Cam Newton or Jarrett Stidham? And both?
With New England’s first quarterback festival in 28 years going, Patriots coach Bill Belichick said Wednesday that he plans to use a box of two quarterbacks this season.
“Maybe so,” Belichick said when asked if such a configuration could bring advantages to the computer. “I say I’ll do what I think is most productive for the team, giving us the most productive chance to win. In any case, I would take that into consideration. Whether it’s an unbalanced line or an unbalanced double line or 23 staff members, anything. If you’re helping us win, then I’d consider anything.
The mantra “if you have two quarterbacks, you don’t have one” is regularly applied in the NFL, however, using multiple quarterbacks may make sense for New England in some scenarios, especially at the beginning of the season. For example, if the Patriots need to use Newton’s infrequent ability, but the 2015 NFL MVP has not yet fully mastered the team’s complex offense, they can simply ask Stidham or veteran Brian Hoyer to handle most shots and use Newton in one situation.
Belichick never had to ask himself a question about Tom Brady’s 20th birthday with the franchise.
Newton, Stidham and Hoyer almost lightly divided the first two padded paintings from the education camp. That will eventually replace the season and the desire to decide on a starter becomes more immediate, however, Belichick said he is lately focusing on giving each signer many opportunities to paint on the basics.
This applies to Newton in particular, as he begins his first season with the Patriots after nine with the Carolina Panthers. It is transparent that Newton is still learning the formula of offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, understandable given that he signed with the team last month.
Stidham and Hoyer are in their time and in the education camps of the 7th Patriots, respectively. None of the 3 will get advantages from pre-season games.
“Obviously, there’s a time when this is going to happen,” Belichick said of the tilt of the distribution of reps to a field marshal. “But right now, we have to check to give them all and the opportunity to get the fundamentals, and we do it in all positions. Everyone is spinning and we are reviewing to give everyone the opportunity to play the fundamental games, to diminish the fundamental principles.
“Yes, of course, at some point we didn’t match the representatives. This is obvious. But we’re not there right now.”
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