Jarrett Stidham's ex-OC on QB's statistical dip from 2017 to 2018, how he'll fit with Patriots

One of the things that stood out about the development of new Patriots’ quarterback Jarrett Stidham at the college level was the fact that he suffered a sizable statistical drop-off between 2017 and 2018.

As a sophomore, he led the SEC in completion percentage (67 percent) and completed passes (246) while throwing for 3,158 yards (second best in the SEC), as well as 18 touchdowns and six picks. In his first full year as a starter in the SEC, those stand as very good numbers, especially when you consider he had a five-game stretch near the end of the year (that included games against Georgia, Alabama and Texas A&M) where he completed 72 percent of his passes, as well 1,172 yards and eight touchdowns. It’s also worth mentioning he truly passed the eye test, particularly in those wins against Georgia and Alabama, where he looked every bit the part of an elite quarterback, and as a result, forced himself into the Heisman conversation for a spell.

Those totals slipped last year with the Tigers, as he took a step back in almost every major category — his completion rate, passing yards, completions, and yards per attempt all dropped. The Tigers went 8-5, and there was no talk of Stidham and the Heisman.

So what happened? To get some answers, we reached out to Chip Lindsey, who was the offensive coordinator for Auburn for the two seasons Stidham was with the Tigers.


Lindsey echoed Stidham’s comments, saying it was a lot to ask a college quarterback to replicate that level of production when there was so much turnover on the offensive line, as well as changeover at running back.

“Well, it started with the fact that he was under duress a whole lot in 2018 as opposed to 2017. We had most of our offensive line graduate,” said Lindsey, who is now the head coach at Troy.

“Then, there was the fact we lost Kerryon Johnson,” Lindsey said of Johnson, who rushed for 1,391 yards in 2017. “Most quarterbacks in that sort of situation are going to struggle. Kerryon, he’s the sort of back who is going to take a lot of pressure off an offensive line and the quarterback when it comes to the passing game. Not having him there took its toll, and the SEC is not a fun place to have to learn.”