As the New England Patriots turn the page on a tumultuous 2023 season, marked by a disappointing 4-13 record, the franchise finds itself in the midst of a total rebuild. The Patriots have welcomed Jerod Mayo as their new head coach, the 15th in the franchise’s history. This transition underscores a pivotal moment for the team, charting a new course for the future.
A large part of the disappointment towards the Patriots 2023 season came specifically from one position; quarterback. The team’s two quarterbacks struggled mightily, ranking among the least productive in the league, both collectively and individually. Now that we’ve set the stage, let’s dive deep into the film and break down each quarterback’s performance over the past season
Grading Patriots Quarterbacks Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe on the 2023 Season
Mac Jones: F+
Mac Jones‘ 2023 season was, by all measures, a profound disappointment; regressing drastically in each year he’s been in the NFL. Quite frankly, he only earned the “+” because the lack of talent around him lowered expectations of him. After a promising rookie campaign, Jones saw a decline in 2022 as the team missed the playoffs, going 8-9 on the year. After opening the 2023 season with a three-touchdown performance in a close loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, Mac Jones quickly spiraled into a series of underwhelming performances.
A player who had come into the league as a quarterback who was “able to get rid of the ball without putting it in harm’s way” and also “throws receivers open in tight coverage,” we saw none of that this year. Jones completed 224 of 345 passes for 2,120 yards, throwing 10 touchdowns against 12 interceptions – and watching the games he played, there could’ve been quite a few more. This regression wasn’t just statistical; it was visible in each and every game, he was consistently hesitant and showed a frequent inability to read defenses. He developed a nasty habit of throwing off of his back foot, which only threw his game off even more. Eventually, it all culminated in Jones being benched for good, in favor of Bailey Zappe.
Third down play before the NFLN crew showed BOB losing it on the sideline.
To me, Mac is waiting for Pop’s cross to influence the LB in the middle of the cover-2 zone, so he can throw to Henry. But there are quicker decisions to make here on third-and-3. Pop, Rhamondre, JuJu.… pic.twitter.com/SdbAZU1NUL
— Evan Lazar (@ezlazar) November 13, 2023
Jones’ benching wasn’t a sudden decision by any means. In fact, there were many fans and media members wondering why the team continued to start Jones following his first three benchings. He seemed to lack confidence in many different aspects throughout the season, and it showed in his play. Like in the countless times when the quarterback was rushing into bad throws because of non-threatening pressure. Or second-guessing himself and missing a perfect opening to make a play. Even with one of the league’s top defenses, they couldn’t overcome his mistakes.
Bailey Zappe: D+
Bailey Zappe‘s ascent to starting quarterback for the New England Patriots was one of the few intriguing storylines in an otherwise dismal season for the team. Thrust into the spotlight amid Jones’ struggles, Zappe showed flashes of potential that suggested he could be capable of leading the offense. However, his overall performance was inconsistent – much like Jones – leading the team to only one victory as a starter. Zappe’s performance in that win, where he went 19 of 28 for 240 yards and three touchdowns, was a clear display of the inconsistencies during his time as the starter
His stat line for that Week 14 win against the Steelers is pretty impressive in total, but even more impressive when you realize that 196 of those yards and all three touchdowns came in the first half. He had 107 air yards on 14 completions and averaged 0.48 EPA per play through a very impressive first half. After the break, however, it’s as if a different quarterback came out to play the second half. Zappe threw the ball just eight times in the final half. He only managed to complete five of those passes for a measly 44 yards. To make matters worse, Zappe only managed to throw one of his five completions past the line of scrimmage. The Patriots had more yards-after-catch than total passing yards in the second half of that game. (48/44)
It was a similar roller coaster for all of Zappe’s other starts as well. Now, it’s important to note that Zappe didn’t have Rhamondre Stevenson to run the ball – though Ezekiel Elliott did a fine job in his role – who was a big piece of the Patriots offense this past season. But the fact is, his overall production wasn’t there. The Patriots offense under his command often lacked the dynamism and efficiency required to win games.
Nice job by Zappe picking up a first with his legs, but he rushes his progression and misses three open receivers pic.twitter.com/ZpnNgvtAEv
— Taylor Kyles (@tkyles39) January 1, 2024
Beyond the Numbers: Why Context Matters
When just looking at the numbers, it may seem odd that Zappe would be graded higher than Jones. After all, Jones had a slightly better statistical season. However, expectations play a major factor in evaluating their performances. Coming into the season, Zappe didn’t really have any expectations; the former 15th overall pick certainly did.
Along with expectations, the talent around them had a drastic impact on how they played as well. The team doesn’t have a true number-one wideout on the roster and lost the best one they had to a torn ACL in week eight of the season. Pairing that with an already weak offensive line that had plenty of injuries of its own to deal with, neither of the quarterbacks was put in the ideal situation.
That doesn’t change the fact that the two quarterbacks, combined, led the Patriots to the league’s lowest points per game. The offense found themselves in the bottom three for a staggering ten critical offensive categories. Spanning across everything from time of possession and fourth down conversion rate to yards per pass and points per game. The quarterbacks are far from blameless in that.
Patriots Roadmap to Revival: The 2024 Outlook
As the team gears up for a lot of unknowns in the 2024 season, the organization stands at a crossroads. The upcoming NFL Draft and free agency period provide a real opportunity to reshape the team’s future. At the heart of the offseason discussions is the high-value third overall pick in the upcoming draft, with many speculating on which direction New England will go.
Expert mock drafts have primarily had the Patriots taking a quarterback. Jayden Daniels, quarterback from LSU, and Drake Maye, quarterback from North Carolina, are among the names frequently linked to the Patriots, suggesting a strong inclination toward securing a new signal-caller. With the Jerod Mayo era officially underway, there’s a feeling of optimism surrounding the fanbase. Especially knowing the Patriots are “ready to burn some cash,” as the head coach put it himself. This is the perfect opportunity for this new regiem to get a franchise quarterback on a rookie pay scale. After the performances they got from their quarterbacks in 2023, how could you not take the chance?
Main Image: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
The post Patriots 2023 Positional Grades: Quarterback Report Card appeared first on Last Word on Pro Football.