Johnson breaks down Sunday's loss to Buffalo and then follows it up by saying, "Not a soul who watched Sunday’s game could come away with the conclusion that Newton doesn’t give the Patriots the best chance to win games."
Newton was throwing the ball three feet over the head or behind and five feet in front or short of his pass catchers all game. His mechanics were horrible and so was some of his decision making. He did make a couple of good throws that were negated by penalties but the positive does not out weight the bad.
Johnson defends Newton's bad play this season. Against San Francisco, Newton threw thee interceptions, two having the balls trajectory changed by another. Johnson excuses those interceptions but puts full blame on Jarrett Stidham for the pick six that Edelman dropped into the hands of the defensive back.
Johnson makes the excuse that the pass catchers cannot get open. Several Patriots writers and analysts have debunked that as partially true. While what the networks show us, doesn't show open receivers; the coaches tap shows Newton's not hitting getting the ball to open teammates.
Johnson attacks Stidham saying he couldn't beat out Hoyer. From all accounts I read this August, Stidham looked better than Hoyer. What did Stidham in was his injury, the team was frustrated with him and he was punished for not reporting the injury and for not explaining it. The Kansas City game showed that the Patriots could not afford to keep Stidham in the doghouse.
Furthermore, people are saying that Staham is playing equal to or just below the level Cam Newton has played at this season. What separates the two is Cam has 10 years experience, who is a see it passer and is more of a running back, whereas Stidham is more of a deceptive mobile pocket quarterback who can hit timing routes.
Yes, Stidham had thrown four interceptions in twenty passes. His time this season was in pressure situations, where the game was put on his shoulders to try and pull off the comeback. To Stidham's defense, Newton threw 3 interceptions on 15 passes versus the Niners. Again, same production.
Johnson than turns it into a racial issue. Johnson says, "Black quarterbacks, particularly Newton, aren’t given the opportunity to have a few bad games, though Sunday’s game wouldn’t be considered “bad.” Washington has beaten only the hapless Dallas Cowboys after prematurely benching Dwayne Haskins this season. The “Nathan Peterman Game” only happened because the Bills benched Tyrod Taylor. Starting Lamar Jackson over Joe Flacco in the 2018 playoffs was a mistake because the Ravens lost. If the Patriots want the best chance to win, Newton is the obvious choice. If the Patriots want to be in a position to draft their next quarterback, a 2-5 record helps that, too. If the Patriots want to see what 2019 fourth-round pick Jarrett Stidham has, why sign Newton in the first place?"
I like Tyrod and can tell you that him being benched was because he was too conservative. When they put him in during that game Johnson is talking about, he almost led them back and he played a little more aggressive the rest of the season. The only reason the Bills lost in the post season that year, was because he got hurt in the playoff game.
As for the rest, Cam as a "passer" and not "running playmaker" has been below average. Look at his average yards passing excluding the Seattle game, then look at the fact he got lucky on what was a clear pick six versus Seattle if the defender doesn't drop it. Newton and the pass catchers only had one good game, that was against the Seahawks who cannot stop the pass; which includes covering receivers.
How many dropped interceptions has Newton had this season? He's fumbled three times and thrown seven interceptions, plus his average passing yards per game are below average; Seattle just inflated his stats. Newton is reckless with the ball. All that is where his criticism is coming from. Just the other day, I heard someone say "Hoyer was benched for less."
With Stidham playing equal to or just below Newton's level, he's sure to of made rookie mistakes but the team is just as likely to still be 2-5. So if Newton had lost the starting Job, not much would be different.
Stidham is still making rookie mistakes, rookies are reckless and sophomores normally slump but Stidham at least sees the pass catchers, is more accurate due to mechanicss and can run, so his yards would be about equal to Newton's combined yards.
While majority of the fan base was screaming for Newton to be extended, some of the fans were saying wait because he's inconsistent. That group, myself included, wanted to see him show consistency. His first half versus the Raiders week three, showed why it was smart to wait.
To answer Johnson's question, The Patriots signed Newton because if he was still above average, they could continue to develop Stidham, who's under contract until 2022.
Here's the thing, I agree with the headline but not for the crap Johnson wrote. Newton has ten years of experience and Belichick orginally wanted to sit and develop Stidham before Tom walked away.
Prior to this game, I predicted the Patriots would go two and three over the next five games. So the loss was expected. The two games I see project the Patriots to win are against the Jets and Cardinals. The Patriots magic number now is three.
Three more losses and they should be one hundred percent eliminated from the playoffs. That's when Stidham should start and gain experience. Granted, teams could play well and they could be eliminated before they can finish nine and seven.
Unless Newton continues to struggle, he should start over Stidham, his playmaking ability with his legs and experience says so. I don't like Newton the quarterback but I respect Newton the playmaker. While I wish Stidham had started and Newton was used like Taysom Hill or even RGIII last year, Newton is the guy until he's not.
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