Given the New England Patriots’ points with offensive manufacturing, the teaching employees should be in search of a brand new spark to assist out rookie quarterback Drake Maye. Cornerback Marcus Jones was approached by coaches earlier within the week about enjoying on offense, per Evan Lazar of Patriots.com.
“Jones mentioned he’d be open to enjoying on offense going ahead, however added protection stays his main focus.”
The 26-year-old nook is in his third yr with New England. In his 2022 rookie season, he was the Patriots main kick and punt returner. That yr, Jones was a first-team All-Professional as a punt returner. He returned 29 punts for a league-leading 362 yards and a landing. He additionally returned 27 kicks for 645 yards.
This season, Jones has returned 20 punts for 311 yards. His 15.6 yards per return lead the NFL. In 2021, his redshirt senior season in school, Jones was the AAC Particular Groups Participant of the 12 months, a consensus All-American, winner of the Jet Award (high return specialist) and Paul Hornung Award winner (high two-way participant).
Patriots testing Drake Maye for higher or worse
The rookie signal-caller had nice and forgettable moments in the course of the Patriots’ 28-22 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in Week 11. Maye completed with 30-of-40 passing for 282 yards, two touchdowns and a game-sealing interception that abruptly ended New England’s comeback probabilities. He additionally rushed for 27 yards on three carries.
Head coach Jerod Mayo retains his head down and stays largely constructive in his remarks concerning the group. After the loss, he praised the group’s effort, per the Related Press.
“We have now sufficient expertise in our locker room to be an excellent soccer group, we’ve simply acquired to have the ability to put it collectively,” Mayo mentioned. “We’ll develop into having the ability to end and shut out these video games.”
Mayo additionally shoulders a lot of the blame, as he ought to with a younger soccer group.
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“Do we have to get higher? Completely, and that is my job as the pinnacle coach of this soccer group,” Mayo advised reporters. “It begins with me. I’ve to do higher. We have now to demand extra from our assistant coaches. We’ll demand extra from our gamers.”
The sport was inside hanging distance after halftime, 14-10. Matthew Stafford linked with Cooper Kupp for an enormous 69-yard landing on the Rams’ first drive of the second half. On the play, cornerback Jonathan Jones was a step behind and offered out by diving to deflect the cross.
In response, the Patriots marched down the sphere, controlling the clock for 7:08. Sadly, the 13-play, 63-yard drive stalled on the objective line and New England settled for a discipline objective, setting the rating at 21-13. The Rams answered with one other landing, a 19-yard rating to Colby Parkinson, placing the rating out of attain, 28-13.
The Patriots journey to Miami in Week 12 to face the Dolphins on Sunday, November 24 at 1:00 p.m. EST.