Alabama Football: 3 reasons Mac Jones is dominating the SEC in 2020

3. NFL-caliber arm talent

Arm talent isn’t necessarily arm-strength and the ability to throw the ball long distances down the field. It helps to have strength, but that’s not the only factor when we’re looking at quarterbacks. Arm talent is the ability to get the football where it needs to go in a catchable manner, and that’s what we see Jones pulling off very early in the season.

His ability to place touch on the football and throw it accurately is what pops off of the screen.

On this touchdown strike to John Metchie III, look at a couple of the things that really stands out about this throw. First, Jones takes a massive hit when he releases this football. He knows it’s coming, too. He shows poise in the pocket when making the throw by standing in there and making sure he makes a perfect delivery.

The placement of the ball is perfect. It’s over the inside shoulder, exactly where the ball needs to be for Metchie to track it. The defender doesn’t have a chance to make the play, even though he’s really playing pretty good coverage. The ball is just thrown to the place he can’t make the play. Jones throws Metchie open.

The velocity that Jones makes this throw at is tremendous. He doesn’t throw a bullet but instead gives it a lot of touch and air. It gives Metchie time to run under the throw and make the incredible play.

Lastly, this is going to be the next topic, the anticipation that Jones throws with is extraordinary. He makes this throw, about to take a hit, right when Metchie makes his cut and goes into his break. The placement on this throw is already extraordinary, but when you add all of these factors — this is an NFL throw.

The crazy thing? Jones is doing this week in and week out.