FOXBORO — For a muscular, 6-foot-5 and 290-pound human being, it’s straightforward to miss Keion White.
During the draft, the Patriots’ sandwiched his choice within the second spherical by selecting cornerback Christian Gonzalez and linebacker/security Marte Mapu. Since the rookies arrived, Gonzalez and Mapu have made headlines with their performances in OTA and preliminary coaching camp practices. Meanwhile, White has been plugging away, most frequently with the second-team protection. He earned a would-be “sack” throughout aggressive staff drills Friday.
It’s attainable White, whom some consultants considered as a first-round expertise, might earn a rotational pass-rushing function by Week 1. Or develop right into a starter subsequent season. But White, who’s performed a number of spots throughout the defensive entrance to date in camp, insists he isn’t wanting forward.
He’s really simply completely satisfied to follow.
“You kind of work all your life to get to this point. You can’t just look forward to the games, you’ve got to look forward to the practices, too,” White stated Sunday. “So I feel like I’ve gotten the opportunity to be here instead of, like, I have to be here.”
As for the way he’s improved in coaching camp, White talked about recognizing what the Patriots offense is about to execute and the way they’ll block him.
“Knowledge of the game, for sure,” he stated. “Just being able to read offenses a little bit better and know what blocking combinations are coming. That’s definitely one thing I’ve improved on a lot.”
Mac Jones and Co. labored at a speedy tempo in Sunday’s follow, simulating the 2-minute drills they’ll run in the course of the common season. Playing at that tempo instantly put White’s development to the take a look at on the fourth follow and fifth day of coaching camp.
“It was fast. I definitely have to improve on speeding up my thought process and reading things,” White stated. “But that comes with practice and repetition, so I look forward to that.”
As a prospect, White got here off a 7.5 sack season final yr at Georgia Tech. He additionally totaled 14 tackles for loss, simply two seasons after changing from tight finish. White examined as one of many strongest and most explosive athletes on the NFL mix, together with 30 reps of 225 kilos on the bench press and two of the best marks in the whole class within the vertical and broad jumps.
Source: www.bostonherald.com