FOXBORO -- Jarrett Stidham has had four training camp sessions as a quarterback in the NFL, and they've gone like you'd expect for a rookie -- up-and-down.
While the fourth-round pick has had his fair share of struggles, he's also shown potential led by his accurate arm. Watching Stidham for four days, the biggest thing that stands out is he holds onto the ball a little too long as he goes through his reads.
But, if that is the thing that stands out most for a rookie, that really isn't a bad thing.
"Oh man, there's a lot to improve on, I think in every facet of my game," Stidham said Sunday. "I'm coming into a new situation just trying to learn as much as I can, and try to stack days together, and not make the same mistake twice."
He added: "I think for me, right now, while I'm trying to learn, and get better every single day, is to keep having positive plays. I think the more I can do that, the better off I'll be. I just don't want to have negative plays. Again, I'm just trying to learn, and continue to grow every day."
Previous young Patriots quarterbacks (Jimmy Garoppolo, Jacoby Brissett) have spent extensive time with assistant quarterbacks coach Jerry Schuplinski, but with him now in Miami, Stidham is spending most of his time with new assistant quarterbacks coach Mick Lombardi.
"I love Mick. He's a phenomenal person, a phenomenal coach," he said. "Him and I have been working a lot together, just trying to learn everything, and really try to wrap my head around everything we're doing."
What exactly have they been doing?
"Just little details," he said. "There's a lot of stuff we do in our offense, obviously, so we're just talking through the details, making sure I know what my job is, that way we can go out there and execute."
Being a fourth-round pick, Stidham is almost viewed as a lock to make the 53-man roster. The only wild card is if he impresses a great deal, he could potentially bump Brian Hoyer out of a spot. This doesn't seem likely, though.
It would appear Tom Brady, Hoyer and Stidham will be on the active roster to open the year with Danny Etling (now transitioning to wide receiver) likely being cut.
