You can forget reading any praise delivered on a rookie quarterback from head coach Bill Belichick, but so far Jarrett Stidham is getting rave reviews from his teammates and reporters watching practices.
“He (Stidham) has got good command,” running back James White told reporters. “It’s tough being a quarterback on any team, especially on our offense. There’s a lot you have to know. He’s trying to put the work in, trying to learn as much as possible, and all of the young guys and us veterans are trying to make him feel comfortable and make some plays for him.”
Patriots training camp observations:
*Sloppy day for the offense
*Undrafted rookie WR Jakobi Meyers making a strong push
*Defensive front dominates
*More work for Sony Michel
*Jarrett Stidham stands out in limited reps https://t.co/jAC6diAMIP— Kevin Duffy (@KevinRDuffy) August 1, 2019
Stidham was a fourth round pick out of Auburn in April’s NFL Draft. Last season with the Tigers, he completed 60.7 percent of his passes for 2,794 yards and 18 touchdowns with five interceptions.
If you really want to have your mind blown, Stidham, according to MassLive.com’s Andrew Callahan, has so far outperformed the guy ahead of him on the depth chart, six-time Super Bowl Champion and future first-ballot Hall of Famer Tom Brady.
Callahan says that so far in camp, Stidham’s completion percentage is 10 points higher than Brady’s, 68 percent to 58 percent through the team’s first 10 practices and Tuesday the rookie went 8-for-8 on team drills.
Jarrett Stidham continues to look more and more comfortable. Accurate. Anxious to see him compete this week in Michigan. #Patriots
— Mike Giardi (@MikeGiardi) August 2, 2019
His new teammates are already heaping on the praise.
“He (Stidham) is getting more comfortable,” wide receiver Phillip Dorsett said. “He has a live arm, can make any throw. I like Jarrett. It’s the National Football League, and he’s young. Coming in here is tough. A lot of stuff gets thrown at you really fast and changes on the move, so you have to be able to adjust. He’s doing all right.”
Stidham currently sits at No. 4 on New England’s depth chart, behind Brady (obviously), Brian Hoyer and 2018 seventh rounder Danny Etling. Etling is probably going to lose his job when the final cuts happen. If Stidham keeps performing like this, he might send Hoyer to the unemployment line as well.
