As the quickest working again on the NFL’s Scouting Combine, it’s simple to assume Pierre Strong’s biggest asset is pace.
While the 4.37 he ran within the 40-yard sprint will definitely come in useful within the professionals, he truly has one other vital attribute that figures to propel him to better heights.
What might be higher than pace? The dimension of the chip on his shoulder.
Strong wasn’t extremely recruited out of highschool. He had no provides and little curiosity from any outstanding colleges.
No matter. The Patriots 4th-round decide has used that slight to drive him.
Charles Davis, an analyst for NFL on CBS, who additionally does draft evaluation for NFL Network, introduced up Strong’s again story and believes the giant-sized chip has served him nicely throughout his faculty profession.
In his senior 12 months alone, Strong rushed for 1,686 yards on 240 carries with 18 touchdowns.
“He’s from Arkansas, and none of the Arkansas schools gave him a look. Not Arkansas. Not Arkansas State. Any of them. That’s how he wound up at South Dakota State,” mentioned Davis. “He went there, and simply stored getting higher and higher alongside the way in which.
“So he’s a high-volume runner with something to prove, and the way New England rolls running backs, he’ll have an opportunity.”
Andre Crenshaw, Strong’s working backs coach at South Dakota State, additionally talked about the chip prominently. It was the very first thing that got here to thoughts when requested what strikes him most about Strong as a participant.
“Coming out of high school, he wasn’t highly recruited and then coming out of college, people think because he played at the FCS level, he doesn’t have the talent level to play at a high level,” mentioned Crenshaw. “So he’s at all times had that chip. His thought course of is to proceed to show folks fallacious.
“He has the want-to, and the willingness to work as hard as he can until he gets everything out of every opportunity he has. That’s kind of his upside in what drives him to be as good as he was for us.”
Plenty of nice athletes have been motivated by the assumption they had been handled or judged unfairly alongside the highway. It is usually a highly effective instrument. Tom Brady nonetheless makes use of the slight of being taken within the sixth spherical of the NFL draft as a motivator.
Along with not getting any consideration popping out of highschool, Strong didn’t get an invitation to the Senior Bowl, in order that provides to the scale of the chip.
Senior Bowl director Jim Nagy, nonetheless, mentioned he regretted not inviting Strong to Mobile, Ala., for the yearly showcase of faculty expertise.
“I think Pierre Strong is a good player. I think he’ll factor into the mix, and if I regretted not inviting one player to the Senior Bowl this year, it’s probably Pierre. I really liked him,” Nagy mentioned when reached by the Herald. “You can return within the fall, I used to be posting about him in September.
“And there was just enough hesitation league-wide — I don’t think the league saw him running the way he ran (at the NFL Combine). So there was some trepidation there. When I vetted Pierre out to the league, everyone was mostly (saying) mid- to late-Day 3 for him. And now, this was before the combine where he ran 4.3. But there just wasn’t a lot of love.”
He obtained it at South Dakota State, the place he thrived, receiving first-team FCS All-American and All MVFC honors in 2021.
Crenshaw mentioned given Strong’s mindset, there wouldn’t be any want for Bill Belichick to push him to work, research, or do no matter’s vital to achieve the NFL.
“He’s going to drive himself,” mentioned Crenshaw. “He’s going to figure out everything he can to will himself to be great.”
That all sounds good. But the place does Strong slot in? How can he crack a lineup of backs that options Damien Harris, Rhamondre Stevenson and James White?
Given his skill to run the ball, function a dependable pass-catcher popping out of the backfield, to not point out throw the ball every so often, the Patriots are certain to discover a approach to make the most of the again, who was in Foxboro this week for rookie mini-camp.
Initially, the Patriots may attempt utilizing both Strong or J.J. Taylor within the third-down again function if White isn’t fairly prepared initially of the 12 months, getting back from the main hip damage he suffered final 12 months.
If White is wholesome and returns to kind, or shut sufficient to it on the outset, Strong may need a more durable time leaping in straight away.
But given what he brings to the desk, Strong must be a pleasant complementary piece to what the Patriots have already got, together with insurance coverage for White.
South Carolina’s Kevin Harris, taken by the Patriots within the sixth spherical, may additionally consider, though he falls extra within the Harris, Stevenson mildew as a between-the-tackles runner. He’s an influence again who additionally offers depth behind the 2 lead backs.
Strong, nonetheless, has just a little extra in his bag of methods.
Eric Galko, the director of soccer operations and participant personnel for the East-West Shrine Bowl, the place Strong was a participant, additionally appeared like a fan.
“His explosiveness as a zone-blocking runner, and his third-down ability makes him a really special player,” Galko mentioned when reached not too long ago. “I’d imagine the Patriots might want to use him as a change-of-pace back … Long-term, he can absolutely be a three-down player in the NFL.”
Crenshaw additionally didn’t need to pigeonhole Strong as solely a third-down again.
“I think a third-down back is probably the basement for him,” mentioned Crenshaw. “The ceiling for him, I think he’s going to be a three-down back at the NFL level. I have a ton of faith in him and his ability and what he can do.”
Still, there are a couple of issues. Strong, at 5-foot-11, 207 kilos, is undersized. That’s one of many knocks. He additionally had ball safety points, fumbling 5 occasions as a senior.
That gained’t fly in Foxboro. Strong additionally must show he can pass-protect on the NFL degree. Belichick gained’t be inclined to make use of him as a third-down again if he can’t get the hold of blitz pick-up and defend the franchise — Mac Jones.
Galko indicated Strong did a superb job in move safety on the Shrine Bowl. Crenshaw, in the meantime, mentioned he has seen enchancment in that space over time, and it shouldn’t be a priority.
“I know people say he needs to work on that, but I thought he made an extremely huge jump in pass protection from previous years, to now his senior year,” mentioned Crenshaw. “He knew it was vital for groups to see him pass-protect and put nice issues on movie.
“If you look at film from his senior year, there were times he was putting his face on people, and he’s pass protecting his butt off because he knows the value of it.”
The final hope is that Strong’s pace, and total skill will assist make the Patriots a bit extra explosive on offense.
He certain suits in on the trick-play entrance, having accomplished all 9 passes he was requested to make throughout his time at South Dakota State, throwing six landing passes within the course of.
Crenshaw believes the arrow is certainly pointing up for this child.
“A lot of people talk about the tread on his tires. I think he’s just getting started at just how dynamic and how good of a football player he can be,” mentioned Crenshaw. “He’s still learning, he’s still growing, he’s still developing, so he’s still got a lot of upside.”
And, he nonetheless has that monster chip on his shoulder. He nonetheless needs to make the doubters eat crow, and in line with Crenshaw, the doubting crowd has grown. Some questioned his choice by the Patriots.
“I’ve already seen some comments. He’s probably seen a few, ‘I wish they would have gone a different route, I wish they would have gotten a different kid,’” mentioned Crenshaw, “So for him, all the noise, he doesn’t worry about it. He just likes to prove people wrong. He’s just going to work his tail off to make sure people know who Pierre Strong is.”
The Zappe recordsdata
When the Patriots drafted Western Kentucky quarterback Bailey Zappe within the fourth spherical, that was basically the nail within the coffin for Jarrett Stidham, who was traded Thursday to the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Pats are clearly investing in Zappe to be the eventual backup to Mac Jones. Like Jones, he’s a pocket passer.
NFL Network’s draft analyst Charles Davis mentioned Zappe caught his eye throughout Senior Bowl week.
“He got better every day at the Senior Bowl, in my humble estimation,” mentioned Davis. “I talked to a few people around, and they said this kid was locked in, wired in. He’s what I’d call an operator.”
Davis meant that in a great way.
“In a lot of ways, he’s Gardner Minshew without the fanfare, without the jorts and all that stuff that goes with being Gardner Minshew,” mentioned Davis. “Zappe is that kind of a guy.”
He’s additionally the kind of quarterback that matches their profile, whether or not as a starter or a backup.
“Look at his touchdown-to-interception ratios. He makes a lot of good decisions,” mentioned Davis. “And, in a lot of ways, he plays a lot like Mac plays. Athletically, they’re built similarly.”
Zappe, who’s 6-1, 220 kilos, performed most of his faculty profession at FCS Houston Baptist earlier than shifting to FBS Western Kentucky of Conference USA as a graduate switch in 2021.
He threw 62 touchdowns with 11 interceptions with the Hilltoppers throughout this previous season.
Schedule fodder
*** Teams within the AFC West (Chiefs, Chargers, Broncos, Raiders) will probably be making 19 prime-time appearances collectively. The Chiefs, Chargers and Broncos have 5 prime-time dates set, with the Raiders having 4.
Just for a comparability, groups within the AFC East have 13 video games in entrance of a nationally televised viewers. The Bills and Patriots each have 5, with the Dolphins (2) and Jets (1) lagging behind.
The Detroit Lions, in the meantime, had been the one staff not awarded a prime-time recreation.
*** The Patriots play 5 video games on quick weeks, which doesn’t precisely bode nicely. The Eagles are the one different staff with an identical destiny, per ESPN.
The abbreviated breaks will happen between Weeks 4 and 5, Weeks 7 and eight, Weeks 11 and 12, Weeks 14 and 15 and Weeks 15 and 16.
There is also a chance for the Patriots to cope with a sixth quick week, with the season finale in opposition to Buffalo set to be performed both Saturday or Sunday.
*** The Jets begin the season by enjoying each staff within the AFC North over the primary 4 weeks. The Ravens, in the meantime, begin out with 4 straight in opposition to the AFC East.
*** The Patriots, together with the Buccaneers and Colts, are the one groups who’ve to start out the season with two straight highway video games.
Pats PR employees wins award
Stacey James, Vice President of Media Relations at New England Patriots, was admittedly just a little nervous when staff proprietor Robert Kraft unexpectedly jumped in on a scheduled video name for the media with Nelson Agholor on Tuesday.
James wasn’t certain what was happening.
Kraft, nonetheless, had some excellent news he wished to share along with his PR chief.
Kraft knowledgeable James that the Pro Football Writers of America had named the Patriots’ Communication employees as winners of the 2022 Pete Rozelle Award, which is yearly given to the employees that “consistently strives for excellence in its dealings and relationships with the media.”
“So well deserved, and I know better than anyone what you’ve gone through over the years,” Kraft mentioned to James throughout the name. “You really deserve this award.”
James and his employees had been a finalist for the award seven occasions, together with the previous three seasons. It’s the primary time the Patriots earned the distinction.
Before leaving the session, Kraft known as James “the ultimate mensch.”
As somebody who has handled James, Aaron Salkin, Stephanie Burnham, Michael Jurovaty, and quite a few others on the Patriots employees via the years, the group has at all times achieved its finest to accommodate and help the media.
Their work in offering gamers the previous few years throughout COVID-19, particularly with all of the restrictions, was unmatched throughout the league.
Source: www.bostonherald.com