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New England Patriots: 5 second-year players primed to breakout in 2020

By Tarringo Basile-vaughan

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 10: Chase Winovich #50 of the New England Patriots scores a touchdown off of a recovered blocked punt against the New York Giants during the first quarter in the game at Gillette Stadium on October 10, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 10: Chase Winovich #50 of the New England Patriots scores a touchdown off of a recovered blocked punt against the New York Giants during the first quarter in the game at Gillette Stadium on October 10, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /
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New England Patriots Jarrett Stidham (Photo by Billie Weiss/Getty Images)
New England Patriots Jarrett Stidham (Photo by Billie Weiss/Getty Images) /

The New England Patriots will cash in on  Jarrett Stidham gamble.

Tom Brady’s departure has pushed second-year quarterback Jarrett Stidham into the spotlight perhaps sooner than expected.

Though he has the talent, the big question will be whether Stidham is ready to lead the New England Patriots offense and if Bill Belichick making a huge gamble by relying on a quarterback who only threw one pass in the regular season for a pick-6 in 2019.

With options still out there like free agent veteran quarterback Cam Newton, there is still question on whether Jarrett Stidham will even be the starter come Week 1 on the 2020 NFL season.  One possibility everyone is either annoying or avoiding is Brian Hoyer as the starter to begin the 2020 season.

Related Story. Why counting on Jarrett Stidham is a huge gamble. light

Former Patriots linebacker Rob Ninkovich put that possibility out there during his appearance on ESPN’s Get Up.

"“I think Brian Hoyer will be the starter Week 1 and I say that because the quarterback position is one of the most important for reps under center, seeing defensive looks, looking at coverage, understanding the offense,” Ninkovich said, as transcribed by WEEI.  “…Look, they’re not practicing right now.  There’s no minicamp, there’s no offseason, there’s no training camp.  We don’t know when that’s going to happen.”"

While Ninkovich makes a good point, it’s hard to see the Patriots offense rolling with Hoyer over a talent like Jarrett Stidham unless he proves he is really not ready.

Let’s remember, Tom Brady was in his second season with the team when he took over for Drew Bledsoe.  Matt Cassel had way less experience as a college player than Stidham and he did enough to lead the team to 11 wins.

I think between Bill Belichick and Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels will put Jarrett Stidham in position to at least not hurt the team.  Will he be a game manager at first?  Yes, because that is essentially what Brian Hoyer will be.

If he is the starter, and it appears that is the direction the New England Patriots are leaning, he will eventually show off his passing skills as a quarterback as the season wanes.

I’m not saying he will be what Patrick Mahomes was in his second season in the NFL, but he is talented enough and smart enough to lead the team to at least 9 wins. In that, the team and fans will have confidence in Jarrett Stidham as the Tom Brady successor moving forward.

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