FOXBOROUGH — Sometimes, you just wish you had a camera in your hands.
Of course, if that occasion strikes during a Patriots practice after the allotted media filming time, you're likely to be tasered — despite anyone in the crowd being free to take all the video they want and post it on social media, which many do.
So most of us are just left with snapshots in your mind to capture and remember specific moments. Sometimes, those shots speak volumes without using any words at all.
There were three big ones during the Patriots' first training camp practice on Wednesday, and they perfectly encapsulated why I thought Mac Jones clearly won the day over Cam Newton — and may be headed for much more very quickly.
Stats, schmats. Quotes, schmotes.
Oh, but Jones had those in his favor too, if you factored in the drops. Jones completed 67 percent of his non-dropped passes; Newton was at 57 percent with two interceptions.
And there were some very nice quotes about the first-round pick.
From Dont'a Hightower: "He's a sponge. He's a smart kid, makes good throws and good decisions and hopefully he's got Cam and Josh and all those guys to lean on. Again, he's one of those guys who's going to make the team better, and make that room better."
James White: "He’s a talented quarterback. He’s coming in ready to work, listening, and doing what he can to make himself a better football player. He’s very receptive, and he’s going out there and competing.”
Jonnu Smith, who also spoke great of Newton: "Great guy, man. 'Mac-sonville.' That's what I call him. ... But Mac, I'm going to be honest, man. I didn't expect Mac to have the kind of swagger that he got. You know what I'm saying? Like, when I saw him walking on draft day ... I was like, "Ehhhh...," you know what I'm saying? But Mac, man, a hell of a guy, man. You know, great energy, just bringing life to the locker room. Always laughing. Smile on his face. Loves football, you know what I mean? You couldn't ask for a better quarterback."
But let's start with Smith, because he provided the first snapshot on Day 1.
The Patriots were about on the 3-yard line. Jones, under center, faked a right handoff to Sony Michel, and looked into the right flat to Kendrick Bourne, but had nothing. Jones quickly looked middle to Jakobi Meyers, but a defender was waiting so Jones looked to his left. Nelson Agholor wasn't open behind CB Michael Jackson, but Jones read an outward break the same as Agholor and Jones hit him open in the back right corner of the end zone for a touchdown.
Jones did all of that in 3.96 seconds. We're not even going to touch that a similar play would have taken Newton about twice as long without the payoff.
Instead, we'll let the snapshot after the play linger for a bit. You may or may not be able to find the play on the internet. But you missed what happened after.
Smith, who had been blocking, turned around to watch the end of the play. As Jones let the ball go to Agholor, Smith raised his arm and right index finger into the air and walked around a little bit, similar to Larry Bird when his last ball was in the air to clinch a certain 3-point shooting contest. Similar to Larry Legend, Smith was basically saying, "Damn that was nice."
(CAMERA CLICK).
The second snapshot happened a little bit later on the other side of the field, but again was in the left corner of the end zone.
This time, it was Bourne who shook loose from Joejuan Williams. After purposely staring to the right side of the field for an instant to hold the safety, Jones whipped around and fired a laser to the left sideline where Bourne toe-touched in bounds for the score. After catching the ball, Bourne leaped high into the air a few times into the other field while spiking the ball.
(CAMERA CLICK).
It was quite the production, Bourne was feeling it — his route and catch, and Jones' impeccable timing.
(Adam Richins for BSJ)
The third snapshot happened after Jones' final rep of practice. And this felt significant, almost like a changing of the guard because of who was at the center of it: captain David Andrews.
Jones got the final offensive reps of practice, and they were impressive despite the results.
- Jones made a perfect throw to Agholor at the left sideline in the end zone, but Agholor double caught it out of bounds for a drop.
- On second down, Jones and JJ Taylor weren't on the same page, and the QB coached him up after the play.
- Jones made another nice pass, but it was dropped by Matt LaCosse. The next one was batted down.
Stats would tell you Jones was 0 for 5 on those reps but stats lie — only the deflection was truly a "missed" throw.
On the penultimate play of the session, Jones surveyed the field after play-action again — this time from left to right — and fired a touchdown to Gunner Olszewski that had good velocity and once again showed off Jones' anticipation and timing. Jones ended with another touchdown, to N'Keal Harry.
After the play, as the team got setup for field goals, Josh McDaniels and Jones were in a deep discussion about the finer points of Patriots quarterbacking when Andrews walked by and turned around to listen in. When they were done, Andrews had about the biggest smile I've ever seen on him. Then, he took his right arm and put it on Jones' shoulder. Andrews gave him a little squeeze on the shoulder, while still wearing that big smile.
(CAMERA CLICK).
It was almost like Andrews was simultaneously telling the rookie, "Nice work, kid," but also realizing the Patriots might have something here in Jones.
Three different plays.
Three different snapshots involving prominent teammates with Jones.
One awfully impressive rookie QB camp debut.
What more needs to be said?