Newton's An Eleven Year Pro But How Much Football Experience & Knowledge Does He Really Have Operating A Patriots Style Offense?

Death by a thousand paper cuts is the Patriots offense when it comes to the passing game. They want to throw a gazillion quick passes and pick up yards after catch. Of the Patriots' quarterbacks, three of four seem to have some competence with their anticipation on these throws, the lone guy is Cam Newton, who prefers letting things develop down field instead.

The one thing we've heard from the media is that Bill Belichick prefers experience over everything else at the quarterback position but what does that mean exactly. It's situational awareness. It's the ability to read and recognize what the defense is doing both pre and post snap. It's the ability to make adjustments when needed.

Situational awareness is going to be hard for Jones to show in the preseason unless the games go specific ways that fall into the Patriots lap. The rest Jones should be able to show come August.

While Jones ended Patriots minicamp on a bad note, he was already showing the ability to make pre snap reads and adjustments. This is an area that Newton has struggled with and has yet to show improvement in. If Jones can continue to show that he can make reads and adjustments pre snap better than Newton, that will go a long way towards gaining on Newton's experience.

The Patriots are going to have to hope that the three preseason opponents put Jones in a situation to where he has to make post snap adjustments as well. If jones gets the opportunity and can show he can make these adjustments when needed, he will show his experience gives him enough understanding of football to start. 

Jones was said to be the most NFL ready quarterback in the 2021 draft but with the lowest ceiling of the top quarterbacks. That includes the number one overall draft pick Trevor Lawrence. What was failed to be said is that certain locations can raise or lower the ceiling of players. Jones may or may not of had a low ceiling but he went to a system that is a perfect fit and is going to elevate his ceiling.

What it may come down to if things go right, is do the Patriots want a pure passer or an extra running threat on the field come week one. 

Because all I have heard is the opposite, I want to ask what it would mean for Mac Jones to beat Tom Brady week four? All we've heard about is how a loss would destroy his confidence but nobody talks about what a victory would do for Jones.

The thing is, this preseason Jones may have the chance to negate Cam Newton's experience over him and prove he should start over Newton. Even if Belichick goes with Cam out of spite because nobody tells him what to do except Robert Kraft. I mean extra development won't hurt Jones, even if means Newton hinders the Patriots passing game for a second straight season because of his subpar passing abilities.