For the past couple of seasons, the New England Patriots have been forced to hope that they have the right pieces heading into the season. Through the play of Joe Milton during a preseason game against the Carolina Panthers, legitimate hope appears on the horizon. Either the current Apples to Apples comparisons are virtually meaningless or the current crop of players starting at the QB position might have some depth.
It's possible that that will no longer be a concern. Either the current apples-to-apples comparisons are virtually meaningless or the current crop of players starting at the QB position might have some depth. Naturally, fans have been here before in terms of a promising rookie or newcomer looking good in August. Notably, comparisons to the product out of Tennessee and Malik Cunningham are impossible to avoid.
However, there was something about the limited snaps from this past year's six-round draft pick. Many are going to point to his scrambling ability, particularly on the play that he was able to extend, but there's more to it than that. His pocket presence and awareness are ahead of a lot of rookies at this particular stage in their careers.
He showed the ability to stay calm to navigate amidst a pass rush while keeping his eyes downfield. It's impossible to say if something was or wasn't open due to the camera angle, but either way, he kept the ball safe, tucked it, kept it secure, and kept the offense on the field. That alone is something that has been missing from quarterback play lately. The ability to eat it down and not put the ball in harm's way is essential.
This is obviously true of whoever the starting quarterback ends up being. But it's also true that Joe Milton is likely to see playing time having to come off the bench. Therefore, reading the defenses, staying calm, and maintaining possession is really what will be asked of him if you were to see playing time this year. Being able to rely on someone to avoid costly mistakes and to just lean on the defense is exactly what's needed and what we saw from the former Volunteer.
Next step for Joe Milton
It's hard to be too harsh on anything the signal caller did in his outing. They were limited snaps, and it was deep in the game, so a lot of players that he was playing with and against aren't even going to be on a roster for too much longer. However, as mentioned, that's true regardless, and fans have to be able to evaluate what happened based on what was seen, not on potential projections or limitations.
And again, it's hard to say what exactly needs to be worked on only due to the limited viewing access of what actually happened on the field. Of course, the Patriots faithful would like to see him complete passes more in the intermediate to deep range. And it's very possible that some plays were left out there on the field. But for the time being, avoiding turnovers is a priority.
Undoubtedly, there is a buzz. Since watching his college pro day, the talent and big play ability were clear. But his play against the Panthers showed another, to this point, overlooked aspect of his game. The poise and control while facing a live pass rush is a fantastic sign.
And as seen on the touchdown reception, the toolkit to look off a Defender and complete a passage is there. However, regardless if it's in Foxboro or elsewhere for Joe Milton, the primary threat of this game will need to evolve from picking up yards with his feet.
留言