Mac Jones - CLNS Media

Senior Bowl Day 3 Reaction, Winners & Losers | Patriots Beat

CLNS Media — Thu, 30 Jan 2025 22:39:24 +0000

Alex Barth and Brian Hines recap the third day of Senior Bowl practice, picking their winners and losers from the day. Tune in for the latest insight on who Patriots fans should keep an eye on!

Patriots Beat is presented by:

Prize Picks! Get in on the excitement with PrizePicks, America’s No. 1 Fantasy Sports App, where you can turn your hoops knowledge into serious cash. Download the app today and use code CLNS to get $50 when you play $5! PrizePicks, run your game! Go to https://PrizePicks.com/CLNS

Gametime! Take the guesswork out of buying NBA tickets with Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code CLNS for $20 off your first purchase. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime! Terms apply. Go to https://gametime.co !

The post Senior Bowl Day 3 Reaction, Winners & Losers | Patriots Beat appeared first on CLNS Media.

Senior Bowl Day 2 Reaction, Winners & Losers | Patriots Beat

CLNS Media — Thu, 30 Jan 2025 01:21:58 +0000

Alex Barth and Brian Hines recap the second day of Senior Bowl practice, picking their winners and losers from the day. Tune in for the latest insight on who Patriots fans should keep an eye on!

Patriots Beat is presented by:

The post Senior Bowl Day 2 Reaction, Winners & Losers | Patriots Beat appeared first on CLNS Media.

Mailbag with Patriots Legend James White

Jackson Tolliver — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 21:56:06 +0000

CLNS Media’s Taylor Kyles welcomes James White to the show to host a mailbag edition of Patriots Daily. They’ll discuss some of the current problems within the Patriots organization and preview this weekend’s game against the New York Jets.

Patriots Daily is presented by:

The post Mailbag with Patriots Legend James White appeared first on CLNS Media.

Drake Maye Takes a Step Forward at Patriots OTAs

Mackenzie Bruno — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 18:59:04 +0000

Drake Maye saw increased reps at OTAs this week, which begs the question – could Drake Maye be the starting QB sooner than we thought?

Maye, the third overall pick in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft out of The University of North Carolina has been playing behind veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett and backup Bailey Zappe for the majority of OTAs. The rookie struggled early on with footwork and red-zone work, but his progress has not gone unntoiced.

On Tuesday, the quarterback was rewarded by moving up in the QB lineup behind Jacoby Brissett but in front of Bailey Zappe in 7-on-7 and 11-on-11, according to Pat’s Pulpit’s Brian Hines.

“Once they start giving Drake Maye things as the third overall pick, it’s hard to take them back. I don’t wanna say it’s not significant, but I don’t wanna say it’s overly significant,” said Greg Bedard on the latest episode of the Greg Bedard Patriots Podcast with Nick Cattles.

Maye has also seen increased reps and has the right tools to make him much more successful than former sixth-round draft pick Mac Jones.

Maye’s arm strength is his number one attribute and he used it in a sloppy, yet telling Patriots OTA practice on Tuesday where it was the second time he moved above Bailey Zappe in the QB depth chart.

Greg Bedard and Nick Cattles break it all down and assess the Patriots evaluation of Maye’s progress.

Check Greg’s Coverage out over at www.bostonsportsjournal.com, for $50 on BSJ’s annual plan. Not only do you get top-notch analysis of all the Boston pro sports, but if you’re a Patriots junkie — and if you’re listening to this podcast, you are — then a membership at BSJ gives you access to a ton of video analysis Bedard does on the coaches film, and direct access to him in weekly chats.

This episode of the Greg Bedard Patriots Podcast w/ Nick Cattles is brought to you by:

Prize Picks! Get in on the excitement with PrizePicks, America’s No. 1 Fantasy Sports App, where you can turn your hoops knowledge into serious cash. Download the app today and use code CLNS for a first deposit match up to $100! Pick more. Pick less. It’s that Easy! Go to https://PrizePicks.com/CLNS

Gametime! Take the guesswork out of buying NBA tickets with Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code CLNS for $20 off your first purchase. Download Gametime today. Last minute tickets. Lowest Price. Guaranteed. Terms apply. Go to https://gametime.co !

The post Drake Maye Takes a Step Forward at Patriots OTAs appeared first on CLNS Media.

How the Patriots Can Learn from the Failed Mac Jones Experiment

Taylor Kyles — Sun, 10 Mar 2024 21:10:11 +0000

The Patriots have officially traded quarterback Mac Jones to his hometown Jaguars in exchange for a sixth-round pick. According to CBS Sports Jonathan Jones, Jacksonville was the only team to offer compensation.

The move concludes a disastrous two-season stretch that saw the former 15th overall pick’s play sharply decline, ultimately ending with him losing the locker room.

Through his 11 games as a starter last season, Jones led the NFL in turnover-worthy plays due to a combination of poor mechanics and unjustifiable decision-making. His footwork and willingness to step into throws, particularly against pressure, deteriorated. He largely shied away from throwing downfield as the season went on, even after checking into plays specifically designed to do so.

To make matters worse, reports surfaced that teammates soured on his attitude, and his relationship with former backup Bailey Zappe became so unhealthy that Zappe would watch film with the wide receivers to avoid being in the quarterback’s room. This added to prior criticism of how Jones carried himself at times, as he also came under fire the season before due to poor body language.

It’s clear Jones didn’t do himself any favors, but the way New England handled their 1st-round quarterback was inexcusable.

Jones’ limited skill set may have kept him from ever breaking into the upper-echelon of NFL passers, but he showed the intelligence, accuracy, and work ethic to make New England a contender.

One season after winning a National Championship on a loaded Alabama roster, Jones showed his point-guard skill set could carry over to the NFL. It was an imperfect first season, but Jones did enough to dethrone Cam Newton with a strong summer, earn the respect of teammates and coaches by driving a complicated Josh McDaniels offense, get into the playoffs, and make the Pro Bowl as a top alternate.

Things were looking up for the Patriots’ storied franchise in the wake of a disappointing end to the Tom Brady era, but those hopes were dashed when Josh McDaniels and several other coaches left for Las Vegas.

Here’s why the Mac Jones experiment failed and how New England can avoid making similar mistakes when they inevitably take a quarterback in April.

Provide Consistent Coaching

When McDaniels became the Raiders’ head coach, it was clear Bill Belichick and the Patriots weren’t prepared to replace him or the assistants the longtime offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach brought with him.

Former defensive coordinator Matt Patricia was given the impossible task of completely overhauling the offense, which was attempting to shift towards the West Coast scheme sweeping the league. He also coached the offensive line and helped with renovations to the team’s facilities. Career special teams coach Joe Judge became the new quarterbacks coach despite having zero career experience in the role.

It was clear, both internally and externally, that this experiment would fail, and it did so in spectacular fashion. Jones’ passer rating plummeted from a solid 92.5 to a subpar 84.8. His play-action rate, which was a major factor in his success as a rookie, dropped by over 10% because the offense was forced to scrap many of the concepts they repped during summer installs.

The team tried to course-correct by replacing Patricia and Judge with Bill O’Brien, who seemed like a perfect fit as someone with experience as an offensive coordinator in both New England and Alabama. Unfortunately, tight ends coach Will Lawing was the only assistant coach O’Brien had prior experience with, and this disconnect contributed to significant dysfunction behind the scenes.

The Jerod Mayo-era Patriots seem keenly aware that stability on the offensive staff was needed. De facto general manager Eliot Wolf recruited several coaches he has experience with from his time with the Browns and Packers. The offense will now be helmed by former Browns offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt. Van Pelt has yet to call plays on a regular basis but offers a wealth of knowledge as a former player and longtime coach. He is also renowned for his likable and galvanizing personality, and it is believed he plans to stay in New England for the foreseeable future.

Van Pelt will be assisted by several former or longtime colleagues, including senior offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo, quarterbacks coach T.C. McCartney, offensive line coach Scott Peters, and tight ends coach Bob Bicknell. While McCartney’s experience coaching quarterbacks is limited, Van Pelt is expected to be heavily involved in the quarterback room. Given his experience playing the position at LSU, McCartney should also be able to relate to the players under his tutelage.

Time will tell if this group can bring credibility back to the Patriots’ offense, but building a staff with familiarity and experience in a number of different systems feels like a strong first step.

Build a Strong Offensive Line

Outside of having a different offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in each of his three seasons in New England, poor offensive line play was the biggest factor in Jones’ decline between 2022 and 2023.

The Patriots allowed a 23.4% pressure rate with Jones under center in 2021, the fourth-lowest mark in the NFL. That number increased to 26.4% in 2022 and a whopping 32.7% in 2023. He was also knocked down on over 10% of dropbacks for the first time in his career.

Injuries, Isaiah Wynn’s decline, Cole Strange’s inconsistent rookie year, and Trent Brown’s drama-filled final season were significant contributors. But the team also allowed Joe Thuney and Ted Karras to walk in free agency, traded Shaq Mason for scraps, and failed to spend premium capital on the offensive tackle position. This forced New England to settle for a group of unproven and aging veterans and make last-minute trades for Vederian Lowe and Tyrone Wheatley Jr. before the season.

Moving forward, building up the trenches has to be a consistent priority, and bringing back cornerstone Mike Onwenu is a necessary first step in that plan.

There may be concerns regarding fair compensation and the versatile lineman’s best fit in Van Pelt’s scheme. But none of the team’s free agents are more deserving of a big deal, and the offense has too many holes to enter the draft with former Steeler Chukwuma Okorafor as their best tackle, though bringing in the former Steeler as young, experienced depth was a solid move

Signing left tackle Jonah Williams to start and drafting a developmental player early should provide the stability New England has lacked at the position.

Finally, the Patriots’ interior desperately needed a veteran presence in 2023, as Atonio Mafi and Jake Andrews clearly weren’t ready for starting duty. James Ferentz filled that role on paper, but he was more of a coach than a player in his final career season. Adding a quality backup with positional versatility would be a wise move to round out the line, especially with Cole Strange coming off a season-ending ACL injury.

Add a True #1 Receiver

Jones had some solid security blankets throughout his Patriots tenure in Jakobi Meyers, Hunter Henry, Kendrick Bourne, and Rhamondre Stevenson. DeMario Douglas also provided a much-needed spark despite rookie growing pains.

That said, the offense hasn’t had an attention-grabbing pass-catcher since Julian Edelman, which has made their offensive deficiencies even more glaring.

New England tried to address the position by drafting speedster Tyquan Thornton early in 2022, but the undersized receiver has struggled to stay healthy and is significantly behind in his development. And the ill-advised decision to replace Meyers with JuJu Smith-Schuster, who looked significantly less explosive after suffering an ACL injury in the 2022 playoffs, further exacerbated matters.

DeVante Parker provided an outside vertical element at times in 2022, and he regularly made jaw-dropping catches during the offseason program. But the oft-injured receiver couldn’t stay on the field, and he was a virtual non-factor when playing with Jones last season. Parker picked things up a bit when Zappe took the reigns, but his play was still up-and-down, and effort was a consistent issue.

Moving forward, the team cannot continue to kick the can down the road, as even the best quarterbacks need at least one game-changing pass-catcher. Eliot Wolf has expressed his desire to weaponize the offense, and New England reportedly plans on being active and aggressive in their pursuit of a top receiver.

Calvin Ridley is the only player set to hit the market who fits that profile, and according to ESPN‘s Jeremy Fowler, the Patriots are expected to “swing big” in an effort to acquire the explosive wideout. Other big-play free-agent options include Marquise Brown, Darnell Mooney, and Gabe Davis, but they are more complementary pieces and come with significant concerns regarding consistency.

Luckily for the Patriots, this year’s draft class is full of talented wide receivers who can be impact players at the next level. If New England can recruit Ridley, re-sign Kendrick Bourne to a modest deal, and add at least two high-upside weapons to their receiving corps, that should provide a strong foundation for a young quarterback to grow with as the team enters a new era.

The post How the Patriots Can Learn from the Failed Mac Jones Experiment appeared first on CLNS Media.

Report: Patriots Plan to Sign Veteran QB, Draft QB at No. 3 and Move On From Mac Jones

CLNS Media — Thu, 29 Feb 2024 22:05:11 +0000

INDIANAPOLIS — MassLive reported that the Patriots are set to overhaul their quarterback position. Their strategy involves signing a veteran quarterback, drafting a QB with the No. 3 pick, and potentially sitting the rookie if necessary. Additionally, Mac Jones is reportedly on his way out of the team. CLNS Media’s Taylor Kyles provides his reaction to this report from the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine.

Get in on the excitement with PrizePicks, America’s No. 1 Fantasy Sports App, where you can turn your hoops knowledge into serious cash. Download the app today and use code CLNS for a first deposit match up to $100! Pick more. Pick less. It’s that Easy!

The post Report: Patriots Plan to Sign Veteran QB, Draft QB at No. 3 and Move On From Mac Jones appeared first on CLNS Media.

Jerod Mayo Press Conference Reaction + Caleb Williams to Bears? w/ Alex Barth

CLNS Media — Fri, 19 Jan 2024 04:18:02 +0000

Taylor Kyles from CLNS Media teams up with Alex Barth of 98.5 The Sports Hub for a live reaction to the press conference by the New England Patriots, where Jerod Mayo was officially introduced as their 15th head coach. They also discuss USC QB Caleb Williams officially declaring for the NFL Draft and the news that former Cardinals’ Head Coach Kliff Kingsbury, now a senior offensive analyst and quarterbacks coach at USC, is anticipated to interview for the offensive coordinator position with the Chicago Bears.

This episode of the Patriots Daily Podcast is brought to you by:

Fanduel Sportsbook, the exclusive wagering parter of the CLNS Media Network! Right now, NEW customers get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY in BONUS BETS – GUARANTEED when you place a FIVE DOLLAR BET. That’s A HUNDRED AND FIFTY BUCKS in BONUS BETS – WIN OR LOSE! Go to https://FanDuel.com/BOSTON! The app is so easy to use and there are so many different ways to bet like:

● Live Same Game Parlays

● Find Bets in the NEW Explore Tab

● Make a parlay in the Parlay Hub – the best way to find popular parlays

● And more!

DISCLAIMER: Must be 21+ and present in select states. FanDuel is offering online sports wagering in Kansas under an agreement with Kansas Star Casino, LLC. First online real money wager only. $10 first deposit required. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable bonus bets that expire 7 days after receipt. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG in Colorado, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Tennessee, and Virginia. Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 in Arizona, 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat in Connecticut, 1-800-9-WITH-IT in Indiana, 1-800-522-4700 or visit ksgamblinghelp.com in Kansas, 1-877-770-STOP in Louisiana, visit mdgamblinghelp.org in Maryland, visit 1800gambler.net in West Virginia, or call 1-800-522-4700 in Wyoming. Hope is here. Visit GamblingHelpLineMA.org or call (800) 327-5050 for 24/7 support in Massachusetts or call 1-877-8HOPE-NY or text HOPENY in New York.

Use code DREAMERSPRO for $20 off your first SeatGeek order! Visit SeatGeek.com and use code DREAMERSPRO when you checkout! With NFL, NBA and NHL seasons in full swing and the NBA starting soon, you don’t want to miss out – SeatGeek has your tickets to every game!

The post Jerod Mayo Press Conference Reaction + Caleb Williams to Bears? w/ Alex Barth appeared first on CLNS Media.

Jerod Mayo Introduced as Patriots Head Coach

CLNS Media — Fri, 19 Jan 2024 04:08:21 +0000

Catch the newest episode of Patriots Beat with Alex Barth of 98.5 The Sports Hub and Brian Hines from Pats Pulpit, where they react to Jerod Mayo’s press conference held by the New England Patriots, where he was officially unveiled as the franchise’s 15th head coach.

Fanduel Sportsbook is the exclusive wagering parter of the CLNS Media Network! Right now, NEW customers get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY in BONUS BETS – GUARANTEED when you place a FIVE DOLLAR BET. That’s A HUNDRED AND FIFTY BUCKS in BONUS BETS – WIN OR LOSE! Go to https://FanDuel.com/BOSTON! The app is so easy to use and there are so many different ways to bet like:

● Live Same Game Parlays

● Find Bets in the NEW Explore Tab

● Make a parlay in the Parlay Hub – the best way to find popular parlays

● And more!

Visit https://Linkedin.com/BEAT to post your first job for free! LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn.

The post Jerod Mayo Introduced as Patriots Head Coach appeared first on CLNS Media.

Robert Kraft Anoints Jerod Mayo HC as Belichick Era Ends w/ Jeff Howe

CLNS Media — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 01:30:47 +0000

Taylor Kyles from CLNS Media joins forces with Jeff Howe, NFL National Insider at The Athletic, to discuss the New England Patriots appointment of Jerod Mayo as head coach, a significant move following Bill Belichick’s departure just a day earlier. They also delve into the potential implications of the Patriots’ decision to postpone hiring a General Manager.

This episode of the Patriots Daily Podcast is brought to you by:

● Live Same Game Parlays

● Find Bets in the NEW Explore Tab

● Make a parlay in the Parlay Hub – the best way to find popular parlays

● And more!

The post Robert Kraft Anoints Jerod Mayo HC as Belichick Era Ends w/ Jeff Howe appeared first on CLNS Media.

Patriots Coaching staff + GM updates

CLNS Media — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 01:15:22 +0000

Catch the newest episode of Patriots Beat with Alex Barth of 98.5 The Sports Hub and Brian Hines from Pats Pulpit, where they discuss the New England Patriots current coaching staff under their new head coach Jerod Mayo. They also discuss the latest developments on the GM front.

● Live Same Game Parlays

● Find Bets in the NEW Explore Tab

● Make a parlay in the Parlay Hub – the best way to find popular parlays

● And more!

The post Patriots Coaching staff + GM updates appeared first on CLNS Media.