McCarron out to make next step
FOXBORO — To say Riley McCarron fits the Patriots mold would be a bit of an understatement.
The undrafted wideout is diminutive, checking it at 5-foot-9, and does most of his work out of the slot. He played his college ball under Kirk Ferentz at Iowa, a school that has more players in Patriots minicamp (five) than Rutgers (four). He’s also capable of returning punts and kicks and did both at times for the Hawkeyes.
McCarron spent most of 2017 on the Patriots practice squad after he was released by the Texans, and just a few months ago it looked like his chances of making the 2018 team were slim. But that was before Danny Amendola signed with the Miami Dolphins and Julian Edelman was hit with a four-game PED suspension.
Now, the receiver Houston coach Bill O’Brien once jokingly called a “spitting image” of Wes Welker appears to have a much more realistic chance of cracking the Patriots’ opening day roster and continuing the tradition of undersized and previously overlooked receivers in Foxboro.
Watching players like Welker, Amendola and Edelman was “a dream” for McCarron throughout his football upbringing.
“Any time you see those guys on TV … it’s awesome,” he said.
McCarron has gotten the chance to learn from all of them throughout his brief career in the NFL. He worked with Welker, now an assistant coach in Houston, last offseason, and he got to observe Amendola up close and personal in 2017. He’s been in the same position group as Edelman in offseason workouts and minicamp.
“Obviously all of those guys have had great careers and been really successful, so anytime I can watch film and pick those guys’ brains and learn anything they have to offer and things I see in film and stuff like that, it’s great to add to my arsenal,” McCarron said.
Entering his second year in the league, McCarron said he’s beginning to feel more comfortable in the Patriots system.
“Your head’s not spinning as much, but there’s still a lot going on, still a lot to learn out there … you just start seeing things a little quicker, a little sooner, more and more aware of your surroundings,” he said. “Stuff like that. That comes with reps and being out here at practice.”
McCarron still faces an uphill battle trying to make the team among a deep group of wide receivers, but there are a couple factors working in his favor. He’s capable of returning punts, which would fill another role vacated by Amendola and Edelman, and he was sure-handed in special teams action at practice yesterday.
He’s also one of the only true slot receivers the Patriots have at this point. Players like Chris Hogan and Jordan Matthews have excelled from the slot in their career, but it’s been years since the Patriots started the season without a traditional, bona-fide slot receiver on the roster.
The opening seems to be there for McCarron.
“I’m just trying to keep going one day at a time and continue to do my job and just try and make plays out there and do whatever I can to help the team,” McCarron said. “I’m just trying to carve out a role.”