Just moments before the Patriots took the field for their first training camp practice in full pads, head coach Bill Belichick spoke about how the quarterback unit has performed so far.
On Monday, he turned up on ESPN Radio’s Keyshawn, JWill and Zubin Show to give his insight. Since the departure of Tom Brady to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, questions have remained about who will step up as QB1. As of now, the group consists of newly acquired quarterback Cam Newton, rookie Brian Lewerke, and those who have been playing under Brady’s shadow for the past two seasons: Jarrett Stidham and Brian Hoyer.
The legendary Bill Belichick participated @keyshawn, @RealJayWilliams & Zubin, and described what it has been like working with Cam Newton & Jarrett Stidham. pic.twitter.com/9PBwCc8UiL
– ESPN Radio (@ESPNRadio) August 17, 2020
Belichick assured the hosts that the team has a “good group” of quarterbacks who all bring different aspects to the team. Newton, in particular, has brought both energy and experience – but has yet to catch up with the team’s system.
“All quarterbacks have been good,” Belichick said. “Brian Hoyer has the most experience of any of our quarterbacks in our system. Jarrett Stidham is really coming here in year 2. He had a great year last year in terms of learning and personal and technical development at the position. And Cam has been a late addition, but he has brought a lot of energy and, of course, player experience to our room. For him, it tackles the specifications of the Patriots system, terminology and so forth, which he worked extremely hard on. Brian Lewerke is a quarterback agent for college-free agents who is also in the room and is a development-type player. It’s a good group. ”
Cam Newton will probably watch the movie and want one yard of 11-on-11s. He had Damiere Byrd open deep across the middle, with Justin Bethel in cover, but accelerated the fast Byrd. The silver lining, perhaps: Arm strength shows.
– Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) August 18, 2020
Jarrett Stidham was intercepted three times. He also had one of the best throws of the day – a sideline laser to Damiere Byrd in 11-on-11 work. Nice timing between QB and WR, with protection up. Later, he found Mohamed Sanu decisively to the right in 11-on-11s.
– Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) August 18, 2020
As for when the competing drills on the field between QBs will begin, Belichick expects this to happen in the coming days.
“We really did not have a lot of competition opportunities – in fact, we did not have one,” he said. ‘That will really start here in a few days, once we are in paddle practices and so on where we can really go out and participate. It’s a lot to learn, a lot to run comfortably playing multiple times in a controlled setting, so we’re able to go out and start competing against our defense and evaluate how players perform. “
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