FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — When New England Patriots rookie quarterback Mac Jones threw his first career touchdown pass, teammates tried to give him the football as a keepsake as he ran off the field. But he kept giving it back.
It was a signature moment that reflects Jones’ always-moving-forward approach, which has helped move him to the head of the class among his rookie QB peers.
Six different rookie quarterbacks, including Jones, have started a game this season — the Jacksonville Jaguars’ Trevor Lawrence, New York Jets’ Zach Wilson, San Francisco 49ers’ Trey Lance, Chicago Bears’ Justin Fields and Houston Texans’ Davis Mills. That ties for the most through Week 11 of a season over the last 22 years (along with 2012, 2016 and 2019).
And there have been some predicable growing pains.
Rookie QBs collectively have a 35.3 Total QBR, the worst mark since 2010, when Sam Bradford, Jimmy Clausen and Colt McCoy were breaking into the NFL.
Jones has helped raise the bar with a rookie-best QBR of 49.8.
Meanwhile, his 7-4 record is best among rookie quarterbacks. The rest of the field is a combined 5-26. Jones’ completion percentage of 70 is also tops, with the rest of the group at 60.
One secret to the Patriots’ success with Jones has been picking their spots to throw down the field.
Jones’ 7.6 air yards per attempt is the second lowest among rookie quarterbacks. Fields is at a rookie-high 10.5 air yards per attempt. As a result, Jones’ off-target percentage (14.4) is the best among his peers.
Jones’ overall performance, and daily behind-the-scenes approach, has earned him respect throughout the Patriots’ locker room.
“This kid is very serious about what he’s doing. He spends more time in this building than a lot of guys I can ever remember here,” said captain Matthew Slater, who is in his 14th…
Source : espn
