Zo & Bertrand: Mike Reiss on what a ‘year-2 leap’ could look like for Mac Jones

ESPN's Mike Reiss joined Zolak & Bertrand in studio for the first time this season, and weighed in on the topic of a "year 2 leap" for Patriots quarterback Mac Jones. Find out below what Reiss thinks that sort of successful leap would entail for Mac.

Beetle: Year 2 is important for every quarterback. We've talked a lot about the importance of Mac Jones and his growth for this team and how good they can be. And so my question would be, how do we gauge that? What is it that needs to happen for us to look at his year and say there was a leap, there was growth, he looked better. Is it just doing what he did last year? My thing all offseason has been, well, he's going to need to be better for the team to even get back to the same record they had a year ago.

Mike Reiss: I think part of the growth for Mac we'll see this week specifically: they're going to name their captains, and I would anticipate that he's a captain. So that's going to put him in the captains' meetings. So that start with that. That's like a tangible growth right there. But then on the field, like, how about just if you want a measurement, like, lead them to a playoff win, right? Back in March, Robert Kraft had said, "I'm not happy that we haven't won in the playoffs for the last three years."

So you want growth. Well, he helped lead them to the playoffs this last season. Now, in a tough year - I think we all agree, tougher AFC. Can you not just lead them to the playoffs or help them get there, but win a playoff game?

Listen to Zolak & Bertrand from 10-2 every Monday-Friday on 98.5 The Sports Hub, with hosts Marc "Beetle" Bertrand, Scott Zolak, and Rob "Hardy" Poole. You can listen live in the Sports Hub App and subscribe to their podcasts here. Follow @ZoAndBertrand on Twitter and Instagram to keep up with the show!