Mac Jones is looking like a new man these days.
NFL insider Mike Giardi reported some of the rave reviews the New England Patriots quarterback was receiving from teammates and coaches. One of his notes in a Twitter post touched on how Jones appears to be “energized” since the arrival of Bill O’Brien as the Patriots’ new offensive coordinator.
Jones fell off a cliff in 2022 with the offensive play-calling duties surprisingly falling into the hands of former Patriots defensive coach Matt Patricia. It was a mess that culminated into offensive line struggles, Jones getting pancaked by defenders and receivers struggling to get into a rhythm.
The Patriots plummeted from being an efficient offense to one of the most disappointing units the franchise has fielded in over two decades.
Continued positive reviews from teammates/coaches who have been around Mac Jones the longest.
– "Confident. Leading like we know he can."
– "Ready to remind you (media/fans) why he was a playoff QB in year one."
– "Energized" by the change (Bill O'Brien as OC). pic.twitter.com/RQRRRqavHY— Mike Giardi (@MikeGiardi) May 19, 2023
The hope is that O’Brien can bring some structure back to the offense.
They don’t have to be a juggernaut or even a top-10 unit. It’s all about efficiency, specifically in the red zone, and getting on the same page, while letting the defense do the rest.
If the Patriots do all of those things, along with Jones regaining some modicum of the confidence he displayed in his rookie season, they are clearly capable of making some noise in 2023.
