It's absolutely true that Mac Jones has been dealt a terrible hand the past two seasons in New England.
The system/coaching last season, another change this season and just horrible pass protection for weeks on end - the kind that leaves a lasting impact on a QB (ask David Carr). Of course, the way Jones' luck has been, the protection has improved of late but now his weapons are going in and out of the lineup like a game of whack-a-mole. When they are in the game, it's a coin toss whether they will be in the right spot (Demario Douglas) or know what the hell they are doing (Tyquan Thornton).
Basically, nothing has gone Jones' way since Josh McDaniels left. He can't buy a break. Wouldn't blame Jones if he walked about Gillette like Eeyore - he probably does. He obviously doesn't think much of this is his fault judging off some of his postgame answers. He's not wrong, but to this I would offer up this self-deprecating quote from our favorite purple stuffed donkey:
"Not much of a house. Just right for not much of a donkey."
I still believe Jones has the makings of a good quarterback. But all I can do is judge the film. And what the film says is that Jones is not coming close to taking advantage of the chances around him. Another week, another performance that has not produced winning football. Take out the fourth quarter against the Bills, Jones has played bad, losing football for six consecutive games.
Sometimes in other games, I've given him the benefit of the doubt. Or I at least wanted to give him some time to settle down after all the pressure. But enough is enough.
I give credit to the QB for good decisions or throws that might end up incomplete because of drops. Even grading on that sort of curve, Jones still graded out negatively against Washington. And most of it had to do with his decision-making. It's not improving, it's getting worse.
I could deal with a lot of this stuff in previous weeks against good defenses, but this was a layup. Jack Del Rio is not exactly a rocket scientist of a defensive coordinator. He barely blitzes. The Commanders just lost their two best edge rushers. They are playing guys in the secondary who have been benched/torched in other weeks (Emmanuel Forbes). The linebackers run like Brandon Spikes.
Pressure was not an issue. Coverage was not an issue.
And Jones was still bad in this game. Why? Lack of poise. He. Just. Can't. Slow. Down. He's as jumpy as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. Everything's in a rush. Doesn't set his feet. Doesn't read out the play. Doesn't hang in the pocket a second longer to let things develop because he thinks he's going to get crushed. Leaves the pocket when there's no reason to.
You can talk about his arm strength all you want. He's got enough. Everything else is a problem.
First drive of the game, he makes two of his better throws to Douglas for 11 and Rhamondre Stevenson for 13 against pressure.
Then he throws way too quick with no pressure to a covered Douglas when Hunter Henry was going to be open on a corner route for a big play. And on fourth down ... while I highly doubt Thornton ran this as prescribed, Jones had all day to take another beat and put the ball on Thornton. He failed.
On the next drive, a three-and-out ... on second down, Jones rushes a throw for no reason to the flat for 5 yards to Ezekiel Elliot when Hunter Henry and Jalen Reagor were better options. On third down, yes, Thornton ran a horrible route, but Henry was open off a nice high/low concept with Mike Gesicki.
On the next drive, third down, Douglas ran has horrible and slow return route on the type of play that would go to Julian Edelman for a conversion — who is coaching these guys? — but Jones should have waited for Pop or just put it on Gesicki instead of forcing it to noted possession receiver Tyquan Thornton.
The first drive of the third quarter was just a disaster in passing offense, starting with the QB:
Net result: Jones' Expected Completion Percentage differential was -7.1%, 22nd in the league — back to where he was against the Jets (-8.6%), Dallas (-10.6%) and Saints (-8.8%).
It's not close to good enough.
It seems like Jones is getting a pass this season. Not sure if that is being dictated by ownership, the coaching staff acknowledging the situation they have put him in, or lack of options behind Jones.
If all things were equal, he would either be on the bench by now or playing for his job against the Colts ahead of a bye week when changes are usually made.
I watched a lot of Raiders film the past two years. What I'm seeing with Jones is what I saw with Derek Carr and Jimmy Garoppolo — a QB not making the plays when given an opportunity and costing the team wins. The other players know. If the QB is not being held accountable like other players, then belief in the coaching goes downhill quickly.
How'd that work out in Vegas?
Here are the positional ratings against the Commanders:
OFFENSE
Quarterback (1.5 out of 5)
Not all of this is his fault and his circumstances are terrible, but it's hard to fight for someone who isn't doing himself any favors by leaving play after play on the field because he has no sense of calm or cool. ... Not sure I've seen his decision-making worse in a game: of his 13 minus plays, eight were decisions. That just can't happen with a player whose brain is supposed to be the best part of his game.
Running backs (2 out of 5)
Two drops and a hurry from these two. Nice burst and finish from Stevenson on his big TD run, but that was more about a terrible defensive call and alignment by the linebacker. ... It's amazing how this team still has zero consistency in the run game nine weeks into this thing.
Receivers (1.5 out of 5)
Let's see ... six bad routes, three drops, some blocking issues ... Troy Brown better be polishing his resume. ... It's a complete personnel joke the Patriots were trying to come back with Henry, Gesicki, Reagor, Stevenson and Douglas. ... This was Juju Smith-Schuster's best game - even including the final drop for an interception.
Offensive line (3 out of 5)
One of the better performances for this group, but still very little push in the run game. DTs Allen and Payne were a pain in the rear. ... Conor McDermott wasn't horrible but still had a team-leading 7 pressures. ... Cole Strange had one of his better games. ... Mike Onwenu was outstanding with just one knockdown on his sheet. ... Jones should have shown more confidence in this group.
TWO UP
Mike Onwenu: Has settled things down immensely on the line since being moved to RT.
Cole Strange: Starting to play with a lot more consistency. Still needs more playing strength.
FOUR DOWN
Mac Jones: This was a game that was there for him to win, and he didn't do it.
Conor McDermott: Tough task being pushed in, but 7 pressures is 7 pressures.
Tyquan Thornton: Don't care how much time he's missed. Should be much cleaner.
Jalen Reagor: Have to catch that ball.