Belichick reiterates his belief in Cam Newton as Patriots' starting quarterback

Despite pulling Cam Newton for Jarrett Stidham in Sunday's blowout loss to the 49ers, Bill Belichick said after the game that Newton was still the starting quarterback.

"Yeah, absolutely," Belichick said. "Just wanted to give Stid a little experience here."

A day and a viewing of the film later, Belichick was in the same camp.

“I think (Newton's) our best player there, so again, there are other problems offensively," Belichick told WEEI's Ordway, Merloni & Fauria. "There are things we need to do better and that is what we're going to work on. I think we have our best players out there. We just have to find a way to be more productive. We have been at times, but we certainly weren’t yesterday, and we need to see if we can improve that.”

Between Newton and Belichick, it seemed like everyone was in agreement that Newton is not operating the position properly — it's not a physical issue.

"I know I am better than what I am putting on film. And that’s simple," Newton told The Greg Hill Show on WEEI. "I accept any type of personal blaming and dealings and I know there’s light at the end of the tunnel. You cannot get to three and four wins without getting to one win and that’s everything that we’re worried about.

“For any type of competitor, do you feel embarrassed? Yeah. I am as honest as I can possibly be right now, but yet it tells you. And the first thing I said to myself coming home, I said, ‘You keep playing games like that, bro, and it’s going to be a permanent change.' So, whatever type of way that we have to motivate ourselves, I am honest with myself so that leaves no type of miscommunication with others."

Newton indicated his issues are mental at the moment.

“Nervous? No. Scared? Absolutely not,” Newton said. “Thinking? Now that is something that I can probably finger point.”

How do the Patriots solve that? Belichick said it starts on the practice field, and the lessons for Newton are not translating for some reason.

“That’s what we do during the week," Belichick said. "It’s meetings, walkthroughs, practice to try to get things set up in a way that we can operate efficiently and effectively. So, we obviously have to do a better job of that. That’s pretty clear.”

Belichick also gave his thoughts on helping a QB who is struggling with the timing of the passing offense.

"Yeah, well, as you know, the timing on the passing game varies from play-to-play. So, some passes are intended to be quicker and shorter drops – or it could be in the shotgun, but whatever – other plays are more intermediate-level type plays and some are longer and then some are moving pocket design and things like that," Belichick said. "So, it really depends on the timing of the play and how long we’re holding the ball and how deep the routes are and so forth. And then, of course, what happens with the receivers and the coverage and obviously the protection, so all those variables come into play, as well.

"We have different timing on the passes throughout the game, and so sometimes the design is for the play to take longer and give it a chance to develop more downfield, spread the defense; other plays are designed for the ball to come out quicker. I feel comfortable with all those in our offense. We just need to do a better job with it, and we need to coach it better and we need to execute them better."

ASIASI OR KEENE, NOT BOTH?

It was interesting that Belichick told OMF that rookie TEs Devin Asiasi (healthy scratch on Sunday) and Dalton Keene (active for the first time in his career) could both be active only if someone else was down.

After the Patriots traded up for both players, there was a chance of Keene-Asiasi being the Patriots' version of the 49ers' Kyle Juszczyk and George Kittle. Guess that's been shelved for the time being.

“I think based on the practices that (Keene) deserved a chance to play,” Belichick said.

“Sure (both players could be on the field). That would require somebody else not being on the field, but yeah, definitely. Some of that’s based on practice competition, but some of it’s based on performance, as well. A guy goes out there and plays well, then he’s going to continue to get opportunities to play.

“And the player, in order to gain those opportunities, has to perform well in the opportunities that he gets, which may be practice if only one guy’s active. So that would be his opportunity to play.”

COPELAND LOST FOR THE SEASON

Linebacker Brandon Copeland, who started four games this season but averaged 11 snaps per game, reportedly suffered a torn pectoral muscle and will be lost for the season, according to ProFootballTalk.com.

https://twitter.com/bcope51/status/1320838579942232069

The Patriots were already challenged at linebacker, and now they're down to Ja'Whaun Bentley and three rookies: Anfernee Jennings, Josh Uche and Cassh Maluia. Uche and Maluia have yet to appear on defense this season (Uche hasn't suited up).