Part One: Compelling reasons why the Chicago Bears need Mac Jones
The Chicago Bears are hopefully listening since they have a poor track record
Given this great throw, I suppose it is not surprising that when Devonta Smith was being interviewed by an NFL team at the Senior Bowl and he was asked the question Tua Tagovailoa or Mac Jones. He quickly responded Jones. The fact Tagovailoa was the fifth pick in last year’s NFL draft makes Mac’s talented teammate’s response noteworthy.
In support of these high opinions of Mac Jones, at least indirectly, we have none other than Bill Belichick. In an interview, last December, when asked what are the top traits he looks for in a QB, the Czar of the Patriots said decision making, accuracy and anticipation. Mac Jones is not just good but great at all three.
Then we have ex-Falcon quarterback, June Jones, who had a hand in making the run and shoot offense famous. June Jones has also been coaching quarterbacks since 1983. He is one of many QB experts who value accuracy as their number one trait. In an interview for Yahoo Sports, June Jones said he ranks Mac Jones over Trevor Lawrence but behind Zach Wilson.
He also gives us a little-known but fascinating insight into handicapping quarterbacks. In this interview, he said, “Mac’s deep-ball accuracy is probably the best that I have graded in my years of coaching quarterbacks. He’s almost at 55 percent at over 20 yards, which is unbelievable. He is a receiver watcher. I could tell watching him on television when they had the right camera angle. And I really think that is huge for him. It’s how he naturally throws the deep ball.”
About this statement from June Jones, Eric Edholm writes: “Fact check: True. Last season, Jones hit on 58.9 percent of his passing attempts 20-plus yards downfield. Factoring in dropped passes, Pro Football Focus had Jones at an adjusted completion percentage on those attempts at a scalding 67.1.” June Jones explains that he learned the value of a quarterback’s eyes following the receiver instead of the ball from Mouse Davis the ex-Falcon head coach who pioneered the run-and-shoot offense.