FOXBORO — All it took was 15 snaps on the finish of a preseason sport, however Patriots followers have grow to be enamored with undrafted rookie Malik Cunningham.
It’s comprehensible. In a sport through which Mac Jones noticed zero motion and the offense regarded lifeless with Bailey Zappe and Trace McSorley underneath middle thanks largely to an ineffective offensive line, Cunningham added life in Thursday night time’s loss to the Houston Texans. The Patriots have been abruptly taking part in a lot quicker as Cunningham led the offense on their solely touchdown-scoring drive, going 3-of-4 for 19 yards as a passer and main the group with 34 speeding yards and a landing on 5 makes an attempt.
After barely taking part in quarterback for a lot of the first two weeks of coaching camp as he continued a transition to huge receiver that began within the spring, Cunningham began taking extra important reps underneath middle within the two practices continuing Thursday night time’s preseason opener in opposition to the Houston Texans.
He regarded like a pure, and people quarterback reps have continued into this week. The former Louisville QB has obtained 5 reps underneath middle in every of the Patriots’ two practices since Thursday’s sport.
The 6-foot-1, 198-pound offensive weapon truly took the primary 11-on-11 reps in Sunday’s observe with the beginning offensive line. He later obtained work within the crimson zone with backups.
All 5 of Cunningham’s snaps Monday interrupted starter Mac Jones’ cycles in 11-on-11s. Jones would begin the drive. Then Cunningham would change him, forcing the protection to establish {that a} new quarterback was within the huddle. Then after one or two snaps, Jones would re-enter the sphere. He’s tried one go over the past two days, and it fell incomplete.
Patriots huge receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster did say Sunday that Cunningham’s most important focus remains to be at huge receiver. Cunningham, who’s formally listed on the roster as a quarterback, shouldn’t be carrying a crimson non-contact jersey historically worn by QBs. Teammates have been impressed by the versatile rookie.
“He just does everything he’s asked to do,” security Jabrill Peppers stated Monday after observe. “He’s trying to do it to the best of his ability whether it’s receiver, quarterback, they got him playing gunner now. The more you can do, man. He’s definitely keeping his value.”
Cunningham’s finest go Thursday was dropped by huge receiver Tre Nixon. Peppers known as it a “dot.”
So, what’s happening right here? What are the Patriots doing with their highest-paid undrafted free agent in group historical past and the way important is that this?
A glance forward?
It’s by no means too early to begin sport planning for the common season when contests truly rely. The Patriots will get nice work in over the following two weeks with joint practices and preseason video games scheduled with the Green Bay Packers and Tennessee Titans, but it surely appears the group is making the most of their alone time this week to probably put together for Week 1 in opposition to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts completed fourth amongst quarterbacks in speeding yards final season, carrying the ball 123 occasions for 758 yards with 13 touchdowns. The Patriots may also face Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen twice this season plus probably Washington Commanders QB Sam Howell, Indianapolis Colts QB Anthony Richardson, New York Giants QB Daniel Jones and Denver Broncos QB Russell Wilson, all of whom will be harmful with the ball of their arms as rushers.
It could be price conserving Cunningham on the 53-man roster for the primary week of the common season simply to make sure the Patriots don’t lose a worthwhile scout-team choice heading into Week 1 in opposition to the Eagles. Cunningham isn’t taking conventional reps underneath middle, and it’s necessary for the Patriots protection to get these reps as early as potential.
The Patriots misplaced all 4 video games through which they confronted cell quarterbacks final season. Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson carried the ball 11 occasions for 107 yards with a speeding landing in a 37-26 Week 3 win over the Patriots. Chicago Bears QB Justin Fields additionally carried the ball 11 occasions with a landing and 82 yards in a shock 33-14 win over the Patriots in Week 7. The Bears didn’t win a sport for the remainder of the season. Allen and the Bills beat the Patriots twice. Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray began Week 14 in opposition to the Patriots however suffered a season-ending harm three performs into the sport.
But it’s clear the Patriots’ protection may use extra work in opposition to cell quarterbacks, and Cunningham completed his five-year profession at Louisville with 347 carries for 3,713 yards with 50 touchdowns.
Third QB?
The second chance is said to an underreported storyline early in coaching camp if solely as a result of it’s appeared insignificant up so far, however McSorley has struggled because the Patriots’ third-string quarterback in observe after which went 1-of-3 for 4 yards in opposition to the Texans on Thursday. He additionally carried the ball as soon as for 3 yards in two drives.
McSorley hasn’t obtained any work at quarterback in aggressive drills over the past two practices.
The Patriots could possibly be seeing if Cunningham is adept sufficient at quarterback to function their third-stringer behind Jones and Zappe. He doesn’t have conventional mechanics, and the Patriots would want to overtake their offense if he did get taking part in time this season. But he’d be an thrilling participant to roster even when he was inserted mid-drive to provide the Patriots’ offense a change of tempo to run some read-option and RPOs.
The NFL handed a brand new rule permitting groups to decorate a 3rd “emergency” quarterback with out making him lively. It’s unclear how that rule would work for the Patriots if Cunningham continues to work with huge receivers and if the group would need to combine him into sport plans. The emergency QB can solely enter a sport if the 2 lively quarterbacks are injured. If one of many lively quarterbacks will get medically cleared, then the emergency quarterback can be faraway from the sport.
So, if Cunningham is made the emergency QB, the Patriots couldn’t insert him into the sport on designed performs. The Patriots may probably make Zappe their emergency quarterback, however that will imply counting on Cunningham to be Jones’ high backup in case of an harm, which might be a serious danger.
Moving ahead
It’s robust to say the place this experiment goes transferring ahead, as a result of a number of it will depend on how Cunningham continues to carry out. He’s nonetheless taking drills at huge receiver, however that might change if the Patriots really feel he’s adept sufficient to function the third-string quarterback. His development at huge receiver will likely be stunted by the reps he receives at quarterback.
It’s too early to be speaking about Cunningham as something greater than a gadget participant, third-string quarterback or continued huge receiver convert. He’s not even assured a roster spot if he can’t proceed this trajectory and make extra constructive steps over the following month earlier than the Patriots play the Eagles on Sept. 10.
But it’s a enjoyable storyline and one that ought to proceed to evolve on a day-to-day foundation.
Source: www.bostonherald.com