Bill O’Brien says Mac Jones has a clean slate with the entire offense: ‘It’s more about moving forward’
By Keith Farner
Published:
Bill O’Brien is open to offering Mac Jones a clean slate this season, as the new offensive coordinator with the New England Patriots will try and rehab the quarterback’s career after he had a disappointing 2022 season.
O’Brien was asked about Jones’ potential and “ceiling” during a visit with reporters on Tuesday.
“Everybody is starting with a clean slate,” O’Brien said. “Every year’s different, I think this year is no different than any other year relative to each year in the NFL is different. So what you did in the past, whether it’s a player or a coach or anybody in the organization really has no bearing on what happens moving forward.”
Jones underachieved last season as the Patriots’ offense ranked in the bottom half of the league in points per game and red-zone touchdowns. It was a steep fall off after a rookie season in 2021 where Jones was one of the best players in his draft class.
O’Brien said the offseason program just started this week, and he’s looking forward to each phase that builds into the season.
“Fresh start. It’s really not anything about what’s gone on in the past,” he said. “It’s more about moving forward. That’s one of our themes on offense — to move forward.”
Patriots OC Bill O’Brien struck a consistent theme today when asked about QB Mac Jones — clean slate, all about looking ahead, pic.twitter.com/TNmNtU0VZI
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) April 18, 2023
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
