Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - Patriots Mailbag: Quarterbacks, Running Backs, Pass Catchers and Kickers - 6/16/2020

Episode Date: June 16, 2020

It’s #TrendingTwitterTuesday on Locked On Patriots. Today, host Mike D’Abate opens the Locked On Patriots Mailbag to answer the questions of Patriots. Topics include the fate of quarterback J’Mar Smith, the prospectus of both WR N’Keal Harry and RB Sony Michel, productivity at the tight end position, and the chances of K Justin Rohrwasser and DE Nick Coe to compete for spots on the 2020 roster. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Patriots fans, you are now locked in to the Locked On Patriots Podcast. I'm going to show you how to make a beautiful and beautiful flower. I'm going to use a small flower pot. I'm going to use a small pot Hello to all of you Foxborough faithful. Welcome to the return of Trending Twitter Tuesday. Right here on the Lockdown Patriots Podcast, your daily home for news notes and analysis infused with the occasional opinion on your six-time Super

Bowl champions, the New England Patriots. Today's episode is brought to you by RockAuto.com. Amazing selection, reliably low prices, all the parts your car will ever need. RockAuto.com. What is up, Patriots Nation? Thank you for joining me here today. My name is Mike DeBate, your host of the Locked On Patriots Podcast, which of course is a proud part of the Locked On Podcast Network,

your team every day. And folks, because it's your team every day, that means your questions, comments, and feedback are always welcomed and very much encouraged. And feel free to share that feedback anytime by reaching out to me and following me on Twitter at M-D-A-B-A-T-E-F-P-C. And while you're out there saying, how you doing to the Twitterverse, please be sure to follow the Lockdown Patriots account as well at L-O underscore Patriots. Pats fans, it's been a little while, but I am proud to say that today here on the Lockdown Patriots podcast, I have reopened the Lockdown On Patriots mailbag, and I will once again be answering your great questions.

And folks, I say this every single time we open the mailbag, but you just keep getting better and better. This may be one of the best and most diverse batch of questions I've ever received as host on Locked On Patriots. Whether it be offense, defense, special teams, from veterans to undrafted free agents. I got questions regarding quarterbacks, running backs, tight ends. I even received a great question on the kicking position. So from the bottom of my heart, I thank you, the great listeners of Locked On Patriots,

for bringing your A-game to today's trending Twitter Tuesday episode. And if I'm being honest, these mailbag episodes are among my favorites. And don't get me wrong, folks. I am honored and humbled by the great guests I get to welcome to the pod each and every week. But I've said it before, and I'll keep saying it again. The best part of this job is being able to interact with all of you, the great listeners of Locked On Patriots and the great fans all over Patriots Nation.

You help continue to prove a theory that I've championed since the day that I watched my first Patriots game. This is a knowledgeable and passionate fan base, and your loyalty to your team should be something that you're extremely proud of. For me, I am and will always continue to be humbled that you make Locked On Patriots a part of your daily Patriots coverage. That's why I love these episodes,

because it gives me the opportunity to interact with each and every one of you that take the time to get to know more about the team that we're all passionate about. So sit tight, folks. An action-packed and informative episode of Locked On Patriots is on tap for you today as we dive headfirst into the Locked On Patriots mailbag on trending Twitter Tuesday right here on the Locked On Patriots podcast. But folks, today being Tuesday, June 16th, 2020, we are officially more than halfway through the month of June.

And as hard as it is to believe, we're almost halfway through 2020. But on a lighter note, the middle part of June reminds us that we are oh so close to the official start of summer. And of course, summer is a great time to kick back, relax. But it's also a time where we all want to look our best. But I don't just mean that physically, folks. I'm talking about your ride, too. After all, summer is the season for riding in style, and if you're like me, you take pride in your ride,

and you want to make sure it's looking its absolute best. And to help me maintain the automotive health that's so important to me are my friends at rockauto.com. Whether you're a professional mechanic or a do-it-yourselfer like me, rockauto.com's prices are the same for everybody, and they're reliably low. In fact, they offer the lowest possible prices. RockAuto.com is a family business, serving auto parts customers online for 20 years.

They don't require membership or account login. So go to RockAuto.com and shop for auto and body parts from hundreds of manufacturers. They have everything from engine control modules and brake pads to tail lamps, motor oil, even new carpet. Whether it's for your classic or your daily driver, get everything you need in a few easy clicks delivered directly to your door. The rockauto.com catalog is unique and remarkably easy to navigate. You can quickly see all the parts available for your vehicle and choose the brand specifications and the prices you prefer. Why spend up to twice as much for the same parts?

Go to rockauto.com right now and see all the parts available for your car or truck. specifications, and the prices you prefer. Why spend up to twice as much for the same parts? Go to rockauto.com right now and see all the parts available for your car or truck. Make sure to put Locked On in their How Did You Hear About Us box so they know we sent you. Amazing selection, reliably low prices, all the parts your car will ever need. Rockauto.com. Patriots fans, again, it is Trending Twitter Tuesday, and we are about to open up the Locked On Patriots mailbag. But before we do so, I just wanted to share a quick news and note from Foxborough with you, and this comes courtesy of ESPN's Mike Reese, who reported yesterday afternoon that the Patriots have hired Tyler Hughes as a coaching assistant.

Now, this is widely being reported in the media as a quote under the radar signing, meaning that Hughes isn't exactly a household name among the hot coaching prospects out there in the NFL right now. But some are indicating that he just might be in short order, maybe a little bit sooner than people think, and that's because of the ingenuity he shows on offense. Hughes most recently served as the head football coach at Bountiful High School in Utah, but his prior experience also includes two seasons as head coach at Manoa State. That's a Division II school in North Dakota. And he also spent nine seasons, six of them as the offensive coordinator, two as head coach at Snow College, which is a community college also in Utah. He also spent one season as offensive coordinator

and running backs coach at Murray High School, again in Utah. Hughes also has some big school pedigree. He spent the 2013 season as a quality control assistant at THE Ohio State University. Sorry to all my Michigan fans out there, but we do have some great Buckeye fans who are also listeners of Locked On Patriots, so I wanted to give you your just do as well. Hughes spent that season working under Urban Meyer, and according to his biography, Hughes was responsible for advanced scouting, film analysis, and data analytics to biography, Hughes was responsible for advanced scouting, film analysis,

and data analytics to increase offensive efficiency and productivity. And according to some of the people that I've spoken with that are close to the team, this is where Hughes has the opportunity to shine in the Patriots coaching staff. Tom Brady and Josh McDaniels were often on the same page when it came to data analytics and taking a cerebral approach to the game of football, especially from the quarterback position and on offense. And just because Tom is currently showing off his new threads down in Tampa Bay, it doesn't mean that the Patriots are going to abandon this practice. Actually, just the opposite.

They're probably going to look to enhance it. And that's why I believe they've brought in Hughes here. Again, some of the media members and analysts that I've spoken with have called him, quote, a rising star. Someone with the talent and the personality to be a rising star among the NFL coaching ranks. And let's face it folks, we know how painful the departure of Tom Brady has been to this region. We don't even want to think about how painful it's going to be when Bill Belichick decides to walk off into that Nantucket sunset. But inevitably that day will come and the Patriots always have to be on the lookout that have both the skin and the savvy

to be a head coach in a media market such as New England. Don't misconstrue me here, folks. I am not saying that Tyler Hughes is going to be the next head coach of the New England Patriots. I'm not even saying that he's going to be a head coach anywhere in a short period of time. But the Patriots realize that this year, for the first time in a long time, coaching is going to be of utmost importance.

Not that it's not important every year, folks. It is. But when you're guiding a new team that's lost its icon, the indelible face of the franchise for the last 20 years, you're going to need head coaches that speak to the heart of the players. That's especially true on offense, where they will be working in a new quarterback in Jarrett Stidham. Josh McDaniels is among the best, if not the best, at developing quarterbacks in the NFL. But you can never have too many great minds in that room. And if Tyler Hughes is able to bring the ingenuity

that he's brought to so many other posts he's held, I like this signing, and I think it has the chance to pay big dividends for the Patriots on the field this season. And Hughes' prowess doesn't just end at quarterbacks, folks. Hughes also has field experience. He played wide receiver for two years at Snow. That was the college where, as I stated just a moment ago, he spent nine seasons, six as the offensive coordinator, two as the head coach. Keep a sharp

eye on that fact, folks. Don't forget, the man that worked with the wide receivers last year, Joe Judge, is the new head coach down in the Meadowlands of the New York football giants. The Patriots can definitely use some help in that department, and Hughes having played the position could be an asset to Josh McDaniels as the offensive coordinator and even the newly hired Jed Fish, who will be working primarily with quarterbacks. All in all, the Patriots offense is going to have a different look to it without any question, especially on the field. But off the field and on the sidelines, you might see some changes in the way the Patriots call a game. If that's the case, look for a collective effort from Josh McDaniels, Jed Fish, Tyler Hughes, the rest of

the offensive coaching staff, and of course, let's not forget the main man, the hoodie himself, Bill Belichick. He may be the defensive genius, but he's also got the final say in what goes on on offense, and he's not too bad in that department either, folks. So a new face to share with you all on the Patriots coaching staff this year. They certainly have some youth on the field and are injecting a little bit of youth on the sidelines as well. We'll talk about some of that youth and how it will help the Patriots in 2020 when we open up the Locked On Patriots mailbag in just a moment. But folks, I did it again.

I know, I happened to mention the departure of Tom Brady, and I can't help but think of the good old days every time I do. Tom provided so many iconic memories for all of us New England Patriots fans. And despite some of our Pats Nation brethren, and I use the term loosely, that continuously enjoy besmirching the man's name on social media, I always look for a reason to commemorate and celebrate the GOAT himself. And folks, I can tell you that there is no better way to do so to purchase the latest and greatest piece of memorabilia that you will have in your collection, courtesy of our friends at Nyko Sports.

They have an amazing football commemorating the GOAT, Tom Brady himself, and his amazing 20-year career as the quarterback for our beloved Patriots. This is a full-sized, fully embossed football, and it's a limited edition for 2020. And the best part is, folks, that portions of the proceeds will be donated to the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation. This is a beautiful football, folks. It includes two embossed images of Tom Brady with all the logos of the six Super Bowl championships he won as quarterback of the Patriots. It also includes all of Brady's career records and his stats for every year of his amazing 20-year career. And if that doesn't excite you, this certainly will.

Folks, this football is only $99, and it would make a great Father's Day gift, a great gift for the graduate in your life, or the perfect way to enhance your own memorabilia collection. Take advantage of this football presale by calling 1-800-345-2868 right away so you can reserve your football, and also receive a complimentary gift right away so you can reserve your football. And also receive a complimentary gift flyer so you can let the dad, grad, or special person in your life know what's on its way. The greatest piece of memorabilia that you or they will ever own. These Tom Brady footballs are selling like crazy, so call now. That number is 1-800-345-2868.

You can also order online at Nikosports.com. That's N-I-K-C-O sports.com. And make sure to mention the Locked On Patriots podcast. Again, secure your Tom Brady football for only $99, courtesy of our friends at Nikosports.com. It's authentic. They guarantee it. Say hello to the Locked On Patriots mailbag. And once again, folks, some amazing questions submitted via Twitter. And as usual, folks, we received more questions than I will be able to answer in the allotted time here on Locked On Patriots today.

But fear not. If you submitted a question, you will absolutely be receiving an answer. And I once again thank each and every one of you for taking time out of your day to send in a question for me to answer right here on Locked On Patriots. Folks, you impress me with your knowledge, you humble me with your support, and you honor me by helping to make Locked On Patriots your daily home for news notes and analysis, infused with my occasional opinion as well. So on that note, let's dive into the Locked On Patriots mailbag.

And question number one comes to us from a name, a voice, and a laugh that you all know very well. And I probably just gave it away, folks. That's right. The best of the best. The salary cap top gun. The Pats cap himself. My main man, Miguel Benzon. And Miguel asks, will the Patriots bring in a kicker to compete with their fifth round draft pick? Which in this case, folks, means the Patriots' fifth round choice in the 2020 NFL draft kicker, Justin Rohrwasser. Miguel, this is a great question, and you know me, my friend. I never say never to anything. You and I, from our experience covering the team, know all too well that very few things

that happen in New England are as they seem. The release of Steven Gostowski earlier this year, after 14 years of being the Patriots kicker, was surprising? I hate to say it, though, Miguel, it wasn't shocking. Gostowski had had his struggles with his most recent hip battles, which required him to undergo season-ending surgery. You had to think that the Patriots were probably at least entertaining the idea of going in a different direction.

Personally, I've always been a fan of Steven's. He came into this environment with some big shoes to fill, and I'll tell you what, we'll come back to that one in a moment. But I think Stevens did an admirable job during his tenure here with the New England Patriots. But even before Stevens was released, I fully expected the Patriots to address the kicking situation in this year's draft. And the two names that I had targeted most prominently before the NFL draft was Rodrigo Blankenship, the hot rod himself out of the University of Georgia, and Tyler Bass out of Georgia Southern.

Both Blankenship and Bass were two of the more highly touted kickers coming out of this year's draft class. But when it came time for the Patriots to address the situation, they pretty much threw all of NFL fandom a pretty nasty curveball, and they selected Marshall kicker Justin Rohrwasser with the 159th pick in the fifth round. And a pretty good portion of Patriots Nation was not happy with this pick. In fact, a lot of them are still not happy with it. Taking his off-field issues aside for just a moment, a lot of NFL fans and media alike cannot seem to reconcile the fact

that the Patriots used fifth-round draft capital to select a player that a lot of people believe could have been obtained as an undrafted free agent. And if I'm being honest, Miguel, and all of you out there, I was one of them. Until I not only watched a little more film on Rohrwasser, but I also did a little digging as to why the Patriots felt they needed to use the fifth round pick on him. The more I watched Rohrwasser kick, the more he seemed like the prototypical Patriots kicker. He really sort of honed into his own skill in 2019. He went 18 of 21 on field goal attempts. He also served as Marshall's kickoff specialist,

and I think that's something that endeared him particularly to Bill Belichick. By now, most of you, if not all of you, know about the 53-yard game-winning field goal that he had against Western Kentucky, gave Marshall the 26-23 homecoming win, and also helped to put a cap on the day in which he went 4-4. He did all this in very poor weather conditions, which is something he's going to have to get used to playing in Foxborough. The wind, the rain, the snow, the cold, he's going to have to brave it all, and Rohrwasser can do it. So from a pure talent perspective, the Patriots didn't exactly just throw away that fifth round pick that a lot of people seem to believe. But the question remains,

why a fifth? Why not wait until the sixth or even the seventh round? Or maybe take a shot that he might be available as an undrafted free agent when the draft concludes. Now again folks, I did a little digging, and from those I spoke to that are close to the organization, there seemed to be an insinuation that Rohrwasser would not have been around in the sixth or seventh rounds in the draft this year. And before you start throwing things at your listening device folks, let me explain. Rohrwasser was one of the very few collegiate athletes that was able to organize and execute his own pro day. That took place on March 11th. That just happened to be the same day that the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 as a pandemic. We all know what happened after

that point. Pretty much everything shut down, including organized workouts and pro days. During that workout, the Patriots were one of many teams that became quite impressed with what this kid could do on the field. You combine that with some of the impressive film that they watched on Rohrwasser, and also the fact that he was Conference USA Special Teams Player of the Year, and all of a sudden you have a pretty valuable commodity for a team that was in desperate need of a place kicker. That tells me this is the Patriots guy, so to answer your question, Miguel, I don't really see them bringing in another kicker.

I think they're quite impressed with Rohrwasser and I think it's his job to lose. And I'll even take it one step further that I don't see a whole lot of competition coming in and pushing him for the job. Now is that because Rohrwasser is this otherworldly talent? Well, I think the jury's still out on that. He could be. But it's way too early to know that for sure. But there simply isn't much competition out there on the open market to come in and to

push him for the job. The only two names that would make any sense to me at all are Ryan Suckup, formerly of the Titans, and a guy I kind of mentioned earlier when I said I'd come back to that. A guy who used to kick here in Foxborough. A guy who you all know very well. And that is the legend himself, my paisan, Adam Vinatieri. But we'll start with Suckup, who is 33 years of age, and at the time I'm recording this podcast, is still available. Now, Suckup for the Titans last year missed half

the 2019 season. When he returned, he hit just one of his six field goal attempts. He was subsequently placed on injured reserve and then released by the Titans. Now, his knee should be healthy heading into 2020, so at 33, he could make for a nice buy-low kicker signing. And keep in mind that 2019 is really an anomaly for Ryan Suckup. He hadn't been worse than 83.3% in a year since 2013, so one would think that he could rebound pretty nicely. The other name that Patriots fans love to continue to consider is 47-year-old Adam Vinatieri. Folks, Adam is an undeniable Patriots legend. We all remember the snowball kick. I have a lithograph of it hanging on my wall. It's probably my favorite moment in Patriots history, but anybody holding out hope that Adam would come back for one more run with the New

England Patriots, probably setting themselves up for a world of disappointment. First off, it's likely that if Adam decided to return, and he hasn't officially decided to return yet, it probably would be with the Indianapolis Colts. But there is a wrinkle to that. The Colts currently have kicker Chase McLaughlin on staff, and also signed undrafted rookie free agent Rodrigo Blankenship. That's right, the hot rod is going to be wearing the horse shoe this year in Indy. So that would seem to leave Adam Vinatieri on the outside looking in when it comes to the Colts. Well, he struggled mightily last year. He was just 17 of 25 on field goal attempts and 22 of 28 on extra points. Now, a lot of that is because he needed knee surgery that he did get in the offseason. But reports indicate that his process has been greatly slowed down by quarantine.

As a result, it's unlikely that he'd be ready for the 2020 season. So taking all that under account, Miguel, Justin Rohrwasser doesn't only seem to be the Patriots' best choice, but he seems to be their only one at this point. And while theoretically there might be some Nick Folk-like veteran out there that might end up getting a look, I believe the Patriots are pretty taken with what they have in Rohrwasser, and I think they'd like to see what he has. The only way I

see any type of veteran, whether it be Suckup, Folk, or someone else coming in to push Rohrwasser is if he struggles and struggles mightily during the preseason. From what I've seen on this kid, I'd say that's highly unlikely. So Miguel, I hope that answers your question. Thank you for the great question. Very seldom do we get a

question on the kicking position here on Locked On Patriots. I know I spent a lot of time on it, but it was a great one and I wanted to give it its just due. Thank you, my friend, for all of your support. And if I'm being honest, I think it's just about that time for us to absorb some Benzahn wisdom and counsel here on Locked On Patriots. I'll be in touch, my friend. Thanks again and have a great one.

Our next question here on Trending Twitter Tuesday comes to us courtesy of N.E. Patriot at PatsNewEra. And N.E. Patriot asks, Any chance Jamar Smith might stick and could he press either Brian Hoyer or, gasp, Jared Stidham? And before I delve into this great question, N.E. Patriot, I want to give you kudos on great use of parentheses there.

But to answer your question, I would say yes, Jamar Smith has a legitimate shot at possibly making the Patriots roster this year. Now, whether that's via the practice squad or possibly even the number three quarterback position, it's still up for debate. Either way, I think it's highly unlikely that he sees any playing time for New England in 2020, even if he does make the roster. But his stats speak for themselves. Smith threw for 2,977 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions in 2019 at Louisiana Tech. He had a 64.3 completion

percentage, which is pedestrian, but the footage that you watch on this kid, any Patriot, is electric. He's got a big-time arm and all the physical skills to be a pro-caliber quarterback. But he doesn't come without his warning labels. In 2019, Smith was suspended for two games because of an athletic department policy violation. That may be why NFL teams chose to stay away from drafting him. That's something he will need to walk through the door in Foxborough from his first day here and prove to Bill Belichick and the coaching staff that those days are long behind him. With the shortened prep time during the preseason, during training camp,

the Patriots are not going to have time to develop players on the field and also develop them off the field. They're going to have to come in here with a heightened level of maturity, so if Smith can prove that those days are indeed behind him, I think he's got a great chance to stick. On the field with Smith, there is a lot to love. There are a couple of concerns that I have. He does have some issues with his pocket awareness, and that's led to Smith having some difficulty on not being able to identify pressure and thus not see the blitz coming. He's also been known to have some struggles with his downfield vision. But as I've said many times here on the pod, if I know this, the New England Patriots know it.

And those types of problems can be corrected with solid coaching and repetitive execution of mechanics. I think Smith is up to the challenge in both areas. I believe Smith will enter Foxborough with a mature attitude, and I also think he'll put in the time necessary to develop the skills he'll need to be an effective quarterback at this level. For those reasons, I see him being the undrafted free agent that the Patriots keep around. Brian Lewerke is also an undrafted free agent on the Patriots roster. I think he has a chance to be a solid backup in the league, but I don't see it happening in New England.

I think he's still a little too interception prone. So to answer your question, any Patriot, yes, I do believe Smith will hang around. Will he push Hoyer or possibly even Stidham? I still see that as highly unlikely. I think he's still a little bit too raw of a prospect, but he has the talent to open some eyes. And during the preseason, assuming we get a full preseason and Jamar Smith gets some meaningful playing time, don't be a bit surprised to see more than a few highlights on this

kid. And within just a few short years, people may be saying some pretty exciting things about Jamar Smith. So any Patriot, thank you for the great question, and I hope I was able to answer it adequately for you. I thank you very much for your support. And folks, what better way to bring back the Locked On Patriots mailbag here on Trending Twitter Tuesday than to talk some kickers and quarterbacks?

Well, how about some wideouts, running backs, tight ends, and defense when we dip back into the Locked On Patriots mailbag? Well, I'll tell you what, folks. That's exactly how we're going to close out today's show in just a moment. But before we do that, all this talk about quarterbacks has once again got me nostalgic, folks. And it being Tuesday, you've probably seen the social media posts of Tom Brady wearing his new Buccaneers jersey. As I've said several times, makes me want to hide under my Buccan hat. But we all know that even though Tom is temporarily wearing red imputer right now,

he'll always bleed Patriot blue. And whenever I need a reminder of the GOAT's greatness, I go to the most beautiful piece of Patriots and Tom Brady memorabilia in my collection. That's right folks, I am looking at the commemorative Tom Brady football, brought to you by our friends at Nyko Sports, and it's the football saluting his amazing 20-year run with the Patriots, arguably the greatest 20-year run in the history of the NFL. Nyko Sports has this one and only Tom Brady football. The football is fully embossed. Panel 1 has an action shot of Brady with the six Super Bowl championship logos

he won during his time in New England. Panel 2, a second action shot with Brady's NFL records and career highlights. And panel 3 is a special treat for all of you statisticians out there. It has a year-by-year breakdown of games, yards, and touchdowns, including the playoffs and Super Bowls. This is a Nyko Sports exclusive football, folks, and it's a limited edition for 2020. But here's the best part. It's just $99, and proceeds are being donated

to the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation. So your purchase helps to contribute to a great cause. So what are you waiting for? Call now. 1-800-345-2868. That number is 1-800-345-2868. You can also order online at Nikosports.com. That's N-I-K-C-O sports dot com

and mention the Locked On Patriots podcast. Don't delay. For just $99, this can be your greatest piece of Patriots and Tom Brady memorabilia ever. Patriots fans, we are just getting warmed up in the Locked On Patriots mailbag

here on Trending Twitter Tuesday. And our next question surrounds the tight end position. And if it's a tight end question, who else could it be from but our good friend Claire L. Cooper at KlazyClaire, all the way from West Midlands in the United Kingdom. And Claire's question is, who do you believe is going to make a bigger impact, Devin Asiasi or Dalton Keene? Who are you more pleased with, or less?

And who, if any of the undrafted tight ends, has a shot at making this year's roster? Well, Claire, let me start by saying, hey girl, to tell you that I'm actually impressed both by Asiasi and by Keene. And keep in mind that this is coming from a guy who sang the praises of Adam Trotman pretty much all year last year, and right up until the Patriots made the selections in the draft this year. I like Devin Asiasi because I think he is a total package tight end. He has the ability to block, he has very good hands, and he's one of the more adept route runners at the position. If you're asking me which of the guys I believe is going to be a better big play threat,

I would probably go with Asiasi. I am very much intrigued by the versatility of Dalton Keene, however. This is a kid that I believe was very much underutilized during his time at Virginia Tech. He's got explosiveness, is able to get out into the open field, make receptions. He can be an asset in the blocking game, but his biggest asset, again, is versatility. His ability to line up as a traditional tight end, line up in the H-back tight end role, or even slip back and play a little fullback. Because of Asiasi's ability to run routes, he may accumulate more impressive stats when it comes to receiving yards, but in terms of receptions, I think Dalton Keene may challenge him or maybe even overtake him in that regard. Bottom line, both of these

guys impress me in their own way. But I will say this, it's safe to say that Devin Asiasi and Dalton Keene are the two best tight ends on the Patriots roster right now. And unless they bring in a veteran who's currently not on my radar, I don't believe that's going to change. They will have some rookie bumps in the road this year, but into year two and even year three, this could be a very prolific dynamic duo even at the tight end position. So Claire, keep a sharp eye on both of these guys. I really like what I see in both Keene and Asiasi. To answer your question on the undrafteds, I have my eye on Boston College's Jake Burt. And beside him being a local guy, of course playing his high school ball in Danvers and then coming to Boston College, Burt put up some pretty impressive numbers before breaking

his collarbone in 2019 and missing the rest of the season. To be honest, I think that's one of the reasons why he fell off of the draft board. As a senior with the Eagles last year, he played in seven games, had 15 receptions for 212 yards. He also averaged 14.1 yards receiving and scored one touchdown. And that touchdown was impressive. It was a 55-yard reception against Richmond, then he went on to catch three passes at home against the Kansas Jayhawks. I've been looking at more and more film of Burt, and I have to tell you, all of a sudden, he's emerging as a potential dark horse when it comes to the Patriots roster. I'm not saying he's going to crack the 53 man, but if this kid could possibly be stashed somewhere in the practice squad, Patriots may have a pretty good diamond

in the rough when it comes to the tight end position. He has his health concerns. Again, I mentioned the broken collarbone, but something to remember is he was on the John Mackey Award watch list, which for those of you that don't know is annually given to the game's top tight end, he was being considered for that prior to his collarbone injury. So Claire, given your interest in the tight end position, I would definitely keep a sharp eye on Jake Burt, but look for big things out of both Devin Asiasi and Dalton Keene as soon as this year, these guys are the real deal. Again, thank you so much for the question, thank you very much for all of your support,

and oh yeah, once again, hey girl. Our next questions on Trending Twitter Tuesday weren't exactly in tandem, but they are somewhat related. And in the interest of time, I've chosen to address them as a set. And they come from Pats1-Joel at JoelShapiro20 and our friend from the Garden State, Stara at KetoJerseyGirl. And Joel's question was, who has a better chance at outperforming at their respective positions? and our friend from the Garden State, Stara at Keto Jersey Girl. And Joel's question was,

who has a better chance at outperforming at their respective positions? Running back Sonny Michel or wide receiver Nikhil Harry? Stara's question, on the other hand, was, who do you believe the Patriots will start at running back? See where I'm going with this one, folks? Yeah, I think you can probably figure it out. And this is coming from someone that has very high expectations and all the confidence in the world that Nikhil Harry will have a great season in Foxborough this year.

To answer your question first, Joel, it's hard to say that Nikhil Harry wouldn't be the logical response here. He finished his rookie season with just 14 receptions for 126 yards and two touchdowns. And as I've said several times here on Locked On Patriots, the main reason for that is the multitude of time that he missed. It simply never allowed Nikhil to be able to develop the synergy he needed with Tom Brady. It wasn't because Brady didn't trust him, folks. It wasn't because Tom didn't want to throw to him. It was simply because they just didn't have the time

to develop the knowledge of what each other wanted on the field. By all accounts, Nikhil is healthy. He will have that opportunity with Jarrett Stidham, and it might actually be a little bit easier with a younger quarterback. Don't forget, for all the praise that I heap upon Tom Brady, he can be a little bit telegraphic at times when it comes to locking onto a receiver and wanting to go to him over and over again, i.e. Julian Edelman. With Stidham, he'll be heavily reliant on Edelman, but I also believe he'll be a little bit more open to using some of the younger receivers such as Nikhil Harry and

Jacoby Myers. Overall, I expect Nikhil Harry to be the Patriots' primary perimeter weapon. I believe he'll see a sizable increase in his playing time. The Pats will continue to split him out wide where he's at his best. They did that 86.6% of his snaps last year. I don't think that changes in 2020. And with hopefully a year full of good health, I think Nikhil Harry will be poised to be that big physical receiving threat that wins battles with defensive backs on the perimeter and also goes up to make impressive contested catches. That being said, I still expect a pretty big year out of Sonny Michel.

And I know the reports coming out last week from Mike Reiss folks indicates that Sonny's health may not be the greatest. It indicates that he may actually have to start the season on the physically unable to perform list. Obviously, health is the ultimate equalizer. We simply don't know enough about Sonny's condition, and Dr. Jessica Flynn who joined us here last week as much said so in her appearance, to really be able to prognosticate whether or not Sony is up for a down year or a big year. I'm assuming he's going to be relatively healthy. The reports that I've read regarding Sony's foot surgery

indicates that it's minor in nature and really more restorative to help relieve some of the discomfort he had last year, even if he has to start the season on pup. Assuming he plays meaningful snaps this year on the field, I still think Sony is their primary weapon at running back. I'm a big fan of Damian Harris, and I think he has a chance to be a great weapon on the field this year, but Sony is still the starter. And Starra, I'm sorry, I just answered your question out of turn, but I will get back to it in a moment. But Sony is still capable of producing big yardage for this team. 2019 was a

down year for him. He still managed to produce 912 yards on the ground with seven touchdowns. He may not have turned heads the way he did in his 2018 rookie season in which he set a postseason rushing record by scoring six touchdowns in three games, but he still proved that when healthy and when confident, he's capable of being featured back in this offense. Now, obviously, folks, again, I'm basing this on good health for Sony. If he sputters in that department, all bets are off. In that regard, you may end up seeing Damian Harris emerge as the new feature back in this offense.

But until we see the degree of Sony's health problems, or maybe even lack thereof, I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. He does need to improve on hitting the holes, no question about that. Sony did not do that with the same explosiveness in 2019 that he did in 2018. A lot of that was because of the looks that he was receiving when it came to the blocking of his offensive line, or lack thereof. I believe that'll be better in 2020. I think the Patriots players on the roster this year are better equipped to block for a runner like Sony than they were in the previous season. That being said, it's still on Sonny to go out and hit the holes harder. That's something he can't be helped with. He has to do it on his own. I truly believe he recognizes that,

and I think Sonny Michel, if healthy, will be one of the top performers this year, especially knowing that he's going to have to do all he can to help his new quarterback in Jarrett Stidham. So to both Starra and Joel, great questions. I hope I was able to answer them adequately, with Harry being the player that takes the bigger leap of the two, but Sony still being the feature back and the starter in this running game for your New England Patriots. Folks, it is almost time to close up the Locked On Patriots mailbag for the week,

but not before one last question from a valued colleague and friend of mine, and a frequent guest here on Locked On Patriots, and that is the host of Locked On Auburn, Zach Blackerby, at ZBlackerby. And if you think that Zach's question had a little Auburn flavor to it, well, then you would be right, folks. Of course, he's the host of Locked On Auburn. It's got to be about an Auburn Tiger. And in this case, and Zach would like to know what former Tiger and

current Patriots undrafted free agent Nick Coe can do to secure a roster spot. Who does he need to beat out and how likely is it? Zach, awesome question as always. And we both know that Coe was viewed as a potential first round talent after racking up seven sacks and 13 and a half tackles for a loss as a redshirt sophomore for the Tigers in 2018. But in 2019, Nick's productivity plummeted, and so did his draft stock. He finished his final year in the SEC with just 15 total tackles, three tackles for a loss, and no sacks. As a result, a player that was once considered a sure-fire prospect ended up going undrafted. The Patriots did ultimately sign Coe as an undrafted free agent,

and I think they hope that he's going to be able to recapture some of the magic he showed during his 2018 campaign. Nick Coe has a lot working in his favor, Zach, but one of the most important things he has working in his favor is his versatility and his size. He's 6'5", 291 pounds. He can play everywhere, from defensive tackle to outside linebacker, even hybrid safety. So he's technically a jack-of-all-trades on the defensive side of the ball. And Gus Malzahn, Auburn's head coach, has pretty much said the same thing in describing Nick. He said that he can play outside, he can play inside, he can play off the ball. He's versatile and gave the Auburn Tigers defense

a lot of flexibility. He described his talent as being rare, but a good rare. And I agree with that. When you take a look at how he was utilized last year, I think Malzahn and his staff wanted to maximize Coe's multifaceted skill set by playing him in multiple spots. But to me, this is also where the wheels seem to come off. Zach has told us all here on Locked On Patriots before that Coe essentially started at the buck position, which is Auburn's high profile, that hybrid edge rusher role that really is conducive to big time pass rush numbers. This was his role in 2018 when he was at his most effective, but his change to kind of that jack of all trades role seemed to be the beginning of

Nick's problems at Auburn. I think he saw it as a demotion, and as a result, he not only struggled on the field, but he also showed some questionable commitment off of it. In fact, Malzahn had to bench him for an October game against Arkansas after he did not meet Auburn's standard in practice that week. To answer your question, Zach, if he comes in here with that type of attitude, he's not going to get past the first cut. As I've stated before, the Patriots simply do not have the time or the energy to invest that type of development into a player, especially one that already has a questionable history.

However, if Nick can come in and embrace the culture of versatility that exists in Foxborough, I think he might be able to rediscover that sophomore year groove that he had, and I think at that point, he may have a pretty clear path to a roster spot. The defensive line lacked depth last season. Hasn't really seen any notable additions, if we're being honest. They lost Danny Shelton at the nose tackle position at the defensive line. They replaced him with veteran free agent Bo Allen. To me, his most likely path at making a roster spot is to compete with Dietrich Wise, who really seemed like an awkward fit for the Pats in the 3-4 scheme last year. If the Patriots choose to stay in that defensive scheme, then I think Coe has a chance to really challenge

for that, especially because he's slimmed down. But again, a lot of this is going to be based on character and how he performs on the field. He has competition in front of him without any question. He's not only competing with fellow undrafted free agents Courtney Wallace and Bill Murray, he's also competing with veterans like Dietrich Wise, Byron Cowart, and Nick Thurman. So to answer your question, Zach, on paper, it looks to be a pretty bumpy road toward a roster spot, but there is a clear path. It's going to be up to Nick whether or not he wants to take it. I truly believe he has it in him, but at the end of the day, he's going to have to show it on the field.

So with that, Patriots fans, I thank Zach Blackerby for helping me to put a bow on the locked-on Patriots mailbag. My sincere hope is that this trending Twitter Tuesday has left you with a little more energy to help get through the week. But if you find yourself in need for just a little bit more, may I suggest an indulging in my new favorite treat, Bilt Bar. The protein bar that gives you everything you need and everything you want. It is truly that tasty treat that you've been looking for. So don't delay. Make Bilt Bar your go-to protein bar today.

Folks, I simply can't tell you enough how much I love Bilt Bar your go-to protein bar today. Folks, I simply can't tell you enough how much I love Bilt Bar. 100% real chocolate, soft, easy to chew, and they're available in 16 amazing flavors like banana nut bread and peanut butter brownie, just to name a couple. Bilt Bar is low-calorie and low-sugar, but it's also high-protein and high-fiber. And folks, it's delicious. Bilt Bar has no crazy additives, half the calories of its most popular competitors, and get this, seven times fewer carbs, seven times fewer sugar grams, and more protein. How can it be that good for you and taste that good?

Well, all I can tell you, folks, is Built Bar is just that good. And this week, folks, take advantage of Built Bar's inventory closeout. Up to 50% off everything at BuiltBar.com. And here's the best part. 100% of these profits will be donated to organizations that support education, ending of poverty, bringing about equality and ending hate and racism. Folks go to built bar.com today and use promo code locked on to get $10 off your first box.

That's B U I L T B A R.com and promo code locked on for $10 off your first box. That's B-U-I-L-T-B-A-R dot com and promo code LOCKEDON for $10 off your first box. You too can eat healthy while indulging in a delicious treat, so don't delay. Make Bilt Bar your go-to protein bar today. And as for me, I will be back tomorrow to bring you the latest news notes

and analysis from Foxborough. If you want to ensure that you do not miss a single episode of Locked On Patriots, please be sure to subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts. Follow us on Spotify. And don't forget, you can always listen to Locked On Patriots right on your very own smart device. How do you do so?

Very simple. Just ask it to play the latest episode of Locked On Patriots. And if you've enjoyed today's episode, now tell your smart device to play the latest episode of Locked On NFL. Once again, I'm Mike DeBate. I thank all of you who took the time to send in a question for today's trending Twitter Tuesday episode. But most of all, I sincerely thank each and every one of you for listening today and for staying locked in to Locked On Patriots. Stay safe, stay well, be the change you wish to see in the world, and have a great day, everyone.