Zolak & Bertrand: Mac Jones is back to his rookie year
On Monday’s edition of Zolak & Bertrand, Scott Zolak made it clear that Mac Jones has returned to his rookie year form.
Looked like the Tom Brady offense…
Marc Bertrand: What did you like from the Patriots first team offense on Saturday night?
Scott Zolak: It reminded me of the old offense of the Tom Brady era, that you’re in the gun, that you’re moving the backs, you’re resetting in the back for protection scans that you’re moving up, you’re killing plays, touching your shoulder pads. It’s just the old… He’s back to his rookie year meaning Mac Jones and I thought he played well in this game. He had three series and that call right there was the opening drive. Now they got it off a turnover, so they had a short field, but they had some issues and then they were sitting there at 2nd and 11 and boom, it’s quick RPO action. He sticks that slant backside and it’s first throw of the game. Boom on the money right there. And I thought the out route had zip on it. They tried to go vertical to Hunter Henry. They tried to push the ball in this game. I thought he had a fantastic read off the deep throw to (DeVante) Parker. Now I think that run is built for Tyquan Thornton to sort of run through coverage, but Mac Jones bought some extra time sliding up in the pocket on that one and I think Parker really didn’t think the ball was going to come, you know, when he first got the split coverage and he sort of stalled there and then he accelerated but didn’t have enough to go get that ball. I thought that was Mac’s best for the game. I really did. Ahhh, you don’t understand football it’s an overthrow. No that would be money. That should be money during the regular season. That’s a good throw. That was good timing on it. And they pushed a little in this game. Billy (O’Brien) opened it up and you know just again, the kid (Demario) Douglas, I think is going to give you some things in the slot so there’s things to look forward to here. We’ll see (Ezekiel Elliott) Zeke this week in Tennessee. I think he’s going to play, so we’ll see what his plays are going to be and how he’s going to be incorporated slowly here. But, you know, they’re going to be a good team with with Rhamondre (Stevenson) at back.
Listen to the full segment!
Opposing players Bill Belichick has fallen in love with over the years
3. George Kittle – TE
Tight end George Kittle of the San Francisco 49ers runs with the football against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of the NFL game at State Farm Stadium on October 31, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Belichick: “Kittle is a great player. He does everything well. I’d put him right at the top of the league there, period. His ability to run, catch, get open, after the catch, block, he does everything at a high level. He’s as good as anybody that I’ve coached or as good as anybody that we’ve played against.” – ESPN, 10/19/20
5. Larry Fitzgerald, WR
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – DECEMBER 26: Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald #11 of the Arizona Cardinals makes a reception against the San Francisco 49ers during the NFL game at State Farm Stadium on December 26, 2020 in Glendale, Arizona. The 49ers defeated the Cardinals 20-12. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Belichick: “He works extremely hard. He’s very knowledgeable in all phases of the game, but particularly the passing game and techniques, training, fundamentals. He’s, I would say, to receivers what Peyton Manning was to quarterbacks in terms of that type of total obsession of knowing everything about the position and how to do things and how to convey those to his teammates… he’s a tremendous player and he’s had a tremendous career. I don’t know how you could do much more than what he’s done for the amount of time that he’s done it in. He’s had tremendous durability and production.” – NBC Sports Boston, 10/16/15
6. Jason Witten, TE
ARLINGTON, TX – OCTOBER 30: Jason Witten #82 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates after scoring the game winning touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles in overtime at AT&T Stadium on October 30, 2016 in Arlington, Texas. The Dallas Cowboys beat the Philadelphia Eagles 29-23 in overtime. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images
Belichick: “The fact that he’s there every week and he plays good, whether it’s in the running game, the passing game, he’s a solid all-around player, one of the premier tight ends in the league… He comes up big in big situations, does a great job for them in the running game and makes big and clutch plays for them in the passing game. They obviously have a lot of confidence in him. Both quarterbacks look for him in critical situations, as they have for years. The fact that he’s there all the time, has been there throughout his career, his durability has been remarkable.” – NBC Sports Boston, 11/25/20
7. Aaron Rodgers – QB
DETROIT, MICHIGAN – NOVEMBER 06: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers looks on in the first half of a game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on November 06, 2022 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
Belichick: “I don’t think anybody is any better than Aaron Rodgers through the years.. End of games, two-minute, four-minute, four-minute ahead, two-minute behind, all those situations. One play type situations, cadence. He just takes situational football to a much higher level. We always study them and of course, we face them. We’re dealing with all the things that we studied and watched him and the Packers do going back to when Mike (McCarthy) was there. Of course now with coach (Matt) LaFleur, but it just continues to be very impressive.” – NESN, 9/30/22
