New England Patriots: Danny Etling channeling his inner Edelman

The New England Patriots entered Day 1 of training camp with an interesting position switch involving backup quarterback Danny Etling.

What has made the New England Patriots so successful over the past two decades is that Bill Belichick finds football players. Whether it is through the draft or scavenging for players on other rosters, he finds versatile players who are willing to do what it takes to help the team win.

If you need proof, just look at the Kent State quarterback the team drafted in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL Draft. That former field general morphed into one of the most clutch and uncoverable wide receivers in the NFL.

Will there ever be another Julian Edelman type success story?

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Well, this training camp just got extra interesting with the position switch made by 2017 seventh-round draft pick Danny Etling.

With the team draft fourth-round pick Jarrett Stidham, the LSU product will have to find a way to make the team by finding another role. As of the start of training camp, that position change appears to be at wide receiver.

It’s an interesting switch given Etling hasn’t played the position before, but his size is interesting although he lacks the speed and quickness of a Julian Edelman. At 6-foot-2, 218 pounds, he would make for a bigger receiver who could find different ways to get open like former Patriots receiver Chris Hogan.

While this experiment by the New England Patriots may be a long shot, it’s certainly an intriguing one and one that Danny Etling appears to have seen coming.

"“I think I have always kind of known, especially last season, that week-to week you are going to have different roles and responsibilities,” Etling told the media, as transcribed by WEEI. “one thing is definitely for sure in football that there is constant change. You definitely want to continue to develop as many skills and talents as you can to help the team and help your role expand.”"

The position change may not necessarily take Etling out of the running as a backup quarterback on the team. Currently, the stands behind the ageless Tom Brady, veteran Brian Hoyer and the rookie Jarrett Stidham. While it seems less likely the team would back up Brady with two inexperienced quarterbacks, Hoyer certainly has to earn his role at the position.

Football player first mentality

With that possibility still there, Danny Etling is shifting his focus to making the team as a football player and that will definitely win some points with Bill Belichick.

"“I love football” Etling said when asked about the position change. “I love playing football. I am out here in a NFL training camp getting ready to play for the Patriots and getting to find a new role for myself and getting coached by some of the greatest coaches and getting to be teammates with some of the greatest teammates of all-time. I have really enjoyed being part of this team and I am willing to do whatever it takes in order to do that and to keep becoming a better football player.”"

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Of course, one of those great teammates is Julian Edelman who will certainly play a role in helping and inspiring Danny Etling in his transition to wide receiver. The relentless Super Bowl LIII MVP has not only made the position change look easy, he has also played defensive back for the New England Patriots.

That should motivate Etling to not give up even if wide receiver does not work out.

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