ANDREW WALTER AND PATS
The signing of Andrew Walter by the Patriots is an interesting move. The Bears and Jaguars were also in pursuit, and most thought that Jacksonville, whose offensive coordinator, Dirk Koetter, is a former head coach at Arizona State, would be the favorite. However, Walter needed to go to a team that can highlight his skill level as he rebuilds his career. What better team to do it with than the Patriots? It worked for Randy Moss, and it just might work for Walter. He has all the skills necessary to be a productive player: He can make all the throws with ease, as the ball comes off his hand very smoothly. In this offense, he is back to his college roots, throwing the ball down the field and outside the numbers. In 2004, Walter set the Pac-10 record for most career touchdowns, finishing with 85 and shattering the previous record held for 22 years by Stanford's John Elway. He has enough athletic skill to avoid the rush and make plays with his feet. He’s not a runner but is more of a mover in the pocket.
Walter must rebuild his confidence after the 2006 season took a devastating toll on his mental well-being. Rookies Matthew Stafford and Mark Sanchez are two young quarterbacks who might start for their teams, but both are playing in contemporary systems that will be their offenses for years to come. Walter, who spent the past four seasons with the Raiders, was in a prehistoric offense that destroyed his confidence and the confidence of the coaches around him.
The move to the Patriots is good for both parties. The Pats get a young, talented player who needs to work into the right system, and Walter gets a chance to rebuild his career. This happens all the time in the NFL. Don’t forget, at one time Rich Gannon was benched in favor of Sean Salisbury in Minnesota. Once Gannon got into the right system, with the right coach, his career took off.
