Always his Chief concern
Edelman has mind on game
FOXBORO — Julian Edelman is pushing forward.
His training in September? Well, it’s October now.
His strong debut against the Colts? That was last week.
His alleged 1-9 ping-pong record against Celtics forward Gordon Hayward?
“That’s all in the past, it’s all in the past,” Edelman said, smiling. “I’m thinking about the Chiefs.”
Edelman did, however, provide some insight into his early experience playing alongside Josh Gordon.
“Great teammate,” Edelman said yesterday of his fellow wide receiver. “I really think he could be a really big piece of (the offense). It’s exciting to be around him. He loves football, you can tell. He works hard. He knows his stuff. And it’s getting more and more fun the more and more he knows.”
And that’s as far as Edelman was willing to take it.
Asked if Gordon is reminiscent of any other player who has come through Foxboro, he passed.
“No, we’re not going down that road,” Edelman said. “That was a good one, though.”
Stylistically, the trio of Edelman, Gordon and tight end Rob Gronkowski is a perfect unit. The players complement each other well. Gordon can work outside the numbers and win on vertical routes down the sideline (and leap over multiple defenders in the end zone for touchdowns, as he did last week). Gronkowski wrecks defenses down the middle, and Edelman operates in the short to intermediate middle. Combine those three with an evolving running game and the Pats may have another iteration
— PATS WIDE RECEIVER JULIAN EDELMAN On working his way back after four-game suspension
of the league’s most consistently potent offense.
Of course, Edelman doesn’t want to get too far ahead. He has played one game since he returned from a four-game PED suspension, and he’s just over 12 months removed from an
ACL reconstruction.
“Honestly, I’m just worried about trying to get my assignments down and going out and executing during practice,” he said. “It is better to have competition, the defense, playing against our corners and getting in the flow and feeling bodies. All that stuff does is it allows you to build your confidence.”
Early in training camp, Edelman offered an honest assessment of his conditioning.
“I don’t have football legs and it’s evident out there,” Edelman said in early August. “You get tired, you create bad habits, you don’t run your routes right and you get yelled at in meetings for it. I’m expecting to do that because I’ve got to pick it up. I wasn’t as good as I want to be today and feeling that’s because I’m not in the best shape right now.”
Edelman had an uncharacteristic number of drops throughout the summer, which could have been related to his less-than-ideal conditioning.
After a month away from the team, which included extensive on-field work with former Patriots defensive end Rob Ninkovich, Edelman is returning to his customary level.
“I feel like my conditioning’s been pretty good,” Edelman said. “You’re always working to get it better. Going against Ninkovich helped me a lot, so that was good. I really feel like we took advantage of the time that we had. I’m looking forward to going out and getting another practice in and building that confidence a little more.”
The Patriots will need to hit on all cylinders offensively against the Chiefs on Sunday night. They’ll need Edelman to work the possession routes, and solid contributions from Gordon and Gronkowski. The Patriots defense isn’t shutting down the Chiefs highoctane attack, so the Pats offense must bring its “A” game.
“We’ve got a battle,” Edelman said. “If you love football, this is why you play. It’s for games like this. Two tough teams, and that’s what I’m looking forward to.”
‘I really feel like we took advantage of the time that we had. I’m looking forward to going out and getting another practice in and building that confidence a little more.’