Some notes and nuggets from Thursday’s video convention with New England Patriots players:
– With Le’Veon Bell now in Kansas City, the Patriots can expect to see a heavy dose of Frank Gore when they see the New York Jets in “Monday Night Football. “
Now in his 16th nfl season, 37-year-old Gore is one of the most enduring and reliable league media since many Patriots players were in elementary school.
One of the players is sophomore Damien Harris, who promoted Gore and his “ridiculous” longevity.
“I don’t even know if my words will do him justice, but only the utmost respect, ” said Harris. “The last thing, I mean, I can’t even express it. Just being able to witness something like this and be able to face something like this: awesome of all time, one of the most productive runners of all time in this game, one of the toughest and most competitive guys ever played in this position, so see what you’ve done in your career is: I mean It’s ridiculous. And you can’t even combine the right words that show enough respect for what you did for this game. “
Gore’s 15,687 yards on the court rank third all-time, Walter Payton and Emmitt Smith. Surprisingly, he led his team in the race in each of his first 14 seasons earlier, despite everything that broke that streak in 2019.
“He’s one of the guys who paved the way for kids like me to play this game, in that wonderful position,” said Harris, who 8 when Gore selected in the 2005 draft. “So to be able to see what he did, the course of his career and what he still does to this day, immense respect.
“So I’m waiting to see that on Monday. I hope to have the opportunity to say, ‘You’re one of the greatest of all time, and what you’ve done for this game, for me, for guys who don’t even know how to play in this position. Without guys like you, it’s an honor to have a percentage of the same field. “
Gore leads all Jets runners with 340 yards on hauls.
– The patriots-Jets’ top recent assembly the notorious “See Ghosts” match last October, which also took a position in “Monday Night Football”.
In that game, the New England defense propelled Sam Darnold with Blitzes of Cover Zero. Darnold pitched four interceptions and lost a loose ball, and the Patriots won 33-0 at MetLife Stadium.
Making Darnold nervous will also be a component of this week’s defensive game plan, according to Patriots cornerer Jonathan Jones.
“The costume will be huge, ” said Jones. Just looking to pass behind him and confusing him is to become for us. “
We’ll see if the patriots’ new defense can have the same kind of success. New England has lost its most sensitive three-pass pitchers this off-season (Kyle Van Noy, Jamie Collins and Dont’a Hightower) and has lately ranked 23rd in the NFL in catch rates, below season six last season.
Jets coach Adam Gase said Thursday that the Patriots defense was not face without Hightower, who opted out of the season due to COVID-19 issues.
However, Gase’s offense is frankly pubic, especially when Darnold asked to launch. Jets rank last in game-consistent issues, game-consistent yards, and almost every pass category, adding game-consistent yards, attempt-consistent yards, pins, and DVOAs. .
– This week’s game will feature two of the NFL’s most sensitive novice supporters, Mehki Becton of New York and Mike Onwenu of New England.
Onwenu was a revelation to the Patriots, watching time in four other offensive line positions (right guard, left guard, right tackler and tight jumbo tip) and exceling in the 4.
Even Onwenu surprised by his own versatility. The sixth-round team did not move much in Michigan, betting almost exclusively on the right guard.
“I didn’t think (playing 4 positions) was a possibility,” Onwenu said. “But, honestly, I am open to everything that is presented to me. I’m grateful for this opportunity. “
With Jermaine Eluemunor on the disabled reserve list, Onwenu started the patriots’ last two games with a right tackle. In last Sunday’s loss to Buffalo, the 350-pounder beat two Bills supporters with a single blockade, earning an exciting ovation from the film’s studio.
“Definitely shooting the movie, all the guys cheered me on,” Onwenu said. “It was a clever feeling. To be honest, I didn’t even know what happened until I saw him. But, you know, I’m glad I did. “
Onwenu is the top-ranked rookie in Pro Football Focus and the twelfth highest-ranked player, Only Russell Wilson, Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Aaron Donald, TJWatt, Khalil Mack, Pittsburgh Steelers take the defensive of Tyson Alualu, the closed wing of the Indianapolis Colts Mo Alie -Cox, Cleveland Browns goalkeeper Wyatt Teller, Dallas Cowboys goalkeeper Zack Martin and Detroit Lions kicker Jack Fox.