Scott Pioli knows what it takes for a quarterback to make it in the NFL.
The former New England Patriots vice president of player personnel began coaching collegiate football in 1988 and became an NFL executive in 1992 — where he remained until resigning from the Atlanta Falcons organization last season. Pioli was with New England from 2000-2008 and watched Tom Brady develop from the lanky sixth-rounder to the legendary figure he is now.
Now that the lanky sixth-rounder has moved on in his NFL career, Bill Belichick and his crew are searching for a new face of the franchise. As of right now, second-year quarterback Jarrett Stidham is projected to take over the starting role.
Pioli spoke about Stidham’s future while joining “The Zach Gelb Show” on CBS Sports Radio.
“The thing is, what happens sometimes with players who have enough talent and ability, if there are good coaches around them, and a good system that allows them to learn, and be educated, and develop — which is something that happened with Brady … I’m not saying this guy can be Tom Brady, but he has enough of the skills, tools and intelligence to develop,” Pioli said.
Fortunately for New England, the coaching staff has remained in tact and Josh McDaniels is still around to teach Stidham. The addition of Brian Hoyer and his knowledge of New England’s playbook also will become extremely beneficial to Stidham.
“There are other quarterbacks that have come out of that system that have done it,” Pioli said. “The guy that played in the Super Bowl this past [season] out in San Francisco, Jimmy G, did a pretty good job of it. Matt Cassel had a pretty solid run as a quarterback during his time. There have been quarterbacks that come out of that system that learn under that group of people, and are taught by really good coaches, and they become good enough quarterbacks to win games in the National Football League.”
Pioli does believe the Patriots will go forward and give Stidham a chance at the starting role.
“That’s what my instincts tell me,” Pioli said. “They obviously think well enough of him — he’s been in the system, he’s seen it for a year. I think they’re going to give him a shot.
“I also think the idea of having a backup that also has experience [Hoyer], they’re in a really good situation there right now. I also can see them going out and getting another quarterback, whether it’s a more decorated veteran or in this draft. Their entire quarterback room is not filled, yet. But I’m curious to see Stidham. He was a solid player in college. I was down at Auburn and saw him play in practice when he was coming out, and he was an intriguing prospect.”
