QB battle heating up
Newton has early opportunity to impress coaches
FOXBORO — When the time finally comes for the Patriots to anoint a starting quarterback for the season opener, the developments that emerged during Friday’s practice hold the potential to be looked upon as a turning point in the race to be under center on Sept. 13 against Miami.
Per ESPN, second-year quarterback Jarrett Stidham is dealing with a hip injury that could impact him in the coming weeks. Stidham was on the field Friday but did not participate during the 11-on-11 portion of team drills.
Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels downplayed why Stidham’s workload was significantly scaled back, saying, “I’m pretty sure he’ll be ready to roll the next time we practice.”
Does the uncertainty that now surrounds Stidham mean that New England’s quarterback competition has been whittled down to two candidates? If you’re placing stock in the significance of who gets the first crack and who follows, Friday’s order saw Cam Newton in the leadoff spot with Brian Hoyer next in line.
As a late addition to the roster and someone who did not have the benefit of an offseason program with his new team, it would appear that Newton is doing whatever he can to accelerate the learning curve. A good example of someone who wants to fit into his new surroundings was evident when the time came for the Pats to work on punt drills.
With the ball set to be snapped, Newton sprinted across the field to where Julien Edelman and the wide receivers were stationed. The session didn’t last very long, yet it had a “mission accomplished” vibe as Newton was able to squeeze in some throws before it was time to resume team drills.
“He’s been busting his butt to try and learn and grow each day he’s been with us,” said McDaniels when asked about Newton on a Zoom call. “The only thing that matters is when you ask (the quarterbacks) to do certain things, they know what they are and they’re able to function. It’s about executing well regardless of who’s out there.”
Patriots first-year quarterback coach Jedd Fisch noted that Newton has only been in the fold for a little over three weeks. In many ways, Newton can only go up in terms of understanding the terminology and getting on the same page with his new teammates.
“The leaps that he’s taking each day have been impressive based on the huge foundational gap that comes with not having a spring,” said Fisch.
Sooner or later, the Patriots will have to arrive at a decision that per Bill Belichick gives the team the best chance to win. If Newton’s grasp of the offense continues to swing in a positive direction while injuries limit Stidham’s availability, the final call on who the starting quarterback will be could be simplified.
“Once the decision is made, it’ll be an opportunity to go in a specific direction and then we’ll react accordingly,” said McDaniels. “You’re looking to sort through some things and obviously the quarterback situation is one of them. At this point in camp, I think the competition we’re seeing across the board is what we’re looking for. That’s what makes us better.”