The Patriots offense finished the regular season with a league-best 33.4 points per game and had just one defensive touchdown all year, but it wasn’t enough to win games for them. Enter Bill Belichick’s leap of faith in acquiring former 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo from San Francisco during Week 3 of the regular season
The “mac jones height weight” is a story about how Bill Belichick’s $15 million leap of faith has completely altered the future for Mac Jones and the Patriots’ much-improved offense.
This summer, Bill Belichick took a different approach to team building than usual. He really spent major financial resources on free agents for the first time since taking over as head coach and general manager of the New England Patriots. While not every move has gone as planned, there’s little denying that Belichick raised the overall skill level by bringing numerous experienced players to Foxborough on market-rate contracts.
Of course, in the 2021 NFL Draft, he landed the cornerstone of a championship club. But, as much as he deserves credit for using a first-round selection on Mac Jones, Belichick also deserves credit for spending $15 million in a player who is swiftly becoming a household figure in New England.
New England has gone from having one of the lowest-scoring offenses in the league to having one of the highest-scoring units in the league.
Cam Newton struggled to prolong drives and put scores on the board for the entire season, which was frustrating for Patriots fans. In 15 starts, a washed-up version of the 2015 NFL MVP only threw eight touchdown passes, a shockingly low statistic that reflected up the offense’s poor position.
However, after placing 27th in scoring last season with just 20.4 points per game, the Patriots have made a significant improvement on that front. Josh McDaniels’ team is presently ranked seventh in the NFL, averaging 28 points per game, thanks to improved weapons, a sturdy offensive line, and a smart, accurate quarterback to lead the way.
Is everything in your life perfect?
Certainly not.
After all, New England’s 2-4 start was primarily due to the offense’s inability to perform in crucial moments. The Patriots have averaged 388.3 yards and just over 35 points during their six-game winning run, with Jones showing visible improvement behind a much-improved protection unit.
Needless to say, the arrow is pointing up for a team that seemed to be headed for a disastrous season in early October. While it’s difficult to dismiss Jones’ growth, it’s also impossible to overlook another guy who joined the Patriots this spring and is maturing week by week.
Mac Jones and the Patriots have a bright future thanks to Bill Belichick’s $15 million bet on Kendrick Bourne.
Mac Jones and free-agent newcomer Kendrick Bourne hit it up right away. | Billie Weiss/Getty Images
While it’s reasonable to dispute Bill Belichick’s choice to sign Nelson Agholor to a two-year, $22 million deal with $16 million guaranteed, it’s clear that he struck gold with another free agency receiver. Even though Kendrick Bourne’s three-year, $15 million contract seemed to be an overpay at the time of his signing, it now looks like the Patriots got a good deal.
Bourne would easily rank as the team’s finest free-agent signing if it weren’t for Matthew Judon’s Defensive Player of the Year-caliber season.
When he moved his skills from San Francisco to New England, no one knew what to expect from the physically talented wideout. In 58 games with the 49ers, the 6-foot-1, 203-pound receiver had 137 receptions for 1,769 yards and 11 touchdowns, but he only got 13 starts under Kyle Shanahan. Despite averaging 34 catches for 442 yards and fewer than three touchdowns over the course of his four years with the NFC West team, Bourne was rewarded with a sizable increase from Belichick.
And, based on his first 12 games as a Patriot, it’s difficult to predict what the athletic playmaker’s future holds.
Bourne has turned into New England’s most deadly offensive weapon, because to his outstanding synergy with Jones. He leads the club in receiving yards (623) and touchdown catches (second only to Hunter Henry). He’s also had an impact as a ball carrier, gaining 78 yards on six attempts.
Bourne, who is just 26 years old, still has opportunity to develop, and given that he is working with a first-year quarterback, it wouldn’t be surprising if he puts up large numbers in the future. He offers much-needed speed and explosive to the offense, capable of converting an average catch-and-run into a touchdown (as he did in Sunday’s 36-13 victory against the Tennessee Titans). He should continue to beat corners, bring in contested receptions, and reach the end zone as he establishes a relationship with Jones and becomes more comfortable in the system.
Oh, and Bourne’s $5 million average yearly pay, which ranks him 41st among NFL wideouts, has to make Belichick smile even more.
For immediately turning things around in Foxborough, Belichick deserves to be considered for Coach of the Year and Executive of the Year awards.
I still believe it belongs to Kliff Kingsbury, but I can see why Bill Belichick is the current favorite.
For the Patriots, it’ll be a one-year reconstruction. People undervalue the impact that excellent coaching can have on a football club. Excellent coach. Especially this season, he’s been a fantastic general manager. Lots of requirements were met. https://t.co/nTBwLNL2gW
November 29, 2021 — Andy Kwong (@akwong31)
The Patriots have established themselves as likely the top contender in the AFC, despite some growing pains. Sure, they’ve benefited from playing against opponents that are short-handed. They should be commended, though, for completely demolishing weaker opponents and demonstrating significant development on both sides of the ball.
In the end, this implies that Belichick must be considered for both the Coach of the Year and the NFL Executive of the Year awards.
On the one hand, he’s definitely discovered a successful formula that works week after week. Playing solid defense, pounding the ball with Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson, and allowing Jones to shine as a game manager have all helped the Patriots get back on track and into contention for the AFC’s top spot. Belichick’s ability to put players in favorable situations and devise strategies to exploit opponents’ flaws should place him towards the top of any Coach of the Year poll.
In addition, he should be considered for Executive of the Year. Belichick has swiftly reminded everyone why he earns more money than any of his contemporaries after making a few head-scratching mistakes as GM in previous years (especially in the draft). In Jones, Stevenson, and second-round defensive tackle Christian Barmore, he secured three potential stars. He landed a ferocious pass rusher and well-respected locker room leader in Judon, a dangerous playmaker in Bourne, a fantastic red-zone and third-down threat in Henry, and three solid starters in Agholor, Davon Godchaux, and Jalen Mills in free agency.
It’s safe to say that Bill Belichick and the Patriots are back. And if things continue to go well, Robert Kraft may be able to enjoy his seventh Super Bowl triumph sooner rather than later.
Pro Football Reference provided all statistics. Spotrac provided all contract information.
RELATED: After being kicked out of school and spending time in jail as a junior for smoking and stealing, Patriots WR Kendrick Bourne had a senior year transformation that set him on a path to lifelong success.
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