Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - Talkin’ Tight Endage: New England Patriots 2021 Tight End Prospectus — 6/23/2021

Episode Date: June 23, 2021

After a dismal season at the position in 2020, the New England Patriots are looking to revitalize the tight end depth chart in 2021. Joining host Mike D’Abate is Clare ‘ClazzyClare’ Cooper of Pats Propaganda and Full Press Patriots, as they discuss the offseason additions of Jonnu Smith and Hunter Henry, which incumbent has the most to prove in 2021, and the positional outlook for the upcoming season.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.BetOnline AGThere is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus.Rock AutoAmazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You are Locked On Patriots, your daily New England Patriots podcast. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. All of you, Foxborough faithful. You are now locked in to the Lockdown Patriots podcast. It is Wednesday, June 23rd, 2021, and midweek is the perfect time of week to talk some tight endage here on your daily home for news notes and analysis infused with the occasional opinion on your six-time Super Bowl champions, the New England Patriots.

And after listening to today's episode of Locked On Patriots, be sure to check out my esteemed colleagues, NFL analyst Brian Peacock and former NFL scout Matt Williamson, as they host Locked On's Peacock and Williamson every Monday through Friday. Brian and Matt give you the national perspective all around the NFL, covering the latest news and insight on every game, every team, and every move around the NFL. Get your picks, previews, and much more every weekday with the Peacock and Williamson Podcast, part of the Locked On Podcast Network. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Greetings, salutations, and happy hump day, Patriots fans.

Thank you so much for joining me on today's midweek episode of the pod. My name is Mike DeBate, and I cover the New England Patriots for Patriot Maven of Sports Illustrated. I am also 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 appreciated. So share that feedback, send it to the internet by reaching out to me and following me on Twitter at M-D-A-B-A-T-E-N-F-L.

And while you're out there doing some Wednesday wandering through the Twitterverse, please be sure to follow the Lockdown Patriotsots account as well at LO underscore Patriots. Pats fans, you heard me correctly just a few moments ago. Midweek is the perfect time of week to talk some tight endage here on Locked On Patriots. And of course, as we continue to break down the Patriots' positional depth charts in 2021, next up on the docket is the tight end position. The Pats had a tremendously busy offseason, especially in free agency, and tight ends were among the top priorities of the Patriots' signings.

Jonu Smith, Hunter Henry, the two top tight ends on the market, both now New England Patriots, ultimately meaning the return of the two-tight end package and that 12-man personnel that Josh McDaniels, Bill Belichick, and the Patriots Offensive Brain Trust love to employ. Of course, they didn't do so much of it last year in 2020. Only 3% of the time did they run offensive packages featuring two tight ends on the field. That statistic was good enough for dead last in the NFL last season, but 2021 is a new dawn and

a new day, as not only did the Patriots invest a lot in bringing in the two top free agents, they also have two second-year tight ends, each of which drafted in the 2020 NFL draft, that still have a great deal of potential, Devin Asiasi and Dalton Keene. But we're not even done yet, because the Patriots also have on roster, as we currently speak, veteran Matt Lacoste, who's coming off of an opt-out year in 2020. Also, Troy Fumagalli, the former Denver Bronco, who was recently signed by the team. And don't forget Rashad Berry, who technically splits time between tight end and defensive end, but he's capable of lining up at the tight end position as well.

Who will make the roster? Who will make an impression? And who's heading into training camp with a little something extra to prove? Well, if we're talking tight ends, folks, you know that there is only one guest who brings the expertise on the position like no one else can. That's right, my good friend, the Countess of Clas herself, Claire Clasie Claire Cooper joins us today. And of course, we're talking tight ends. And Claire will reveal to all of us her favorite acquisition of the offseason, which of the second year sophomores might be primed for

a breakout year in 2021, which tight end on the roster is heading into training camp with the most to prove, and last but certainly not least, her outlook for the positional depth chart for the upcoming season. Folks, an action-packed agenda, always a lot of fun when the Countess stops by to talk tight endage, and that's exactly what we'll be focusing on today, talking the Patriots 2021 tight end depth chart when this midweek episode of the Locked On Patriots podcast continues. Locked On listeners, when it comes to repairing or maintaining your vehicle, why would you spend 30%, 50%, even 100% more

for the exact same auto parts at a chain store or a new car dealership? It's still possible to take pride in your ride and even save a little in the process. Visit my good friends at rockauto.com. Rockauto.com is a family business serving auto parts customers online for 20 years. Go to rockauto.com to shop for auto and body parts from hundreds of manufacturers. They have everything from engine control modules and brake parts 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 and they're delivered directly to your door. The rockauto.com catalog is unique and remarkably easy to navigate. Quickly see all the parts available for your vehicle and then choose the brands, the specifications and here's the best part folks, the prices

you prefer. RockAuto.com's prices are always reliably low and they're the same for professionals and do-it-yourselfers just like you and me. 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, if you are a fan of Locked On Patriots, and I sincerely thank you for being one, Thank you. and, of course, a giggle that you know very well. From West Midlands in the UK, she is a Patriots writer for Pat's Propaganda, the third voice on One Patriots Place, and a special contributor and columnist for Full Press Patriots, where she also hosts her own Patriots podcast, A Claire Perspective, which is a must-listen for any Patriots fan.

I highly recommend it. She's been having some amazing guests on. Phenomenal insight. Again, folks, must listen. It is my honor to welcome the Countess of Clas herself, Claire Clasie. Claire Cooper is back on Lockdown Patriots. Thank you, Claire, so much for joining me today from across the pond. Welcome back to Lockdown Patriots. No, it's my pleasure, Mike. Thank you so much for having me me I have so much fun when we get to do these it's awesome sharing the mic with you

absolutely I always enjoy sharing the microphone with you no matter the topic you know that it's always a lot of fun our listeners here at Lockdown Patriots love when you're on and I know I'm as guilty of this as anyone else and a lot of us are we love to have some fun at your expense regarding your being an expert on tight endage. You even have your own t-shirts now, Brandon. We're dealing with a new fashion mogul here, and I love every minute of it. It's great, folks.

Yeah, definitely. Check out Claire's Twitter feed. The tight endage t-shirts and things that she's got going on is a lot of fun. That may be your specialty. But, folks, I continue to say this each and every time Claire joins me on the microphone. You're really emerging as one of the most talented, one of the most well-rounded writers on all things New England Patriots. And, folks, you know, whether it be offense, defense, special teams, coachings, Claire knows her stuff. And just check out any of her great work on all the platforms that she, you know, writes and podcasts for you'll see what I mean.

And that's one of the big reasons why you're a favorite and part of the lockdown Patriots family here. And that being said, you know, we're doing positional depth breakdowns on the pod this week as luck would just add it. We're discussing tight ends today. Deep rest, Claire. I know. I know you're psyched for this. I know this is a big moment for you, but you are our

resident expert after all. But all kidding aside, we're actually contractually obligated to have Claire on the show when tight endage is the topic, folks. So we didn't really have a choice whether we wanted to or not. No, I kid. I kid. If it's tight endage, there's no way we're having this show without Claire Cooper. So let's get down to business, my friend. The Patriots ran a two tight end package 3% of the time in 2020. That's dead last in the NFL. Anyone who knows Bill Belichick, Josh McDaniels, their penchant for running an offense, that's 12-man personnel. The two tight end packages, those two tight end sets were such a staple of efficient and potent Patriots offenses. Obviously last year,

that just wasn't the case. And there were a lot of different reasons for that. You had Ryan Izzo trying his best to get out there, get open. There were times where he was open and just did not get the football. You had Devin Asiassi, Dalton Keene kind of, you know, lumbering along trying to learn the playbook, but never really got comfortable in the offense. And really beyond that, there wasn't much else on the roster of anyone that could make contributions.

So the Patriots knew that as well as anyone, Claire, and they went out in the offseason. They upgraded, signing the two top free agent tight ends on the market, John O'Smith and Hunter Henry. You know my feelings on Hunter. I've been very vocal about how glad I am to see him in New England, having covered him when he was a member of the Chargers. Now seeing him come here, I really think he's going to do great things in this offense.

Just that typical wide tight end that not only can block efficiently, but can also run routes very well he's a capable receiver he can get in the open field really make things happen as a pass catcher but also be that prototypical blocking tight end that really i think is so coveted in this system john who smith is someone i've also had my eye on for a number of years well he's someone that can be that prototypical move tight end someone that's a big time threat in the red zone. He can get his hands in the dirt and block with anybody as well. So that's my assessment on the situation when it comes to those two guys. I am so happy to see them both probably back to the wall. I'm a little bit happier to see Hunter Henry here because like

I said, I've covered him before and I just want to see what he can do in this lineup but when you look at this being the expert on tight endage that you are my friend who would you say is the Patriots most effective and best offseason addition to the tight endage depth chart well everything you just said was completely correct Mike so well done hey star you have a no there's going to be a lot of head and heart issues going on today with this with it being a tight-ended episode I will do my best to keep it real and logical and even though from a perspective of statistics and stuff my best off-season signing is still Hunter Henry I've got to agree with you now I know that I'm mildly biased but he's something that the Patriots use in the system.

Izzo was close to this, but as a seventh round pick, seventh round pick, sorry, it was a tall order asking him to replace Gronk, and that's theoretically what he was asked. And whilst I would not say that Hunter Henry does this, you can't replace Gronkowski. That guy is the tight end goat. But Henry is definitely closer

to that than Izzo could be really and as much as I do adore him I know he had limitations maybe not as many as people will choose to believe but still I mean I have to curb my enthusiasm a little he's already had that twinge at minicamp and And I think he lost, it was his 2018 season due to injury. He's, what, 26 now. So, you know, we have to hope that his best seasons aren't behind him. But, you know, he's not old and that, but he plays a very physical position. Like, as you said, as you mentioned, he's a wide tight end. He's a good blocker, but he also has the pass-catching ability.

And I just cannot wait to see some of his explosiveness off the line. It just gives me tingles to that Hunter Henry touchdown. I'm just waiting with just bated breath anticipation for that. And I think we all are here in Patriots Nation. And look, the love that we're showing for Hunter Henry is in no way diminishing that the love that we're going to show for John Smith as well. Absolutely. Absolutely. And what he can do in the red zone really makes John who's such an intriguing option, such an intriguing signing for the Patriots, because that's a weapon

that can be effective no matter who is the quarterback, as long as the quarterback is able to get the player the ball. And if Cam Newton continues to show improvement, he did struggle in the first couple of days of mandatory minicamp, but really came back on day three last Wednesday with a purpose, played well and played at a high level. And that's all you can ask for when it comes to quarterbacks, you know, trying to make a better situation out of the situation they had last year. And I sincerely think that Cam will do that. Assumingly he is the starter that's going to give the Patriots a weapon. They simply did not have last year. Cam Newton really did not have a real viable threat in the red zone to be able to get open, move guys around, and be able to make

contested catches. A lot of people thought Nikhil Harry could be that guy in the red zone when it came to the wide receiver slot, but this is going to be, I think, a great hand-in-glove fit for John O. Smith. But Hunter Henry can really be effective in so many areas of the field. You mentioned him being that prototypical wide tight end. Hunter is one of the best route runners I've ever covered. And I say that I've uncovered wide receivers having covered, you know, running backs that can run routes out of the backfield, uh, having covered full backs, whatever type of position that you can imagine to say a tight end is one of the best route runners, uh, that you've had the chance to observe says something a lot about what he is

in that. Hunter is just, he's so good at being able to run precise routes, get open and get to the ball wherever he needs to be. So I agree with you. I really think this is going to be an intriguing signing, but it's really more of a one, a one B I think rather than a one or a two. He's got, you know, if, If there is maybe a little bit more anticipation to watch Henry in the open field, it's simply because he can be a threat in so many different aspects. But Jono can be a threat out of the backfield as well.

We've seen him on that jet suit in Tennessee so often. You've just colored it. I've just got sort of positional bias there. It was just a case of, like you said, it was 1A, 1B. It was a difficult thing to call and you know my heart won out because you know hunter's my guy this year so yeah it was a little bit more from a fandom passion perspective but like you said it was nothing against smith whatsoever he's you know he's he's one of the elite free agency signing sort of things so

yeah definitely nothing against him but i can't help it and henry's still my guy so yeah gotta pick him gotta pick him well you're not gonna get an argument from me like i said this is a guy i've been really looking forward to seeing in a patriots uniform and i can't wait to see what he's going to do uh this year uh with um with you know the the offense and what he can do in an offense that's so coordinated by josh mDaniels. Claire, staying on that subject for just a moment, but sort of switching gears, the Patriots don't just have two new tight ends joining the fold this year. They also have two sophomore sensations, or I probably use the term loosely. I know a lot of people are probably going to roll their eyes when I say that, but Devin Asiasti and Dalton Keene were brought in, drafted in 2020. They were expected to rejuvenate the tight end group last season.

Unfortunately, it just didn't work out that way. 2020 was a challenging year for so many reasons, but especially for rookies. There wasn't much time to develop. They really couldn't learn the playbook the way they had hoped. Very little time, if any, to gain the trust of their quarterback. That being said, there's still anticipation for these guys. I'm very disheartened by a lot of the fan base that seems to be writing off Devin Asiasi and Dalton Keene and saying, oh, okay, two busts. They needed to go out and, you know, they wasted two draft picks last year. They needed to go out and sign two big-time tight ends.

I think the consensus is that the Patriots have upgraded by bringing in Jono Smith and Hunter Henry, but there's still some upside to both of these players. You study tight ends a lot, Claire, and you've been very particularly intrigued by Dalton Keene and Asiasi as well. When you look at these two guys heading into training camp, which of these two do you believe is going to make the biggest jump in 2021? Is it

going to be Devin or is it going to be Dalton? I think out of the two rookies, Asiasi's playing styles and ability have him with the edge over Dalton Keene. We know that coach likes versatility and Keene has that kind of h-back fall back tight end thing going on for him as well particularly when what he worked for in college but he's had a not so good neck injury and I mean there has been murmurings out of minicamp that Asiasi has been doing well but as you mentioned we didn't see much performance in 2020 for many reasons neither rookie made much of a splash so I don't think it's difficult to say that we would that we should see an improvement from both but

overall sort of picking and for his own sake I think it needs to be assy assy if not with the signings that they've made for these three and four years on on the tight ends he might be looking at the edge of a bubble come draft time next year i mean i think this is the year that he needs to show that he can do what he can do sort of thing i mean so yeah particularly if the steelers let bill have pat freemuth then yeah you, he's gone. Still beating that Framuth. Oh yeah. She loves it. She absolutely loves it.

And Hey, who knows? You know, I, I had thought of Hunter Henry as a good potential Patriot when I thought he was going to be a charger for a good long time, actually expected him to be back in Los Angeles this year, but you never know the way the ball's going to bounce. And now all of a sudden he finds himself in new England. So who knows? Pat may end up finding a home here. But if he doesn't, let's assume for a moment that the Steelers are going to hang the inability to develop a synergy with the quarterback because they didn't have rookie mini camp. They didn't have mandatory mini camp. Training camp was very limited. There were no preseason.

They didn't have an opportunity to really develop that type of relationship that you need, that trust that you need in order to be a target, especially in difficult situations. And let's face it, the tight end is often a safety valve for the quarterback. If they can get open, they find mismatches on the field. It's easy for the quarterback to be able to look to a tight end, to be able to extend the play and get yardage. That's something that Devin is going to be required to do this year. And if he doesn't show the ability to do it, then I agree with you. He might find himself on the roster bubble in 2022. I don't think it'll be the case this year. I actually believe that both of these guys are secure in their roster spot.

And I know a lot of Patriots fans out there are going to say, well, what about Keene? Now you can cut him loose. You got Yakov at the fullback. Why waste a roster spot on him? Don't forget, there is still a good deal of draft capital invested. Patriots spent good, you know, draft, uh, uh, you know, a spot to bring in Dalton Keene for someone that played that H back fullback type role in college and that type of, uh, you know, tight end that can put his hands in the dirt and block with the best of them. I am not so quick to give up on Dalton Keene yet. So I think he'll be someone that the Patriots are watching in training camp obviously it's going to be important to watch his health that's the most important thing how is he progressing is

that neck injury something that is still going to linger from last year into this year those are all wild card questions that are going to be answered in training camp but i think devon has the ability to stretch the field i think he's someone that can be a good reliable third option on the tight end core this year. And I look for something from him because the more I watched his film last year, when the Patriots were thinking about taking him, and then when they actually did end up making the move and drafting him, I really liked what I saw and what he could do in UCLA.

And I think with a full arsenal and a full off season to be able to work on that, I think you're going to see a much better Devon Asiasi this year than you did last year. Claire, you have expertise in tight endage, no question about it. You're displaying that today. You continue to prove why every time you take the microphone here. But we're going to leave the past behind just for a moment here. We're going to get excited about the future because the Patriots open training camp in just over a month and the tight end position is going to be a focal point for certain who might have a little something extra to prove heading into the start of camp.

Find out when more with Klazi Claire Cooper, when this episode of the Locked On Patriots podcast continues. Locked On listeners, get all the latest news, odds, and info for all of your sporting needs, including Major League Baseball, the NBA, NHL, all of your UFC MMA action, and of course the NFL with the only place that has you covered and the only place we trust. Bet online. Bet online is the fastest and easiest way to bet on all of your sports action. Before the start of your next favorite sporting event,

head over to BetOnline on your laptop or mobile device and check out all the greatest sporting news, sign-up bonuses, and contest information. You can track all the action at BetOnline. Head over to the website at BetOnline.ag and sign up today to receive your 50% welcome bonus on your first deposit when you use the promo code LOCKEDON. Don't sit on the sidelines anymore.

This is your chance to get into the action. Head over to their website or use your mobile device to sign up today and receive your 50% welcome bonus on your first deposit when you use the promo code LOCKEDON. BetOnline, your online sportsbook experts. LockedOn listeners, we've all heard the phrase often imitated but never duplicated. It's a part of the sports fans lexicon, and that's because only the best athletes and sports teams

can provide you with the best possible moments. And in that vein, the only ones who could provide the best healthy, low calorie and delicious treats to satisfy all of your snacking needs are the ones who provided the best in the first place. That's right, folks, I'm talking about Built Bar because no one can do it like they do it. Built Bars are available in a multitude of delicious flavors, 100% real chocolate, soft, easy to chew, and they're not only low-calorie and low-sugar, but also high-protein and high-fiber. Bilt Bar has no crazy additives, half the calories of its most popular competitors,

and get this, seven times fewer carbs, seven times fewer grams of sugar, and more protein. So don't delay, do it today. Prepare your taste buds for wow, and make Bilt Bar your go-to protein bar right now. Go to BiltBar.com and use the promo code LOCKED15 to get 15% off your next order. That's promo code LOCKED15 for 15% off your next order at BiltBar.com. Patriots fans, Claire, Clazzy Claire Cooper, the Countess ofess of class herself joins me here today on the pod and claire what else we're talking some tight endage and it's been a lot of fun so far we've talked john who's smith we've talked hunter henry devon osseoski dalton keen but now it's time to look into our belichickian crystal ball and talk about the future.

And some may say this is immediate future, Claire. The Patriots obviously welcome the two new tight ends into Foxborough. They have the two second-year players that are looking to rebound from subpar rookie campaigns. But those players are not the only players on the depth chart for the tight ends for the Patriots in 2021. Veteran Matt Lacoste returning from an opt-out reportedly looked pretty solid in minicamp. A lot of people were saying he was making the most of his limited reps and doing what he could to make his case. Troy Fumagalli, the former Denver Bronco, is in camp. And a lot of people forget Rashad Berry can play some tight end as well. He does split time at defensive end, so he's not a true member of the tight end depth chart,

but he can give you some reps there as well. Claire, the competition in camp could get very interesting. Obviously, we know the investment the Patriots made. I don't think John O'Smith, Hunter Henry have anything to worry about. I'm a little less worried about guys like Devin Asiasi, Dalton Keene. I think they're pretty secure as well, but this could be a year that the Patriots decide to carry five tight ends. That's how deep they are at this position. And especially if they choose to maybe trim out a couple of receivers and go with more of a balance between receiver and tight end, things could get really interesting.

So with regard to the competition in camp in your analysis who currently on the roster do you think is entering training camp with the most approved in 2021 well although as you aforementioned you know his his roster spots probably quite secure i do think that the tight end with the most approved i feel it's actually kind of a tie between asiasi and Lacoste. I mean, we've already talked about Asiasi, so I won't sort of repeat myself on that. Just that I believe that he has this year to,

personally, I believe this year is the year for him to prove his worth. But Matt Lacoste is in an even more unstable boat. I mean, they traded away the one tight end that possibly had any value. I mean, Izzo was still on his rookie rookie contract so he was inexpensive to the cap i mean if memory serves me right he was something like 850k and i mean but he was the most used tight end of the 2020 roster meaning no disrespect to stating facts matt opted out and so he's coming from a year of absence onto a team that has now stacked

itself with two of the top available tight ends in free agency if i'm at the cost i'm looking at the depth and i'm looking at like you said the depth at wide receiver and i'm thinking about where i could possibly fit unless i blow someone away at training camp and i mean if something happens and he suddenly looks like the new tight end then yeah maybe he makes the cut maybe they stack tight ended and they as you said they reduced the roster of wide receiver but I'm not sure if he's gonna make the cut to detriment of one of those two rookies so I really think that Matt Lacoste has his his work beyond cut out for himself but we also haven't touched upon you did drop his name and i'm glad you did because i looked into this guy troifer mcgarley i mean i'm not really sure

if there's a lot of points because of the depth at tight endage i'm guessing that he's maybe more of maybe a camp body because they do already have quite a few bodies in there really and that's me saying this tight end is here but for the tight end into the other tight end enthusiasts out there that do want to know all about the tight end troy was drafted from wisconsin with wisconsin in the fifth round by the broncos in 2018 he's like six foot six i mean if you pff says six five so I can't be certain. 248 pounds. He played around 19 games in the two seasons, targeted 24 times for 14 receptions. 118 yards, two touchdowns.

For a guy that only has nine fingers, he catches really well and was a handful for defences in college. But missing his rookie season due to a sports hernia surgery may have really held him back. And I read that his blocking was not exactly impressive in 2019. Then the drafting of Noah Fant may have hindered him further. So he may have missed out on really precious playing time that would have brought out the skills that he showed in college.

And it's kind of ironic in a way that he was in competition just over a year or so ago with Matt Lacoste for a spot at Denver. Two years ago, sorry. And now both of them are here possibly finding themselves at the bottom of the tight end list again it is true it's amazing how history repeats itself and how things can uh you know life can imitate art a lot and uh I'm glad that you brought a little bit of light to Troy Fumagalli as well because I think it's a name that by my own admission we haven't mentioned all that much here on Locked On Patriots.

And I think it's a forgotten name in that tight end depth chart. The Patriots signing of him was very under the radar. But yeah, this is a kid that's got good hands. And you mentioned only having nine fingers. It's very difficult to be able to get a grip on. He's really regardless. And, you know, for that, he does have pretty sure hands. His blocking, I think, was a little bit hindered maybe by some of, you know, the injury. And you mentioned the drafting

of Fant, who was a very highly touted prospect coming out of college. So there's a lot that can hinder a tight end's ability to progress and to be able to develop the way they hope to. So in a lot of ways, I agree. I think he's probably a camp body. Wouldn't shock me to see him end up on the practice squad. The Patriots may want to keep, you know, some tight endage around in that area in order to be able to, uh, to make sure that they have solid depth at the position. If they are going to carry a good amount of tight ends. And again, folks, I think five is probably a little overaggressive, but it wouldn't be out of the question, you know, for the Patriots to do that because they do have such depth at the position. But if they do carry five, then I think it's probably unlikely that someone like Fumagalli would stick around on the

practice squad. Patriots may look to other areas of their roster to be able to provide some depth there on the practice squad. But ultimately, it's going to be up to Bill Belichick and the Patriots' brain trust. But Lacoste is someone that I think is trying to make the most out of his reps, prove that he can still be an effective factor, an effective tight end out there in the NFL. My guess is it probably will be in another uniform other than the New England Patriots. But you've got to give him his just due. He did opt out. He is, you know, coming back, and he is trying to do the best he possibly can.

And, folks, you know, don't sleep on Matt Lacoste. We've seen him make some pretty decent plays. When he's able to get into the open field, he does have the ability to receive the ball quite well, and he can be an effective blocker when he needs to. So we'll definitely keep an eye on that. We'll keep a sharp eye on the rest of the tight end depth chart. But last but not least, my friend, this is the question I think

we've all been waiting for, and you are the perfect person to answer it. It's that time again, Countess. You heard Murph and I go through the depth chart for the offensive line earlier this week, and we're going to look into that Belichickian crystal ball. When it comes to the tight end depth chart for the New England Patriots in 2021, what do you think is your season outlook for them? First of all, how many do you think they're going to carry? Do you believe that the 12-man personnel is going to be the focal point of this offense? What are you looking for

from the tight endage of the new england patriots in this upcoming season well my outlook for 2021 is just full-blown uninhibited excitement can you believe that there finally finally will be two maybe even three tight ends on the field and that the quarterback might actually throw to them the first hunter henry touchdown is going to be so beautiful to me i mean it's difficult because we're still unsure what it's going to look like at center so there's the concern that this is you know this could be a predominantly winning game and although that works the only thing we'll really see these guys do is blocking so you've got to believe that the coach didn't drop 30 you know 37 million on three years for Henry 50 million for four years on Smith there's got to be some action for those price tags

right I think that whoever we end up with that quarterback if as long as he's good decent productive in in all areas the rest of the team is really hot the two lines the offensive defense have got such additions that my excitement has just seeped out from tight end dudes just all over the two lines of players I think they're going to be forces to be reckoned with and that is why I'm so excited not just the good tight additions but kind of all the Patriot additions but with how many um you ask you said just a moment ago about taking five tight ends would be aggressive now see to me that's that's a good point because that's exactly what coach has been doing so far he went aggressive for two of the top tight ends in free agency it really would be quite logical to say that he moves forward into this season of an

aggressive nature with his tight end package so yeah five it's a lot but I don't think it's, you know, it's not unheard of. I don't think so. It's probably not really going to be really that into by most fans because I know a lot of people still believe that we need sort of that wide receiver. But is this all an indication that actually this offense is going to be run very tight endage heavy i mean yeah putting a pin in the fact that it makes me hella excited i do really think that for just what they've done they always say don't look at what we do don't they and it's like what did they do they went they went in hard for two tight ends and i think going forward that's where we're going

to be this year in 2021 most some people may not hope for that I really hope for that but I just think that the signs are there that that's kind of where we're going and we're just bringing in such big guys on on all areas that it just looks like we're looking for a really dominating season this year I agree with you I think you're right on the money in that assessment. And look, there's a lot of reasons for it. One, like you said, the investment that the Patriots made at the top half of that tight end depth chart. You look at guys like John O'Smith, Hunter Henry, each of them stars in their own right. Now, all of a sudden you're pairing these guys up on a roster. That's exciting. And that's something that the Patriots have not had in a number of years to try to replicate what Rob Gronkowski and even Aaron Hernandez back in the day were able to bring

you. This is also, they tried to replicate it a little bit with Martellus Bennett and Marty did a great job while he was here as well. I've got a lot of respect for how he played when he was in New England. But, you know, Rob was starting to show his age a little bit. He rejuvenated, had a good year last year down in Tampa Bay. But the last couple of years of Rob Gronkowski were a little bit of a grind for him by his own admission. You know, I mean, he was, you know, the way he plays the position, and that is not a knock on Rob Gronkowski folks at all. I think that guy gave it everything he had every single time he went out there on the

field. It was just a matter of his body needing time to heal, needing time to rejuvenate and get back to where he needed to be. He had simply, I think, given everything he had in the tank at that point. So now you're looking at someone like Hunter, someone like Jono coming in and being able to provide that spark, that 12-man personnel, the play action that the Patriots are going to be able to run with the running game, complementing these guys, a strong offensive line doing the blocking, the tight ends absolutely filling in and doing some blocking as well in that area. This is going to be a fun offense to watch.

And either one of these quarterbacks, actually all three of these quarterbacks, I don't mean to always throw Jarrett Stidham to the wolves there, whichever of these quarterbacks, if any one of these three quarterbacks is going to be able to utilize the weapons that they have at this position, simply because these guys are just so good at being able to get open. And it's something that I think they'll appreciate and know that so many of their weapons are not going to be zeroed in on. It's going to be a situation where the Patriots are going to have a lot of options. And whether it's Cam Newton, who loved utilizing the tight end position in Carolina, especially with Greg Olson, all of those years, Mac Jones is someone that can really utilize the

tight ends, especially in the red zone. He's so good at being able to identify the pre-snap read, get the ball out quickly, deliver it accurately on time. That's Hunter Henry specialty, run a precise route, get there exactly when the ball needs to be there. That's Hunter Henry's specialty. Run a precise route. Get there exactly when the ball needs to be there. That could be a fun combination to watch for a number of years to come. And then, of course, you've got guys like Asiasi and Keane. And who knows? Maybe even a Lacoste or

a Fumagalli if they're able to pop a little bit in training camp, being guys that can get out there and make things happen. Going to be an exciting year. And because this year is going to be so tight-endage heavy, that means that Claire is just going to become more and more of a regular on these airwaves, folks.

And I, for one, could not be happier about it. It's always one of my favorite moments of the week, moments of these podcasts that I'm able to share the microphone with you, my friend. And I thank you for stopping by and sharing your tight-endage expertise with all of our listeners here on Locked On Patriots as always before I let you go please let everyone know

where they can find you where they can find your great work and what we can expect from the great voice the great pen of Claire Clasiclair Cooper in the coming days and weeks heading into the 2021 season well thank you so much for having me mike it's always ridiculous amounts of fun when i get to come on lockdown and you usually let me talk tight ends so then it's just like extra extra extra fun so i do appreciate that i love this little soapbox i get over here but me well as you know it's at claire it's at clazy claire on twitter but you can find me at fullpresscoverage.com churning out columns there's my podcast A Claire Perspective episode 9 is out now with the fantastic Phil Perry pretty much most places that you can get your podcasts you'll also find some of my written work on the awesome Pats

Propaganda blog that's patspropaganda.com and if you shuffle over there to the pro shop you will find my range of exclusive Titan t-shirts two designs are now currently available so get yourselves stocked up for summer i was recently a guest on boston sports bliss with the two great guys from diehard boston sports fans steve and chris and of course please do not forget to catch me each and every week on one page it's placed with steve and steve balistrieri and burf only at e2G Sports. Monday's episode was frankly utter craziness as Murph and I were left alone. No guest, no Steve, just the two of us discussing Patriots, especially wide receivers. And it was just so darn funny that folks, if you need a bit of sparkle in your day,

go and hit that episode because it was absolutely crackers. So appreciate you guys having me and listening. So it's been brilliant. Absolutely. And again, every time she puts the pen to paper or the voice to microphone, it's always a lot of fun and it's always extremely informative. And Claire, I promise you the next time that you're on, we'll not just focus on the tight end.

We're going to diversify our thought process and we're going to talk about a little bit more than just the tight end position. Because again, as I said to kick off the show, you're really becoming one of the most well-rounded, one of the most well-respected writers in this industry right now when it comes to all things Patriots. You have a voice that's so unique and all your own. And I'm not just talking about the accent and the giggle. You like

that. But what I'm talking about specifically is the insight that you're able to provide. And again, it's unique and it's something that I think all Patriots fans are better for having heard. So thank you for taking the time out today to join me here on lockdown Patriots. And I look forward to talking ball with you again here very soon as we

marched toward the 2021 season and a season that's going to be full of tight endage, but a whole lot more offensive defense. This team is definitely, uh, one to watch in 2021. Completely. Thank you again, Mike, tight endage, but a whole lot more offensive defense. This team is definitely one to watch in 2021. Completely. Thank you again, Mike, so much

for having me, and thanks everyone for listening. I really appreciate you. Thank you. The pleasure is all mine, Countess. Until next time. Just like that, Patriots fans, we are more than halfway through your work week, but there is still more to come here on the Locked On Patriots podcast this week. So to ensure that you do not miss a single second of the action, download, subscribe

to, and follow the Locked On Patriots podcast on platforms such as Spotify, the Odyssey app, Apple podcasts, Google podcasts, wherever you get your podcasts, just make sure that you are staying locked into Locked On Patriots. And even though Locked On Patriots has you covered for all the news notes and analysis you need from Foxborough, get all the sports news you need in under 20 minutes with the Locked On Today podcast. Host Peter Bukowski updates you on the latest news in every major sport with the help of our local experts.

Follow the Locked On Today podcast on the Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. Once again, I am your host, Mike DeBate. I thank my good friend Claire, Klazzy Claire Cooper, for her time, her insight, and her appearance on today's pod. But most of all, I thank you so much for listening and for continuing to make Locked On Patriots a daily part of your New England Patriots coverage. Until next time, Foxborough faithful, stay safe, stay well, be the change you wish to see in the world.

Have a great day, everyone.