Maybe I am a cockeyed optimist (uh, no) but I think Jimmy G is going to be just fine and so, then, will the New England Patriots be in 2016.
I’ve got my reasons…
The George Clooney Effect
Not to say Jimmy G is Clooney’s son but if I was Garoppolo’s dad I probably wouldn’t ask my wife what that wistful smile meant when they were watching “The Descendants.” Yes, there have been successful ugly quarterbacks (*cough* Peyton Manning *cough*) but those are exceptions. It all starts in high school when the starting QB is the prom king, dating the head cheerleader. If you’re an ugly guy in high school, you just don’t have the self-esteem and confidence to take on the role of starting QB for the Upper Class Suburban Central High Panthers. Go Cats!
Garoppolo doesn’t look in the mirror in the morning and wonder, “How did a guy like me get here?” He wonders, “Clooney?” That’s self-esteem. That's confidence.
Matt Cassel
Much has been made of the fact that while the Patriots went 11-5-0 with Cassel subbing for Brady, they didn’t beat any teams that made the playoffs. New England missed the playoffs on a tiebreaker but the double-digit win regular season was a chimera. If you need further proof, th argument goes, look no further than Cassel’s record after he left Foxborough.
Okay, let’s accept the premise. The Cardinals and Texans were in the playoffs last year so let’s pencil them in for 2016. Do you think the Bills and Dolphins are playoff teams? I say the worst case scenario for Garoppolo is 2-2-0.
Brady Was Ready
The initial arc of Garoppolo’s career isn’t much different than Brady’s. They both grew up as professionals in the same program and the same offensive philosophy albeit with different mentors (Charlie Weis was Patriots OC for Brady, while Garoppolo has understudied with Josh McDaniels). You can take the reports from OTAs about Jimmy G’s maturity and confidence with a grain of salt if you wish but any time a Patriot player is willing to go on the record about anything, I find it noteworthy. There’s a big difference between “We’re all going to have to step up our games” and “I’m confident in Garoppolo’s ability to run the offense.”
Brady was ready when Drew Bledsoe went down with an injury. Jimmy Garoppolo has been getting ready his whole life. He’s ready now.
Jeff Hostetler
Who was the quarterback for the Giants’ Super Bowl wins for Bill Parcells and his defensive lieutenant, Bill Belichick? Phil Simms, right? Well, yes, in Super Bowl XXI but it was Simms’ backup, Jeff Hostetler who quarterbacked the Giants in one of the most famous games in the history of the NFL, Super Bowl XXV, the “wide right” game, the game that made Belichick a future head coach. His game plan for that championship game is holding a place for him in Canton.
Just one more “been there, done that” for Belichick.
Josh McDaniels & The Offensive Armory
Rob Gronkowski, Julian Edelman, Danny Amendola, Martellus Bennett, Dion Lewis (fingers crossed!), Chris Hogan, Malcolm Mitchell, LeGarrette Blount and James White; an offensive line that will benefit from the cruel tutelage of Dante Scarnecchia.
Offensive Coordinator McDaniels has been working with Garoppolo for two years. He knows what he does well and he will build game plans around those strengths. McDaniels will take advantage of Garoppolo’s mobility and athleticism and will likely take more chances downfield.
These first four games represent an opportunity for McDaniels to audition for a head coaching gig. If Garoppolo shines, it will reflect favorably on McDaniels ability to win without Tom Brady running his offense. The two could even move as a package deal after the 2016 season, with a franchise (I’m looking at you, Detroit Lions) signing McDaniels as their head coach, then trading for Garoppolo.
Matt Patricia & A Better Defense than Cassel Had
There were some other factors in play in 2008 that contributed to New England’s poor record against quality opponents, the most important being the ‘08 defense. In four of their five losses, the Patriots gave up 30 or more points.
This year’s defense should be much better. I would also expect Belichick and Patricia to be far more creative with exotic formations and personnel combinations while taking a few more chances with blitzing extra defenders, in particular against Brock Osweiler and Ryan Tannehill.
Matt Patricia is also a head coach in waiting and can add to his already impressive resume as a defensive coordinator if the New England defense can carry the team in September.
Bill Belichick
The ultimate advantage for the Patriots is their Hall of Fame head coach, as noted numerous times above.
Still the last head coach of the Cleveland Browns to win a playoff game.
Justin Timberlake
To everyone who worked so hard to put Tom Brady on his couch for the first four games of the season; to every coach and player in Arizona, Buffalo, Houston and Miami who thinks it’s going to be easy, remember the great narrative of sports is filled with stories of underdogs, of unlikely heroes, of Matt Cassel’s and Jeff Hostetler’s and yes, Tom Brady’s bringing sexyback when given their chance.
What goes around, goes around, goes around comes all the way back around.
Yeah.
Jimmy Garoppolo
Take a look at Jimmy G’s Wikipedia page. It looks like it was edited by Bill Belichick. There isn’t a shred of information there that isn’t readily available to the general public. His parent’s names aren’t even listed! Girlfriend? Any and all pictures of rumored girlfriend “Summer” seem to have been scrubbed from the Internet. Not even Hillary Clinton can make that happen.
Perfect Patriot?
Okay, let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves.
If you’re looking for a pro comp, how about the guy whose records he broke in college: Tony Romo.
Garoppolo has been waiting for this moment for two years. He’s ready. He expects to put up big numbers. I’m looking for play-action on his first play from scrimmage; a fake to LeGarrette Blount with a look deep down the sideline. Whether he connects or not the message will be clear. The Patriots won’t be cutting back the playbook or playing conservatively with Garoppolo at quarterback.
If - and yes it’s a big if - the Patriots roll into Week 4 at 3-0-0 and Garoppolo has posted Top 5 QB numbers in those first three games, don’t be surprised by pigskin pundits and bobbleheads speculating that it’s Brady and not Garoppolo who’s on the trading block.
That would be crazy talk, of course.
Right?
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