5 Reasons Mac Jones Should Start Week 1 vs. Miami

Going into the 2021 NFL Draft, everyone and their mother knew that the New England Patriots needed a quarterback in some way shape or form. Sure, they had three quarterbacks already lined for a competition, but none of them seemed to fit the bill – not for the fans at least.

One things most fans felt was the overwhelming sentiment that the answer was not Cam Newton had thrown just under half the amount of passes Tom Brady and Brady – at age 43 no less – had won yet another Super Bowl.

Looking forward, the Patriots knew they had to do something going into the draft whether it was trading up for a quarterback or drafting someone that Head Coach Bill Belichick looked at as a proven “could start day one” quarterback and with the 15th overall pick in the draft, after weeks of saying they had lost interest in him, Belichick took the advice of University of Alabama Coach Nick Saban and drafted Mac Jones. Here are 5 reasons he could (and should) start Week 1 vs. Miami.

5. There is no other proven starter on the Patriots’ roster The closest thing to a proven starter on New England’s roster is Newton, and the overwhelming sentiment in Foxborough is that he is not anywhere close to the answer.

Just take his 2020 numbers as Exhibit A:

In year one, Newton completed 242 of 368 passes for a total of 2,657 yards. That’s an average of 7.2 yards per pass. Not to mention only 10 touchdown passes to go against a total of12 interceptions. Comparing that to Brady who completed 401 of 610 passes for 4,633 yards for 40 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. I mean talk about letting the good ones get away.

Not to mention Newton most of the aforementioned Newton’s passes were mostly check downs to running backs who made up for either poor throws or short throws with their speed.

Sure, he had a decent game in the Patriots 35-0 shutout over the Philadelphia Eagles in their second preseason game, but that does not show fans what they want to see in a consistent start.

4. Mac can throw to receivers Speaking of Newton’s touchdown passes, only four went to receivers. Keep in mind Julian Edelman was still on that team and he didn’t receive a single one of them.

Not only can Jones throw to receivers, but he is flexible in which ones he throws to. Sure, he had his favorite targets for the Tide, but he wasn’t afraid to throw to his third or sometimes even fourth choice on a play.

Newton’s throws to receivers would consist of a jerky motion that it’s target would hope would either a) be on target/hit them in stride or b) get to them without falling short. Sure, there were some good throws during the 2020 season, but not ones that would stand out on a highlight film.

3. Mac’s quick release and throws are reminiscent of Brady One of the things that fans could pinpoint as one thing they would never get tired of with Brady, was his ability to get the ball out fast. Not only was it fast, but it was accurate and that is something Jones has a history of.

Not only can he get the ball out fast, but as illustrated in the first preseason game against the Washington Football Team, he is not afraid to throw fade ball to the back corner of the end zone – something Brady became famous for towards the end of his career in New England – when he narrowly missed with a touchdown pass early on in his debut.

Sure, Jones’ pass went long and just missed a touchdown, it was beautifully thrown and placed perfectly so that his guy and his guy only could get it.

As most Patriots’ fans can testify, if something reminds them of Brady it’s usually a good thing.

2. He understands the Patriot way and is not afraid of it Early on in training camp, Belichick and Offensive Coordinator Josh McDaniels both acknowledged his work ethic. Part of that may be from working with Coach Saban down in Alabama who trains his players like they were in the NFL already, but it shows maturity as well.

Newton came into training camp with his own flair, and his own (as Belichick would describe it) distractions. Jones, instead, came in and was ready to work from day one and has given Newton a run for his money since the first day.

Belichick was quoted as saying that Jones knows how to get yelled at, and that is something that is significantly undervalued in football today – especially in practice. Remember: it all starts there.

1. “Cam will be the starter week 1” – Bill Belichick I know, I know, quoting Belichick this early in the preseason can be dangerous, but that is exactly why this is the number one reason why Mac should start Week 1 vs. Miami.

Never in past years has anything been set in stone at the beginning of training camp, but according to all sources and Belichick himself, Newton will be the starter Week 1 and that Jones needs to learn the system. Hmm… *insert puzzled face here*. Since when does Bill know something before the competition even begins?

Who knows, Belichick might be telling the truth and Robert Kraft told him to be more transparent this year with the media, but Bill was also the one who told the media they weren’t sold on Jones… Then they drafted him… It could be a smoke screen for all we know, but that’s for this reporter to find out.

The Patriots next game is on Sunday, August 29th, 2021 when they take on the New York Giants in their final preseason game. Kickoff is slated for 6:30 p.m. from MetLife Stadium.