Is Stidham any good?

[ColoradoBills]

10 minutes ago, Mat68 said:

Your not going to be more successfull without the GOAT and top 2 slot recievers in their primes.  Edelman is near the end.  The best case of action is get an athletic big arm qb who can get chunk plays out of PA.  Take advantage of a running game and good defense.  The days of NE having a ball control passing attack are over.  Brady played with an efficentcy rarley seen from the position.  Your not finding that out of thin air. 

 

The genius of Bill would be greatly diminished if they dont change their offense without Brady.  Brady played in the offnse for 20 years.  Run the ball, get some chunk passing plays off of it.  Play good defense and win low scoring games.

 

Add the fact that Matt LaCrosse is their vet TE and that opposing defenses will key on the running game I can see the Pats* struggling to score points.

Without Brady and his quick release I'm curious to see how their OL protects a 1st year QB.

[Kwai San]

Sheesh...smfh....nothing to see here folks.....move along now.....

[billsfan89]

On 5/2/2020 at 7:04 AM, Doc said:

 

Brady did the best he could with the lack of talent he had around him.  Stidham will struggle badly, especially facing the toughest schedule in the NFL.

 

 

 

The Patriots offense in 2018 was a ground and pound offense too. The Pats success is going to be determined by the offensive line and if they can get Sanu and Harry going.

 

In the end I think the Pats will be a 6-8 win team behind a strong defense and special teams but with an offense that will struggle against better defenses.

[HOUSE]

The Patriots could have signed Andy Dalton

 

3

[Gugny]

1 hour ago, JohnC said:

When there is minimal body of work bordering on almost no body of work then it is unfair to judge a young player on his body of work. New England and BB had him on the roster last year. Mostly based on practice they should have an inkling on what he is capable of. I don't know if he is going to develop into a capable franchise qb. However, what is apparent is that the organization made no effort in the draft or made a significant qb acquisition other than bringing in the pedestrian veteran, Brian Hoyer,  when there were more prominent qbs available such as Dalton, Winston and Newsome. My point is that I wouldn't be making any negative assumptions on him because he hasn't played. 

 

I agree.  But the odds are against him based on where he was drafted, alone.  If one wants to predict how successful he'll be, one can guess that, based on his late round draft, that he won't be any good.  History backs that up and it's a much safer bet than to say he's gonna be a decent NFL QB.

[Doc]

27 minutes ago, ColoradoBills said:

Add the fact that Matt LaCrosse is their vet TE and that opposing defenses will key on the running game I can see the Pats* struggling to score points.

Without Brady and his quick release I'm curious to see how their OL protects a 1st year QB.

 

16 minutes ago, billsfan89 said:

The Patriots offense in 2018 was a ground and pound offense too. The Pats success is going to be determined by the offensive line and if they can get Sanu and Harry going.

 

In the end I think the Pats will be a 6-8 win team behind a strong defense and special teams but with an offense that will struggle against better defenses.

 

Yup and they also lost OL master Dante Scarnecchia.  That's a huge blow as well.

[BillsNutHawaii]

10 hours ago, Zerovoltz said:

I am bored at work and saw the thread here about that reporter in Boston proclaiming the Pats would still win the division, the Jets, Bills, and Phins were all inept bla bla bla.  It compelled me to give Stidham a deeper look, so I watch all of his preseason work from 2019....these are my thoughts.

 

****MODS**** if this is deemed to not add anything of value here etc.....feel free to discard etc.....again...I'm bored at work....I did some office chair film review.

 

Here are my thoughts.

Right away you notice that Stidham is very good at climbing the pocket...this is one of Tom Bradys hallmarks, and Stidham is feerless in traffic, as he steps straight forward into the middle of relatively small pockets, keeping his eyes downfield and delivering alot of good passes. It's quite impressive. Of note....stidham, when climbing, usually does throw the ball, but when he feels the heat, this is also BY FAR his prefferred escape route....running straight ahead. in all the games he played, each opponent threw a middle blitz right at him, and all 3 of those times he just crumples to the ground.....or has no chance to escape. He's helpless against a free rusher coming up the middle right at him.

Stidham, when taking snaps from the gun, does go through his progressions fairly well, but he did tend to hold the ball for a while. In the games I watched, he was mostly playing scrubs....some of the better pass rushers in the leauge are going to get to this guy when he doens't make up his mind quickly to throw.

When stidham is flushed and tries to throw, he doesn't have the arm to get mustard on his passes....especially rolling to his left....throwing on the move to his left, he throws a VERY weak ball, and it isn't much better rolling right. He doesn't have the speed to create enough space to stop and reset once he starts to roll...so getting him moving out of hte pocket is advantage defense.

It's also very apparent in every game, ANYTIME Stidham ran play action, once he turns back around after the fake handoff, he is QUICK to throw...he already has in mind where the open man should be and often is correct and wastes no time at all getting the ball out...often to an open target. Its a sharp contrast watching how quick stidham gets the ball out on play action vs just taking a shotgun snap and standing around scanning the field and taking his time.

Given time in the pocket...or even when he is compelled to climb the pocket and throw, stidham was good at recognizing man coverage on the outside and throwing to that target. He rarely chose outside targets who were doubled up. He did go to some tightly covered targets in the middle of the field but had success on alot of that as he does well stepping into those throws as he is climbing up in the pocket and is able to get enough zip on the ball to get it through those tight windows.

In general Stidham had good pocket pressence and was good about feeling the pressure coming....but he lacks the athleticsm to do much about it once the rush hits home...even when he makes the effort to escape or sidestep, he's slow....and throwing under durress reveals the weakness of his arm when he can't step into the throw and drive the ball.

Only in the FINAL preseason game did i note ONE anticipation throw....a 7 yard out that he began the windup before the target made the cut. It was the only one I saw....could be due to playing with the scrubs...

Not the most graceful screen thrower...seems rushed and antsy trying to execute those.


Overall....I can see why Belichick might feel good enough to give this kid a real chance in 2020....I would want to see more work on timing routes with the 1's before I'd feel real good about this kid, but he seems capable and well suited to run the Patriot short passing game they prefer along with his fast execution of playaction...and they might just have something viable there.

You run some double tights and pound the rock setting up playaction.....I can see it working out. Need to see A LOT more in the timing/anticipation area.

 

 

Z, you’re spot on, thanks for doing the analysis and corresponding write up which I just didn’t have the time or patience to do.  It probably would have saved me plenty of grief with the other posters here who denied my claim that Stidham seems like a QB with a lot of potential. 

[GunnerBill]

54 minutes ago, Doc said:

 

 

Yup and they also lost OL master Dante Scarnecchia.  That's a huge blow as well.

 

It is. But their oline talent at the moment is legitimately good. There have been years when he has been turning water into wine (last year included with the injuries) but if their top 5 stay healthy they will have a top 10 offensive line.

[Doc]

7 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

It is. But their oline talent at the moment is legitimately good. There have been years when he has been turning water into wine (last year included with the injuries) but if their top 5 stay healthy they will have a top 10 offensive line.

 

Continued coaching is still important.  That's why these guys do nothing once they leave.

[JohnC]

1 hour ago, Gugny said:

 

I agree.  But the odds are against him based on where he was drafted, alone.  If one wants to predict how successful he'll be, one can guess that, based on his late round draft, that he won't be any good.  History backs that up and it's a much safer bet than to say he's gonna be a decent NFL QB.

Where he was drafted doesn't necessarily reflect what his talent level is. Coming out of high school he was one of the top rated qbs. He then went to Auburn where the coach who recruited him left. According to a number of reporters and analysts  who followed him at Auburn he ended up playing in a system that wasn't well suited to his individual talents. Without a doubt his college career didn't come close to matching his hype entering college. Are his extending circumstances a legitimate excuse for his disappointing college career? I can't say for sure. But what I can say is that based on the fact BB didn't pursue some qb options that were available, other than the Hoyer option, he is the designated starting qb. And that assessment was made by a few New England media people who commented on WGR.

 

New England has been the most successful franchise in the NFL for longer than a generation. Based on their roster I don't believe that they will be a SB contending team. It shouldn't surprise anyone that they are to an extent in a rebuilding cycle. I don't see it as a major overhaul but they are in the process of clearing out some talent in order to bring in replacement talent. 

[Mat68]

1 hour ago, ColoradoBills said:

 

Add the fact that Matt LaCrosse is their vet TE and that opposing defenses will key on the running game I can see the Pats* struggling to score points.

Without Brady and his quick release I'm curious to see how their OL protects a 1st year QB.

They dont have the players to play that way.  NE has had the Qb advantage 98% of the time for a better part of 20 years.  They will not in about every matchup this year.  That is a massive swing.  Last year Brady took sacks when nothing was availble.  Threw the ball away when unable to beat a blitz.  There is 0 chance whoever plays is going to beat that balancing act.  More turnovers, more short fields is going to trickle into the defense.

[BillsNutHawaii]

4 hours ago, Fan in Chicago said:

Zerovoltz is not a Bills fan

 

He’s not a Bills fan ?  EVEN BETTER! - I can trust him.

 

“Fan” is an abbreviation for Fanatic. Often, a fanatic loses sight of reality, example, see ISIS and other similar groups.  Fanaticism can grow to an unhealthy level to the point where the fanatic loses sight of reality, (ex. chopping off of heads by the fanatic for failure to translate a religious virtue as desired by that sick fanatic). Fanatics are everywhere, especially in sports and apparently but not surprisingly here at TBD.  Disagree with the fanatics on anything, (especially Patriots related - and even more-so if it’s praise worthy) and they start to breathe fire.  

 

Im a huge Bills fan for almost 40 years now (I can name with great detail almost every payer who has been on their roster during that time) and I also got my son a Tom Brady jersey he happily wears .... who cares, it’s just football....recommend u don’t let it ruin / dominate your lives.

[BillsNutHawaii]

6 hours ago, GaryPinC said:

I didn't just study science, I am a scientist.  I have worked for small biotechs and am currently in academia at age 50.  My past companies employed a range of business people.

 I would trust the integrity of a scientist well before I would trust the integrity of many lawyers and your average businessperson.

Any scientist that wants to get rich gets out of basic science.  We care about trying to better humankind in our own way.

But we are also fallible humans, so skepticism is healthy and most good scientists are good skeptics also.

Advocating scientists are not good scientists.  Our best advocacy is published results.

 

..... “most” good scientists, that’s what we all hope for .... in every field of work in life.  My point was simply about bias and a desire for a certain result (in this case Bills, Patriots, NFL and investigations)....reminder, the other poster initially brought science into this - not me.

[BillsNutHawaii]

2 hours ago, Don Otreply said:

So you condone what is considered cheating and poor sportsmanship  by the NFL itself, what does that say about you? Asking for a friend... oh, and I got a shovel You can have...

 

Go Bills!!!

 

What does it say about me ??  Why do you care about me at all?

 

cheating in football - they all cheat - for a 100 years now..... where’s your advocacy for when the Bills cheat/cheated?

 

If the patriots cheated, why didn’t they take away the SB trophies ???  

 

I live in a high rise in Hawaii - keep your shovel for your snow.

 

[BuffaloBills1998]

Stidham was mediocre in college and didn’t look impressive in the preseason of last year. I can’t imagine anyone in the NFL is worried about either Stidham or Brian Hoyer LMAO, especially with the lack of WRs I guarantee its gonna be 95 percent running and 5 percent passing 

Edited May 3, 2020 by BuffaloBills1998

[Don Otreply]

4 minutes ago, BillsNutHawaii said:

 

What does it say about me ??  Why do you care about me at all?

 

cheating in football - they all cheat - for a 100 years now..... where’s your advocacy for when the Bills cheat/cheated?

 

If the patriots cheated, why didn’t they take away the SB trophies ???  

 

I live in a high rise in Hawaii - keep your shovel for your snow.

 

    Why someone cares about other people, You not knowing an answer to that, well that’s on you. 
 

   Tell all of us about multiple times the Bills got caught cheating other teams. 

  I never expect perfect from humans, I do however expect them to correct their behavior when they cheat, amongst other behavior. 
Nuthin but luv Island guy. 
 

Go Bills!!!

[JohnC]

On 5/2/2020 at 8:47 AM, GunnerBill said:

 

I liked their first three picks (Dugger, Uche and Jennings). Think they are all good good players and good fits in that scheme and their defense did need an injection of youth. I didn't love the double dip at tight end on two players who were somewhat lower on my board than guys who went later (or in Hunter Bryant's case, didn't go at all) and like the Packers I was surprised that they didn't take advantage of the deep receiver class at some point - whether that be in round 2 or round 3.

 

Agree they are not tanking. I also agree that even if they were planning to they are not bad enough to be seriously in the conversation for a top 3 pick. Them drafting in the top 10? Yea, I can see that. But if you want a Lawrence or a Fields that isn't going to get it done because nobody is trading away the chance to take Trevor Lawrence unless something really weird happens to him this season and I'd be surprised at this point if anyone was willing to trade away a shot at Fields unless it is Cincy (who have taken Burrow this year but still have a woeful defense in a good division) or a team who bizarrely lose their QB to injury for the year (Houston or Seattle or someone like that who have lots of holes and need the picks and have their Quarterback).

 

As for the Dolphins..... my feelings on their draft are mixed. I am a big fan of the coach - GM combo they have there I think they finally have good people in situ. I loved them taking Tua. Right pick. If he stays healthy he will succeed. The next three picks - Jackson, Igbinoghene and Hunt all high ceiling guys but all went way earlier than I'd have taken them and have some bust potential. After that they got back on track... Davis, Jones, Kindley, Weaver.... all good pick ups. I think Miami will be better than last year but that might not show on their win total by more than a game or two because the schedule is a lot tougher for all of the AFCE. I also think they might start slow because some of those early picks they will be looking at to start are pretty raw.

As usual, excellent write up. In essence what you are saying is that their success is predicated on player development. Again, as you noted it seems that their HC and GM are in sync like McDermott and Beane are. One of the best coaching jobs that I have seen recently is what McDermott did in his first year (a playoff year) with a stripped down roster. I thought that Flores did an equally tremendous job with a cleaned out and thin roster. A lot of teams have hired Patriot coaches without much success. Flores, a former special teams coach with NE, seems to be on an upward trajectory where his prior NE associates have had less than middling success.  

[BillsNutHawaii]

6 minutes ago, Don Otreply said:

    Why someone cares about other people, You not knowing an answer to that, well that’s on you. 
 

   Tell all of us about multiple times the Bills got caught cheating other teams. 

  I never expect perfect from humans, I do however expect them to correct their behavior when they cheat, amongst other behavior. 
Nuthin but luv Island guy. 
 

Go Bills!!!

 

“Nothing but love island guy”. ....well now you changed your tone (ref shovel and that I condone cheating - never said that) and I can reciprocate with “nothing but love” as you said.

 

- Tell you about times Bills cheated:  Im sure you heard of Fred Smerlas and Conrad Dobler, just to name a few.  But I don’t consider what they did cheating, in my opinion (just like the patriots - I’m consistent here) they just competed hard. 

 

To be clearer about caring, I’m not sure why you care so much about my beliefs / opinions about what you call cheating and I believe is competing hard.  Trust me, if this was about something meaningful in nature like a kid being short changed in their education, I’d be first in line for caring.  This is football, I think there is room for differing opinions about competitive play (as I call it) and cheating (as you call it).

 

Fair enough ? Peace ?

[GunnerBill]

1 hour ago, Doc said:

 

Continued coaching is still important.  That's why these guys do nothing once they leave.

 

These guys are just better than the other guys though. I never loved Nate Solder and Trent Brown et al..

[Doc]

1 minute ago, GunnerBill said:

These guys are just better than the other guys though. I never loved Nate Solder and Trent Brown et al..

 

Thuney is no better than Mankins was.  And I'm thinking that they're going to have to remove the franchise tag from Thuney because they don't want to pay him $15M/year. 

 

But IMHO, coaching is huge for that group.  I guess we shall see.