Kraft told Howe, "This year will be very telling. To come into something as new as this, as established, I think he got beat up pretty bad, and he kept coming back and getting up and really doing some great stuff. Just the way he handles himself, he took some real beatings and hopped up. He has developed a good relationship with the whole cadre of receivers. I’m very happy with what I’ve seen. But this is a big year, the second year.”
Mac Jones is currently working out with a throwing coach to improve his arm strength. Tom House has told NBC Boston that he could get Jones to throw 60 yard passes regularly. We know the Patriots aren't going to throw the deep ball that often but having teams have to worry about Jones's going deep could take pressure off the running game and underneath routes.
Mac showed good chemistry with receiving tight end Hunter Henry and receiver Jakobi Meyers. However, Jonnu Smith and Nelson Agholor's product wasn't as great. Although for Agholor, I think his lack of productivity was by design. Everyone expects Jonnu to play the H-back. I would not be surprised to see an in-line tight end get drafted and Henry lining up as a receiver with the Patriots going three tight ends.
Jones isn't the only one who needs to take a leap forward, the entire offense does. This camp I believe there will be pressure on both Dalton Keene and Devin Asiasi to show something in year three or they should both be cut. Kendrick Wilkerson is also going to have to show he can take a step forward as he showed promise in the pre season.
And then there's the 2021 signings. That entire group needs to play at a higher level in 2022. There's been a lot of coaching turnover for the Patriots, so the offense may suffer but I think the defense should be able to carry the team the first four weeks. This is going to be an exciting season but I think Kraft should be more concerned with the draft at the moment.
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