Guregian: Patriots linebacker Josh Uche looks primed to make Year 2 leap

FOXBORO — The 2020 Patriots draft class doesn’t exactly get a do-over or redshirt year thanks to COVID-19 restrictions making it tougher for them to get with the program, and make some noise as rookies.

Mulligans don’t exist in the NFL.

But now with more time to get to know the system, and more time to get acclimated, we should get a better idea what kind of impact — if any — each player from that class might have with the Patriots.

In short, it’s go time for the group.

While offensive lineman Michael Onwenu, a sixth-round pick, emerged as the early star of the class with an impressive rookie performance, he should have some company going forward.

Linebacker Josh Uche and safety Kyle Dugger are poised for breakout seasons. That pair, along with Onwenu and fellow offensive lineman Justin Herron, pretty much carry the torch for the draft class.

Tight ends Devin Asiasi and Dalton Keene, both third-round picks, have had trouble staying on the field for different reasons. Keene started training camp on the active/physically unable to perform list, while Asiasi has missed time due to testing positive for COVID-19.

At this point, it’s hard to put them in the conversation when it comes to predicting players making a Year 2 leap.

The fact that Bill Belichick opened the purse strings to bring in the best two tight ends in free agency — Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith — sent a pretty clear message about what the Patriots think of Asiasi and Keene.

Third-round pick Anfernee Jennings, meanwhile, was a non-factor last year, and missed the first few days of camp with an excused absence while kicker Justin Rohrwasser (5th round), linebacker Cassh Maluia (6th round) and center Dustin Woodard (7th round) were gone after last season.

That brings us back to Uche and Dugger.

Last week, Dugger told the media it seemed like “night and day” where he is now, compared to his rookie year. He said he felt like a completely different player. Watching him the first five days of camp, he’s certainly stood out.

Uche?

He also acknowledged his comfort level was much better this year. He’s also been one of the better players, to date.

“I feel like I’ve put in a lot of extra time in the offseason, getting into my playbook and just watching some old film, going over corrections on some mistakes I might have made last year, and just continuing to improve in my free time,” Uche told reporters Monday. “Obviously, extra preparation has helped prepare me for camp. I have a steady foot, steady understanding of the foundation of the defense. I’d say it’s been a great transition.”

Uche has noticeably bulked up, although he wouldn’t say just how much weight he put on during the offseason. He is likely to play opposite Matt Judon as an edge defender. The added weight should help Uche set the edge against the run on his side, and still be a constant pest to quarterbacks, getting into the backfield.

Last week, Judon really pumped up Uche. He has been so impressed by the former Michigan star, he predicts greatness for the second-year player.

Uche was flattered by the veteran’s praise, but made a point of saying how much he’s already learned watching Judon every day.

“Judon’s just a great mentor to have. Just the pass-rush knowledge he brings to the game, just his overall understanding of football he brings to the game,” said Uche. “I mean, I couldn’t ask for a better mentor from the guys inside the linebacker room, to just learn from. It’s great having them.”

Between Judon, Dont’a Hightower and Kyle Van Noy, that’s a pretty good set of pass-rushers for the Patriots. But Uche has the wheels, and the type of ability, to really boost the group.

During his rookie season, the second-round pick played in just nine games after spending the first several weeks inactive due to injury. He ended the season with just seven tackles and one sack. And yet, despite his limited action, Uche showed flashes of being the athletic pass-rusher he was at Michigan.

He’ll need more in 2021.

Uche wasn’t about to give himself a pass for last year, but used the experience to learn more about himself, and what he has to do to improve.

“It’s all about adaptation. Only the strong survive. It was an off-year, with COVID and the restrictions and things, so things weren’t as normal as they were in past years,” he said. “Just being able to kind of adapt, roll with the punches, and kind of figure out what avenue would best suit me, and the best way to go about things, preparing, and just adaptation, really. That’s what I learned about myself.”

It comes as no surprise that he and Dugger have formed a bond and become good friends off the field in their joined journey as 2020 draft picks.

“Dugger, that’s my boy, always joking with each other, always talking, not just about football,” said Uche. “This offseason we became pretty close, just seeing each other and working out and stuff like that. It’s great, we talk about everything, he helps me out with coverage stuff, I help him out with the front-seven stuff, we kind of just bond.”

Of course, Uche and Dugger have breakout-season written all over them. The good news is both are well aware there’s a big difference between expectation, and what actually comes to pass.

It’s up to them to make Bill Belichick look good for believing they’d be impactful players in the NFL.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/3C5FSnn