New England Patriots fans worried after Mac Jones' rough start to training camp
By Devin Hurst
Wednesday was the first day of official training camp for the New England Patriots. Players, coaches, fans, and media were all present in Foxboro to see the first day of the 2023-2024 season.
Packed house for day one of training camp and it is HOT out here. Fans still bringing the energy cheering on the team as the first practice gets underway. @ABC6 pic.twitter.com/5Wqv6xyv9o
— Yanni Tragellis (@yannitragellis) July 26, 2023
Most people came to see how the offense, specifically Mac Jones, would look coming into the season. To their chagrin training camp did not start how all Patriots supporters were looking for. In the first play of the competition session of the practice, Jones was picked off by safety Kyle Dugger. The third-year pro was targeting new free agent addition tight end Mike Gesicki on the play.
Mac Jones' first competitive pass of Patriots training camp was picked off by Kyle Dugger on a target to TE Mike Gesicki.
— Doug Kyed (@DougKyed) July 26, 2023
Fans sitting at home also had plenty to say chiming in on the replies of this tweet from Boston Herald's Doug Kyed.
@MasterAtWorkinc over / under weeks before Zappe starting?
— Ghost of Adam Gase (@GhostOfAdamGase) July 26, 2023
3.5?
ZAPPE ZAPPE ZAPPE
— Need More Banners (@NeedMoreBanners) July 26, 2023
Midseason form
— Matt Wilmore (@ThatsWilmore) July 26, 2023
From another person at training camp we were able to see the exact play. In a red zone session Jones was targeting Gesicki in the back of the end zone and the young safety was able to make a nice play on the ball. Clearly from the video you can see this was a poor decision from the former Alabama quarterback.
Kyle Dugger with the INT on Mac Jones. pic.twitter.com/1cGTRXHXWk
— PGS NEST (@NestPgs) July 26, 2023
Going into this season there is immense pressure on Jones. After year three of a rookie contract is normally when teams make the decision whether this is their quarterback of the future or not. We just saw Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert get his brand new contract giving him the biggest contract ever. This came after his third season as the starting quarterback for the Chargers.
As practice went on it seemed like the day started to get a little better. Later on in the practice Jones was able to find veteran running back Ty Montgomery out of the backfield for a touchdown. Montgomery went on to catch another pass from backup quarterback Bailey Zappe.
First TD of camp: RB Ty Montgomery from Mac Jones in initial 7-on-7 red-zone drill. Quick delivery hits Montgomery coming right to left out of the backfield to the front left pylon.
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) July 26, 2023
Montgomery later catches another TD from Bailey Zappe in red-zone drill.
According to ESPN's Mike Reiss, all of Patriots training camp practice was spent in the red zone. This should be a point of emphasis for the Patriots offense as they were dead last in red zone efficiency last season.
Biggest takeaway from first practice of Patriots training camp: Every play was in the low red-zone.
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) July 26, 2023
When you finish 2022 last in the NFL in red-zone efficiency, that is a good place to start when turning the page to 2023.
It will be interesting to see how the third-year pro performs throughout camp and the season. Speaking with the media afterwards it seems like Jones is in a great place. He spoke on how he and coach Bill Belichick are good and that they are having a fresh start in 2023. The starting man under center also went on to say how the offense is having "good mojo" so far this offseason.
LIVE: Mac Jones Press Conference 7/26: https://t.co/h08FDnFh40
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) July 26, 2023