Drew Bledsoe: "Give Cam Newton a Full Year"

[DropKickFlutie]

Where do you get that from? Cam has done nothing at this point to show he has improved over last season. But for arguments sake if BB starts him and we are winning and he is not costing us games, the majority of the fans would be content. This is New England so there will always be the whining "gameday thread" crowd.

There may be some, like me who would still feel that if they are winning with Cam they would be winning with Mac. But I would not be rooting against the team. But watching Cam play QB is painful.

In the end I don't think it will matter. First I think Mac will clearly be the starter coming out of camp, even if BB doesn't come right out and announce it. I mean he takes two years to announce who the DC is, even though the entire world knows who it is. Second, Cam probably won't make it through 8 games, taking the pounding to his body that is inevitable, either in or out of the pocket.

But I don't see 50% of the fan base openly rooting against Cam, especially if he somehow manages to play well enough to look like a starting NFL QB and winning games.

That would be nice if the Pats are winning and fans and media aren't perversely rooting against Cam. Agree to disagree. I think there's going to be a strong undercurrent that is weirdly rooting against the Patriots when the season starts.

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[mgcolby]

With good health & an easy first-half schedule, the Pats should be 6-2 after eight games... If they're 4-4 or worse, then somebody's losing his job somewhere...

I agree with you. Really this team should be at least an 11 win team. It really comes down to QB play. And by that, I don't mean that we need the QB to win us games, just not lose them.

Of course injuries play a factor, chemistry etc...but on paper versus our schedule they should win 11 or 12 games.

Split with the Bills and Dolphins, possible losses to the Bucs, Browns & Titans.

Steal one or two of those and win the games you should, they could be in nice position for the playoffs.

 

[Ring 6]

Exactly. The roster is good. But we're in a weird place where the toxic media is riling up division and half the fanbase will be perversely against winning because Cam might be the QB.

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Fans are against newton playing because they want to win and he stinks at being an NFL QB.
There will be no division. Cam will sit and if he pouts he will be gone. The other 52 players will rejoice that they have a better QBs and a better chance to win

 

[mgcolby]

That would be nice if the Pats are winning and fans and media aren't perversely rooting against Cam. Agree to disagree. I think there's going to be a strong undercurrent that is weirdly rooting against the Patriots when the season starts.

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I was in that camp last season. The entire **** show the season was. A roster that really had no business winning 7 games let alone being a handful of plays away from 10 or 11 wins.

I was all in for tank for Trevor. Although I knew BB would never do that, but held out hope through the Jets game. Then that fantasy went away. This team and roster is obviously different, time will tell, but I think you will see a reinvigorated fanbase.

It's still the plane ride of the honeymoon. But having players that are newly signed fawning over playing for BB and being a Patriot bolds well for this team. Guys bought in and I think it shows in camp. Hopefully it holds true for the the long term.

 

[sambam94]

the dude can't throw..cut him

 

[DropKickFlutie]

I was in that camp last season. The entire **** show the season was. A roster that really had no business winning 7 games let alone being a handful of plays away from 10 or 11 wins.

I was all in for tank for Trevor. Although I knew BB would never do that, but held out hope through the Jets game. Then that fantasy went away. This team and roster is obviously different, time will tell, but I think you will see a reinvigorated fanbase.

It's still the plane ride of the honeymoon. But having players that are newly signed fawning over playing for BB and being a Patriot bolds well for this team. Guys bought in and I think it shows in camp. Hopefully it holds true for the the long term.

So if they had no business winning 7 games last year, seems like it's reasonable to expect Cam and the team would be even better this year with better pass catchers and no covid fog.

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[mgcolby]

So if they had no business winning 7 games last year, seems like it's reasonable to expect Cam and the team would be even better this year with better pass catchers and no covid fog.

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Yes that is what I said. But he still is and will most likely remain the weakest link in the offensive chain. And when the weakest link in your offensive chain is the QB that is not good.

You can argue for Cam anyway you want. He blatantly sucks. Not sure why you simply cannot admit this.

 

[sambam94]

With a ton of bad things happen last year and no good teammates he still passed for 66% and had 20 total TDs. How can you say he sucks for sure ? The low passing totals in the red zone are more on the OC who pigeon-holes him as a runner.

did you watch him play? this offense needs an accurate passer, Cam is not accurate.

 

[DropKickFlutie]

did you watch him play? this offense needs an accurate passer, Cam is not accurate.

A 66% completion rate including those misses straight in the dirt. Yes. And Tom House admitted Cam played with a messed up shoulder and foot last year. Do you remember his awkward hits last year in Sept ? But anyways, AGREE that if Cam isn't better this year then he shouldn't be the starter.

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[mgcolby]

Go look at how little they ran any play action last year within 5 yards of the goal line last year. It was terrible. Also not Meyers fault he had no receiving TDs last year. In this offense play action would be a no-brainer near the goal-line. Instead we had an OC who got tunnel vision with Cam and only thought 'run' in the red zone with Cam.

That says more about the QB and the trust the OC has in his accuracy. It's not like the OC that made a living off play action suddenly grew an aversion to it.

 

[DropKickFlutie]

That says more about the QB and the trust the OC has in his accuracy. It's not like the OC that made a living off play action suddenly grew an aversion to it.

I think Cam was pigeon-holed as a runner last year particularly in the red zone. This isn't an argument I care a ton about but as an example, there are definitely instances in prior seasons where the same OC had similarly bad simplistic thinking were X running back in the game meant run, and Y running back in the game meant pass. It was easy to key on and opposing teams definitely picked up on it. It's the tragedy of a John Carroll IQ running the offense and taking a long time to become not-bad since 2004, compared to some other person who probably could have picked it up faster. But it is what it is, because no one will take the guy off our hands, a pity.

Go back and look at the tape last year. The offense didn't attack the red zone much via passes. It was a simplistic run mentality. The OC doesn't see Cam as a passer. The fact Cam had his fewest TD pass attempts is also a reflection of the play calling. This offense should be using play action a ton when it's close to the endzone. Wasn't used much last year.

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[BennyBledsoe]

Drew's probably my favorite (duh), but.... no.

 

[DropKickFlutie]

Drew's probably my favorite (duh), but.... no.

If BB decides Cam is the best chance for the team and it's the first week of the season, will you root for the Patriots ?

 

[italian pat patriot]

If BB decides Cam is the best chance for the team and it's the first week of the season, will you root for the Patriots ?

This is a real weird question...

 

[PScottman]

The OC doesn't see Cam as a passer.

As to why they didn't run a lot of play action passes...maybe because the guy had 10 INTs - not of the "tipped" variety, but of the "I didn't see that defender at all" or "my accuracy isn't the best" variety (for the most part).



Inside the 20 it's much easier to "not see that guy" because there is a lot less space to cover and the windows get "infinitely smaller". Conversely, he fumbled six times losing only one (incl. bad snaps).

Play action also forces the QB to take their eyes off the field for a split second as well, selling the fake aspect. This LOWERS processing time and ability to see the field. Once again making Newton have to do things he's not as good at.

Numbers and evidence back up the OC's decision making to minimize turnovers maximizing AT LEAST a chance at 3 points each offensive trip.

The other old sayings also apply - you are what you are and maximize your strengths. Cam is not a passer, he's a thrower. There is a massive difference. The OC didn't try to force Cam into situations where he was more likely to fail, instead where he was more likely to succeed.



And while the Sheldon clip is funnier; it was The Simpsons that actually coined the "it's funny because its true" term.

 

[1960Pats]

I don't really understand that argument. "They need to start Cam, because the players around Cam are better now." Won't that also be true for Mac, if he seems to be the better overall player at the position?

It's Team Cam looking for any port in the storm.
It's very clear who most fans want to see at QB on opening day.

 

[Triumph]

Cam gives this team the best chance to win. Despite the WRs being bad.

If the 2 TEs can stay healthy, they should take pressure off the Little Rascals WR corp.

 

[zydecochris]

Of course. Patrick Mahomes sat out for a year, Andrew Luck didn't. Both are/were outstanding QBs.

This seems like a curious example. Mahomes sat a year and seems like he might be the most credible challenger in the future for Brady as GOAT (although I doubt he makes it). Luck, one of the highest ranked QB prospects ever, starts immediately, suffers a gigantic number of serious injuries and unexpectedly retires early. This example would seem a slam dunk case for sitting a year. There are counter examples (P. Manning, Marino), but I still see more success stories from QBs that don’t start immediately.

I would be shocked if Cam doesn’t start the first few games. I expect BB to give Mac a chance either around early mid season or if/when Cam gets injured, whichever happens first. Next year, when he has a year experience under his belt and a year to mold his body into NFL shape (remember that Brady himself said his body wasn’t in NFL shape his first year) that I am hopeful we will see the beginning of some great things from Mac.

 

[tom444]

This seems like a curious example. Mahomes sat a year and seems like he might be the most credible challenger in the future for Brady as GOAT (although I doubt he makes it). Luck, one of the highest ranked QB prospects ever, starts immediately, suffers a gigantic number of serious injuries and unexpectedly retires early. This example would seem a slam dunk case for sitting a year. There are counter examples (P. Manning, Marino), but I still see more success stories from QBs that don’t start immediately.

Well, I don't think it would have mattered in Luck's case. They didn't protect him throughout his time there.

 

[Simpelton]

While I get what you are saying you only keep him on the bench if Newton is winning games for them. If the young QB is mentally tough, and confident in their abilities, then they will fight through the tough times early in their career and learn and benefit from them. Manning went 1-15 and Elway’s rookie season was terrible, both went on to become all time great QB’s. If Belichick decides to go with Newton despite Jones outplaying him in the preseason then I won’t ***** about it, but if Newton is sucking and the Patriots are losing in September then it’s time for Jones to see real action. Either way I would rather see Jones get real playing time this season, and not just sit in the hope that will somehow make him better.

Nope I disagree with you. The time to give the offense to Mac is based on what Mac does, not what Cam does.