Some members of the elegance of the 2020 NFL Draft of the New England Patriots can’t even be in the box betting on a position. Third-round selection Anfernee Jennings has inspired enough in recent weeks to take on two roles.
Jennings, who is the prototype length of a Patriots supporter at 6-3, 259 pounds, has played shots as a rack defense and off-the-ball supporter in the last two New England games. And that’s no small thing, especially for a rookie.
“Yes, it takes a lot of work,” Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said Friday. “It’s hard to play one, and the game requires a smart point of intuition and intellectual and physical versatility, because the skills are very different between the game and the game. without a ball and just a few inches from a smart adjusted locking tip or a smart adjusted end reception. So those are challenges.
“Jennings did those two things in Alabama, he’s also a very, very intelligent communicator and caller and also took third place. So he had a lot on his plate in college, and I think the volume of what he’s got now is really manageable, a little more. But he’s a smart football player with, like I said, some versatility and skill to do other things. We’ll continue to review to see where it fits into our defensive plan and game plan. weekly. “
In fact, Jennings is rarely the first Patriots linebacker to take on the roles of one, but that puts him in the same category as players like Dont’a Hightower, Rob Ninkovich, Mike Vrabel and Kyle Van Noy.
Belichick said last week that recruits arrived “later” than ever because of some of the practice restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. There were no team activities or mini-camp practices, the pre-season was canceled and the education camp was shortened.
But Jennings is his average recruit.
“Anfernee is way beyond the prestige of a rookie mentally, and I think that’s the smart thing to do,” Patriots supporter Brandon Copeland said Friday.
Jennings’ defense in Alabama under the direction of head coach Nick Saban is more complex than the typical school system, as a result, his learning curve was weaker when he passed on to professionals.
“I’m taking it, learning, ” said Jennings. ” I think what helped me a lot was betting on the formula I played on ‘Bama. It was a multiple defense and you can make all kinds of changes and stay doing a lot of other things. And be able to be flexible and be a smart player. And just put me in my position and make the most of every shot I make».
Jennings’ purpose is to continue to gain acceptance from his teammates and coaches. He was granted a smart start after making his first run begin on Sunday.
“Some of our young players started the season, and in some cases they played because more out of necessity, however, as they revel and we gained confidence, they had to make smart efforts in combination on the education floor or in some games of chance. opportunities, this led to more opportunities, ” said Belichick. ” Jennings’ scenario is similar to that of many other players in his position, because as they have the opportunity and prove that they can be productive and help the team, it will lead to more. “
Jennings has done five tackles in four games with one start, so this season he also generated two pressures as a smuggler.