Kurt Warner: Why the rookie wall is not the issue for Mac Jones | Next Pats podcast

Phil Perry talks with Kurt Warner to get his opinion of Mac Jones’ rookie season so far. He breaks down the good and the bad, and explains what Mac needs to do to find success in the playoffs.
3:30-Kurt Warner gives his assessment of Mac Jones’ rookie season
5:30-Warner says Mac has not regressed; he is just making decisions too quickly.
8:00-What can Mac learn from his first two games against the Bills?
12:00-Why the rookie wall is not the issue for Mac Jones
14:00-Kurt on the similarities between Mac and Tom Brady in their first seasons
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[@NewEnglandInSeattle]

How lucky are we to have a legend like Kurt Warner giving his analysis on this podcast? Great interview.

[@bpraise517]

Can he come and be our QB coach?

[@philperry3788]

Very lucky, Francisco. He puts in the work and then shares his takeaways. Tremendous value.

[@victorlopez3490]

Bruh not one team will pick up the weapons we have on this team I’m surprised what the pats did this season very incredible but let’s face it our weapons are nothing to boast about , they’ll probably be on a practice squad on other teams , n those te please they ain’t gronk or Hernandez ! #GoPats

[@netinbra]

No doubt. Give Sean Mcdermott and the Bills the Patriots roster and they are a below .500 team. Give Bellichick and the Patriots the Bills’ roster, and they make the SB. This Patriots offense is weak compared to the rest of the playoff teams. It’s a bunch of #3 receivers. AND Mac is a rookie. The fact they made the playoffs is great imo.

[@jamespremo1]

Kurt's opinion is spot on. It is a fine line between waiting for a play to develop and waiting too long. Mac will mature as we all have. Justin Herbert is watching the playoffs.

[@Criminaljustice79]

Patriots fans haven’t been used to this “waiting to mature” talk. Every team in football says this about their QB. Even the worst QB in football has some “special throws.” I’m sure he will be good and the East will be competitive. Just don’t be surprised if a couple years from now you find out he isn’t the guy

[@cedricmitchell2743]

@@Criminaljustice79 His baseline is top 15 lmao

[@philperry3788]

Yeah he’s already there. I think the question is, if he gets a new big deal, top-15 isn’t really good enough for what you’d be paying. Look at Cousins/Vikes. Unless you draft tremendously well and have a lot of inexpensive young talent, hard to make that work.

[@cedricmitchell2743]

@@philperry3788 understand that in 4-5 years the Pats would obviously want him to be a top 10 QB. But as of right now I see no reason to think that he doesn’t have the potential to get there. He’s already a top 15 QB in his first season one can only assume w/ good coaching he will transcend the previous ceilings you have him. Right?

[@aldococco218]

Imagine how different this narrative is if the Defense can get off the field and give Mac a chance for a comeback. - Both Dolphins games -Bills game -Colts game -Saints game

[@a_collection_of_cell]

Whoa.. Whoa. And all those games that you mentioned. Against Miami against Buffalo Saints & Colts. when the defense finally got off the field, tell the people at home what did New England Patriots Offense do to Insert the defense to get right back on the field? Either New England's offense went three-and-out or Mac Jones turned the football over

[@philperry3788]

Tough spot for the defense. Often the offense ignites these fires and then the defense gets blamed for not being able to put them out. Defense gave up 20 points last week. Wasn’t a good game for them. Failed at the end. But needs to be a complementary game. Special teams can’t extend drives. Offense can’t turn it over.

[@jayoog9148]

Imagine if the defense didn’t fucking carry the pats for seven games or that Texans game lmfao shut up

[@mtadams2009]

@@jayoog9148 The defense only played good against average teams. They look very average against good teams. The Colts and Titans ran the ball down their throat. Embarrassing. A rookie is not going to carry a team. The defense is a sham.

[@dannygagliano237]

Exactly

[@DWilliams-ce8nb]

Warner's assessments - 1. Mac played REALLY WELL this year. 2. You CAN'T EXPECT MORE this year than what Mac delivered. 3. The Pats are built as a run-first offense and are a defense-heavy roster. 4. Mac's job in the Pat's system this season is to distribute the ball. 3. Mac DOES NOT have the outside receivers this season to create BIG PLAYS.

[@prioris55555]

Warner is spot on. Consistent has been an attribute that describes Mac. BB calls him the most consistent offensive player on field. Mac made virtually all the right decisions in the last 3 losses. The last 3 losses can be summed up as team mental mistakes and some critical bad ref calls. The special teams on punts has been awful this year. They need to clean those up if they are going to even have a chance in playoffs.

[@philperry3788]

Thought Warner was very balanced and spot on in his assessment. Would disagree, and Mac would too, that he’s made all right decisions the last three games. Plenty of room to grow, as there should be at this stage for him.

[@Madara2B]

Mac is exactly as advertised, the winning streak had fans getting dreams of championships which i dont think is there yet. other teams just have more playmakers and will not give you games. A playoff win would be dope, but simple playing every game this year is another box Mac has checked. Being available to play every snap is a big plus in football. I do want to see Mac throw the ball better while under pressure. I was also reminded that Mac played in a National college playoff season then came to the Pats, he has had 0 off season.

[@prioris55555]

@@Madara2B I was expecting a Patriots superbowl win after his second or third nfl game when they lost. What I didn't expect was how crappy the receivers would be. Jonnu and NKeal have been busts. The other receivers are meh. The NFL offensive rookie of year came very close to being Mac's.

[@jcdatruth9369]

I would agree with it all and our WRs dont scare anyone but Nelson did jacksh*t this year and looked every bit like a big play threat with Oakland n Carr last year. He either doesnt trust Nelson or doesnt trust himself to get the ball there..(i think its the latter) based on my film study

[@netinbra]

I think Mac Jones should add 15lbs of muscle to his body this offseason and lift. Nothing crazy, just 15 lbs, gain some strength. That will help stability and his arm throwing harder. I don’t want Mac to try to gain arm strength by throwing the football hard, because that can mess up the joints on the shoulders and destroy his future. The strength will come over time but lifting some weights and adding 15lbs would be ideal. He will only get better the more reps he get.

[@tamatoa1652]

Lifting will messed up your arm strength throw

[@datboydee8063]

He needs to get on that treadmill so you get his legs stronger ... So when the pocket collapsed you get out of there

[@juniadventures]

Another year in system and reps will help him play with more confidence and less overthinking nervousness. It’s why most rooks are benched their first couple of years.. to learn.. Mac is learning under fire..

[@philperry3788]

Definitely. Would expect a real Year 2 leap. Needs some help. One more weapon could help in a big way.

[@samuelhammons3253]

MAC & CHEESE WILL BE JUST FINE. HE'S PROGRESSING. STILL THE BABY GOAT !!!!

[@garybird7474]

I been saying the same thing over and over. He had basic wrs. Get him some guys with speed and let him do his thing like he did at Bama. But Phil acts like he should be Brady in his first year. The thing is the whole team has sucked since the bye week. And no one knows what the coaches are telling him what to do. But the kid takes the blame anyways.

[@philperry3788]

Lol “should be Brady.” Please find one time I’ve said that. He’s had a great year big picture. I argued for him as OROY before the Miami game. He just can’t turn it over for them to win. He’d tell you the same thing.

[@garybird7474]

@@philperry3788 All I'm saying is it's not all him. He led them back in games. And if the defense would have done something they had chances to win.

[@tyronpouncey5985]

For me mac has played well, I just think it’s the slow starts and penalties. In all but 1 lost (saints) we’ve had chances to win, it’s just the slow starts and turnovers. We shall see

[@notchmillion6089]

@Justin Freitag is your noodle di_ _ _

[@philperry3788]

He definitely has. I said pre draft if he becomes Carr/Cousins on his rookie deal that’s HUGE value. He’s already just about there in Year 1. Interested to see if in the next few years he can get to Burrow level. Physically, I think he’s capable of similar things.

[@reggiebishop5398]

I said earlier in the year we don't have the horses for Mac .the post season the window s get a lot tighter and other than tightend we need help .and this is Mac s first season in NFL and seeing the defense s.thats why 4th year quarterback s show what they are

[@philperry3788]

One more weapon would help IMO

[@amfear41]

The coaches need to let him be more aggressive, highly doubt thatll be happening against he Bills And definitely needs guys downfield to throw to

[@juniadventures]

I agree.. Mac has shown in two minute or 4th quarters that he can move the ball..

[@philperry3788]

Late in these games he’s shown he can do it. Is that because defenses are playing a little softer with a lead?

[@WarrenPDavis]

@@philperry3788 the leads have not been so insurmountable that they could afford to play soft....in my not so humble opinion. But then I played basketball not football.....LOL

[@sethpawlik]

Pats lost 3 out of the last 4. Bills have won the last 4. Take the Bills and don’t worry about the points.

[@ryanshaw7716]

@Phil Perry - it’s so awesome you get Kurt Warner to break it down! Great pod cast bud thanks!

[@philperry3788]

Thanks for listening Ryan

[@randybailey4263]

uh, if he throws down field doesn't he need someone open to catch it?

[@DWilliams-ce8nb]

Someone open who doesn't have bricks for hands.

[@philperry3788]

Kurt acknowledged that. Weapons aren’t top tier.

[@tlister67]

Any run first team will suffer when they have penalties/negative plays killing drives and falling behind early. Mac does not appear ready to flip a game where the team plays poorly like Tom. The end of the Miami game was promising though.

[@Kittonwy]

Warner is pretty candid about the pats having shitty receivers

[@Sasha-vb3mh]

And I trust his opinion a-lot more than the negative nancies known as NE media

[@philperry3788]

Calls it like he sees it.

[@highlander69usa]

Getting to the post season is great for this first season of this rebuild. Any additional wins now are gravy. Let’s look for improvement next year and a real run at the big prize.

[@ziberpc245]

I believe this team is missing James White on offense a lot. He was by far the best RB in 3rd and 4th and short situation and RB screens. Especially with Mac liking his checkdowns a lot he would be a valuable tool. They try to use Bolden a lot in that role but he is not nearly as good.

[@philperry3788]

Agreed. Bolden has been effective but White would be extremely helpful.

[@cisium1184]

He's gonna be fine. He's not going to be Brady. No one will. Tom is unique.

[@philperry3788]

No doubt

[@toddtownsend1079]

He's freezing friggin cold out there. Cold hardening takes time.

[@george474747]

Defences have to be more on their heels when Kristian Wilkerson is active - not because he's all that special, but because Harry fundamentally can't get open, either via quicks or going deep. Having N'Keal on the field puts Mac under pressure and hurts his confidence too. Activate KW.

[@markphillips2484]

They should have picked up Odell Beckham jr. Henry is his security blanket most of the time the other two guys they paid a bunch if money have been missing in action except to pickup their paychecks pitiful production from both of them

[@kenhamaker]

No doubt he is doing what he is told to do Josh McDaniels already confirmed he makes the play calls not Mac

[@DWilliams-ce8nb]

Gotta love the way Warner shot down Tom & Phil's "rookie wall" false narrative. LOL

[@pedrohippocaus8488]

I like Kurt,he’s a smart,insightful guy.He speaks from experience on a lot of things. Some times you’ve got to either live or play through something to have any authority to speak on. Kurt got cut his first year after training camp and spent the rest of his rookie year bagging groceries and gathering up shopping carts. Kurt is about as clueless as to what it’s like to play in the NFL as a rookie as I am.The man waited 5years to experience playing his first full NFL season. We heard Rhamondre speak a few weeks back about how long this season has seemed to him.Mac’s job is a lot more difficult than a running back,he’s taken every offensive snap and has the added pressure of being the face of the franchise.Almost any rookie who’s played a big role with their team will tell you that the “rookie wall”is real. To say “Gotta love the way Warner shot down the rookie wall false narrative” is funny

[@michaelfang1393]

Mac reminds me of how Kurt done in his rookie year.

[@CMA1967]

Regarding the divisional round relative to Mac Jones wildcard game. The combined QBR’s of Tannehill, Garoppolo, Burrow, Brady AND Rodgers was STILL inexplicably lower than EITHER Josh Allen’s OR Patrick Mahomes’s single game QBR. Yes. You read that right. Mac Jones QBR bested all of them-don’t forget he had an inferior receiving corp AGAINST THE #1 PASS DEFENCE.. bested them ALL-by a mile. MJ10 (lol) 59.4 Joe Burrow 28.2 Aaron Rodgers 19.4 Tom Brady 14.0 Jimmy Garoppolo 11.9 Ryan Tannehill 10.4

[@m.worthy]

*And so begins thoughts & whispers of trade value for McCorkle:* 🤔🤫 kzbin.info/www/bejne/iaGcq5WOm8iDm6M "Could Belichick be thinking, _'I probably gotta trade McCorkle, 'cause if this is a gunfight I'm not sufficiently armed.'_ Belichick wants Super Bowls. Mahomes, Herbert, Burrow, Josh Allen...Good luck being absolutely a tier below. ...This isn't the Brady era where all the QBs and most of the coaches were stiffs...In a 17 game schedule, Josh Allen is going to be the better QB on the field 16 of 17 weeks... Belichick has got eyes. Does he look at that and think, _'I have created value for McCorkle.'_ There's nine teams that need a QB. Josh Allen is so devastatingly lethal you can't look at that as a Patriot and think, _'Yeah, next four years, eight times minimum!'_ "

[@stonedd.thoughts_2931]

Idc wat nobody say Mac is a good QB he will get better My patriots will be good next season tryst in believe we gone make a run again

[@delusionalpatriotsfan9858]

I know exactly what it is, it's personnel

[@reggiebishop5398]

Kurt Warner is the real"Cinderilla Man"

[@CMA1967]

Kurt is a class act-100% genuine

[@oldernu1250]

Kurt Warner has such insight. This team was built on a run first offense and a strong defense. It was largely constructed before the draft, so Mac needed to accommodate his play to the existing players and schemes. He has done very well.

[@SLKK1234]

I guess it’s just the nature of NFL analysis but losses are not just on Mac but also on the D. In every loss, late in the game Mac put them in position to come back but D couldn’t get a stop. Against the Bills they even allowed them to score to put the game away. Yet no one I’ve seen points that out.

[@WarrenPDavis]

What happened to Kristian Wilkerson. Could not be worse than N'Keal.

[@butthurtbelichick549]

Belichick hz never lost three in a row to same opponent !!!!

[@aaronjackson9385]

Yds he has. 2005 reg season vs Colts, 2006 reg season vs Colts, 2006 AFC title game at Colts.

[@aaronjackson9385]

Edit Yes

[@reggiebishop5398]

I think we're seeing what a disappointment jonnu Smith has been.he was supposed to be the other go to guy opposite of Henry

[@reggiebishop5398]

Plus Kirk Mac had to play against 6teams that know their offense and defense .excoaches that were in New England s system

[@Rickypaleo1776]

I kind of disagree I think he telegraphed his throw in Miami. he spent more time looking at it then looking it off. He had enough time to see that it was never there. Mechanical maybe, looks like tunnel vision for whatever reason he never saw the defender

[@quentincrisp6933]

It's not part lll It's the rubber!

[@Madara2B]

KW is like an Master Roshi of QBs

[@kenhamaker]

If he is not making the play calls how Can he do that?

[@davidsutliffe8443]

its all on Josh Mcdaniels , when brady had to get that tough 3and 3 , he had edelman and then they used white. All the championship teams would come super sharp, like they practiced the first 10 plays a million times. They start a game 3 and out, and are mentaly diminshed for the rest of the game

[@cisium1184]

It's not _all_ on any one player or coach. They have come up short in multiple areas at various times. They are a rebuilding team and rebuilding almost always takes more than one year.

[@PoorFamz]

My pro comp for Mac Jones coming into the draft was Kurt Warner. This is just coming around in a full circle.

[@philperry3788]

Lol like it hadn’t heard that one

[@CapstoneTider]

Kurt just tells you what he sees, void of any outside noise.

[@philperry3788]

He’s great

[@trader_bigs]

great stuff!

[@philperry3788]

Thanks mike

[@igorilic3536]

Comparing Jones to Brady shows that he is envy and jealous of Brady. Patriots are not winning any super bowl without Brady. And Jones doesn't belong in same sentence with Brady.

[@philperry3788]

Mac as a rookie and Brady as a second year guy are fine comps. Don’t be so sensitive. No one is saying Mac is Brady. Comparing isn’t equating.

[@TheTmcabral3]

He can’t Be the reason they lose this week Full Stop he just can’t

[@donaldmckenzie8606]

Mac hasn't hit any rookie wall, what almost everyone is missing is that patriots offense success had Danny Amondola, Wes Welker and Julian Edelman.You went into Free Agency , shocked the world with all the money spent but nothinging spent on a good slot wr or a#1 wr. Thats the problem right there, imagine Mac with a slot who could get open quickly and a#1 wr who the defense has to respect ,just imagine.

[@tylerconklin5206]

It’s amazing to me how analysts affinity for Mac’s floor blind them of his ceiling. Mac doesn’t have the tools necessary to make the type of quantum leap NE is hoping for. He’s not going to burn throws into tight windows. Dude can’t throw a deep out with zip. Defenses are going to squat on 12 yards and in. A deep threat isn’t going to change the fact he can’t throw deep with anticipation and zip. Longer developing plays and guys with huge separation are your deep game. If Mac is your QB you’re a ground and pound limited team

[@Tom-vt1eu]

He can improve his arm strength. Also, he can throw deep when he has those recievers.

[@philperry3788]

Comparing Mac to Lawrence and thinking they are in any way similar situations is laughable.

[@WarrenPDavis]

@Daniel R being ruined in Jacksonville....what a waste of a great talent.