New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick has confidence in tight end Jonnu Smith, as the Patriots are set to open up the season in Miami.
Smith struggled last season, recording 28 receptions for 294 yards and a touchdown. He couldn’t get into the groove of the offense, and it became apparent early on in the 2021 season that Hunter Henry was going to have to pick up the slack at the position.
Smith will look to turn the page with a new offensive scheme, as the Patriots have an opportunity to make the tight end position a focal point once again. He was a prized acquisition for the Patriots in the 2021 offseason. Now, he gets another chance to live up to the hype.
At the very least, he has a vote of confidence from his head coach.
“Jonnu’s had a really good offseason,” Belichick told reporters, per a team-provided transcript, via Sean T. McGuire of NESN.com. “Starting in the spring, he’s in real good condition, fundamentals, and techniques are good. He’s a hard-working kid. He’s out there every day, smart player. So he’s off to a real good start, and we’ll see how things go in the regular season. But he’s put himself in position to, I think, go out and play well.”
Smith’s emergence in the offense could bode well for quarterback Mac Jones, as the latter looks to familiarize himself with his new wide receiver targets on the outside.
It will be intriguing to see how the Patriots get Smith involved in the offense, as they look for more production from the tight end position.
