Friendly 'Fire'! Patriots Defense Impressed by Mac Jones

A year after a disastrous season of regression, New England Patriots' veteran safety Adrian Phillips sees a confident, better version of quarterback Mac Jones.

From his play, to his injury, to his temper tantrums, last season was a nightmarish regression for Mac Jones.

But this year the New England Patriots' quarterback received a "clean slate" by new offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien. He got the short-but-sweet endorsement from Bill Belichick. And now he's getting a pat on the back from a member of the team's defense.

“I just think overall, he’s a way better quarterback," Patriots' veteran safety Adrian Phillips said after Tuesday's training camp practice in Foxboro. "He took last year on the chin. He’ll be the first one to tell you that’s not how he wanted to play. But he’ll be the first to tell you that, and he’s coming out here every single day and he’s trying to light our defense up. Like, literally, light us up. I’m talking bombs, anything that he can do. You just love to see that. I just think his confidence is through the roof right now.”

A year removed from almost losing his job to then-rookie Bailey Zappe, Jones certainly appears more comfortable under O'Brien than he did attempting to make sense of the mess constructed by defensive-minded de facto play-caller Matt Patricia in 2022.

Last week in a joint practice in Green Bay, Jones so obliterated the Packers' defense that many observers called it his "best day as a pro." Despite playing behind a patchwork offensive line that will look nothing like the group that protects him in the Sept. 10 opener against the Philadelphia Eagles, Jones this preseason has looked more confident in the pocket and is making quicker, better decisions.

Jones calls it a return of "Alabama Mac." Phillips simply calls it a major improvement.

“I think just with (Phillips), one of the things that he has actually been helping me with is just asking questions,” Jones said. “Just talking with him, asking him questions when we’re going against them, like ‘Hey, what did I do there?’ He’s like, ‘Hey, good job looking me off on that man-to-man coverage,’ or whatever. It’s just continuing to grow and staying to the process. Don’t veer off the process.”

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