Mac Jones is Ready for Year Two
New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones has put in a ton of work this offseason and is ready to explode and surprise people in year two.
Sophomore year is unlike any other for football players – especially in the quarterback position. Mac Jones is approaching his sophomore year leading the New England offense. There is a lot riding on #10’s shoulders as a year two quarterback, and the thought of a sophomore slump is looming in the background.
His rookie campaign was an impressive one, but it’s what Jones has been doing in the offseason that’s turning heads. In advance of training camp on Tuesday morning (7/26), head coach Bill Belichick emphasized the improvements he’s seen in Jones already.
Bill Belichick on Mac Jones this offseason: "Dramatic improvement."
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) July 26, 2022
In an article penned by Mike Reiss, Belichick pointed out that Jones’ work ethic has improved tenfold. The results are drastic including his “physical work and conditioning, mechanics, footwork, understanding of our offense [and] opponent defenses.”
Earning the coaches respect early on.
During this time last year Jones was competing with Cam Newton for a starting spot. The saying “In Bill we trust” came to fruition when he designated Jones the Patriots’ QB1.
Coming into a brand new organization and leading the charge is extremely stressful – especially when taking over the legacy that is Tom Brady. Jones worked hard to outperform Newton and earn his spot on the roster.
Fast forward to 2022: Jones is sitting comfortably in the #1 spot. However, he knew that there was plenty of room for improvement for his game. The 23-year-old started with changing his diet tremendously.
"I've learned more this offseason than I ever have about nutrition, sleep, wellness, so I'm kind of taking what I've learned that I feel will help me and apply it."
— NBC Sports Boston's Patriots Coverage (@NBCSPatriots) May 23, 2022
Mac Jones discusses the changes he'd made to his diet this offseason. pic.twitter.com/iZl6kbFys0
Teammate Kendrick Bourne was quoted in an interview praising how his quarterback was looking:
"“He’s in the best shape of his life… He looks really good. His stomach is gone, and he looks really good. He’s definitely a pro’s pro now.”"
The Patriots are in an offensive rebuilding era. With the departure of their long-tome OC, Josh McDaniels, this allows for a new perspective to come in and elevate the organization. This position change also give Jones more freedom to take charge on the field.
Jones is going to continue to prove his worth to his team, while Belichick is going to continue to invest in the development of his starting quarterback. Jones has untapped potential, in which he just scratched the surface of last year. The 2022 seasons is going to be a monumental one.