FOXBOROUGH — Through two weeks of Patriots training camp, we can say a few definitive things about where things stand at the quarterback position:
- Cam Newton is the starter.
- He has not yet done enough to lose that spot, and Mac Jones hasn't done enough to take it from him.
- Both have demonstrated the ability to play winning football.
- There is time for things to change, and we likely wouldn't know much about it until right before the season opener on Sept. 12 — which is still a football eternity away — because of the strange schedule this year.
- Bill Belichick is giving Newton his veteran due, but he keeps leaving the door open for Jones.
Those are the black and white factors at the QB position. But there is so much gray and areas of interpretation that will go into what happens at this position.
Here are some of the discussion points.
Time
Quite frankly, we've never seen anything like this in the NFL. The Patriots will wrap the preseason on Aug. 29th. Then they will have a full two weeks to prepare for the season opener on Sept. 12th (it's previously only been about 10 days). Those practices will be completely behind closed doors. There is a distinct possibility we won't know definitively who the Patriots starter is until a day or two before the game. It would be the ultimate Hoodie move if he was to keep under wraps the identity of the starter until the morning of the Dolphins opener. You don't think Belichick would delight in having former assistant Brian Flores guessing whether it's Newton or Jones — two distinctly different quarterbacks — until the day of the game?
Here's the other thing with the timing, and Mike Lombardi mentioned this on his recent podcast: due to the very slow ramp-up in the CBA, the smart teams who previously used to use the first month of the season as extended training camp — the Patriots were the pioneers — might now take it into October.
I've talked in the past about Jones perhaps not having enough real practice time to win the job from Newton ... for the season opener. But if Belichick's undecided or at least still open to the Jones possibility this season (the way he is fast-tracking Jones' acclimation into the system tells you Belichick is), the ultimate decision on who is the Patriots' starting QB for 2021 — for the balance of the season, not the opener — might not come for some time.
Newton's improvement
There are plenty out there who are just adamantly against Newton ever being the Patriots' starter again. I get it. But you should give Newton his due and admit that Cam 2.0 has been better than the original. He looks more comfortable. His timing is a little better. So is his accuracy. He has improved some. If an untalented Patriots team on both sides of the ball could nearly finish .500 with the Newton of last year, this team can certainly finish over .500 with this version.
I do not think this would be happening without the presence of Jones. The rookie is pushing hard, and pushing Newton hard. The veteran sees his football mortality flickering and sees what we all see: that the rookie is a much better fit for this offense and it's only a matter of time before he is given full control. Newton has no choice but to keep raising his level, and I think Belichick loves it.
That's why I expect Belichick and Josh McDaniels to keep giving Jones meaningful reps with the starters. How they handle the QBs in joint practices against the Eagles and Giants will be a huge indicator of where this is going.
Jones' growing comfort
Jones certainly had a few issues the first week when Belichick basically threw the entire offense into boiling water by starting with red zone install against a veteran defense. But since that time, Jones has gotten more and more comfortable, especially in game situations. This is where Jones might have an edge on Newton if this continues.
Monday's practice clearly showed that. He had no issues operating his drive the starters. In fact, a few times he directed receivers and tight ends to other spots at the line of scrimmage. In his first live two-minute drill with backups, Jones clearly commanded the troops and was assertive — he is light years ahead of other rookies we've seen around here.
It will be interesting to see how this evolves in the joint practices. Most of those sessions are heavy on competitive periods — they are much more important than the preseason games. There will be extended drives. Two-minute drives. Red zone sessions. If Jones keeps looking more comfortable and in command against unfamiliar players and schemes than Newton then things could change in a hurry.
Where things stand after two weeks
Jones has started to ascend, but it's hard to see him displacing Newton right now for the start of the season. With defense and special teams being the identity of this team, and the offense just needing to run the ball and to take care of the ball in the first month or so, Newton feels like the known entity at this point. I could see Belichick being comfortable with that.
But the timing and accuracy in which Jones operates this offense, and his ability to be a much better play-faker — which will be huge to open up space with a run-first team — Jones has to be very tempting to Belichick, especially since he knows Jones will take care of the ball. He's no reckless rookie, for sure.
I don't think this is over by any stretch. If Jones pops in the Eagles practices, I could see him getting more time against the Giants ... and then with those two weeks, who knows?
The lingering thought on Jones is whether or not it's just a year too soon for him physically. I don't think Belichick loses either way. If he starts Newton, either the Patriots win or Newton plays himself out of job and that's easier to deal with. Jones has won over the veterans at practice — you can see it on the field — so if it's him, there will not be any silly division within the team. I don't see Cam players out there, and I don't see Jones players. I see players who want to win and succeed. If Belichick goes with Jones and it's too soon, Newton will be a pro taking back the job, and Jones would not be affected by a demotion — he's too headstrong.
Does it make some sense to use both quarterbacks? Yes. Newton could start and play when it's a ball-control game dictated by the defense. If the Patriots need to pass out of deficit, I could see Jones being inserted. Platooning makes sense ... in theory. In actuality, it doesn't put either player in a position succeed, which is why McDaniels looked like he was asked to kiss his sister when asked if it was possible.
"I’ve never done that, really," McDaniels said. "We haven’t even gotten close to that conversation, so I’m not sure about that.”
Bottom line: it's Newton's job and he's the favorite after two weeks, but these next two weeks will tell us a lot.