New England Patriots: 5 players who need to win fans over in 2018

Elandon Roberts needs to make the next step

 Following a strong rookie debut, New England Patriots linebacker Elandon Roberts was not as effective in his second NFL season.

Roberts entered training camp and the preseason as a player fighting for a job.  Now that he has won that job, he has to produce and also make the leap he was expected to make during the 2017 season.

A bit undersized and lacking extreme athleticism, Roberts will have to get it done with his awareness on the field.  With Dont’a Hightower back, he should be able to make more of an impact taking less snaps than he did in 2017 when he was on the field for 52.6 percent of the team’s defensive snaps.

While Elandon Roberts was still productive in the run defense, racking up 67 tackles, he was a liability in the passing game.  If he can improve on his pass defense, the third-year linebacker will win fans over.  If he continues to struggle stopping the pass, rookie Ja’Whaun Bentley will surpass him on the depth chart and Roberts could find himself off the team by midseason.