The 6 Rings Postgame Show: Mike Kadlick joins the show to discuss the emotions in the Patriots' locker room
Patriots quarterback Mac Jones will be the first to tell you that the 2023-24 season didn’t go as planned.
“It was obviously disappointing,” the 2021 15th overall pick said as he stood in front of his locker on Monday morning, talking back through the third year that was. It was the first time since Week 12 that Jones spoke to the media.
“It didn’t go our way for multiple reasons, really,” the once-thought-to-be-franchise-savior continued. “...Definitely was disappointed with the results.”
Mac Jones finished his third professional campaign throwing 12 interceptions to just 10 touchdowns over the Patriots’ first 11 games. He notched a passer rating of just 77, his worst in three seasons, as well as a 36.7 QBR - just the 28th highest in football.
Jones was benched four times in 11 games, and ultimately replaced by Bailey Zappe as the Patriots starter heading into Week 13.
But it shouldn’t be over for Jones as a quarterback in the NFL. Not even in New England.
Hear me out.
There is one, very specific, example I continue to go back to in my head as a blueprint for the former Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback. It’s Alex Smith during his time in San Francisco.
The No. 1 overall pick of the 49ers in 2004, Smith was seemingly broken down by the franchise over his first five years. As a rookie he started seven games for the club, going 2-5 while tallying just one touchdown pass and eleven interceptions.
Over the course of his first five season in San Francisco, Smith was paired with a new offensive coordinator to no avail and, in what looked to likely be his final season in the Bay Area, was booed at his home stadium while the crowd chanted for his backup and was benched several times throughout the campaign. He was just 19-31 as a starter through 2010.
But in came Jim Harbaugh.
The 49ers made Harbaugh their head coach on Jan. 7, 2011, and the renowned quarterback whisperer was able to convince Smith to re-sign with the team after he contemplated leaving the organization for a change of scenery.
The former Utah Ute made the right decision.
Smith shined under the lead of Harbaugh, helping bring the 49ers to a 13-3 regular season record in his first season under center with new leadership. They earned the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs and made it to the NFC Championship game before losing in overtime to the eventual Super Bowl champion New York Giants.
The now-rejuvenated signal caller started every game for San Francisco that season, throwing 17 touchdowns to just five interceptions in the regular season and five touchdowns with zero turnovers in the postseason.
Smith would go on to have success in both Kansas City and Washington throughout the remainder of his career, never again tallying a losing record or a negative touchdown-to-interception ratio.
With a little help, Smith was able to wrangle his dream job back.
Mac Jones has the opportunity to do the same.
“I’m going to compete regardless,” the 25-year-old answered on Monday when asked if he wanted to return to the Patriots for his fourth year. “I’m really happy to be in the NFL and be a quarterback in the NFL. Obviously this year didn’t go great and I’m going to do everything I can, and have done, to get back on the right track.”
Could a change of scenery be good for the clearly-struggling quarterback? Perhaps. A new system, a new scheme, and new teammates could all bode well for the still-growing Jones.
“I feel like I have a lot of room to grow,” the quarterback said. “There’s a lot of things I can do better. I know that and I’ve worked hard. I’m always going to put my best foot forward and compete. I know that. That’s all I’ve ever done is compete. Everywhere I’ve been.”
If there’s one thing Jones is, he’s a worker. The quarterback basically pleaded for teammates to put in as much work as he was earlier this season when speaking with WEEI’s Jones and Mego:
“Whatever you’re doing, just do more,” he told the show. “It’s not like it’s rocket science. If you watch 30 minutes of film, watch an hour. If you lift for 45 minutes, lift for an hour and a half. Just whatever you can do so that when we’re in this situation – you know for me, that’s how I feel better about everything. You can only put in so much work. There’s 24 hours in a day, you have to sleep for 8-10 of them. All of the other hours have to be about work.”
Even as New England’s backup to finish the season, Jones remained steadfast in his approach. He told reporters on Monday that he’s been working hard in the weight room since being demoted back in November.
“I feel like I made progress, especially these last couple weeks,” he said of his time behind Zappe on the depth chart. “I’ve been here early, left late. A lot of people would’ve said, ‘You know I’m done,’ and I’m not going to do that. I’ve worked out hard, put on 7-8 pounds of muscle in the last couple weeks here.”
Given the success Jones had during his rookie season with the Patriots, and the fact that he was both a top high school and college prospect, it’s more of a ‘when’, not ‘if’, he’ll get another chance in this league.
It remains to be seen, of course, if it’ll be in New England, but with a little help from either a new coach or improved personnel, the quarterback could revive his career just like Alex Smith once did.
“I’m looking forward to the next opportunity,” Jones explained. “I know it’s gonna come but at the end of the day, as a quarterback and a competitor, you have to be ready, right? So I’m gonna be ready.”
“I really love this place and have a lot of respect for this place,” he said of the organization that took a chance on him in the spring of 2021. “We’ll see where it goes.”
Make sure to follow Mike on Twitter @mikekadlick, and follow @WEEI for the latest up-to-date Patriots and Boston sports news!
Related
