As football discussions gain momentum leading up to training camp, I have decided to launch a series that aims to amplify the excitement surrounding Mac Jones's upcoming "prove it" season. In this series, I will showcase some of Jones's impressive throws that have been overlooked or forgotten. I will release these periodically and will include two impressive throws in each part of the series. 

Throw #1:

New England Patriots vs Pittsburgh Steelers

While Mac Jones may not be regarded as the most athletic quarterback, and he has room for improvement when it comes to throwing the ball while on the move or in off-balance situations, one of the standout moments in his career thus far was during week two against the Pittsburgh Steelers. In this clip, Jones flashed that he is an underrated athlete and showcased the ability to evade a pass rusher with some impressive maneuvering and then delivered a beautifully placed pass to the sideline.

This highlights some of Mac Jones's often-overlooked escapability and arm talent. The prevailing narrative that Jones has a weak arm has been debunked by multiple individuals, and these examples showcase his abilities. While Jones may not possess an exceptional arm, it is far from being the incapable liability that some fans believe it to be. The velocity he generates is comparable to that of several other NFL quarterbacks, including numerous former and current greats.

Under Appreciated Mac Jones Throw #3.

Highlighting a bit of his escapability and arm talent.

Jones obviously does not have a special arm, but contrary to what some fans might tell you, it is average. These type of throws help extinguish the narrative that he has an incapable… pic.twitter.com/kCe2hEkxxT

— Tanner James (@tjdissect) July 11, 2023

Throw #2:

New England Patriots vs Minnesota Vikings 

Mac Jones undeniable strengths is his ability to feather his passes at all three levels of the field. In week twelve, Jones had a beautifully thrown ball that was layered perfectly over safety Harrison Smith and placed right on the receiver. While the pocket remained relatively clean throughout the play, Jones faced some pressure towards the end. Remarkably, he managed to release a pinpoint pass while fading away from the oncoming pass rush. This instance exemplifies Jones's skill in throwing receivers open and creating opportunities within tight windows.

Throws like these are often categorized as "big-time throws" (BTTs), which explains why, despite a shortened and challenging season, Jones remained among the league leaders in "big-time throw percentage" (BTT%). This metric signifies that, on his passing attempts, he consistently made challenging throws into tight windows. 

Amongst the 34 QBs with a minimum of 250 drop-backs, Mac Jones finished 9th in BTT%. Amongst the 18 QBs with a minimum of 350 drop-backs, Mac Jones finished 7th in BTT%. There was only a handful of QBs making more impressive and more difficult throws.

Underrated Mac Jones Throw #2:

This is an absolute dot. Just out of reach of the defender. Dropped the snap at first too. pic.twitter.com/94SVSqGYWP

— Tanner James (@tjdissect) July 6, 2023

Featured image via Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports