Clare Cooper

Now, I know that you all know I’m a fan of the tight end position. There are even t-shirts to say so (check out our prop shop folks!), and so I wanted to take you all on a bit of a dive into the current Patriots tight end core.

There may not be much going on at the moment but the tight end position is one that has already seen plenty of ‘action’ in free agency and because of that, it is pretty darn stacked right now.

The Patriots are currently holding five tight ends: Hunter Henry, Jonnu Smith, Devin Asiasi, Matt LaCosse, and Troy Fumagalli. One tight end/fullback in Dalton Keene, one defensive end/tight end in Rashod Berry and there is also the fullback Jakob Johnson. Thats more stacked than the shelves of candy corn at halloween, and for me, much sweeter!

But what does it really mean?

When September 12th rolls into town, bringing with it the Miami Dolphins for Thursday night football, will there be many tight ends on the roster?

Firstly, Rashod Berry suited up on the defensive side of the ball in the three games that he played and although he can play tight end, that isn’t really what he is required for in New England.

Jakob Johnson, whilst not a tight end, is under that umbrella and works out with the tight ends. He currently has a ‘roster exemption spot’ and the only true fullback on the Patriots team at the moment. Pretty safe bet that if the Patriots stick with tradition and keep one fullback, Jakob is probably the pick. Don’t get me wrong folks, this is just my opinion, not fact. There’s always the chance that once he has to take up one of the 53, Jakob is let go and the Patriots run with no fullback…

…or they may decide to tag in Dalton Keene. Mr ‘H-back, fullback, tight end’ himself is rather versatile. Unfortunately, the forces working against Dalton are that he sustained a neck injury stifling his progress and his first year within the team did not give him much opportunity to really sparkle. If his injury isn’t an issue, Keene may take up that fullback roster spot.

Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith, well these two are the rather expensive shiny new toys that Coach Bill brought in for the team to play with, and at a combined $87.4 million, I reckon their places on the 53 are a rather sure thing, health permitting!

Skipping back to a rookie, and we take a peek at Devin Asiasi. Did he not sparkle in 2020 because he didn’t get chance? Probably. Would he have performed better had he not suffered a family tragedy? Possibly. The kid was targeted only 7 times for 2 receptions. Not exactly a large enough sample size to get a picture from huh? Is 2021 a year he should be out there proving him self? Positively. They do say that tight end is a position that takes years to really mould into but Asiasi was said to be good going into his rookie season and with the depth brought in at free agency on three and four year deals he could do with not taking his sweet time to really shine. Whilst I think it’s unlikely the Patriots cut a third round drafted rookie before he has had chance to prove his worth, it’s not impossible.

Now as a tight end enthusiast it takes some effort for me to discuss the cutting of said players. However, realistic-ness has to win out and whilst I’m guessing Troy Fumagalli; previously of the Denver Broncos, a young talent that may have been held back by missing out on his rookie season due to sports hernia surgery and a stacked positional depth chart, makes the practice squad, there’s still a good chance he is cut. Particularly after training camp.

And because of all of the above I just do not think there is a place left for veteran Matt LaCosse and I do not say that with any detriment or malice towards him. Situation has it that the Patriots hit free agency hard with the two top guys available, and drafted two young ‘uns just his second year with the team… which he then opted out of. It’s just unfortunate that all this works against Matt, and his roster spot looks the least sure of all.

Now this is just my mildly biased tight endage stand point. If my predictions shall we say, pan out, that’s at least three tights ends on the roster with one fullback type player and a tight end on the practice squad, pretty plentiful.

And so as we await the approach of the season, I will be keeping my eye on those tight ends… hey, it is kinda my job after all. Well, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it…

Go Pats!

Okay, so the draft may be long gone, but the weight of that draft may be sitting heavy on some younger players shoulders, and not just from this year.

The expectations on a high draft pick are, as expected, high.

With the way that the draft turned out in 2021 (and I’m pretty sure plenty of years prior) is this really a fair perspective?

I am not knocking Mac Jones, no sir I am not. I’m ready to get behind this guy, and that isn’t because he was drafted 15th overall… although that doesn’t hurt! But my point on this one is he was originally pegged as second round talent. Then the quarterback frenzy began and within mere weeks, he was rocketed to possibly the third overall selection.

Wowzers!

Now okay, he didn’t GO third overall, he went 15th, but he was the fourth quarterback chosen in the top, well… 15!

What about N’Keal Harry?

I think this guy has nations divided! Patriots Nation that is. He was a first round selection… at 32, so like the last one in round one… But I don’t think that the issue at hand here was his actual draft position selection more so the fact that players taken after him have proven to be so very much better.

Now not so little N’Keal hasn’t had the greatest of success what with being 115th overall on the PFF stats for wide receivers in 2020. Eep. Especially when undrafted Jakobi Meyers ranked 25th!

How heavy does that round 1 shirt weigh on Harry’s shoulders? To be honest, there are plenty of other factors, but I want to look at the flip side for minute.

This years New England Patriots final pick in the seventh round was Tre Nixon, also a wide receiver. So has this guy got less to worry about?

Well, put it in perspective, last year a player picked even later than Nixon, chosen 250th overall in the seventh round, this particular tight end was expected by many to fill the HUGE shoes of Rob Gronkowski and be a TE1. A role he wasn’t really skilled enough to fill, but worked as hard as he could to produce.

So don’t get resting on those laurels, Mr 242 Tre Nixon.

Now I’m not just singling out N’Keal here, but the Patriots draft history has been really rather light on high round draft picks, let alone high offensive player choices.

Does their sum of previous parts weigh heavy on the kid’s shoulders too?

Or is this guy just not quite what they thought he was going to be?

Sony Michel was drafted in 2018 at the number 31 spot and I don’t think I would be remiss in saying people were quick to judge too, but he managed to perform really well, mostly. You could add how his college team mate Nick Chubb was picked at number 35 and well, we’ve all seen what that guy can do!

The pondering will be is Harry good, great, in the wrong system, or just a bust? Is this kid being crushed by the weight of the draft? And if so, how heavy is the weight of that number ONE on Mac Jones?

Like everything, time will tell, but as always, it’s fun to find out! Go Pats!

It’s no secret that the Patriots stocked up in free agency and the draft on some big guys who may be making their way to Foxborough this season.

There’s some talk around town of a bit of bully ball maybe being the Patriots way this season and heck I love it.

Sure the league maybe getting quicker, leaner, but you know what they always say, Bill Belichick plays chess whilst everyone else is playing chequers, or something along those lines.

For starters, fullback is rather an under used position in the NFL now. It doesn’t even exist in some teams, only approximately 14 of the 32 squads regularly line up a fullback, but the Patriots sure do! Unfortunately, we didn’t get to see Dan Vitale play in 2020 with a Covid opt out season, but this guy is a bit of a beast, and I’m pretty sure he could make a couple of holes in a defence to get a running back through, not to mention taking hold of the ball and making himself a bit of space! Fancy a spot of Dan Vitale in 2021? Yes please!

Then, there’s the fact Coach brought back the, well, rather huge Trent Brown. Can you imagine trying to rush the passer and hitting that brick wall of 6 feet 8 inches and 380 pounds!?

So offences may be speedier, how about they go up against some of the newest signings onto the Patriots roster? 6 feet 6 inches, 300 pounds of Henry Anderson as well as 6 feet 3 inches, 311 pounds of Devon Godchaux and thats only naming a few of the defence guys!

I mean heck it doesn’t matter how fast you can run if you’ve got 6 feet 4 inches and 310 pounds of Christian Barmore clinging to you right?

Even the running back the Patriots selected in the draft, Rhamondre Stevenson is 6 feet and 244 pounds, a little bit of Blount force trauma style coming back? Big and solid? Yep, box checked, thank you very much.

I don’t know about you lot but I’m ready to watch my team crush the opponent, literally, figuratively… both? Bring it on… LFG baby!