NFL
By: Steve Atkinson
Right off the bat Bailey Zappe and the offensive line struggled in the first preseason game. There is no quarterback competition the only one that played well was Malik Cunningham. The most exciting part of the game was the last five minutes when Cunningham came in at quarterback and scored. Cunningham could be a guy to watch to make the team for the Patriots as a receiver or third-string quarterback. I think he beats out McSorely for the third-string spot.
Will The Patriots Offensive Line Improve?
That offensive line though is a problem even the starters. Will Trent Brown be in shape? Bill O’Brien will have to scheme up quick passes and screens because the offensive line is pretty bad. That is the only way the offense will have success. Quick passes to Dermino Douglas over the middle. Even maybe some end-around plays. Thankfully, they have two tight ends that can provide input with Mike Gisecki and Hunter Henry. Kendrick Bourne and JuJu Smith- Schuster should work well together in this offense and DeVante Parker. I do think the offense has enough pass catchers to be good just their offensive line is in question.
Drama Between Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe Falls On Belichick
Here comes the drama. The dynamic between Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe. Zappe’s new name is Bailey Garoppolo Here me out. in 2014 Belichick drafts Garoppolo and Brady gets hurt buy it and thinks Belichick did that to hope someday Garoppolo can take Brady’s job. That is a fact and been reported in the past. Same can be said now between Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe. Mac was a pick by Robert Kraft in the first round and won the job in 2021.
The clown show of 2022 on the coaching staff put Mac Jones back and Bailey Zappe seemed to play well. Belichick loves that because Zappe a fourth-round pick made Belichick look good while the first-round pick did not. I’m sure if it was up to Belichick, he would have Patricia and Judge back to running the offense Zappe would be the quarterback. Good thing Belichick doesn’t own the team and Kraft went and hired O’Brien to develop and fix Mac Jones.
So because of what Belichick did last season there is this sour taste between Mac and Zappe. Observing practices they don’t interact with each other, or really talk to each other on the field. When asked about the quarterback room both won’t say the other one’s name. Here’s an example
Mac Jones when asked about Zappe
Zappe when asked about Mac Jones after Thursday’s game
So, after reading those comments you can see there is tension there between the two quarterbacks. However, the talking radio heads on 98.5 in Boston want to say that it’s a way for Zappe to take control and beat out Jones for the starting job. I think they were also saying how it can push Mac like it did Brady with Garoppolo.
That I do agree with there’s no doubt Belichick would rather have Zappe just like he would’ve rather had Garoppolo when he drafted him. But Mac can take a page out of Brady’s book and shut everyone up by just doing what he can control to be a better quarterback. He is the better quarterback he’s more in control and vibing with teammates than Zappe is who looks stiff as a board.
Tyquan Thorton May Not Make The Team
The Patriots played Tyquan Thorton who is probably in jeopardy of making the team. I do think Douglas could beat him out. Douglas is shorter and faster also can cut over the middle. Thorton can’t really do that.
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