Former unknowns are key in Patriots’ Super Bowl run
When it comes to filling out his roster each season, Bill Be li chick has always placed a premium on potential.
From late-round draft picks to guys that never heard their name called on draft night, during his 17 years in New England the Patriots coach has developed a knack not just for identifying unheralded players, but cultivating them into key contributors.
The group he takes to Houston for the Super Bowl is no exception.
There are 14 players on the Patriots’ 53- man roster that came into the NFL a sun drafted free agents, and another 10 who were selected in the fifth round or later.
Among tho sew how er eu nd rafted, eight appeared in 12 games or more during the regular season including corner back Malcolm Butler (16 starts ), running back Le Garrette Blount( eight starts ), receivers Chris Hogan (14 starts) and Danny Amend ola, center David Andrews (16 starts ), full back James D evelin, special team er Brandon King and punt er Ryan Allen.
Be li chick said it’ s key to find players who have the most room for growth, no matter their background.
“Not everybody is from Alabama and Michigan and USC and those places, so for some of those guys, and even the ones that come from there, it’ s still a huge jump for them ,” Be li chick said .“It’ s a big part of a big time in a professional player’ s career—making it the first year, but then that first to second or first to second to third. That’ s true for everybody .”
While most teams have one or two players on their roster who fit into this category, the Patriots separate themselves by getting a high level of production out of several of them.
Receiver Julian Ed el man was a college quarter back at Kent State and seventh-round pick in the 2009 draft before he became Tom Brady’ s go-to guy on third down. Special team er Nate Eb n er, a sixth-round pick in 2012, went from a rugby background to the Patriots’ top tackle ron special teams. And before Butler became a Super Bowl hero with his late interception against Seattle in 2015, hew a sun drafted in 2014. He leads the team with four intercept ions.
The newest member of the club is Hogan, who is coming off a franchise record nine-reception ,180- yard performance in the AFC championship game.
Hogan played four years of lacrosse at Penn State, and once played opposite Patriots assistant Steve Be li chick.
Following a year of football at Monmouth and stints on the practice squads of the New York Giants and Miami Dolphins, he was with Buffalo in 2014 when he caught his first career NFL touch down late during a Bills loss to New England.
When he became a free agent following the 2015 season, the Patriots were the first to contact him.
Hogan said there’ s a common link among his team mates who have taken unconventional routes to the NFL.
“Those guys are hard working guys, every single one of them ,” Hogan said. “We’ re all alike in that sense. Where we have a real competitive attitude, but we are more than willing to do whatever it takes and whatever is asked of us to win football games.”
Linebacker and defensive captain D ont’ a High tower said those intangibles are found in players throughout the lockerroom.
“A lot of people talk about the‘ Patriot Way .’ There’ s not a straight definition of it, but here you know that we’ re going to work everyday ,” High tower said. “Around here you’ re either getting better or you’ re getting worse .”