Dante Scarnecchia, the legendary offensive line coach for the New England Patriots who retired this offseason, seems just as excited as everyone else to see Cam Newton on the roster.
While making an appearance on Sirius XM Mad Dog Sports Radio, Scarnecchia weighed in on Newton's quarterback battle with Jarrett Stidham:
“I think he has a huge edge, because of what he’s done in the league. The guy was an MVP [in 2015]. We played against him a number of times, have a huge respect for him as a player and leader, and the things he’s done. This guy, from a skill set, a lot different from guys we’ve had in there at quarterback over the years,” he told Medow. “[Jarrett] Stidham has great feet and ability to move and avoid the rush, and create and do a lot of similar things. I don’t think he’s to Cam’s skill set, but this guy is a pretty good player. He also has a tremendous work ethic and he’s a smart guy. I know this, you have to be a smart guy to play quarterback in that system. Having said all that, the cupboard is not half empty by any means. I think there is a lot of enthusiasm. The situation looks a lot different than it did two months ago.”
When Tom Brady departed in free agency, it was assumed that Stidham would replace him at quarterback. However, after considering their options, the Patriots signed Newton to a one-year deal for the 2020 season.
Seeing that Newton was a former NFL MVP, he has the edge over Stidham heading into training camp. Of course, Newton's success is entirely contingent on his health.
While Stidham isn't favored to win the starting job, Scarnecchia pointed out that he brings a unique skill set to New England as well. Regardless of who is named the starter, Scarnecchia realizes that the Patriots are going to look a bit different on offense this season.
Follow Us
Subscribe