The Patriots seem to have a bit of a “throw it up” philosophy on offense early in the 2022 season and Felger made it know on Monday’s show that he’s not a fan of it.
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Mac Jones Postgame: 50/50 balls. And, you know, he’s one of those guys that I put in the “throw it up to him” category and he’s going to make the play. So if it’s one on one, I’ll give him a shot and obviously had time with the offensive line. And I think all of our receivers can do that. If they’re one on one, I’m going to give them a chance. Kind of different philosophy, but that’s what we need to do.
Felger: That comment is telling too. Different philosophy. But that’s what we want to do.
Mazz: I think he said need to do.
Felger: Need to do? Let’s put it through the Felger and Mazz filter….
Mac Jones Postgame: 50/50 balls. And, you know, he’s one of those guys that I put in the “throw it up to him” category and he’s going to make the play. So if it’s one on one, I’ll give him a shot and obviously had time with the offensive line. And I think all of our receivers can do that. If they’re one on one, I’m going to give them a chance. Kind of different philosophy. But that’s what we need to do.
Felger: Different philosophy, but that’s what we need to do. So maybe you’re right, Maz. They look at and say, well, a 50/50 ball from the 40, is better than us going into the red zone and being 33% and getting into the end zone. Something like that.
Jim Murray: Do you think there’s nerd involvement with this? Not just with them, throughout the league. This feels like the 50/50 ball, those jump balls are like the three true outcome plays of the NFL. It’s big chunk play incompletion or interception. Like that’s what happens on those plays.
Mazz: Yeah. Which is why, though you pick your spots where you’re going to do it. If you do it in your own half of the field and the guy, you know, I say your own half, let’s say you throw it from your own 30 and they pick it off at their own 25 or 20 well, now they return it 15, 20 yards because plenty of open field. Now they get good field position.I’m not telling you I like it.
Felger: I just find this fascinating. It’s like, Mac Jones is telling you that it’s a different philosophy, but we need to do it. You don’t need even to parce this. He’s telling you, that Agholor touchdown, 50/50 ball, I put Agholor in the “throw it up to him” category and so he is being, these are coaching points he is being told, “give your guys a chance on those plays throw it up”.
Mazz: Trust your athletes.
Felger: Throw up a 50/50 ball. I dislike it.
Mazz: You should dislike it. It flies in the face of everything that Bill wants to do historically or let me rephrase, has wanted to do.
Felger: I just dislike it from a like a efficiency standpoint. I just I much prefer Mac Jones go through his progressions and find the open guy. That’s what I want. And then move the chains and do it again. But also from a ascetic standpoint, I hate the 50/50 ball. I hate all of it. Like, I’m not, you know, this this particular to me, I know you’re probably different out there, but, I’m less interested in the pure athleticism of the guys. Like, if I really wanted that, I’d watch track and field. I don’t care who jumps highest and that sort of stuff. I am far more interested in the strategy of it and getting a guy open with strategy or leverage or something that you scheme up or if a player is just a good route runner, a good tactician, you know, I love those receivers that have good feet and can come out of their breaks as fast as they go into it and hard stop, come back to the court like that’s I love that sort of technical part of the game. The chuck it up and just “weeee” go out jump the guy? I don’t, you know, I don’t keep the channel on “You got Moss’d”. I mean, I guess it’s on Monday nights and it’s on there, but I’m not really that interested in it. I’m not, I don’t care about it. I much prefer to get open and catch the ball guy. I do. And that style of offense.