It started Inside the NFL Draft with the Atlanta Falcons.
This previous summer time, new Falcons widespread supervisor Terry Fontenot and coach Arthur Smith have been confronted with a dilemma. The mannequin new regime Desired to Search out out on whether or not taking a quarterback of The Prolonged time period was the smart play.
Smith nonetheless noticed worth (and a monetary tie) in vetperiodn Matt Ryan regardless of regression all by way of 2020’s 4-12 season. Fontenot wanted to look previous the submit-Ryan period and Usher in a quarterback for the long-time period future.
The draft acquired here. Atlanta chosen tight finish Kyle Pitts, permitting two quarterbacks to fall deeper down the board. Definitely one of many recreationrs Atlanta might have taken was Mac Jones.
New England took Jones at No. 15, and since He is seemed Simply like the NFL’s Rookie of the Yr. On Thursday, Fontenot and Smith noticed first-hand how particular the rookie QB Could be in a 25-0 loss at house.
“The final two video recreations Have not been Okay, However It is An extfulld season,” Smith said. “We now have seven video recreations, and We’ll decide this factor out.”
Jones wasn’t good, however he out-dueled Ryan with ease. Patriots quarterbacks and extreme completion proportion Appear to go hand-in-hand.
Sound somefactor like Tom Brady?
Jones fulld 22 for 26 for 207 yards and a touchdown on The biggest Method to New England’s seventh win of the season. One move was overthrown. One other intercepted by Falcons’ cornerback A.J. Terrell.
Outfacet of that, Almost flawless. Jones needed Decrease than 250 yards moveing as quickly as extra To steer his group to victory. New England transformed 4 occasions on third down and gained the time of possession by shut toly six minutes (32:43-27:17).
“Did not Simply like the final two video recreations we performed, just acquired a come collectively, play An complete recreation,” Terrell said. “As a group, we just Want to play An complete recreation there are factors we might have carried out greater on protection.”
As for Pitts, the participant Atlanta fulld up taking, he continues to be a driving strain offensively and Ryan’s go-to weapon. Thursday was a down Evening time with three catches For Decrease than 29 yards.
Spherical 1 goes to Jones Inside the rookie vs. rookie bout.
Fontenot Might have been onto one factor when Looking for a quarterback. Prior to now two video recreations, the Falcons have been outratingd 68-3. Ryan has thrown a pair of interceptions in each video recreations.
Backup QB and former prime 10-decide Josh Rosen threw a decide-six Inside The final two minutes. Rookie Feleipe Franks threw one a play later.
“It has been A troublesome 5 video recreations offensively,” Ryan said. “We now haven’t thrown the ball properly enough. We now haven’t run the ball properly enough.”
Ryan, 36, is displaying that maybe retirement is shut to. … although as quickly as extra, monetary confacetrations are in play. In right now’s league, groups stay and die by the quarterback place.
Would Jones have saved Atlanta’s season in 2021?
No. There’s A lot extra factors Inside the trenches on Every facet that Fontenot should tackle this offseason.
It Does not advocate Making an try to The …….