Right back into it with a grouping of the positions Tight End, Fullback, and Special Teams.<\/p>\n
Tight End<\/strong><\/p>\n Jonnu Smith<\/strong> \u2013 was my favorite Free Agent for the Patriots to sign in the off-season.\u00a0 Smith is just beginning to reach his potential.\u00a0 In High School, he was vastly under-recruited with Florida International the only program to offer him a scholarship.\u00a0 He played in 53 games for FIU and had a catch in every game he played.\u00a0 As a Junior, he tore his ACL in the 2nd<\/sup> Quarter but stayed in and finished the game.\u00a0 He ended up with 10 catches, 183 yards, and 2 TDs.<\/p>\n He had finished his career at FIU with 178 catches for 2001 yards. His numbers were off the chart when it came time for the draft.\u00a0 He stood 6\u2019 3\u201d, 248 lbs, ran the 40 in 4.62, 4.18 SS.\u00a0 Several Patriots Wide Receivers don\u2019t run as fast as Smith.\u00a0 These are some of the things coach Belichick had to say about Smith: he can separate; he blocks well; good receiver; TEN even used him at Tailback; hard to tackle; catches the ball well and is very good with yards after the catch.\u00a0 Josh McDaniels must be staying up late nights designing ways in which to utilize Smith all over the field.\u00a0 Smith has only missed 4 games in 4 years.\u00a0 Can he stay healthy?\u00a0 Smith missed the Mini-Camp with a hamstring injury.\u00a0 That will need to be monitored in Training Camp.\u00a0 He is a roster lock.<\/p>\n Hunter Henry<\/strong> \u2013 I was shocked the Patriots were able to sign both Henry and Smith.\u00a0 Especially because they play the same TE position.\u00a0 They must be extremely confident in their own abilities.\u00a0 BB must have done a hell of a job convincing them of how they were going to be utilized together and there would be enough targets to satisfy both players.\u00a0 Henry is more of a traditional in-line TE.\u00a0 The Arkansas (SEC) product stands 6\u20195\u201d, 250 lbs, ran a 4.67 40, 4.41 SS, and 7.16 3 cone drill at the combine.<\/p>\n One drawback was his weightlifting work, which was last for the TE position at the combine.\u00a0 For his career, he has caught 196 passes for 2,322 yards and 21 TDs.\u00a0 He has averaged 14.3 yards per catch.\u00a0 He has been injured every year, missing the 2018 season altogether with a torn ACL.\u00a0 Last season was his top number of receptions (60).\u00a0 His YPC has gone down every year of his career. \u00a0He is a tough matchup for the defense.\u00a0 A blue-collar, hard-working player, he will become a fan favorite.\u00a0 As a High School Freshman, Left Tackle, he was promoted to the varsity for the State Championship and started.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 His route running is very crisp.\u00a0 His HS coached called him a perfect fit for the Patriots<\/p>\n Devin Asiasi<\/strong> \u2013 Last season he had a big opportunity to shine as he was named the starter.\u00a0 Instead, the TE group as a whole was the worst in the league.\u00a0 Combine his inexperience, lack of rookie camp, OTAs, and mini-camp, he was behind all season.\u00a0 Add to that the poor play by the Quarterbacks made for this disaster.\u00a0 I look for Asiasi to bounce back this pre-season and secure the third TE position on the roster.\u00a0 The UCLA product was a 3rd<\/sup> round selection.<\/p>\n He originally played for Michigan but followed his position coach to UCLA.\u00a0 He was forced to sit out the 2017 season by NCAA transfer rules.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t put up big numbers until his Junior year at UCLA.\u00a0 He was regarded as the best blocking TE in the draft.\u00a0 He stands 6\u2019 3\u201d 257 lbs, ran 4.73 40 but didn\u2019t run the SS or 3-cone drill.\u00a0 Asiasi could play the fullback position, but he needs to improve his blocking.<\/p>\n Dalton Keene<\/strong> \u2013 I was very excited when the Patriots doubled up on the TE position in last year’s draft. I liked Keene\u2019s potential.\u00a0 He was being compared to George Kittle because of his position flexibility and the fact that he was underutilized by Virginia Tech.\u00a0 His career numbers were 59-748- 8.\u00a0 He was durable, playing in 39 games for VT in his 3 years.\u00a0 He played as a True Freshman and came out as a Junior.\u00a0 Keene was described as a hands catcher, runs fluid pass routes, plays with toughness, and is a determined blocker.\u00a0 However, we saw none of that last year.\u00a0 Was the game too fast for him?\u00a0 Quite a few 1st-year\u00a0players received significant playing time.\u00a0 Some flourished and both TEs floundered.\u00a0 Keene is on the roster bubble.\u00a0 He will be competing with WRs Zuber, Wilkerson, Nixon for a roster spot.\u00a0 The Pats could go with an extra TE since they will be emphasizing a 2 TE offense.\u00a0 That would mean one less WR.<\/p>\n Troy Fumagalli<\/strong> –\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u201c9 Fingers\u201d is all effort.\u00a0 He stands 6\u2019 6\u201d, 248 lbs\u00a0 (no running stats available).\u00a0 He lost his left index finger as a baby and has been playing his entire football career without it.\u00a0 Lacks the ability to separate and get open.\u00a0 Limited physical athlete.\u00a0 What he lacks athletically he makes up in determination.\u00a0 He was the MVP of the Cotton Bowl as a Senior at Wisconsin.\u00a0 He was a walk-on.\u00a0 He has 19 games played for Denver with 5 starts.\u00a0 His career numbers are 14-118-2.\u00a0 Because of his experience, he should get a look in Pre-Season.\u00a0 I am curious to see him play and rooting for him because of his disability.\u00a0 I could see him making the Practice Squad.<\/p>\n Matt LaCosse<\/strong> \u2013 Sat out 2020 due to COVID.\u00a0 Most players that sat out 2020 due to COVID are no longer on the roster.\u00a0 Hightower and Bolden are the other two exceptions.\u00a0 LaCosse is playing from behind.\u00a0 His chances of making the final 53-man roster are slim.\u00a0 Most fans forget that LaCosse was the Patriots starting TE heading into the 2020 season.\u00a0 He has 40-403-2 career stats in 31 games played for the 5th<\/sup> year former UDFA.\u00a0 He played for the Giants and Broncos before the Patriots.\u00a0 In 2019 he played in 15 games for Denver and then 11 for the Patriots the following year.<\/p>\n Rashod Berry<\/strong> \u2013 the UDFA played in 3 games last year for the Patriots.\u00a0 Berry is listed as both a DE and TE on the Patriots roster.\u00a0 He played on special teams last year and had 1 tackle as a DE.\u00a0 He is athletic and plays two positions.\u00a0 I don\u2019t see him making the roster, but he could be re-signed to the Practice Squad again.\u00a0 He played both positions at Ohio State.<\/p>\n Fullback<\/strong><\/p>\n Jakob Johnson<\/strong> \u2013 is the only true fullback on the roster.\u00a0 With the advent of the two TE set, I don\u2019t see the need for Johnson.\u00a0 He received a roster waiver by the NFL under the International Player Pathway Program for the Pre-Season.\u00a0 The exemption does not apply to the final 53-man roster.\u00a0 I expect Johnson to be cut and re-signed to the Practice Squad.<\/p>\n Special<\/strong> Teams <\/strong><\/p>\n Matthew Slater<\/strong> \u2013 is a perennial All-Pro Special Teamer.\u00a0 He is so special that he may one day be enshrined in the Football Hall of Fame.\u00a0 He is the main reason the Patriots had the #1 Special Teams unit in the NFL last year.\u00a0 The Team Captain leads by example.\u00a0 One day soon Slater will hang them up, but until then enjoy watching one of the true professionals in the NFL.<\/p>\n Justin Bethel<\/strong> says CB next to his name on the roster but gunner should be the correct title.\u00a0 Combined with Slater, there are no two finer players at that position.\u00a0 They are teammates and that\u2019s another reason ST is #1.\u00a0 \u00a0Bethel led the team with 14 Special Teams tackles.<\/p>\n Brandon King<\/strong> \u2013 another 4 teams special teamer.\u00a0 He is 28 and has missed the last two seasons because of injuries.\u00a0 I find it hard for him to make the team because they were able to play without him the last two seasons and maintain that high performance.<\/p>\n Nick Folk<\/strong> \u2013 I was very surprised that Folk did not get another offer from a team in the league.\u00a0 He is not great, but very consistent.\u00a0 He is going into his 14th season in the NFL and is being pushed by a young UDFA Quinn Norbin for the roster spot.\u00a0 \u00a0Last season he was 26 of 28 on FGs and 30 of 33 on PATs.\u00a0 In his rookie year (2007) he was selected to the Pro Bowl representing the Dallas Cowboys who selected him in the 6th<\/sup> round of the draft.<\/p>\n Quinn Norbin<\/strong> \u2013 He is the only UDFA from 2021 on the roster.\u00a0 If the streak of keeping at least one UDFA on the Opening Day Roster is to be maintained, then Norbin would have to beat out Nick Folk. \u00a0The streak is currently 17 years running. \u00a0\u00a0Norbin wasn\u2019t asked to kick much for Michigan with 41 makes on 53 kicks for his career.\u00a0 Last season he was just 2 for 5 and missed one of the 5 games Michigan played with an injury.\u00a0 Having listed his stats, Norbin has impressed during workouts and is said to have a big leg.\u00a0 Consistency will be the deciding factor.<\/p>\n Jake Bailey<\/strong> \u2013 made his 1st<\/sup> of what should be many Pro Bowls and All-Pro selections in 2020.\u00a0 He averaged 48.7 yards per kick and a net of 45.6.\u00a0 In 2019 as a rookie 5th<\/sup> round pick, he averaged 44.9 yards per kick and a net of 41.3.\u00a0 The net set a new Patriots team record, which he re-set in 20.\u00a0 Solid gold!<\/p>\n Cody Davis<\/strong> \u2013 Resigned for two years with the Patriots this off-season.\u00a0 He was second in tackles to Justin Bethel with 9 tackles.\u00a0 His biggest contribution was a blocked FG against Los Angeles Chargers which Devin McCourty returned for a TD.\u00a0 He can play Safety also so he is not just an ST player.\u00a0 He is a lock for a roster spot.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Right back into it with a grouping of the positions Tight End, Fullback, and Special Teams for the Patriots.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":37151,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[22259],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-37320","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-2021-patriots-offseason"],"yoast_head":"\n