Bailey Zappe has done everything that has been asked of him. Some would say a lot more.
He's 2-0 in his starts with the Patriots winning by a combined 52 points. He went to overtime with Aaron Rodgers at Lambeau Field.
On Sunday, in his first road start, the fourth-round rookie completed 70.6 percent of his passes for 309 yards, two touchdowns and a 118.4 passer rating.
This was a bit different than last week's 29-0 win over the Lions. The Patriots weren't exactly dominating on the ground, like they were against Detroit, against an even worse run defense. New England needed Zappe to make plays through the air to help move the ball, and he did: Fourteen of the Patriots' 20 first downs were made through the air.
So given all that, even Bill Belichick had to be impressed, right? He was sure to stoke the fires of a burgeoning quarterback controversy, right?
“There is a lot for him to learn," Belichick said. "He saw some things today that he learned from and he was able to take advantage and make a couple plays when he had the opportunity, so ... Again, solid performance, not turning the ball over other than the strip sack, but in terms of throwing the ball and not turning the ball over, it’s a good thing."
A lot to learn? Solid performance? Sounds more like some hack who is an overly negative killjoy than a coach who has a good problem — two quarterbacks that are of starting caliber.
No?
Sounds like Belichick, at least publicly, doesn't have a case of Zappe fever. Should he? What should we make of Belichick's comments heading into a week in which it appears Mac Jones should be ready to assume his starting spot — if he's fully cleared?
Let's take a look at some of the bigger plays the Patriots had in this game:
3-9-CLV 43 (11:21) (Shotgun) B.Zappe pass deep left to D.Parker to CLV 14 for 29 yards (M.Emerson).
This was in the middle of the first drive of the game, and the first third-and-long opportunity. Zappe had great protection and looked off the safety before throwing a 50-50 ball to DeVante Parker. Zappe does put the ball in the perfect place to the outside where only Parker could get it, but Parker gets most of the credit on this play. It was a phenomenal catch going over a defender to snag the ball.
2-14-NE 32 (:54) (Shotgun) B.Zappe sacked at NE 24 for -8 yards (M.Garrett). FUMBLES (M.Garrett), RECOVERED by CLV-J.Johnson at NE 38
We should note the Patriots are partially in long yardage due to Zappe taking a delay of game penalty — and it wasn't close — and a vast majority of the blame of this goes to Isaiah Wynn for allowing Myles Garrett to beat him. But would Belichick prefer Zappe have a better sense in the pocket, especially with the pressure coming from the front side and it being a single-blocked Garrett? Yes, probably. I'm guessing the coaches give him a tiny minus on this play as far as pocket awareness.
2-13-NE 42 (5:35) (Shotgun) B.Zappe pass short left to D.Parker to CLV 44 for 14 yards (J.Phillips).
2-9-CLV 43 (4:23) (Shotgun) B.Zappe pass short left to T.Thornton to CLV 31 for 12 yards (G.Delpit).
1-10-CLV 31 (3:40) (Shotgun) B.Zappe pass incomplete short right.
Timeout #1 by NE at 03:3
2-10-CLV 31 (3:34) (Shotgun) B.Zappe pass incomplete short left to D.Parker (M.Emerson)
This is all before the 31-yard touchdown run by Rhamondre Stevenson where the Patriots were really just trying to assure themselves of a field goal, they just so happened to catch the Browns in the type of defensive call that gets coordinators fired.
On the first play, I really like the route concept where Tyquan Thornton ran in motion and into the flat, and that gave Parker some space on a slant, along with CB Greedy Williams being rusty and poor on this in his first game back from injury.
Second play was another good playcall by Matt Patricia, a little slip screen to Thornton that hasn't usually worked but did here.
On first down, Zappe escaped a possible sack and threw the ball away. Hunter Henry got away with a hold.
On second down, Zappe threw a dangerous pass on a slant that could have been intercepted. He was under pressure and at least got rid of it.
Patriots would end the first half with a 10-6 lead on the Browns.
SECOND HALF
2-9-NE 26 (14:21) (Shotgun) B.Zappe pass short right to J.Smith to CLV 21 for 53 yards (M.Emerson).
Linebacker was sucked up by run action — something that was sorely lacking earlier in the season — and Jonnu Smith was wide open. It went for another 40 yards when Grant Delpit thought Smith could be shoulder-tackled.
2-4-CLV 15 (12:49) (Shotgun) B.Zappe pass short right to H.Henry to CLV 2 for 13 yards (G.Delpit).
2-2-CLV 2 (11:29) (Shotgun) B.Zappe pass incomplete short right to T.Thornton (M.Emerson).
3-2-CLV 2 (11:25) (Shotgun) B.Zappe pass short right to T.Thornton for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Another good route concept here — the Browns played a ton of man coverage, likely to put assets to the run and the Patriots were ready for it — with a smash concept, with two slants on the outside and then a flag route by Henry. Zappe put the ball on the money, but he was wide open.
On second and goal, Zappe threw another dangerous pass on a slant that was nearly undercut.
On third and goal ... probably my favorite Zappe play of the game because he had to come of his first read to Meyers in the flat, and then found Thornton who had beaten Williams without much help (coverage indicator revealed man early). Again, Patricia doing a good job against man. This was a tough throw by Zappe. Definitely a good play by him.
3-1-CLV 31 (5:39) M.Cannon reported in as eligible. B.Zappe pass short left to H.Henry for 31 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Again, playaction (hooray) helps get Henry wide open as Delpit takes a false step and then falls down. Great execution from call to playfake. One of the easiest touchdowns you're going to see.
“I slipped and fell and can’t let that up," Delpit told reporters. "It is third-and-1 so it is a high percentage run situation, and the Patriots schemed it up and slow released him. I slipped and fell and gave up the touchdown.”
1-10-NE 23 (14:30) B.Zappe pass deep right to J.Meyers pushed ob at 50 for 27 yards (G.Newsome).
3-5-CLV 45 (12:38) (Shotgun) B.Zappe pass short right to R.Stevenson to CLV 39 for 6 yards (S.Takitaki).
3-9-CLV 11 (9:14) (Shotgun) B.Zappe pass incomplete short right.
PENALTY on NE-B.Zappe, Intentional Grounding, 16 yards, enforced at CLV 11
The first play was playaction again, and Meyers was completely open by at least 5 yards.
The second play was one of my favorite Zappe's play of the day where he sidestepped a little pressure, which was nice, but then he was patient and let Stevenson get open. Nothing crazy, but a nice subtle play. This made Zappe 6 of 9 on third downs with five getting first downs.
Stevenson dropped a second down pass to bring up another third and long. The Browns finally played some zone and Zappe couldn't find an open receiver. He did the spin move again that he did on the final play against the Packers, and made a mental mistake not getting the ball back to the line of scrimmage for an intentional grounding penalty that contributed to Nick Folk's miss. Belichick probably didn't like that play.
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There were some wacky plays after that — the batted pass Zappe caught for a 6-yard loss, and two rushing touchdowns off turnovers (muffed punt, Carl Davis) that increased the Patriots' bottom line as it went from a 24-15 Patriots lead to 38-15 without the passing offense having to do much.
"He completed passes he needed to complete," Delpit said. "The offense made plays for him. We left guys open, and he stepped up. It is the NFL so it is the next guy up.”
And Zappe did a ton of other good things, especially with his pocket movement and poised, which is definitely advanced. He did have another delay of game penalty.
Overall, should the coaches be impressed? Here are some comments after the game.
"A lot of poise. A lot of composure. Had a lot of fun out there. I think he does a really good job for us and is doing what is asked of him," David Andrews said.
Matthew Slater: "Really proud of what he has done. You rewind a month ago, and nobody is talking about him being a contributor for our team. That is the National Football League, you never know when your moment is going to come. Your hope is that you prepare enough and are able to take advantage of it. I think that man is doing just that."
Jonnu Smith: “He is making a ton of improvements, looks comfortable and settled down trying to figure it out. He knows he has a lot to improve on. For him to have that mindset, he has made a lot of strides in his game. Hats off to him these past couple weeks, coming in doing a helluva job. I couldn’t be more proud of him.”
Stevenson: “He is a great player. He is doing his best out there. I think everybody can see that he is completing passes.”
Kind of have the gamut there. Slater's comments could be taken as him saying Zappe has seized his moment and won't get it back. Andrews, Smith and Stevenson sound more in the camp that Zappe has done a good job of holding down the fort for a couple games until Jones returns.
What do I think Belichick thinks, pending a closer review of the film? I think Belichick thinks he has found his future backup, but that Jones gives this team the best chance to beat the teams the Patriots have to beat to go anywhere. Belichick knows the Lions and Browns were not any measure for anyone, especially when you never trail in a game. Has Zappe done a great job with what they've asked him to do? Absolutely. And Patricia and Joe Judge deserve credit for getting Zappe ready and giving him what he needs to be successful.
Do I think most of Belichick's comments were mostly about not throwing gas on a fire that is a quarterback controversy? Yes. Do I think he wouldn't be afraid to go to Zappe now if Jones significantly falters? Yes. But do I think Jones has lost his starting job? No, I don't. Jones has a much higher ceiling, and hopefully the tactics employed with Zappe — heavy on the running and playaction — will be back in this offense when Jones returns.
It was fun while it lasted, but I expect Jones to continue to be the guy moving forward when he is ready. Could be for the Bears game, or it may need to wait another week. We shall see.