Ten points in seven drives. Three points against the Raiders backups. No outside running game. One putrid interception.
Those four sentences sum up the performance of the Patriots’ first team offense in their three preseason contests, none of which stoked confidence about their chances once the games start for real. Mac Jones looks more like a rookie than he ever did last season, with his pick thrown directly to Raiders linebacker Luke Masterson Friday serving as the consummate low-light in a summer full of them.
It’s easy to see why Jones’ development has gone awry. After successfully working with Josh McDaniels, he’s been paired with offensive novices Matt Patricia and Joe Judge, both of whom are coming off failed head coaching stints. The Patriots are installing a new offense and it’s not going well. Early in camp, Jones was truthful about their struggles.
“We have a lot of room to grow here,” he said matter-of-factly.
Around that time, there were reports about Jones’ dejected body language and questions regarding whether he was buying into the new scheme. But there’s been a reversal over the last couple of weeks, even as the Patriots’ performance hasn’t improved.
Last week, Jones called Patricia “one of the most brilliant people” he’s “ever been around in terms of football knowledge.”
That language is downright sycophantic.
On Friday, Jones piled praise on Judge, who appeared to coaching him through the on-field debacle. “I think Joe's done a good job,” Jones told reporters. “He has a unique perspective, like I always talk about. He's coached a lot of football. To be able to talk to him -- we're kind of finding that groove of what type of person I am. I'm competitive. Sometimes, you know, we just need a little break and then talk. From there, he's very good at explaining calmly, 'All right, hey, what did you see?’”
With glowing reviews like that, it’s hard to believe that Patricia and Judge went 23-52-1 as head coaches.
That is, unless Jones is purposefully laying it on thick. Under normal circumstances, coaches are the ones who build up young players — especially young quarterbacks who just endured a difficult preseason. But the inverse is happening here. Jones is using his capital to hype his coaches, who seem to be in over their heads.
It’s apparent that Bill Belichick has selected Patricia to be his successor — or at least he’s preparing him for the role. In addition to taking on offensive duties, Patricia signs contracts and accompanied Belichick to the NFL meetings. Those opportunities were never presented to McDaniels.
Jones, as the Patriots’ next supposed franchise quarterback, is part of the sell job. Too bad it’s seemingly coming at the expense of his on-field development.
