Pigskin Imminence

 Are we there yet?

Training camps are open and football is so close I can almost smell the guacamole. Even better, Mac Jones is drawing praise from Bill Belichick for his "dramatic improvement" over where he was last year.

Sure, coach. But does he have Trevor Lawrence's or Zach Wilson's upside? 

It's anecdotal, obviously, but it feels like I hear way more about the other 2nd year QBs than I do about McCorkle, despite the fact he outplayed all of them in his rookie season. I know, I know. I'm a Pats fan and as everyone knows, we're snowflakes. Can't stand any criticism. Will parse every word, every syllable, searching out the subtle slings and arrows of outrageous SportsCenter hosts. 

Whatever.

The lack of expectations may be for the best, for two reasons.

First, it would seem the pressure is off. For the Patriots and their QB the expectations in 2022 seem to be "They'll be lucky to be as good as they were last year." The Jets drafted a Super Bowl while the Dolphins were apparently just a Tyreek Hill away from hoisting the Lombardi Trophy. And those two teams are playing for second place in the AFC East behind the Bills, a trendy pick for February football. 

Second, we're dealing with insanely competitive individuals and if Mac Jones did need any additional motivation (he doesn't), he's got Lawrence, Wilson, Trey Lance, and Justin Fields. I'd even throw Davis Mills into the mix, as he seems to be getting quite a bit of positive press heading into his second season. 

Make no mistake, though, the Patriots need Mac Jones to be that good. Game plans and trickeration can only take the talent the Pats have on defense so far. Maybe I'm wrong (it has happened) and there's enough young - and old - talent on that side of the ball to win a game or two this year but I'm not optimistic. This looks like a team that's going to need to average 35+ points a game to make it into the playoffs. 

Luckily - and Belichick isn't known for tossing bouquets - it appears Mac Jones is primed to make a second year leap all the way over the Pru in 2022.

Sure, even on offense, the Patriots need some things to break their way (like Isaiah Wynn and Trent Brown staying healthy, Jonnu Smith doing something to make Patriots Nation put away the torches and pitchforks, DeVante Parker having several gallons of super unleaded still left in the tank, James White getting back to being James White), but then, what team doesn't? 

They probably need to play much better on special teams, as well; stealing a possession or a score to win a game at some point during the season. Easy to forget that was a staple of the early Belichick-era Patriots before Tom Brady became Tom Brady.

Any, all, or none of the above could happen in 2022.

Are we there yet?.