Julian Edelman ‘trying to build a rapport’ with Cam Newton

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According to most media members in attendance for Sunday’s Patriots training camp practice the workout represented the most voluminous, effective work to date for quarterback Cam Newton.

Some of that work included increased efficiency connecting with Julian Edelman.

It’s a budding connection – the presumed starting quarterback and the returning leading receiver – that could be a key factor in New England’s offensive success in 2020, the first year after the two-decade Tom Brady era in Foxborough.

“We’re still trying to get to know each other,” Edelman said during a Sunday video conference call with the local media. “Just like I am with all my new teammates, but specifically with a guy that distributes the football, just kind of getting to know each other as people on the field, off the field. Trying to build a rapport. That’s what I’m doing also with Hoy (Brian Hoyer) and Stid (Jarrett Stidham), but those guys have been around. It’s been one of those things where I have to catch up with Cam.”

Sunday Patriots training camp observations: Cam Newton has best day of summer https://t.co/Dmg2ozqIcE

— Ryan Hannable (@RyanHannable) August 23, 2020

While Edelman was the go-to guy in the slot over the years for the ever-accurate Brady, building a working relationship with Newton, not known for his precision accuracy, is going to be a process. That process took a nice step on Sunday, with Stidham limited while continuing to deal with a reported hip injury.

“Any time you go out and execute a play in practice, I think that creates confidence, not only in your head, but your teammates’ head,” Edelman For that one play to happen, 11 guys have to do something right. I think the more we go out and execute, regardless of who is executing, I think that’s just confidence building.”

While the advancements on the practice field are notable, Edelman and Newton will have to get game-ready without the benefit of joint practices or preseason action this summer. The first truly competitive reps will come Sept. 13 in the opener against the Dolphins at Gillette Stadium.

Does Edelman worry that the real execution for him, Newton and the offense won’t come until the game speed of game action?

“That’s a great question, but the only thing I can worry about is the things I can control,” Edelman said. “Like you said, all these other teams are dealing with the same exact scenarios that we are. It’s a new normal, at least for this year, so I think you worry about going out and working on things you have to work on individually. The more you do against people that are pretty familiar with what you’re doing – because we’ve been doing it so long against each other – I think you can create sometimes even better habits of trying to switch things up. I think that’s the right we’re obviously going to have to go. I think the real main thing is worry about things you can control and right now that’s just trying to stack good days back to back, and really taking advantage of the time we have together.”

 

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