When the New England Patriots introduced Malik Cunningham back again and put him on the follow squad adhering to cutdown working day, numerous assumed that he would be utilized to mimic one of the numerous mobile quarterbacks the workforce has on their plan this period.
So, with the Patriots getting on the Philadelphia Eagles in 7 days 1, the Patriots could use Cunningham in a exercise in a comparable way the Eagles use Jalen Hurts, appropriate?
Very well, that’s not exactly the circumstance, at minimum in Bill Belichick’s eyes.
Patriots: Bill Belichick reacts to Jalen Hurts-Malik Cunningham comparison
In the course of Wednesday’s push meeting, the Patriots mentor was requested if it is really handy to have Cunningham accessible for the scout group to assist mimic Hurts and get the workforce ready. Belichick shot down any comparisons in between the undrafted rookie and the star quarterback.
“Yeah, no, I imply, Malik’s bought some excellent capabilities. I mean, I believe it’d be a extend to assess Malik Cunningham to Jalen Hurts now,” Belichick claimed. “I indicate, you happen to be speaking about a dude who’s second in MVP voting final 12 months, or what ever he was. I don’t know.”
Belichick is correct that Hurts finished second in MVP voting very last time, major the Eagles to 14 wins in 15 commences as he threw for 3,701 yards and rushed for 760 yards while scoring 35 full touchdowns.
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“But you’re talking about arguably the greatest participant in the league or one particular of the best two or 3 greatest gamers in the league.”
— Invoice Belichick on Jalen Hurts #Eagles | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/Xg3gij3oaO
— JAKIB Athletics (@JAKIBSports) September 6, 2023
The Patriots coach continued to dismiss the comparison, even nevertheless the query wasn’t actually comparing Cunningham to Hurts.
“So yeah, athletically there are some similarities, but you happen to be talking about arguably the most effective participant in the league — or a single of the best two or a few very best players in the league. No one has anybody that can be him,” Belichick reported. “And if they do, that guy’s likely not playing on scout workforce for that team anyway. So, yeah, I imply, it is what it is. We go through that each individual 7 days. Each and every team’s received a couple of good gamers and some excellent gamers, and it can be difficult to replicate those people players. And if you have 1, your guy’s almost certainly not on the scout team undertaking it for that person anyway.
“So, you know, you do the most effective you can but yeah, we will have any person to try out to simulate the finest we can what Hurts does. But we you should not have any person like Hurts, and almost certainly neither does any individual else.”
Of program, Belichick is suitable in that Cunningham does not stack up to Hurts as a participant. But no just one really is below the illusion that they’re shut in expertise, possibly. The comparison between the two players truly commences and ends with their cell capability as Cunningham rushed for 50 touchdowns in excess of his four seasons as a commencing quarterback at Louisville.
Patriots-Eagles 7 days 1 clash
The Patriots can also draw some things from other encounters they have experienced from cellular quarterbacks to put together for Sunday’s match. They have not finished as well very well against people types of quarterbacks in new seasons while, notably battling against Josh Allen every time they have confronted the Buffalo Expenditures. For reference, Allen’s scored 18 touchdowns in his 6 games against the Patriots, major the Charges to decisive wins in 5 of these games.
Probably Cunningham’s existence on the roster and supplying the workforce a search in practice they haven’t viewed considering the fact that Cam Newton was on the workforce 3 years in the past can assistance transform matters.