The Patriots are a team that is earn your spot. Newton won the job by default when Stidham got injured. Need proof, Stidham was a co-starter prior to the injury. Belichick put Stidham in the dog house and Hoyer didn't earn the number 2 role, which was given back to Stidham after the K.C. game.
Newton has not done anything this season as a passer to show he should continue to start if the Patriots get knocked out. He beat up on the worst 2 passing defenses and a below average passing defense. The only reason being given for Newton to start until the team was knocked out of the playoffs, was his legs. Realistically, Newton's legs have been almost as inconsistent as his arm.
What have we seen with Jarrett stidham? Versus KC, he came in with the score 13-3. He came in and made it 13-10 but was a product of the offense as Edelman handed a pass to the defender for a pick six to make it 20-10 before Stidham with now added pressure, threw another interception that ended the game.
Tell me that pick six at the hands of Edelman didn't effect the confidence of Stidham with the game still in reach. If anything, that put more pressure on the young quarterback's shoulder to make something happen. That added pressure could've destroyed Stidham's confidence.
Versus the 49ers, Stidham came in with the score 33-6. He threw an interception and almost tied Cam Newton's stats for the first 3 quarters. Again Stidham came in and made a Cam Newton pass and put the ball in the area of the pass catcher and not where it should've been. He was under pressure to show Belichick something, instead of just playing his game.
Versus the Chargers, Stidham came in went 2 for 3 in the 4th; throwing a perfect timing route strike to Olszewski for a touchdown.
WEEI on or around November 4th quoted Belichick as saying Stidham had improved since last season. So he's obviously showing something in practice. I know what else is Belichick gonna say, right but that same argument can be made about all his praise for Newton.
After last season Belichick had said that with getting to practice with the first string that Stidham was ahead of where he should be. It also came out that the Patriots wanted to sit him one more season for development but were very confident in him.
So why wouldn't Belichick start Stidham? How about because this year, he'd be replacing Tom Brady. A buddy of mine said Josh Rosen was played too soon and it destroyed his confidence. Why wouldn't Bill want to protect his young quarterback? We all talk about how smart Belichick is, so why wouldn't Bill know if it's too early to play Stidham?
There's been a lot of talk that Belichick conceded this season. I even said that after last week that this season seemed like an extended 2021 preseason. With how brutal Patriots fans are and how easy it is for a young player to lose confidence, I said and still believe Belichick would protect a young quarterback. Especially if the offensive weapons are as bad as people say they are.
There's also been talk about McDaniels looking vanilla this season. Something this writer was saying last season after watching the last two seasons. I got crucified and told how much of a genius McDaniels is.
McDaniels has peaked as an OC and should not be given the Patriots head coaching position. There is an arguement that Cam Newton is a product of McDaniels this season. That arguement can also be made for Stidham.
McDaniels needs to spend the offseason watching the top 10 offenses in college and get reinspired or he needs to take the Houston job.
The only thing I will say in defense of McDaniels is that he did what the Patriots have done for the past twenty years. He modified the system without getting rid of it.
He added the slow option plays that is what Newton does well, without sacrificing the accurate passing game for a extremely high risk deep passing game. Which is the other part of Newton's game.
So with the last two games, it makes sense to play Stidham. Bill may decide to give Stidham a placebo for 2021 and have him play only the Jets. If Stidham stinks, he'll struggle versus the Jets and if he doesn't, he can ride that high into 2021.
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