McDaniels: Patriots' lack of deep passing not tied to Jones

The New England Patriots' lack of deep throwing early this season isn't tied to rookie passer Mac Jones.

It's common for NFL teams with rookie quarterbacks at the helm to opt for a conservative approach early. But Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels says that's not the case in New England.

"I trust him completely," McDaniels said Tuesday, according to Zack Cox of NESN.

"Believe me, there's not a whole lot we're holding back for him," he added.

The average depth of Jones' targets over the team's first two games was 5.7 yards, which ranked 31st among quarterbacks with at least one start, according to PFF.

The 15th overall pick is 1-1 as a starter while completing 73.9% of his throws for one touchdown and 476 yards, with his longest passing play being a 32-yarder.

"I think it's important to have the ability to throw the ball vertically (and) horizontally in every game, and most pass patterns have that element available to them," McDaniels said.

"I think there's a lot of things that go into that," he continued. "You want to be able to test those areas of the field as you move forward, but I also want (Jones) to make smart decisions. I want him to protect the football, and I want him to be aggressive when it's time to be aggressive."

Jones recently addressed New England's lack of deep passes, saying, "it's about moving the ball and taking what the defense gives you," according to Brian M. Hines of Pats Pulpit.

Despite the modest production, Jones has been the most successful first-round quarterback from the 2021 class thus far.

* Indicates players who have yet to start a game

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