Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - Tight-Endage Thursday: ClazzyClare Offers Her Thoughts on New England Patriots TEs — 4/8/2021

Episode Date: April 8, 2021

The New England Patriots received little production from the tight end position in 2020. As they prepare to enter the 2021 season, they have added two prolific targets in Jonnu Smith and Hunter Henry. Joining host Mike D’Abate is Clare ‘ClazzyClare’ Cooper of Full Press Coverage and Pats Propaganda. The duo discuss the arrival of both Henry and Smith, as well as the departure of Ryan Izzo and the future of both Devin Asiasi and Dalton Keene.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. Hello to all of you, Foxborough faithful. You are now locked into the Lockdown Patriots podcast. Today is the 8th of April, 2021, and that means it's tight-endage Thursday 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. Today's episode of Locked On Patriots is brought to you by RockAuto.com. Amazing selection, reliably low prices, all the parts your car will ever need.

Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Greetings and salutations, Patriots Nation. Thank you for joining me here on this Thursday episode of the pod. 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 all of your questions, all of your comments, all of your feedback is always welcomed and very much appreciated. So share that feedback and send it to the internet by reaching out to me and following

me on Twitter at MDABATEFPC. And while you're out there doing some Thursday traveling through the Twitterverse, please be sure to follow the Lockdown Patriots account as well at LO underscore Patriots. Pats fans, once again, today is Thursday, and you all know how I love my alliteration. After all, we got Murph on Mondays, Whiteout Wednesday, Foxborough Finance, Fridays with Fox. By now, you all get the idea. Well, today on the pod, because it's been a little more than a couple of weeks now since the Patriots significantly upgraded at the tight end position, I just thought the timing might be right for a little tight-endage Thursday. And who better to join me on a tight-endage Thursday than the person that all but coined the phrase herself.

That's right, folks. Joining me here today on this tight-endage Thursday to talk what else, the tight-end position, is the Countess of Clazz herself, Claire Clazzy Claire Cooper. And Claire has become quite the rising star in Patriots media, not only pulling double duty as a writer and columnist for Pat's Propaganda and rising star in Patriots media, not only pulling double duty as a writer and columnist for Pat's Propaganda and for Full Press Patriots, she also remains the third voice on One Patriot's Place, but also now hosts her very own Patriots podcast, A Claire Perspective. And while she's well-versed on offering wisdom, counsel, and insight on anything and

everything New England Patriots, her specialty is still the tight end position. And here today on Locked On Patriots, that's exactly what we will be talking about. And Claire will offer her thoughts on the departure of Ryan Izzo, which anyone who knows Claire knows how difficult that was on her. But Claire is braving the good fight and will share those opinions with us today. She'll also take a look at the incumbents on the Patriots' tight end depth chart. How does she see Devin Asiasi, Dalton Keene, or even Matt Lacoste faring on the 2021 New England Patriots? And last but certainly not least, it's time to get excited about the new guys in town.

Claire will offer her perspective, see what I did there, on the two newest and arguably the two most high-profile new Patriots, tight ends John O. Smith and Hunter Henry. Folks, a fun and informative show on tap today. I always relish the opportunity when I get a chance to welcome Claire to the pod, and in just a moment, Claire, Classy Claire Cooper, will provide her expert tutelage on tight endage when this Thursday episode of the Locked On Patriots podcast continues. Locked On listeners, when it comes to repairing or maintaining your vehicle,

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but it's probably a safe assessment that you're also a fan of my guest today. I know I am. Her wit, her wisdom is a staple here on the pod, and hers is a voice and an accent and a giggle that I know you know very well. From West Midlands in the UK, she is a Patriots writer for Pat's Propaganda, the third voice of One Patriots Place, and of course a special contributor and columnist for full press coverage Patriots, where she also hosts her very own Patriots podcast, A Claire Perspective.

And folks, let me tell you, this is a must listen for any Patriots fan. I highly recommend it. It is my honor to welcome the Countess of Clas herself. Claire Clasie, Claire Cooper is back on Lockdown Patriots. Claire, thank you so much for joining me today from across the pond. Welcome back to Lockdown Patriots. Oh, thank you so much, Mike. What an introduction. I feel so highly privileged to be here with you today. So much fun talking to you.

It's always a blast talking to you. I love sharing the microphone with you, Claire. No matter what the topic, you know that the honor is all mine. And I know we love to have some fun at your expense regarding you being an expert on tight endage uh it is your specialty but folks when I tell you Claire is really emerging as one of the most talented and well-rounded writers on all things New England Patriots from offense to defense to special teams to coaching Claire is good she knows her stuff and I could not be more proud of the work that you're putting out. And really, everything is must-read, must-listen. Folks, please, definitely check her out, no matter what she puts pen to paper or when she puts voice to microphone.

It's always informative and always a lot of fun, so I highly recommend that. And, you know, beyond that, the topic of the day is the tight end position, Claire. That means we have to have you on. The last time that you were here. We talked about making it a contractual obligation, but folks, I think we just did. I think that's really, I think a safe bet to say that, you know, tight ends and talk, we got to have Claire involved somehow. And I know this is exciting news for you,

Claire. You get to talk tight ends today, try to control yourself, deep breaths, breathe in, breathe out. news for you, Claire. You get to talk tight ends today. Try to control yourself. Deep breaths. Breathe in. Breathe out. There you go. See? We're already calming the Countess here on Locked on Patriots today. But it wasn't all good news for the Countess, folks,

when it comes to tight ends since the Patriots have opened the 2021 league year. My friend, I felt for you immediately upon hearing this news. Ryan Izzo is now a member of the Houston Texans. And folks, I don't know if Claire will admit this readily. She's been clutching his picture, listening to Michael Bolton's version of how am I supposed to live without you?

She's been doing this for the last couple of weeks. Folks, I actually may or may not be kidding on that one. I really don't know if she's actually spending her time doing this. But anyway, when the Patriots signed both Hunter Henry and John O. Smith, the handwriting was on the wall as much as we didn't want to admit it. The Patriots were going to need to cut ties with some of the tight ends on this roster. And Claire, I know this is a hard subject for you. I thank you for your bravery.

I thank you for your candor today in advance. What are your closing thoughts on Ryan Izzo in a Patriots uniform? Oh, thanks, Mike. I'm not going to comment on what you said. I'm going to plead the fifth and not admit to anything. No problem. I won't press the issue. I just threw the idea out there, folks.

Okay, so first from an emotional perspective because you can't get past that with me I did think it sucked but that's my own fan of point of view I wanted to be able to see Izzo this year in tangent with Hunter and with Smith I mean I stood on my soap box for this guy for a season I mean to be honest I was ready to fight East Corner in 2019 but then he was injured so kind of Lacoste was was the main tight end I mean I rebound to Izzo following Gronk's departure we know this but I've been a faithful fan since but to use my head okay you know to to get to the nitty-gritty Izzo's still young. He's shouldered the responsibility of being a tight end one for the Patriots last season and putting aside the emotion of it.

He wasn't bad. He did well. I know there's people out there that won't agree with me. There are people screaming at the podcast now. But I watched this guy. I sat and I watched tape and I focused solely on him. His blocking was good. When he was out with injury, it was obvious on the O-line. And he did get open.

I saw that as well. He didn't make major plays, but not many Patriots players did when they were ready to have the ball thrown to them. And that's how it was in 2020. So I don't think we actually saw everything that Ryan Izzo can do. And I just hope that Houston are good to him and that the fans are supportive because I will definitely miss him I mean as for the trade I think they got a sixth round pick which is more than they would have gotten if they'd have tried

to trade out Matt Lacoste for example but keeping Izzo over Lacoste would have been cheaper when it comes to the cap hit Ryan was still on his rookie contract at something like £850,000 but Lacoste is on the books for more than a reason of £1.3 million. Now the difference isn't especially significant this year. The Patriots are a little bit flush but if the purse strings needed tightening maybe Izzo would have edged out Lacoste especially if they didn't feel that they needed that extra draft pick that you know that they achieved I think the Patriots made space where it was necessary I mean they took on two of the top available tight ends out there in free agency they have two rookie tight ends

that they must feel that they want to give a chance to now saying that walking suit up as a tight end I mean I have been saying for months and months way before anyone else was saying it that he may be more of a fallback than a tight end and I know I said this sort of way back when my reasoning was more influenced by my desire to want to make sure that they kept Izzo and I made no bones about that either and you know I wanted them to get tight ends sort of either in the draft or free agency but I still had decent logic which people seem to maybe coming around to now and I do need to just give a quick shout out mention to my buddy Lee from Fall River he's a

fan he's a massive fan of Locked On and he's been with me on this clean at fullback thing for quite a while as well so he can can contest that, you know, it's been months in the making with me thinking that hopefully he'd be a fullback. So, I mean, coach did best by the team, which he's going to do anyway. And I think he did best by Izzo in a way too. If they hadn't have drafted Asiasi, I think there may have been room for Izzo maybe at the tight end two

position. And yeah, of course I would have lived that. I really would but you know like you said the writing was on the wall when the signing came in for Hunter Henry I was so torn between wanting to be excited because he's the kind of tight end that gets me excited okay calm down folks but it also meant that we'd taken two-star positions and Izzo being the younger one and not being sort of the just-in rookie, there was a good chance that he was going to be the one that was let go.

I was really hoping for Matt Lacoste and nothing against Lacoste at all, but my personal feelings were there, wanting them to keep Izzo, but there was still a chance that they're not going to make it to camp anyway. There's still a chance that Lacoste won make it to camp so and it all depends on what goes on the draft but I guess we'll touch upon that a little bit later so yeah my final farewell

to the lovely Ryan Izzo 85 leaves takes with it a little bit of my sparkle as I wrote in my column a couple of weeks ago so yeah yeah and I you know look bottom line Claire I don't think a couple of weeks ago. So, yeah. Yeah, and I, you know, look, bottom line, Claire, I don't think a lot of people in Patriots Nation are going to have a whole lot of goodbyes to say to Ryan other than you, other than myself to a certain extent because I tried to sit on the soapbox as well for a little bit. I happen to think that they asked an awful lot of the kid on the field and I think he delivered as best he possibly could.

I think he was put in an impossible situation to succeed last year he was called upon to play that role of the tight end one the tight end two because the Patriots simply did not have competent help at the position last year for everyone that wants to scream about the rookies they were rookies that came in without rookie minicamp without the type of camaraderie type of team building relationships that usually that you get in mini camps in OTAs that did play a big role last year and I know people want to downplay it but it does count for something without any question and I think that's why guys like Devin Asiasi and Dalton Keene had difficulty assimilating themselves into the Patriots roster and one of the reasons why I think Ryan was called upon to play such a big role.

So he goes to Houston. I had a chance to talk with the guys from Lockdown Texans a couple of weeks ago when Ryan was traded. And we talked about the potential fit and the fact that Nick Casario always had a sharp eye on Ryan Izzo for a number of years. And it doesn't surprise me that Houston might be interested in him. Maybe he goes there and maybe he continues his career and is able to show what he can do with the Houston Texans.

But, Claire, as the old saying goes, life goes on. And the Patriots still do have some questions beyond the two new guys who, folks, we will discuss in a moment, folks. I think Claire's excited now. Wait till we discuss the new guys who folks we will discuss in a moment folks think claire's excited now wait till we discuss the new guys um but the second year is approaching for guys like devon asiasi and dalton keen uh once again two guys that just didn't quite live up to expectation last year we can't forget that matt lacoste is on this roster too you mentioned lacoste a little bit i think he's likely headed for the cutting room floor as well.

I agree with you on that. I don't really see Matt being able to make it out of training camp. I could be wrong on that. But when you look at the depth chart for the Patriots tight end position, I just don't see them carrying five tight ends. Claire, when it comes to the sophomores, meaning Asi Asi or Dalton Keane who do you see as potentially having a better year in 2021 making that rookie jump to the next level well with the two rookies as I like to call them there is a few things to muse really I mean back in 2015 I think the Patriots had an abundance of big body tight ends on the roster and they actually ran with a four tight end set so

who knows what 2021 could bring with the tight ends that we have I mean you said that they might not carry five but you know is it still a possibility I mean if they ditch Lacoste and drafted the guy that I kind of sort of had my heart set on a bit that Pat Freymuth of Penn State I mean this guy is a rounded tight end and he's big so that's another big body you put him with hunter and smith i mean holy heck can you imagine really but anyway as i mentioned before keen may could move over to h back fullback position if that's the case i actually think his year may be still quite uneventful they're looking if they're looking at having keen as fullback um having danny vitale and jacob johnson on the roster it doesn't give keen much playing

time see the question there is does coach think that maybe keen is the fullback of the future you know does danny get a spot this year because of opting out last year not that that's the only reason he wouldn't have a spot but i'm just saying it may weigh heavily against him the flip side though is will they rely heavily on the new and shiny tight ends that we've got taken in pre-agency will Asiasi see much of the field time unless he's needed due to injury I mean the rest of the questions are do they see a tight end in the draft that they want if so you know is Asiassi ready to be traded away the story of Asiassi and Keane I reckon are still subject to amendment as of yet even more so if for any reason they don't let Lacoste go I mean if the Patriots don't do

the whole trade up to get a quarterback thing and Kyle Pitts drops to 15 I mean how can coach not jump on that really I've heard lots about him being an excellent receiver and wide receiver is a bit of a position that still might be really of need for the Patriots so you know a tight end slash wide receiver with you know the fabulous situation that we'd be in I mean and as I said there's Freemuth and if we took him I mean you guys will be glad that I don't live in Boston way because the squealing that will be so loud it's ridiculous I just don't it's true it's just true so I just don't think I think it's too it's too soon to call really what Asi Asi and Keane are gonna have this you know this season coming the season that we're, you know,

because there's still so much out there on the table with if they do look at drafting, there could be a tight end that Bill sees in the draft. And yeah, OK, there's a good chance that he won't. And I'm sort of hoping for a tight end. I appreciate that. And Freermuth is probably completely just nonsense. But we don't know there could be this

guy in the draft that coach likes and he's actually looking at this that him and thinking well I want him over what I've already got and it's not going to cost a lot to drop Asiasi or Keane because they're just still sort of rookie contracts you're just going to get in a guy a guy to replace a guy now yeah it means giving up on somebody that they maybe moved up to get last year and stuff like that but you know you don't hit on something every time so if he doesn't think there's much there in in in the rookies that we've got and he wants to move on to draft him like i said it's not going to really cost him anything and anything is possible really i agree that everything is possible and i really really think you made an excellent point when it came to danny vitale

jacob johnson and dalton keen because this is a common uh you know thing that i hear an awful lot of and i want to thank you for that because you really have been beating the dalton keen as uh the fullback drum and i mean sincerely, because I think it's a good point. Look, Dalton played a very similar H-back, almost like a fullback role at times at Virginia Tech. This is not something that he's unfamiliar with. So it's a hand-in-glove fit if the Patriots decided this is the direction that they want to go into. Now, I know they had some high hopes for Danny Vitale last year, obviously him opting out. Patriots never really got a chance to see what he could do. But I've talked offline to our good friend Mark Schofield several times on Danny Vitale.

This was one of his favorite signings from the Patriots just from a year ago. And he really does provide a great amount of versatility at the fullback position. I know Jakub is someone that they continue to like. They continue to employ. And he's done a great job. You don't take over for someone like James Devlin and not, you know, endear yourself to the Patriots brass by simply going in and playing out the motions. He's done a great job in filling in for, in my opinion, a legendary, you know, fullback in this system for a guy like Devlin. So I hold James in the highest regard, and I think Jakob has done a great job. It's going to be very telltale this year about

what Bill Belichick feels about his tight end duo from just a year ago from the draft. Asiasi, Keane, both of them, high draft capital. A lot of people thought Asiasi was a good move not so much with Keane that seemed to be the uh the consensus I was actually equally as impressed with both picks because I thought that they both filled roles that the Patriots needed to fill but if they decide that Danny Vitale and Jakob Johnson are their fullback combination and they also decide that they may want to dip into the later rounds or the middle rounds to bring in a tight end of the future, they're certainly well within their realm to do that. Does that mean that Asiasi or Dalton Keene may be cut loose? My gut reaction would be to say that

they'd hold on to Asiasi simply because I think there's more of a pass-catching upside. I like what I see is more of a complete tight end. Whereas Keane, I think is more focused on being a blocker, being someone who can play that hybrid, but also someone that can drop back in a little bit better in coverage. So I share your curiosity on this, and I think it's going to be interesting to see what Bill does. The draft to me is really going to tell me all I need to know about what Bill and the Patriots brass think about Asi Asi and Keane yeah and I mean coach likes versatile players you know this is quite a given this is why I'm sort of more swaying towards the fact that they might move Keane around rather than just get

rid because you know I know he wasn't a move up for signing but but he was somebody that they wanted last year. And like you said, saw potential in him to sort of take him in. I think it was the third round. I'm remembering right now. But yeah, his versatility, I think, is what might be what keeps him with the Patriots more than anything, even though they could do with the playmakers, the pass catchers more so more so I do think that

he's he could he be that you know the fallback of the future maybe he's not going to have much production this year perhaps if that's where they're looking you know if they do keep Danny Vitale for the year then you know Keane's not really not going to see much action but you know could he be the future is he is he our future fall? And I just don't know if I see Asiasi as our future tight end really. Yeah. And I think that's a fair point. And again, I think a lot is going to be determined by how these guys look in preseason, how they look during training camp. Preseason games will likely be played this year. There's only going to be three, but that's three more than we got in 2020. So giving these guys a chance to really see what they can do on the field to me is going to be telltale.

And Bill is not ashamed to admit that he made a mistake in the draft. For everybody that wants to nail this guy for being a bad drafter or making bad picks, he cut loose Justin Rohrwasser a couple of weeks ago, realizing that it just was not the proper fit in New England. So if he has to cut bait with either Rossi, Aussie or Keene, or dare I say, even both at some point in the future, Bill Belichick will lie on that sword and he'll say, look, I made the mistake and we're moving on and we're going to correct it. And I admire him for that. So we'll see.

We'll see what happens. Claire, your expertise in tight endage is unparalleled. You continue to prove why And really, I mean that I love the information that you provided on the fullback position And the tight end position, Lacoste We mixed it all in And in just a moment, folks

We're going to leave the past behind And get excited about the future Because Jonu Smith and Hunter Henry are New England Patriots, and that's going to mean big things for the Patriots offense in 2021. Yeah, folks, Josh McDaniel is going to have him some fun this year for sure. Claire and I will tackle this topic when the Locked On Patriots podcast continues. Locked On listeners, football games on the field might be over, but the NBA and the NHL are in full swing.

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Locked On listeners, the NFL Draft is weeks away, and it's time to start following our Locked On NFL Draft duo. The Draft Dudes podcast watches every prospect so that you don't have to. And the Locked On NFL Draft podcast is your daily draft news and mock draft podcast. Follow the Locked On NFL Draft Podcast on the Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. Patriots fans, Claire Klazzi, Claire Cooper, the Countess of Klaz herself, joins me today on the pod. And Claire, we talked some tight endage of the Patriots past and present earlier you lent your wisdom and counsel the way only you can but now it's time to look into our

Belichickian crystal ball and we're going to talk a little bit about the future in theory Claire I think you're really going to enjoy this season because in my opinion the Patriots are now employing two of the best tight ends in pro football. Yes, folks, I did say that. I'm well aware of George Kittle. I'm well aware of Travis Kelsey. I'm well aware of Darren Waller and all the great tight ends that are out there. But John O. Smith and Hunter Henry, to me, are so well suited for this team. And I think they're the perfect complements to each other.

Last season, Claire, we talked about the fact that the Patriots really never utilized the tight end position, especially as a pass-catching option in their offense. But this year, they have two guys that can do it all. So seeing as you are our tight end enthusiast, and we're now contractually obligated to have you on when we talk tight ends, I have to ask you, what was your reaction to each of these signings, and what are your thoughts on what this means for the Patriots' offense in 2021?

Well, putting aside my sort of, oh no, the doom and gloom, what this means for Izzo, obviously, as a tight-end enthusiast, the signing of the two sort of, as you said, the top tight-ends in free agency, it was really exciting I think it was like a lot of people a lot of non-tight end enthusiasts when they signed Hunter Henry it was like jaw-dropping it was like they took Johnny Smith and people were like oh okay we kind of assumed you'd take someone big because the need was there and and fans were hollering for it anyway. So, you know, and I know a lot of people were were very sort of very in on on Smith anyway. So when we signed him, it was like, OK, exciting, sort of expected. So I didn't kind of completely freak out because I kind of saw it happening.

But when they pulled when it come out that it was Hunter Henry, it was wait what you've also gone and got Hunter Henry really you know the other top one and and then sort of looking at him he's Henry's bit more of a more of a traditional sort of tight-ending verted commas you know more of a blocker that kind of thing more of my kind of tight end shall we say and it was like very very exciting it was like oh yes very exciting but I guess at the moment I don't know what to expect if I am completely honest I mean I expect them to be good and that's for sure but Pats fans have had so little in the last two years when it comes to tight endage okay I've lived and rooted for Izzo but we still didn't really get much bang for our book so I've hopped on before that I think it was very quarterback dependent but whoever you want to blame we didn't get much tight end action to eat up and so there

is a lot of pressure now sort of on Hunter and on Smith to produce now I think they're talented and so are kind of deserving of the high expectations that I reckon is there from fans I mean I'm really looking forward to a you two-tight end package, if not three or four, as we mentioned before. Actual tight end touchdowns, some blocking, running with the ball, defenders falling from them. I mean, it's fabulous times that we're hoping for, really. Might just be me, but, you know, whatever. It's not all roses and candy, though.

I mean, Henry's had a few injury issues, and Smith hasn't had much of a breakout in verticom a season numbers wise, although that could be heavily due to Tennessee having such a great running play with Derek Henry. That's why I guess my expectations aren't through the roof just yet. I've got to say now I'm looking forward to these two guys putting on Patriots blue running out into Gillette. I'll be really excited and we'll be waiting with bated breath,

especially for the call from the awesome and lovely John Rook as he shouts the Hunter Henry touchdown. I love the shout out to John, who is one of the best guys in the business. His ties to Providence college, which is my alma mater folks in Rhode Island, as well as to the Patriots make him an instant favorite. So we get a John Rook mention here on Lockdown Patriots.

I love it. But imagine, this is actually a little bit of a difference than how I thought this was going to go. Claire's taking the level-headed approach. Me, I'm getting like over the top excited over this. First of all, Hunter Henry is someone that I've covered in Los Angeles, and I know everyone rolls their eyes that I've covered in Los Angeles and I know everyone rolls their eyes. He's a guy that I've been really wanting to see in Patriot Blue for quite a while. But to me,

this really sparked a lot of discussion. The first one I first heard that they were not only getting John Smith, but Hunter Henry. The first thing that my DMS got flooded with was now they got the Gronk and Hernandez folks. Yes, they're going to be running the two tight end sets, but this is not the same as what they did with Aaron Hernandez and with Rob Gronkowski with Aaron and with Rob, they had traditional inline tight ends with an H or an hybrid tight end. That was the H in the hybrid tight end was a little more what Gronkowski did the,

believe it or not, the more inline tight end, the more wide traditional tight end was played more by what Gronkowski did. Believe it or not, the more in-line tight end, the more wide traditional tight end was played more by a guy like Aaron Hernandez. The Patriots this year with Hunter Henry and with John O'Smith are not going to run the same formations. John O'Smith is more of a move tight end. Basically, the traditional wide tight end is going to be played by Hunter Henry. Hunter Henry is, you know, guys like that, guys like a wide tight end are really like smaller tackles. They're strong. They're explosive players who get off the ball quickly.

They're pretty explosive blockers as well. So that's why it's the wide tight end. The guy that can accentuate his route running skills as well as his ability to box out. A move tight end isn't asked to block a lot at the line of scrimmage. They'll line up in the slot. They can line up as an H-back. They can do a little bit of a hybrid. That's why I said that Gronk was a little more of that type of tight end.

But Gronk could align all over the field. I think you're going to see. Gronk was everything. Exactly. He truly was. I mean, and neither one of these guys is going to equal what Rob Gronkowski gave you. And as much as I love them both, and I do, Rob was just, he was a different breed. And he still is.

He's still playing at a high level. But in his prime, Rob Gronkowski was just at another level. But Jonu Smith playing the move tight end is going to allow him to line up, be a threat in the red zone. He can make plays. He can get, you know, that type of, uh, productivity that the Patriots just did not have last year. Whereas Hunter can play that traditional strong blocker, reliable pass catcher, someone that can allow the Patriots to run that 12 man personnel.

And we hear that term a lot, folks, 12 man personnel is simply just the, the numbers. That's exactly what it means. 12 personnel means anything that involves one running back and two tight ends. One, two, there's the 12-man personnel. It's not like they're throwing 12 men on the field or anything like that. I've heard some people, why do they call it that? That's simply what it is. The two tight ends can be the hybrid fullback types or they can be slot receiver types instead of just your traditional hand in the dirt tight end. And these guys can do that, and they can play it so well. You've got a sizable offensive line. Like you said, we've got a very good running game for the New England Patriots.

And also a big key to running that 12-man personnel is a receiver that can succeed in the slot. Now, we're all hoping it's going to be Julian Edelman, folks, but the reports coming out about his health are conflicting lately. Just a report released this morning said that a couple of experts don't expect him to make it through a full season in 2021, and that's tough news for Edelman fans. So that means Jacoby Myers. That means Kendrick Bourne, the new signing from the San Francisco 49ers. Even Nelson Aguilar can succeed in the slot a little bit.

So to me, the Patriots right now have all the pieces in place to succeed in play action schemes in 2021, something they didn't run a lot of in 2020, but Josh McDaniels can really dial these up. A quarterback like Cam Newton loves utilizing two tight ends or prolific tight ends. If Cam is the guy under center, I think he's really going to love having these guys on the field. And Claire, you know, as much as I love to join you in defending Ryan Izzo's efforts last season, they've upgraded. They've upgraded at both tight ends. And this is going to be a fun, fun season for New England Patriots fans. It's going to be a real fun one for you, too, because you love the tight end position.

And let me tell you, you're going to enjoy watching these guys play. And that leads me quite nicely into my final question for you claire it's the moment we've all been waiting for no one in their right mind is expecting anyone to steal your heart away from rob gronkowski or even to a certain extent ryan iso but a new tight end is going to gain the countess's affection for 2021 and uh we're all wondering who it is so claire without further ado the floor is yours who are you most looking forward to seeing in a patriots uniform when it comes to the tight end position this upcoming season to be fair i think i've dropped some serious hints to be honest quite recently in all fairness and yes my heart

was broken when rob left and then in all fairness my heart was broken again when they traded away so I won't deny it um he wasn't a gronk but he was still the patriot of my heart type thing so but yes I have to move on and you know you haven't heard it here first because I've really kind of dropped it out around but Hunter Henry he's my guy so that's it I'm not going to be on that soapbox. Fortunately, I probably won't need to fight so hard this year with the fans to cheer this guy on, because hopefully he'll be very productive. But yeah, I'm just so excited. The traditional tight end thing is sort of what gets me most excited, shall we say. Yes, I fell in love with the game thanks to Rob Gronkowski.

And as you said said there isn't another one of him regardless but it is still the sort of the the more sort of traditional tight end the maybe not you know the quickest guy but the guy that you know can sort of strong armies way down the field that kind of thing and the blocking the blocking abilities and stuff so because that is more hunter henry sort of wheelhouse he's sort of pipping out johnny smith in my um sort of my affections and you can only like one guy at a time you know you know my heart can only be held by one man at one time so you know i'm quite a faithful fan and everything so yeah i think this year it's going to be Hunter Henry is Claire's guy this year. Folks, I did not pay her to say that, just for the record.

He didn't. He didn't. I love Hunter Henry anyway, regardless. I'm not influenced by Mike whatsoever. Well, that's good to hear. I think, you know, people definitely want to hear that. But all kidding aside, folks i know uh hunter henry is going to be a lot of fun to watch definitely that traditional y type tight end that inline tight end that's going to be a blocker a pass catcher that total package that we're used to seeing here in

new england i am very much looking forward to seeing how they're going to employ jono smith as well i really jono is someone that can jono is someone that can carry the ball out of the backfield in some you know cases as well almost in a jet sweep type, that motion type offense where he's not just going to be a target in the red zone. He can really he's got a little bit of a burst to his step and something that he didn't get a chance to really, I think, accentuate enough in Tennessee. I mean, why would you when you've got a guy like Derrick Henry running the ball in the backfield? But he does have the capabilities to do it. So a lot of alignments, a lot of play action schemes. Like we said, Josh McDaniel is going to have his hands full this year.

He's going to have a lot to work with, and we're all looking forward to it. And you know, Claire, we're going to bring you back to examine all of it as the tight end position becomes much more prominent this year than it was last year. Thank you so much, Claire, for taking the time out, for joining me here today on Lockdown Patriots. Before I let you go, Countess, please let all of our listeners know where they can find you,

where they can find your great work, and what you have coming up on the horizon. Oh, thank you so much, Mike. It's been so much fun. I love tight end Thursdays with you on Lockdown. It's totally the highlight, really. When you on lockdown it's it's totally the highlight of it was totally the highlight really when you told me yesterday about it was like I've been excited for since yesterday it's so much fun I really enjoy sharing the mic with you it is great but if you're looking for

my written work folks I write a column a clear perspective and that's for full press coverage patriots so you'll find that at fullpresscoverage.com I'm also a writer for the Pats Propaganda website so you'll find that at patspropaganda.com I do have my own podcast thanks to Full Press Coverage also a Claire Perspective a Patriot podcast so you'll find that where you can normally download your the podcast that you listen to and you'll also find me teaming up with, you know, on most weeks with the fantastic fans of Locked On, Thomas Murphy and Steve Balistrieri on One Patriot's Place. Again, folks, whenever Claire puts pen to paper or she puts voice to microphone, it's always a happening and always must read and must listen material. I'm honored to call her a friend most first and foremost, but I'm so honored to call a colleague at Full Press Coverage, and seeing the work that she does and absorbing the work that she does is truly something I think every Patriots fan will benefit from, whether it be from Full

Press Coverage or the great work that she does with Pat's Propaganda as well. So a little bit of a shout out to the Claire Perspective podcast. It's quickly becoming one of my favorite listens. Claire has had amazing guests on her show. The great Karen Garigian of the Boston Herald joined her earlier last week, I believe. It was Monday. Some great things coming on on Monday. See, the days just meld in together here on Lockdown Patriots. We're at this every day, and it just continues to be a grind, but a labor of love, folks. But no, all kidding aside, definitely check out a clear perspective. Uh, she's had the chance to talk to Andy Hart of WEI, Mark Sessler

of the NFL network, Mike Dussault of patriots.com. She continues to hit it out of the park and, uh, Claire is a pretty good host in and of herself. So, uh, you know, don't just let that fool you. She does a great job. Thank you so much much my friend for joining me in the meantime stay safe stay well you know we'll have you back here to talk tight ends very soon here on the lockdown patriots podcast but we all look forward to hearing your voice your insight and of course we look forward to hearing your giggle as well every now and then too so thank you so much for joining me today my friend thank you so much mike thanks. Thanks, everyone, for listening. Patriots fans, the weekend is within our sights, but you all know that here

on Locked on Patriots, we do not close out the week until we close out the week in style. And a very special treat on tap for you all tomorrow. The great Mike Dussault of Patriots.com will join me here tomorrow. And the innovator of the Hoodie Database is one of the best and most knowledgeable producers of content anywhere in Patriots media.

We'll be talking Pat's free agency, Patriots draft, and we might even share our early prognostications on what the 2021 Patriots season might look like. It's a Mike D squared podcast coming at you on Friday. So to ensure that you do not miss a single second of the action, follow the Locked On Patriots podcast on platforms such as Spotify, the Odyssey app, Google podcasts, Apple podcasts, wherever you get your podcasts, just make sure that you are staying locked into Locked On Patriots. Once again, my name is Mike DeBate. I thank my 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 tomorrow, Patriots Nation, stay safe, stay well, always be the change you wish to see in the world. Have a great day, everyone.