New England Patriots - NESN.com
It’s safe to say Mac Jones prefers a Kyle Shanahan-led offense over one run by Matt Patricia.
Then again, who wouldn’t?
The former New England Patriots quarterback now is adjusting to life as a backup with the 49ers. Earlier this week, Jones opened up on what he likes about San Francisco’s famously QB-friendly offense.
“I think they do a great job explaining what the expectation of each play is and why they’re doing a certain play,” Jones said, via San Francisco 49ers On SI’s Grant Cohn. “And there’s nothing left up to doubt, if that makes sense. And everything’s based on timing and rhythm and also playing off structure.
“So, it has all three elements of quarterback play. And yeah, it’s really interesting to watch it and see how they see the game because it is the correct way to see it. And as you can tell, the quarterback play is very efficient.”
Let’s zero in on Jones’ remark about the 49ers explaining “why they’re doing a certain play.”
It’s hard not to draw a line from that comment to one Jones delivered at the end of his second training camp in Foxboro, Mass. At the time, Jones and the rest of the Patriots offense had endured a turbulent, unwatchable summer under Patricia, whom Bill Belichick installed as offensive play-caller.
“I think plays are plays,” Jones said in August of 2022. “You could have a bad result with one and you’re like ‘I don’t really like that one,’ but a lot of times it’s more about the process of the play and what you’re trying to do.
“So I don’t think canning a play because it doesn’t work one time in a game or practice is always a bad idea. I just like to know the ‘why.’ When the coaches explain that to me, they’ve done a great job of explaining, ‘Hey, this is why we’re doing this.’ And from there, it’s my job to execute it and do a great job.
Many interpreted that comment as Jones tacitly admitting he didn’t know why Patricia was making certain decisions. Jones never confirmed those assumptions, but it was clear throughout the 2022 season that he was uncomfortable in Patricia’s offense.
The Patriots traded Jones to the Jacksonville Jaguars following the 2023 campaign. The 2021 first-round pick started seven games in place of an injured Trevor Lawrence last season, completing 65.3% of his passes for 1,672 yards and eight touchdowns to go along with eight interceptions.
Now in San Francisco, Jones is looking to join the likes of Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield as once-discarded quarterbacks who resurrected their careers.
