For starters, draft position. While draft positioning doesn't always translate into success, it does give some expectation into performance and talent level. It's well known heading into the 2018 season, Stidham was looked at as a first round prospect but by the end of that season he was a fourth round selection.
Dak Prescott, Russell Wilson, Tom Brady, Roger Staubach, Rich Gannon, and Joe Thiesman are just a few quarterbacks taken deeper in the draft that have had success. The fact that Stidham was once viewed as a first round projection adds more reason to expect something from him.
Looking at the 2019 season, Stidham beat out Brian Hoyer for the backup job. Granted the Patriots brought in Cody Kessler, Stidham's role on the team still seemed higher.
Stidham spent the 2019 season working with the offensive starters during weekly practice. He got to practice against a starting defense. That means in practice he was going against elite talent. Most backups practice against backups if they take a snap at all in practice.
Stidham also got to sit in the quarterback room and study film with Tom Brady. How much Tom worked with the kid is unknown. However, getting to study Brady and learn how he prepares for a game helped Stidham improve as a quarterback. One doesn't sit behind the best and not learn something.
Brian Hoyer, yes Hoyer. Hoyer is one of the most intelligent quarterbacks in the NFL, even if he doesn't have the physical ability to back it up. With Hoyer on the roster, Stidham has another quarterback coach to learn from. He has been around the league, seen almost as much as Brady has seen and can transform Stidham's young mind.
On top of that, Hoyer knows the Patriots "Air West Spread" system. So along with Josh McDaniels, Stidham has the mind of a veteran quarterback to help understand the playbook.
McDaniels has peaked in the NFL. However, as an offensive coordinator McDaniels is right where he should be. He knows how to get creative and use players to the best of their abilities. I have been hard on McDaniels and called him vanilla, I have been told that I was too harsh. If McDaniels wasn't vanilla in the passing concepts called in 2019, than Brady was to blame for the passing game's lack of inspiration.
Stidham is much more mobile quarterback than Brady. In 2015 Stidham was ranked the 2nd best dual threat quarterback coming out of high school, just behind Kyler Murray. He was also ranked higher than Kelly Bryant, Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, and Sam Darnold by ESPN, coming out of high school.
Throughout his college career, ESPN, Sports Illustrated, CBS And USA Today all had Stidham as the more talented and better quarterback over the division rival who was taken fifth in the 2020 NFL draft.
If McDaniels cannot figure how to use him as a duel threat, McDaniels needs to go back to college or retire. Being that the Patriots hybrid system was held back by Brady's lack of mobility, Stidham has a larger playbook at his disposal.
Chemistry is important between a quarterback and a pass catcher. Stidham had developed a chemistry with Jakobi Meyers during the 2019 preseason. One Brady failed to duplicate. Stidham also had developed a chemistry with Will Hastings in 2017.
Brady was quite upset with his pass catchers in 2019. Brady had to watch his pass catchers practice with Stidham. One must wonder how much better was the connection with Stidham and the offense?
On top of that Stidham has Edelman, White and possibly Sanu, Burkhead and Lee to help him as they have experience in the NFL. Like Hoyer, they know what defenses look like and know how to adjust. This will make Stidham's job that much easier. If Stidham developed chemistry with any these veterans during 2019, we will see that on the field.
Sony Michel, James White, Brandon Bolden, Damien Harris, and JJ Taylor are all guys who can be duel threats. While Brady and Michel never connected because it wasn't Brady's job for them to connect, They will connect with Stidham. This will force defenses to play the pass as well as the run.
Sony Michel is coming off back to back 900 yard seasons where penalties and injuries costed him 1,000 yard seasons. With Brady gone the Patriots running back group will finally be allowed to bring the balance they were supposed to in 2019.
The Patriots also have Joe Thuney, Isaiah Wynn, David Andrews, Shaq Mason, Marcus Cannon, Froholdt and Cajuste all healthy. That means the running backs will be able to get to the line before getting touched and Stidham will have protection when dropping back to throw the football.
Injuries decimated the Patriots blockers in 2019 and Brady was getting hit and getting rid of the ball more than he has in the past. With Keene, Asiasi, and Izzo adding to the offensive line Stidham should have all day to throw the ball.
Then there is the returning defensive and special teams units. Which I won't get into.
Stidham has big shoes to fill and should be motivated by the tank for Trevor movement. Stidham should also be motivated by those who say Brady's heir is in San Francisco. Stidham will get to face Jimmy G. week 6. That will be the first test for Stidham. Can he claim the title as Brady's successor form the man who was apart of one of the biggest stories 2017?
Stidham has the support of his team for now. He's showing leadership both in his community and in the organization. He will have to continue to be the leader and set the tone. Belichick has shown that he has little loyalties to his players and thus Stidham is a corporate employee just like everyone else. Stidham be smart to remember that.
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