Ted Johnson: Malik Cunningham isn’t an every-down QB
On Friday’s edition of Zolak & Bertrand, Ted Johnson made it clear that he doesn’t view Malik Cunningham as an every down QB in the NFL.
He’s a gadget guy…
Ted Johnson: It’s such a different animal to have a mobile quarterback. I’ve always wondered this Matt, like what is it exactly other than accuracy and high football IQ that bill Belichick wants out of a quarterback. And I’d love to know like the characteristics, you know, touch, accuracy, and IQ. What about a little bit of running, a little bit of athleticism. You see what a running type quarterback can be… I don’t want to be a guy that’s always pulling the ball down and running. But somebody who has the threat of running the ball every now and then. It’s so hard to defend. The Patriots have a difficult time defending it and so as much as we can get excited about this, there’s no way in hell that he will ever, seriously give a look at a quarterback like a Malik Cunningham. Unless it was something, you know, situational gadgetry here and there kind of stuff. But you know, an every down quarterback, it’s not going to happen. It was exciting, but at the end of the day, it’s you know, it’s not going to turn out to be much. But I will say this and a lot of us, we’re talking at NBC Sports Boston last night after the show, we'[re very fascinating to see what do they do with this guy. Do they keep him on as one of the 53s because I don’t know, you got a lot of receivers that you’re kind of maybe having to, you know, pick and choose from and you use him as your your third quarterback. So he is an intriguing player for a lot of us that cover the team not as maybe a guy that is going to seriously do any real,play time at quarterback, but maybe as a gadget, maybe as a as a change of pace guy.
Listen to the full segment!
WATCH: Malik Cunningham puts defense in blender for first touchdown of preseason
Aug 10, 2023; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Malik Cunningham (16) runs with the ball against the Houston Texans during the second half at Gillette Stadium. (Brian Fluharty/USA TODAY Sports)
And while the touchdown drive alone was proof (it’s the only proof you could get through one game of summer action and in Cunningham’s first run on an NFL field), Cunningham is also saying all the right things when it comes to the chance to be one of the most versatile threats imaginable.
“I’m a team player, so whatever the coaches need me to do, I’m going to do it for the team,” the 24-year-old said after the loss. “That’s what happened, Coach told me to go to quarterback, and we had no touchdowns, so I told the O-line, the whole group, that we were going to go down and score and that’s what we did.”
Aug 10, 2023; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Malik Cunningham (16) during the second half against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. (Eric Canha/USA TODAY Sports)
The nine-yard ankle-breaking score capped a night that saw Cunningham rack up 34 yards on five carries, and add three completions for 19 yards through the air.
Cunningham’s night through the air could’ve been even more impressive had Tre Nixon been able to come down with the endzone bullet Cunningham hit him with and almost square on the fingertips.
But, again, it was pop the 6-foot-1 Cunningham brought, and when the Patriots desperately needed it.
“It felt good,” Cunningham said of his ability to bring some mojo to the attack. “I mean at times they were bringing a lot of pressure. They had a good defense, had a good scheme, so I just feel like my running ability gave us a little more options on offense to open it up so they didn’t know if we were going to pass or run. That was pretty fun.”
“He’s a young kid, he’s a fast kid, [and] he’s a great player,” the Patriots’ Andrew Stueber said. “We all work so hard during practice every day. So, we’re always ready, always next man up. Everyone’s working hard and working together in practice. So, he was ready and went out there and did what he practiced. It was good to see.”
Aug 10, 2023; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Malik Cunningham (16) fights his way into the endzone for a touchdown against the Houston Texans during the second half at Gillette Stadium. (Eric Canha/USA TODAY Sports)
Now comes the truly hard part for Cunningham: building off this.
Anybody can throw up a preseason highlight (ex-Patriots quarterback Danny Etling went full Forrest Gump with the ball in his hands five years ago and people still talk about it), but maintaining that level and parlaying into something bigger is and will always be the greater challenge. That’s especially true in a three-game preseason slate, and with Mac Jones slated to factor into the equation at quarterback as the work ramps up.
But Cunningham’s own work will only ramp up from here —at two different positions, no less — and with the story of preseason week one looking forward to passing his next test.
“Is it difficult [learning two positions at once]? No, I feel like I’m a very clever, smart kid and the coaches have been doing a good job with me, explaining, breaking it down, helping me learn,” Cunningham offered. “The quarterbacks, the receivers, all those guys have been nothing but help to me, so I appreciate them.”
