FOXBORO — Mac Jones wouldn’t reveal his specific goals days away from the Patriots’ season opener Sunday against the Eagles.
But the Patriots quarterback would say that the team is striving for “really good things” this season. In order for the Patriots to accomplish that, Jones has to be better in 2023. Way better.
After a promising rookie season, Jones took a significant step back as a second-year pro in 2022. His struggles last season were not entirely his fault, however. Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels was replaced by a combination of Matt Patricia and Joe Judge, and as retired safety Devin McCourty put it Wednesday on WEEI, “That wasn’t a good thing.”
Jones said this week on WEEI that he enjoyed working with Patricia. His demeanor on the field last season — shown by television cameras screaming obscenities on the field and sideline over the course of an 8-9 campaign — suggested that Jones wasn’t entirely pleased with his coaching setup. Patricia was offensive line coach and play-caller, and Judge was his quarterbacks coach.
The Patriots starting QB seems to know that he can improve the manner in which he conducts himself on the field this year.
“Really just focusing on what you can control,” Jones said Thursday. “That’s your attitude and your effort. There’s a lot of things I can do better in that area, and I’m looking forward to showing that.”
Jones appears to have a strong relationship with O’Brien based on what the quarterback and offensive coordinator have said this summer in what has become a mutual admiration society.
Jones’ outbursts might have subsided on their own now running a competent offense headed up by an experienced offensive coach. O’Brien, nicknamed “Teapot” for his own temper, might not react as well to a quarterback’s tantrums too. So, it might be a neccesity for Jones to control his attitude.
Jones said Thursday that he and O’Brien had a “good conversation about” how to take what they’ve built this summer into the season.
“It’s a lot of preparation,” Jones said. “It’s not just this week. It’s the whole offseason, OTAs, before OTAs, thinking about the throwing sessions, offensive line working together. So, really just trying to bring that all into one and really just get ready for a long season. Hopefully a good one.”
The Patriots’ starter made a surprising comment earlier this week on WEEI, calling Tom Brady, who’s returning to Gillette Stadium for a halftime ceremony Sunday, a “great mentor.”
McCourty posted a picture to social media this summer of him, Brady and Jones. Brady and Jones played against each other at Gillette Stadium in 2021. It’s unclear how much other contact Brady and Jones have had with each other.
Jones clarified things slightly on Thursday.
“I’d say it’s more like the learning experiences just from like film and things like that,” he said. “Obviously getting a chance to talk with him a little bit. He’s definitely a good player. He’s done everything right here. Won a lot of games, won a lot of championships. Really looking forward to having him here. I think it will be great juice in that stadium and for us, just play our game and focus on what we can control. Definitely really appreciative of him, his team and everybody.”
Brady is the greatest quarterback in NFL history, so it was interesting to hear Jones say that one of the things he admired about the three-time MVP and seven-time Super Bowl Champion was his ability to bounce back from bad plays.
And Jones’ bad plays compounded at times last season.
“There was a lot of good plays, but whenever he maybe didn’t have a great play, the next one was always really good,” Jones said. “I feel like that’s marquee for a really good quarterback. Definitely learned that from him, but he didn’t make a lot of bad plays. He made a lot of good plays, so I try to apply that to my game too.”
Jones was asked a follow-up question about how much contact he’s had with Brady and instead pivoted to the quarterback’s return to Foxboro.
“We have a lot of great former players that have played here,” Jones said. “It’s a very fortunate place and won a lot of games and championships. Definitely looking forward to it, but the main focus is definitely on the game and trying to play my game, not get distracted by anything and hopefully we come out with the win and everyone is happy.”
Brady will bring the juice to the stadium, which will feature a new video board and overhauled lighthouse. But it’s up to Jones and the 2023 squad to send Patriots nation home in a good mood.