How Invoice Belichick confirmed confidence in Mac Jones: AFC East evaluation

Henry McKenna

AFC East Reporter

Invoice Belichick makes use of his press conferences as a platform to ship all types of various messages. Typically, he delivers wakeup calls, light nudges and easy affirmations. 

Different occasions, he is spreading disinformation.

However the New England Patriots coach confirmed what appeared like real help for quarterback Mac Jones on Monday following the staff's 22-17 win over the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. The coach was requested about Jones' interception throughout Belichick's weekly look on WEEI sports activities radio.

"The interception yesterday, he bought hit as he was throwing the ball. If the pass-blocking could possibly be higher, that may assist," Belichick stated.

Belichick didn't utterly absolve Jones from blame. However the coach did defend his quarterback. And, sure, I can think about some folks is perhaps pondering: What would you like Belichick to say? Properly, he may have stated the entire staff wanted to get higher. As an alternative, Belichick remoted his offensive line as an issue on that play, thereby transferring blame off Jones.

Extra necessary than what Belichick stated was what Belichick did in Week 8. The Patriots determined to aim two fourth-down conversions. Each occasions, New England lined up in shotgun. Each occasions, New England allowed Jones to dictate the result of the play.

That is an enormous alternative for Jones to show himself. The Patriots and Belichick clearly had confidence in Jones. They entrusted the quarterback with the ball in pivotal moments. It hasn't all the time been like that. 

New England has tried simply six fourth-down makes an attempt this season, the seventh-fewest within the NFL. The Patriots tried the fourth-fewest in 2021 with 17. That was Jones' first full season as a starter, and you bought the sense they did not belief him (or the offense as a complete) to transform.

So this was an enormous shift, significantly towards a Jets protection that ranks sixth in yards allowed per recreation and twelfth in factors allowed per recreation. They've allowed opponents to transform on simply 30.8% of third downs this 12 months (4/13), fourth-best within the NFL. (All stats account for Week 8.)

Even with Jones dealing with a protection that is excellent, particularly on fourth down, the Patriots allowed him two cracks at fourth-down conditions close to or within the crimson zone.

The primary alternative did not go effectively. On fourth-and-1 from the Jets' 21-yard line, Jones rolled ignored of the shotgun and, although he had Hunter Henry open, Jones stared down Jakobi Meyers and tried to ship him downfield. It led to miscommunication, with Jones floating the ball incomplete to a spot the place Meyers wasn't.

However then Jones made the coach's pair of fourth-down makes an attempt worthwhile. 

On fourth-and-1 from the 5-yard-line, the Patriots known as a play out of empty. That is only a signal of immense confidence. Not solely did the Patriots belief Jones to throw the ball on fourth down, however New England trusted Jones to throw out of a formation that telegraphs a passing play to the protection.

The play design freed up Meyers for a straightforward reception, and the receiver stumbled into the tip zone for a landing.

Fairly than accept a pair of field-goal makes an attempt, which possible would have yielded six factors, the Patriots opted for a pair of fourth-down conversions that ended with a seven-point return.

Why?

As a result of they belief Jones, apparently. At the least, that is what it regarded like this week. And that is an necessary improvement, given Jones' tough touchdown-to-interception ratio (3 touchdowns, 7 interceptions) and quarterback controversy with backup Bailey Zappe. 

"I assumed Mac did a pleasant job," Belichick stated Monday. "We had stress on fairly a number of move performs, greater than we wish, for positive. I assumed he made good selections and needed to pull the ball down a few occasions and make some key runs for us."

New England is signaling it desires Jones to step up and be the man. This week towards the Jets, he bought it finished.

WR Elijah Moore sounds off about discontent. However can the Jets afford to commerce him?

Following the Jets' loss to the Patriots, receiver Elijah Moore stated it did not matter whether or not he nonetheless needed to be traded or not. He was with the Jets, and he was going to assist them win.

Alas, there weren't many alternatives for him to try this on Sunday. He performed simply 10 snaps, fewest amongst all offensive gamers who performed. He tried to say the fitting issues after the sport — at the least briefly. However his frustration confirmed in one more recreation when he had zero receptions.

He was requested if he and Zach Wilson are struggling to develop chemistry.

"I do not even know, I could not even inform you. I do not get the ball. I do not know," Moore stated with fun.

Moore demanded a commerce after Week 6, when he completed with zero targets and 0 catches in a win over the Packers. The Jets made him inactive for Week 7, with coach Robert Saleh downplaying Moore's discontent. When Corey Davis went down with an damage, it appeared like a possibility for Moore to take a extra substantial position within the offense. Alas, he performed WR5 behind Garrett Wilson, Denzel Mims, Braxton Berrios and Jeff Smith.

"With Corey being out, simply an opportunity to get Garrett on the sector extra," Saleh stated. "So we'll discover a method to get [Moore] extra ops on the sector."

When you really feel confused by that quote, that is as a result of Saleh's feedback do not make any sense.

The NFL commerce deadline is Tuesday. If I had been a betting man, I would wager Moore nonetheless desires to get traded. That a lot is apparent.

If the fitting compensation (possibly a second-rounder) is available in, the Jets ought to think about it. However on condition that Zach Wilson regarded like a large number in Week 8, New York ought to choose to patch issues up with Moore. He's an explosive playmaker in a passing offense that will must have YAC-minded receivers, if Wilson continues to have points. A tough-to-tackle participant corresponding to Moore might help Wilson generate massive performs with out having to throw downfield. 

New York is in a tricky spot. The Jets want Moore. They usually did not do something to place out the flames within the group's unhealthy relationship with the man who must be their No. 2 receiver.

Even Josh Allen is aware of his turnovers may show pricey

The Payments did what I assumed they'd do: They beat up on a nasty Packers staff. The one factor that shocked me was Josh Allen's play within the second half. He struggled. And not likely as a result of the Packers had been forcing him into errors. He simply unhealthy made selections that demonstrated a scarcity of situational consciousness. 

His staff had management of the sport in all three phases. He did not must press to make performs. However that is what he didn't as soon as however twice. And the Packers protection made him pay with two second-half interceptions that stored Inexperienced Bay within the recreation.

"The one approach that staff will get again in it's if I flip the ball over — and [I had] two silly ones that I had no enterprise throwing," Allen stated postgame.

The factor is, I preserve saying that Allen's interceptions are going to hang-out him. They usually do not. The Payments are so good that Allen's propensity for turnovers hasn't been a problem. However Allen is tied at fifth within the NFL for interceptions with six. I feel when the playoffs roll round, he must do higher there. 

In opposition to the Chiefs, he cannot afford these errors.

Security Jevon Holland is the Dolphins' solely hope to carry off opposing passing offenses

The Miami secondary is coping with no scarcity of accidents, and it confirmed in Week 8. Lions quarterback Jared Goff lit up the Dolphins for 321 yards and a landing whereas finishing 71% of his passes.

The Dolphins are awaiting the return of cornerback Byron Jones (Achilles), and so they have misplaced security Brandon Jones (ACL) and cornerback Nik Needham (Achilles) for the 12 months. That is three of the staff's 5 starters within the secondary. So the staff's backups tried to carry issues collectively in a shootout towards the Lions on Sunday. The Dolphins received 31-27, however Tua Tagovailoa and the offense needed to overcome a considerable deficit. And whereas the offense beat up on the Lions' league-worst protection, my eyes had been drawn to the Dolphins protection.

The participant I discovered myself watching most was Jevon Holland, who obtained a recreation ball from coach Mike McDaniel after the sport. Holland completed with the staff's second-lowest protection grade in PFF. He allowed 5 catches on 5 targets for 123 yards.

Yikes, proper?

However you'll be able to see within the movie why McDaniel favored a few of what he noticed from Holland. The security flew across the area as a run defender and made sound tackles. He additionally logged a PBU on a goal for Amon-Ra St. Brown, with cornerback Xavien Howard in protection. Holland flew in to punch the ball away from St. Brown and prevented a bit acquire.

That is the type of play the Dolphins want out of Holland. He must be the security valve on this protection. He can't be a legal responsibility, which — at occasions — he was in Week 8. Kalif Raymond burned Holland for 43 yards, and T.J. Hockenson logged a 58-yarder on Holland. That merely cannot occur.

Holland made the All-Rookie Group in 12 months 1. His potential was plain. However the Dolphins secondary wants him to begin taking part in like a sophisticated veteran. As a result of their secondary has points. Large ones. And he looks as if the one resolution.

Previous to becoming a member of FOX Sports activities because the AFC East reporter, Henry McKenna spent seven years masking the Patriots for USA TODAY Sports activities Media Group and Boston Globe Media. Observe him on Twitter at @McKennAnalysis.

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