WPRI.com talked about this in their article "NEN Xtra – Who will be the next starting QB in New England?" Where they mention fans were expecting it to be a battle between Hoyer and Stidham until Belichick signed Newton.
WPRI wrote, "This makes it interesting. The former MVP who has gone 0-8 in his last eight starts and not playing in almost a year, or the young potential pocket passer?"
What they fail to mention is while not a big bodied H-Back like Newton, Stidham is still a very mobile quarterback of his own right. The two Tigers are both very capable of running RPOs and if McDaniels wants to get creative, the Patriots could field both Tigers at the same time.
The two quarterbacks have been holding camps working out. They have been meeting with teammates and who ever they can workout with. As WPRI noted, "they've already begun their competition."
Now WPRI also brought up that the number two spot is also on the line. It's not likely that Hoyer can win the starting job but can Stidham beat him out two years In a row? If you read my work, you know I believe Newton at his worst, is a running back with Hoyers ability at quarterback.
There are five quarterbacks on the current roster. Brian Lewerke is an improved version of Brian Hoyer. J'Mar Smith Is a less talented version of Stidham but capable of playing other positions. So I won't get into them.
Newton is an experienced quarterback who can put up over 500 yards rushing a season in a bad year. He has a strong arm and can cause issues for a defense due to his duel threat ability. He has played on the big stage and has a laundry list of accolades. It's clear that his ego is in overdrive and thus he has a huge chip on his shoulder. Doesn't sound so bad but then we look at the flip side.
Newton has accuracy issues, on top of that interceptions and fumbles can be an issue. Newton has little chemistry with the Patriots pass catchers and offensive line. Plus, he has to really cramp to get the playbook down and owned before the team officially meets up. Then there was his tantrum after the superbowl loss which may or may not have been blown out of proportion. Since I'm not a Panthers' fan, I never paid attention to Cam unless I was signing him on madden.
"He (Newton) hasn’t played since September of last year. The injuries he has had to overcome are almost impossible to look past. There were times in the last two years where his throws could not come close to the intended receiver. It’s taking a chance if you can trust he can get it done," wrote WPRI.
There's a lot of hype and a huge bandwagon around the older tiger. Did the Patriots sign Clark Kent or Superman, is the question.
Stidham spent a year studying Tom Brady and practicing with the first string. He did what many said he couldn't and beat out Hoyer for the backup job. He has shown enough talent to be labeled the 2nd best quarterback out of high school and at one point a first round draft prospect. Stidham can run and throw, which makes him a duel threat.
WPRI compared him to his predecessor, "His pocket presence resembles a young Tom Brady and his ability to get rid of the ball quick exudes the exact way in which this offense has ran for two decades." That's pretty high praise but just because he can get rid of the ball quick doesn't mean anything. Like Newton, Stidham is playing with a chip on his shoulder. From people calling him a bust, to the tank for Trevor movement, to the Newton signing; Stidham has something to prove.
There are some things wrong with Stidham. While he was just praised for quick release, in college he would occasionally hang on to the ball to long. When holes would open for him to run he would hesitate on occasion and let windows shrink.
WPRI write about Stidham, "He’s still very young. He was not am overly pursued quarterback out of the draft in 2019. He can be careless, but smart at the same time. With Newton only under a one-year contract, it would be risky to throw Stidham on the field in week one. If things go bad, he will take the fall and could risk his future."
There's a division with Stidham some believe he should be allowed to compete and could be the starter and those who have written him off as a bust after one pick six.
Lastly there's Hoyer. Brian Hoyer is your classic game manager, with plenty of experience. He's going to rely on the game plan and other phases of the game. He's not going to make any big plays but he's also not going to turn the ball over a lot either. He's intelligent as they come with film study but he doesn't have the physical tools of either of the other two quarterbacks. However, he can run Brady's offense.
Hoyer has never been in this situation. With the teams Hoyer has started on, he has shown flashes that he can lead a team. With the Patriots as a starter, Hoyer has the ability to lead them to a Superbowl just as Trent Dilfer did with Baltimore. So what's the downside?
If Hoyer doesn't win the starting job then he really isn't needed unless Stidham shows signs of a sophomore slump. The Patriots could use both the cap room and roster spot to help other positions. His lack of physical tools in comparison to the two former Auburn Tigers limits the Patriots on what they can do when he's on the field.
The case can be made for why all three should make the roster and for why each of them should start. I am pulling for Stidham but I know that the others have a chance. Homers believe that anyone is a lock for either the starting or backup role.
Now I try to keep my sports articles non political. There are those who believe Stidham will win the job because he's white or Newton will win it because he's black. To that I say, shame on you for bringing race into it. For years we have challenged the receiver talk in New England because it was BS. Now we have an open quarterback competition, race will have zero factor over who gets the spot. If you cannot accept that, find another team to bandwagon on.
No comments:
Post a Comment