim to his spot as the foundation of the New England offense for the foreseeable future.
This QB controversy, if it is one, is much more about the way fans feel about Jones than it is specifically rooted in what Zappe has done over the last three weeks. Patriot Nation may actually have a case of Jones fatigue just as much as it has Zappe fever.
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