Joe Vellano

Joe is a hard-working kid. He has good instincts, he kind of has a nose for the ball and a good feel for what’s going on,” Belichick said. “He had an opportunity to get some playing time as we went through preseason and he took advantage of those opportunities, made a few plays, had some production, and it probably led to a little bit more opportunity. “I think that there are a lot of things that he’s improved in, in terms of technique and recognition and reaction. He’s got a long way to go, but he’s definitely making progress. “He’s usually the first one on and the last one off the field, or close to it. He puts in a lot of extra time, tries to get better at the things he needs to work on, and that’s helped him.

https://www.patspropaganda.com/joe-is-a-hard-working-kid-he-has-good-instincts/

Vellano played 30 of his 33 snaps after Wilfork left the action. The majority of his plays came combating the run. And he finished with three tackles and his first NFL sack – which was netted from right defensive tackle. Vellano is well-versed in both 3-4 and 4-3 defenses, as he worked within both during his days with the Terrapins. He’s not known for his size, strength or measurables, but he knows how to get to the football. Vellano is far from College Park now, but the All-American did tally 219 total tackles and 13.5 sacks over four years in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

https://www.patspropaganda.com/vellano-played-30-of-his-33-snaps-after-wilfork/

Vellano (aligned as a 3-technique, outside shade on guard) showed nice initial quickness to beat veteran left guard Rob Sims on a one-on-one rush to the inside. He caught Sims lunging and made him pay. That’s one area that Vellano has flashed at times in camp, first-step quickness as a rusher in tight spaces. But other times, Vellano’s relative lack of size (6-2, 300) was evident against the Lions as he was more easily blocked in the running game (e.g. Montell Owens’ 6-yard run with 7:05 remaining in the quarter). The Patriots are thin at defensive tackle and Vellano, at the least, looks like a strong practice squad candidate.

https://www.patspropaganda.com/vellano-aligned-as-a-3-technique-outside-shade/

So who would use the team’s preseason opener to make a case for themselves? Well in the second half Joe Vellano ( 3.4) would stake his claim with a quietly impressive performance. His sack with 28 seconds to go was the icing on an already impressive cake as he picked up a hit (Q4, 8:03) and a defensive stop in the run game. Far more than that though he didn’t give up much ground at the point of attack.

https://www.patspropaganda.com/so-who-would-use-the-teams-preseason-opener-to/

They’re winners,” Vellano said Tuesday by phone. “They know how to win year in and year out. They play multiple schemes and many different fronts, three-down, four-down. They’ll play multiple positions across the line. I’ve had many reps at each position, which helps me in that category. Just the way they play, grind out games, with guys who play hard every down in that situation.

https://www.patspropaganda.com/theyre-winners-vellano-said-tuesday-by-phone/