{"id":17993,"date":"2018-06-21T13:44:13","date_gmt":"2018-06-21T17:44:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/patriots\/blog\/?p=17993"},"modified":"2018-06-21T13:44:13","modified_gmt":"2018-06-21T17:44:13","slug":"2018-patriots-training-camp-primer-quarterbacks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/patriots\/blog\/2018\/06\/21\/2018-patriots-training-camp-primer-quarterbacks\/","title":{"rendered":"2018 Patriots Training Camp Primer – Quarterbacks"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Patriots head into training camp in just a few weeks, the OTAs and minicamp are over and the team has a 90-man roster ready to go. They\u2019ll tweak this a bit as we go on but this group should remain pretty intact to start thru the beginning of training camp. As a lead-in to the beginning of camp, we\u2019ll break down the positions and give our take on who is a lock, a near lock for the 53-man roster and who is on the bubble. So first up are the quarterbacks<\/span><\/p>\n

Sorry to say, this column is strictly football, so if you\u2019re looking for analysis of body language, the subliminal messages by Gisele or TB12 that may have been sent on social media or the butterfly effect that the Dalai Lama breaking wind in Tibet and the effect it will have on the Patriots this season, you can save yourself the time now. <\/span><\/p>\n

So\u2026 who is locked in and who is on the bubble?<\/span><\/p>\n

Roster Locks: Tom Brady<\/b>
\n<\/b>The Patriots are so fortunate that every year since early in the 2001 season, they know who their starting QB is and have the luxury of knowing that he is more than capable enough to take them to the promised land. <\/span><\/p>\n

In 2017, the 40-year old quarterback had an MVP season, completing 385 of 581 passes, (66.3 %), for 32 TDs and just 8 INTs. He led the Patriots offense to 394.2 yards per game, #1 in the NFL and to 28.6 points per game, #2 in the league. <\/span><\/p>\n

In the playoffs, Brady went 89 of 139 (64%) for 1132 yards with 8 TDs and 0 INTs. He brought the Patriots back in another big 4th quarter comeback in the AFC Championship Game against the Jacksonville Jaguars leading to a third Super Bowl appearance in four years. Against the Eagles, Brady went 28-48 (58.3%) for a Super Bowl record 505 yards with 3 TDs and 0 INTs.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, every season we deal with the inevitable question of \u201cwhen will Brady begin to show his age and slow down? Answer: It doesn\u2019t look like it anytime soon. Which is why I have zero issues with Brady taking the OTAs off this season. <\/span><\/p>\n

Consequently, lost in the all the \u201cHatfield – McCoy Feud\u201d storyline is the fact that perhaps Brady feels at his age that he wants to limit the wear and tear on his arm and may have been feeling fatigued at the end of last season. That very possible scenario got little to no play this spring. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If that is the case, I have zero problems with it and neither should anyone else. He\u2019s more than earned that right. But for the record, would I rather see #12 QBing the team during the spring workouts? Of course, especially with the new faces here on the roster. So, we\u2019ll see how all of this works out, but if you\u2019re expecting (hoping) to see a significant drop off in Brady\u2019s production, you may be disappointed. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However, there are some legitimate questions to ask this year. How will Brady deal with the loss of <\/span><\/p>\n