Mac Jones must return to being “Alabama Mac.”
That’s what the Patriots quarterback instructed Sports activities Illustrated’s Albert Breer currently. Jones led Alabama to a nationwide championship as a senior and was named a consensus All-American in 2020. So, it’s almost definitely an excellent suggestion.
However what does being “Alabama Mac” entail?
“I believe simply persevering with to work exhausting and be myself and going on the market and distributing the ball,” Jones said on WEEI’s Jones and Mego with Arcand” current. “We now have good playmakers proper right here. And I actually really feel like I did my best at Alabama after I merely obtained the ball to completely different people and permit them to make performs. In order that’s what all of it comes proper all the way down to. It’s pretty straightforward.
“Simply be some extent guard and allow them to go and make all of the performs and rating the touchdowns after which have a good time with offensive line. That’s what it’s all about for me is all people coming collectively and having fun with your success. That’s an enormous a part of it. It’s exhausting to attain on this league. You wish to rating as many occasions as you’ll be able to.”
The Patriots have a big selection of offensive skill-position players of their offense from working backs Rhamondre Stevenson and Ezekiel Elliott to giant receivers JuJu Smith-Schuster, DeVante Parker, Kendrick Bourne, Demario Douglas and Tyquan Thornton and tight ends Hunter Henry and Mike Gesicki. However that’s the NFL.
And when Jones was dominating at Alabama, he had three future first-round picks at his disposal in working once more Najee Harris and enormous receivers DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle. The offense moreover featured future second-round resolve John Metchie at giant receiver and one different NFL starting working once more in Brian Robinson.
Jones referenced his time at Alabama as soon as extra when talking about his reference to new Patriots offensive coordinator Invoice O’Brien. Jones was requested if O’Brien — whose closing job was at Alabama — repeatedly launched up what he did as OC the ultimate time he held the place with the Patriots over 10 years up to now.
“It’s the Patriots, however for me it’s Alabama too,” Jones said. “To not convey up the earlier an extreme quantity of, nevertheless he’s seen the system that I ran at Alabama. Then clearly what he did proper right here early on, you perceive, 2007 or regardless of it was, and other people years. So he has quite a few info of not solely this methodology nevertheless Alabama’s system and points that I’ve achieved to date. In order that’s cool for me. And quite a few the fellows on our workers truly respect that about him. As a result of he can can be found in and be like, ‘Hey, we tried this versus this group’ and and he’ll pull up the film of it or, ‘We actually appreciated this play versus that look.’
“So I believe that’s an excellent level that that the entire group actually respects it as a result of he has lots of expertise not solely on the professional degree as a head coach however as a coordinator right here for the Patriots, at Alabama, as a head coach in school. So he’s type of achieved lots of various things, which is absolutely cool.”
Jones appears to be like like he has two-way communication with O’Brien and that he can suggest modifications, as properly. O’Brien under no circumstances coached Jones at Alabama, nevertheless they did forge a relationship as they crossed over from the 2020 to 2021 seasons.
“I’d say like he’s actually good about pulling up all of the outdated movie and ensuring that the whole lot’s sound, and that’s one other nice level,” Jones said. “It’s like, ‘Hey, can we do this?’ And he’s always very open to trying points significantly all through comply with. However on the end of the day, I do know he’s the coach and he’s gonna make the appropriate calls inside the sport, But it surely’s undoubtedly a partnership reminiscent of you said.
“You need to have the ability to work collectively no matter who your coach is each time you go on the market. To have the belief in him after which him to belief you to do the proper factor. So nonetheless constructing that. We now have lots of stuff we set to work by way of. However on the identical time, I’ve been actually happy with lots of the progress we produced from earlier than OTAs to OTAs to coaching camp to type of placing it right into a recreation.”
Jones is trying to regain the success he had as a rookie with the Patriots when he led the workers to the playoffs. The workers dropped off closing season as Matt Patricia and Joe Choose modified ex-offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.