Pats Pulpit - Patriots vs. Packers: News, analysis, injuries, previews, final score, and morePats Pulpit: A New England Patriots Communityhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/51321/pp-fav.png2022-10-05T18:43:54-04:00http://www.patspulpit.com/rss/stream/231407932022-10-05T18:43:54-04:002022-10-05T18:43:54-04:00Pro Football Focus: Patriots cornerback Jack Jones was the NFL’s best rookie in Week 4
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<img alt="New England Patriots (24) Vs. Green Bay Packers (27) At Lambeau Field" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/_ToF5YugCtRWEVtk2NOsdP-Qze4=/1777x1785:5257x4105/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71459131/1243700479.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="B68bp4"><a href="https://www.patspulpit.com/">New England Patriots</a> rookie cornerback Jack Jones had a solid debut as a starter. Going up against the <a href="https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/">Green Bay Packers</a> offense in Week 4, the fourth-round draft choice registered a forced fumble plus recovery and a pick-six against quarterback Aaron Rodgers.</p>
<p id="YsC8dl">His performance earned Jones the top spot on Pro Football Focus’ list of <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1641910&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pff.com%2Faaf&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.patspulpit.com%2Fnew-england-patriots-social-media-video-podcasts%2F2022%2F10%2F5%2F23390085%2Fpatriots-jack-jones-best-rookie-of-week-4" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">top rookie performers</a> this week:</p>
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<p id="xPomrM"><strong>1. CB JACK JONES, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (93.5)</strong></p>
<p id="57LMyR">Do you think Jones has a knack for making plays? He joined the small list of players to have done the almost unthinkable: take an interception from future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers to the end zone. He also went out and forced a fumble on Romeo Doubs that he also recovered. These weren’t “gimmes,” either. This was a cornerback making high-level football plays, ones you rarely see from a rookie. He finished the day having allowed five catches on seven targets for 60 yards.</p>
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<p id="4Crc2f">A total of eight members of the Patriots rookie class took the field against the Packers, but Jones is the only one to make the cut.</p>
https://www.patspulpit.com/new-england-patriots-social-media-video-podcasts/2022/10/5/23390085/patriots-jack-jones-best-rookie-of-week-4Bernd Buchmasser2022-10-05T10:24:29-04:002022-10-05T10:24:29-04:00Report: Patriots TE Jonnu Smith considered week-to-week after suffering ankle injury
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<img alt="NFL: Baltimore Ravens at New England Patriots" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/nbDLwPZbEU94M32WVf7Bx0cAB9A=/94x244:4729x3334/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71456637/usa_today_19115040.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p><strong>Related:</strong> <a href="https://www.patspulpit.com/2022/10/3/23385777/patriots-packers-injury-analysis-nfl-week-4-hoyer-smith">Patriots vs. Packers injury analysis: New England’s injuries are starting to pile up</a></p> <p id="9PksrS"><a href="https://www.patspulpit.com/">New England Patriots</a> tight end Jonnu Smith, who left Sunday’s game against the <a href="https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/">Green Bay Packers</a> with an ankle injury, is reportedly expected week-to-week. According to a <a href="https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/1577662777145151488">report</a> by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Smith was diagnosed with a a low ankle sprain and “may miss some time” due to the ailment.</p>
<p id="soX2zt">Smith, 27, suffered the injury while blocking on a short Damien Harris run midway through the second quarter. He was rolled up from behind by Green Bay linebacker Rashan Gary, stayed on the ground, and later limped off the field and into the medical tent.</p>
<p id="cOIZbU">Smith walked to the locker room with a noticeable limp and was initially announced as questionable to return to the game. A short time later, however, he was ruled out for the remainder of the contest.</p>
<p id="xPPVkX">With Smith absent, the Patriots’ tight end depth takes a major hit. He and Hunter Henry are the only pure TEs on the active roster, after all, even though wide receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey has also been getting some tight end-like assignments so far this season.</p>
<p id="naoIi9">The Patriots might therefore be able to survive for the time being using those two plus practice squad options Matt Sokol and Scotty Washington. That said, the group as a whole will be significantly worse without Smith: not only has he been solid through the first four games, Hunter Henry has also had some issues as both a blocker and a receiving target. Losing Smith for any extended period of time would be bad news.</p>
<p id="SPBV7q">Smith is obviously not the Patriots’ only injury concern. Starting quarterback Mac Jones is nursing an ankle issue of his own, while backup Brian Hoyer left the game against Green Bay with a concussion.</p>
<p id="KRd6pR">Their statuses, as well ass Smith’s, are uncertain for the upcoming game against the <a href="https://www.prideofdetroit.com/">Detroit Lions</a>.</p>
https://www.patspulpit.com/2022/10/5/23389057/patriots-jonnu-smith-low-ankle-sprainBernd Buchmasser2022-10-04T16:36:21-04:002022-10-04T16:36:21-04:00Ty Law to Patriots rookie cornerback Jack Jones: ‘Shut up!’
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<figcaption>Mark Hoffman / USA TODAY NETWORK</figcaption>
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<p id="KjH4Hi"><a href="https://www.patspulpit.com/">New England Patriots</a> legend Ty Law is apparently no fan of hearing rookie cornerback Jack Jones talk about disrespect.</p>
<p id="T4UktU">The fourth-round draft pick, who started his first NFL game on Sunday versus the <a href="https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/">Green Bay Packers</a>, said after the game that he was feeling disrespected by out routes being attempted against him. Law, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, took exception to those statements.</p>
<p id="wG8aG4">“You make a couple of plays, you get an interception, but to say something like that, you got to have some swag and go out there and make some plays,” Law said while appearing on WEEI’s <em>The Greg Hill Show</em> on Tuesday. “I don’t think anybody in that secondary, especially a rookie, can say something like that. You ain’t making enough plays to say something like that. Shut up.”</p>
<p id="clvX9d">Jones forced and recovered a fumble against the Packers, and later had a pick-six against quarterback Aaron Rodgers.</p>
https://www.patspulpit.com/2022/10/4/23387920/ty-law-patriots-rookie-cornerback-jack-jones-shut-upBernd Buchmasser2022-10-04T15:00:00-04:002022-10-04T15:00:00-04:00Patriots vs. Packers rookie review: New England’s rookies have their most active game yet
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<figcaption>Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p><strong>Related:</strong> <a href="https://www.patspulpit.com/2022/10/4/23386958/bailey-zappe-patriots-teammates-calm-packers-nfl-week-4">Bailey Zappe credits Patriots teammates for keeping him calm against Packers</a></p> <p id="38YLK8">The <a href="https://www.patspulpit.com/">New England Patriots</a> dropped to 1-3 against the <a href="https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/">Green Bay Packers</a>, losing in overtime with a final score of 27-24. The Patriots taking Green Bay to extra time was a minor surprise, given that they were a) listed as 9.5-point underdogs heading into the contest and b) had to rely on a rookie quarterback for most of the game.</p>
<p id="ODLeIA">With that said, let’s quickly go through all of the first-year players currently on the team. As always, we will start with first-round draft pick Cole Strange and move all the way down to the undrafted free agents.</p>
<p id="Ap8s6S"><strong>G Cole Strange (1-29):</strong> In a way, the contest against Green Bay was business as usual for the Patriots’ first-round draft pick. Not only did he start the contest at left guard and play all 58 offensive snaps, he also delivered an impressive performance. Strange stood out as a run blocker and regularly showed off his outstanding athleticism, while also having arguably his best game as a pass protector yet.</p>
<p id="qySML2"><strong>CB Marcus Jones (3-85):</strong> It took four games, but Marcus Jones has now fully taken over the Patriots’ kickoff and punt return duties — and not just that: the third-round selection looked very good in both areas. He returned a pair of punts for an average of 24.5 yards and also had a fair catch, and ran back kickoffs for 27.8 yards per attempt. Jones’ opportunities were limited to special teams, though.</p>
<p id="MN4kcG"><strong>CB Jack Jones (4-121):</strong> With Jalen Mills missing the game at Lambeau Field due to a hamstring issue, the Patriots trusted Jack Jones to man the starting outside cornerback spot opposite Jonathan Jones. While his lack of size and an on/off tackling technique limited his effectiveness at times, the fourth-rounder did have a very good debut in the starting lineup: playing all but one defensive snaps, he forced and recovered a fumble, and scored an interception return touchdown in the second quarter.</p>
<p id="L63wtQ"><strong>RB Pierre Strong Jr. (4-127):</strong> Despite the Patriots carrying only three running backs on their active roster at the moment, Strong Jr. did again not see any offensive snaps on Sunday. His four snaps all came in the kicking game: the South Dakota State product played two snaps each on the kickoff coverage and punt coverage teams.</p>
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<p id="c4oHK5"><strong>QB Bailey Zappe (4-137):</strong> With Mac Jones out due to an ankle injury, Zappe dressed for the first time all season and opened the game as the backup behind stand-in starter Brian Hoyer. However, Hoyer suffered a concussion on the second New England possession — thrusting the fourth-round rookie into the lineup. Zappe had a solid statistical debut, going 10-for-15 for 99 yards and a touchdown. However, the Patriots went full “protect the QB” mode with their play-calling aimed at helping him as much as possible; Zappe’s inexperience was still on full display on multiple occasions.</p>
<p id="40U6uL"><strong>DT Sam Roberts (6-200):</strong> After being a game-day inactive for each of the Patriots’ first three games of the season, Roberts made his debut on Sunday. He spent virtually all of the game on the bench, but did take the field for the final snap: New England employed him as part of its blocking unit on the Packers’ eventual game-winning field goal try. Why? The five blocked kicks he had during his career at Northwest Missouri State might have something to do with that.</p>
<p id="rSFhBi"><strong>OL Chasen Hines (6-210):</strong> For the second week in a row, Hines was part of the Patriots’ game day squad. And for the second straight week, he did not see any in-game action: with starting guards Cole Strange and Michael Onwenu going wire-to-wire, the LSU product spent the entire game on the bench.</p>
<p id="G5TIj0"><strong>S Brenden Schooler (UDFA):</strong> Undrafted free agent Brenden Schooler continues to be a core member of the Patriots’ special teams unit. The Texas product played 23 kicking game snaps against the Packers and was again employed on the punt return, kickoff return, punt coverage and kickoff coverage squads. He registered one tackle.</p>
<p id="DeQ0R8"><strong>LB DaMarcus Mitchell (UDFA):</strong> Just like Schooler, fellow UDFA DaMarcus Mitchell also was exclusively used in the kicking game on Sunday. He played 18 total snaps between kickoff return and coverage as well as the punt return team. Additionally, he also saw some opportunities on the field goal and extra point blocking squad.</p>
<p id="OPGHVj">Of course, the Patriots’ rookie class extends beyond those nine players; running back Kevin Harris, offensive lineman Kody Russey, defensive linemen LaBryan Ray and Jeremiah Pharms Jr., and defensive back Brad Hawkins are all on the practice squad. New England did not elevate any of them to the game-day team versus Green Bay, meaning that they all still have three standard elevations available.</p>
<p id="F6zFUQ">Additionally, two rookie players are on the Patriots’ reserve lists. Second-round wide receiver Tyquan Thornton remains on injured reserve but is now eligible to return after his four-game absence. Offensive tackle Andrew Stueber is on the non-football injury list.</p>
https://www.patspulpit.com/2022/10/4/23387634/patriots-packers-rookie-review-nfl-week-4Bernd Buchmasser2022-10-04T13:00:00-04:002022-10-04T13:00:00-04:00Coping With Loss: Green Bay Packers Edition
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<img alt="New England Patriots v Green Bay Packers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/FAMJOCcwebz9Zm0Q3-UqNI9NE38=/744x0:5413x3113/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71452710/1429730558.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p><strong>Related:</strong> <a href="https://www.patspulpit.com/2022/10/3/23383954/patriots-packers-fan-notes-analysis-nfl-week-4">Patriots vs. Packers: Fan Notes from the Game</a></p> <p id="VjCWWh">In what was a significantly more interesting game than anyone expected, the <a href="https://www.patspulpit.com/">New England Patriots</a> lost Sunday’s game to the <a href="https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/">Green Bay Packers</a> to drop to 1-3 on the year.</p>
<p id="lsSSAm">I highly doubt that there are many people out there who are overly despondent today over this latest loss... but just in case there are a few people out there who didn’t move on almost immediately on the heels of this one, here are five positives we can all take away from Week 4.</p>
<p id="5NvAG7"><strong>Expected loss. </strong>Did anybody expect a different result here, regardless of who was under center? It’s a little frustrating to think about how New England could have very well won this game had Mac Jones been able to start, based on how the game shook out, but at the end of the day an expected loss is an expected loss. Nobody had the Patriots winning this game even when we thought Jones would be under center, and a loss is a loss, so I can’t imagine anyone is overly mopey today over this one.</p>
<p id="wK1k3r"><strong>Non-conference loss. </strong>Should the Patriots find themselves in the thick of the playoff hunt down the stretch, this game isn’t going to count for all that much at the end of the day. NFC losses are among the very last to be counted when determining the AFC playoff picture, so we can all basically just turn the page on this one immediately and not think twice about it.</p>
<p id="ZYYbB9"><strong>Patriots can hang. </strong>New England took this game down to the wire, in spite of the quarterback situation. That leads me to believe that this Patriots team can go toe-to-toe with pretty much any team in the league. The Patriot have been in every game they’ve lost this season, and it has more or less come down to a handful of plays and a few penalties</p>
<p id="bFy6Rl"><strong>Does anyone really care? </strong>New England trotted a fourth-round rookie QB out there at Lambeau Field against one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game, and in spite of that the Packers needed a last-minute scoring drive aided by a bad punt and a questionable flag to win the game. That’s way better than anything I could have dialed up coming into this game even if Mac Jones had been starting in this one. I have yet to talk to a single person who is even remotely upset about this one.</p>
<p id="5oQT9P"><strong>No seriously... does anyone really care? </strong>I can’t imagine that Packers fans are feeling overly great about this win. At the end of the day, a W is a W, and how you get there doesn’t matter in the slightest... but that the Patriots lost this game in overtime on the road... I’m going to take that as a win at the end of the day. We all had the Pats going 1-3, 2-2 at best, through September, and here we are. Nothing in the NFL makes any sense in 2022, so may as well enjoy it and see what happens.</p>
https://www.patspulpit.com/2022/10/4/23384218/positives-patriots-loss-packers-nfl-week-4Alec Shane2022-10-04T12:00:52-04:002022-10-04T12:00:52-04:00Patriots run defense has not held up its end of the bargain lately
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<img alt="New England Patriots v Green Bay Packers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/cZzwMNkTew48FhPBjg72zGgC0Xg=/282x189:6584x4390/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71452454/1429763213.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p><strong>Related:</strong> <a href="https://www.patspulpit.com/2022/10/3/23385266/jack-jones-pick-six-rodgers-patriots-packers-nfl-week-4">Jack Jones’ confidence on full display after pick-six against Packers</a></p> <p id="w1tIOw">The <a href="https://www.patspulpit.com/">New England Patriots</a> defense has played some solid football through the first four weeks of the season. However, a major weakness has emerged the last two games: defending the run.</p>
<p id="I13vDc">After giving up 188 yards on the ground against the <a href="https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/">Baltimore Ravens</a> in Week 3, the Patriots surrendered 199 versus the <a href="https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/">Green Bay Packers</a> on Sunday. Needless to say that the team’s defense need to get better in this area, and they know it.</p>
<p id="ZKldrQ">“Everything starts with stopping the run,” safety Adrian Phillips told reporters on Monday.</p>
<p id="zbkA0G">“We obviously want to do better stopping the run, because if we can make the offense one-dimensional it’s a lot easier for us. That’s when we really get to spin and dial, and send whatever we got. So, we have to be able to stop the run on early downs to get them in third-and-long situations.”</p>
<p id="5M94xF">One week after allowing Lamar Jackson to run wild, the Patriots failed at slowing down the Packers’ two-headed monster of Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon. The duo combined to gain 183 yards on just 33 carries — an average of 5.5 yards per attempt.</p>
<p id="ihM3zD">Missing big-bodied defensive tackle Lawrence Guy due to a shoulder injury obviously hurt the Patriots, but they also saw disappointing performances across the board. The defensive line (outside of a quite solid Davon Godchaux) allowed holes to open up, while Green Bay successfully exploited the lack of speed provided by off-ball linebackers Ja’Whaun Bentley and Jahlani Tavai.</p>
<p id="jifmsD">Tavai, of course, entered the regular lineup after Mack Wilson was benched. Fellow linebacker Raekwon McMillan saw no snaps on defense; the Patriots have since also added free agent Jamie Collins to the mix.</p>
<p id="WhPB77">How they will proceed moving forward remains to be seen, but the recipe so far has not yielded the desired results. The Patriots are ranked 29th in the NFL in yards given up per rushing attempt (5.1) and expected points added (0.119), while also ranking 31st in DVOA (13.5%).</p>
<p id="68i2v1">Phillips pointed out that stopping the run would not be the only issue that will have to be addressed. It is the most glaring one, though.</p>
<p id="yVUrTh">“We can always get better at getting the ball. We got two turnovers this game, but there were probably two or three opportunities that we left out there. We’re always looking to get better in every aspect of our game.” he said.</p>
<p id="7owSf3">“But one thing that we make sure that we need to get better at right now is stopping the run, because our defense is built on stopping the run.”</p>
https://www.patspulpit.com/2022/10/4/23387196/patriots-run-defense-packers-adrian-phillipsBernd Buchmasser2022-10-04T07:00:00-04:002022-10-04T07:00:00-04:00Bailey Zappe credits Patriots teammates for keeping him calm against Packers
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<img alt="New England Patriots v Green Bay Packers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/LKdNAQhStwANFCC8Iiz5ymGwvqo=/652x163:3000x1728/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71451911/1430038109.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p><strong>Related:</strong> <a href="https://www.patspulpit.com/2022/10/3/23384508/patriots-bailey-zappe-packers-nfl-week-4">Patriots teammates praise Bailey Zappe for his performance in Green Bay: ‘It speaks volumes’</a></p> <p id="H94m3h">Bailey Zappe played a lot of football in college. Spending time at Houston Baptist and Western Kentucky, he started a combined 50 games between his 2018 and 2021 seasons and posted some eye-popping numbers: Zappe threw for 14,433 yards, 135 touchdowns and 40 interceptions in that four-year span.</p>
<p id="dORGQS">His NFL career, however, started on the bench. After getting selected in the fourth round of this year’s draft, Zappe served as the <a href="https://www.patspulpit.com/">New England Patriots</a>’ QB3 behind starter Mac Jones and veteran backup Brian Hoyer.</p>
<p id="GobiEB">Ideally, Zappe would not have gotten anywhere close to the field this regular season. Of course, we all know what happened next.</p>
<p id="5aOb9O">Jones suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 3 that forced him to miss the following week’s contest against the <a href="https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/">Green Bay Packers</a>. Hoyer took over as the starter, but he went down with a concussion on his second series — paving the way for Zappe to take over.</p>
<p id="R3pvin">Obviously, there are easier ways to make your debut than getting thrown into the fire on the road against Aaron Rodgers and one of the best defenses in the league. However, Zappe accounted well for himself and was able to keep his nerves in check.</p>
<p id="0KT5V5">He later credited his teammates for helping him with that.</p>
<p id="8XcO2m">“Of course it was exciting, it was my first time stepping on an NFL field in the regular season,” Zappe told WEEI’s <em>Merloni, Fauria & Mego</em> on <a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__omny.fm_shows_ordway-2Dmerloni-2Dfauria_patriots-2Dnew-2Dstarter-2Dbailey-2Dzappe-2Djoins-2Dthe-2Dshow&d=DwMFaQ&c=7MSjEE-cVgLCRHxk1P5PWg&r=vwITbzfbxaqMamAlewD-gTObc225sSOlRokecr5ivY0&m=6ReQsNxAWOk_lAffPqfQSAu1eqc4Qw_6ry2tuIqsLoRG46j0wPjja1Dnmh8Iv__c&s=3zKR4nL5Wov7u3B_L115XCKaK8bJQwGMSdndBI6xqNs&e=">Monday</a>. “But I really just want to credit my teammates for keeping me calm, keeping me cool and collected; just letting me know that this is just another football game, we’re out here to play football.</p>
<p id="Xp09Jq">“Just continue to do my job, get the ball to the playmakers, let them do what they do best — that was kind of my mindset when I stepped foot on the field. Do what I do, do my job, and just go from there.”</p>
<p id="6NRLwD">Zappe pointed to one teammate in particular helping him keep his poise: starting right tackle Isaiah Wynn was tasked with helping the rookie stay level-headed throughout his time on the field.</p>
<p id="G9WRFO">“I told Isaiah when I went in, just to every once in a while look at me and be like, ‘It’s alright, we’re playing ball.’ And he did that almost every other play; he’ll look at me, ‘Alright. You’re good. Let’s go,’” the young QB recalled. “Trent [Brown] did it, [David Andrews] did it. I like that. The relationships that we have, this team is a big brotherhood. We’re a big family and I give a lot of credit to those guys helping me stay calm.”</p>
<p id="v2rxQx">While Zappe was not asked to do too much while operating a limited version of the New England offense, he generally was effective. Completing 10 of 15 pass attempts for 99 yards and a touchdown, he helped the Patriots keep the game close and eventually take the Packers to overtime.</p>
<p id="BYObjD">His teammates’ performance and support played a role in that. Zappe’s own preparation during the week leading up to the game also cannot be disregarded, though. Head coach Bill Belichick said so himself.</p>
<p id="2jYQSs">“I think we all know what a backup quarterback’s potential job and role is,” Belichick told reporters during a media conference call on Monday. “Bailey knows it, we know it, everybody that plays that position knows it. That’s what happened and he stepped in. He was well prepared. I thought, generally, he handled himself well. Certainly, things he can improve on. We’ll work on. But, I thought he did a solid job.”</p>
<p id="2FGRoZ">Zappe also pointed to his preparation on Monday.</p>
<p id="vb1WFW">“As far as me, my teammates and coaches, we’ve prepared really hard during the week leading up to the game,” he said. “I think that’s what translates onto the field, being calm and cool and collected. Honestly, for me that’s being prepared, watching film, practicing, going through every rep, treating every rep in practice as if it’s a game rep. That just leads to being calm on the field.”</p>
<p id="lsE3nv">The 23-year-old mentioned that his preparatory process did not change much with Jones absent and Hoyer taking over the starting role. Heading into Week 5 and the upcoming game against the <a href="https://www.prideofdetroit.com/">Detroit Lions</a>, however, that might very well change.</p>
<p id="PFIAAp">Not only is Jones still nursing his ankle injury, Hoyer’s status is also uncertain given his concussion. As a result, there is a real chance that Zappe will continue to see a lot more action than was initially planned when he was brought aboard in the spring.</p>
<p id="vSOWj4">If the game in Green Bay is an indication, though, his supporting cast will do its best to help him make the most out of a difficult situation.</p>
https://www.patspulpit.com/2022/10/4/23386958/bailey-zappe-patriots-teammates-calm-packers-nfl-week-4Bernd Buchmasser2022-10-04T06:00:00-04:002022-10-04T06:00:00-04:00Rookie Marcus Jones is coming into his own as the Patriots’ kick returner
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<figcaption>Photo by Larry Radloff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p><strong>Related:</strong> <a href="https://www.patspulpit.com/2022/10/3/23385266/jack-jones-pick-six-rodgers-patriots-packers-nfl-week-4">Jack Jones’ confidence on full display after pick-six against Packers</a></p> <p id="DTrSIu">The <a href="https://www.patspulpit.com/">New England Patriots</a>’ rookie class had its most active day of the season on Sunday, with several of its members playing prominent roles in the 27-24 loss against the <a href="https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/">Green Bay Packers</a>. One of them was Marcus Jones, who left his mark in the return game.</p>
<p id="WArvOG">Taking full control of the Patriots’ punt and kickoff return operation, Jones ran back a total of six kicks. He returned a pair of punts for an average of 24.5 yards, and four kickoffs for 27.8 yards per attempt.</p>
<p id="UWMuLg">The sample size is a small one, but the Houston product showed the promise that made him one of the most electric returners in college football last season. Just ask Bill Belichick.</p>
<p id="N6y8Vf">“Marcus has worked hard on the return game all year. The ball handling and decision making and all that, at this level, is just a lot more difficult and a lot more challenging than what it is at the college level given the skill of the punters, and the kickers, and the kicking game in general,” New England’s head coach said.</p>
<p id="4KnTgn">“He had had a good week and we were ready to take a look at him in that role. I thought that he stepped up and handled it pretty well. That was good.”</p>
<p id="teIZug">Jones originally joined the Patriots as a third-round draft pick earlier this year. One of the most versatile players in the entire draft, and the winner of the prestigious Paul Hornung Award, he made an impact as a return specialist, cornerback and even receiver in college.</p>
<p id="u7xSqq">While he has yet to show that same skill at the next level, the game in Green Bay was a step in the right direction. Jones himself, however, made sure to deflect any praise coming his way.</p>
<p id="CBP2g1">“The main thing is doing my job, not trying to do too much. And also, I have guys who are definitely great teammates,” he told reporters on Monday. “Without them, I wouldn’t be able to do anything at all. That’s the main thing, trusting in my teammates and them trusting in me too.”</p>
<p id="KE7asg">Performances like Sunday’s will certainly help build that trust, while also allowing Jones to gain more experience against NFL-caliber opposition. The youngster appears to embrace the challenge coming with all of that.</p>
<p id="UD9ZxF">“It’s definitely not for everyone,” he said about working as a returner. “It’s definitely rush. It’s a rush that I like to have, though. It’s definitely one of those situations where a lot of things fly around, but as long as you got your head in the right place and make sure you got your technique right and watch your keys and everything, everything should go well.”</p>
<p id="uTSR6k">At least on Sunday, it did. As a consequence, it appears the Patriots have found an answer to their questions at the punt and kickoff return roles — and a pretty good one at that.</p>
https://www.patspulpit.com/2022/10/4/23386800/marcus-jones-is-coming-into-his-own-as-the-patriots-kick-returnerBernd Buchmasser