New England Patriots: One very bold Josh Uche prediction for 2020
Why New England Patriots rookie linebacker Josh Uche has Peter King making this very bold prediction.
There is a lot of hype surrounding New England Patriots 2020 second round pick Josh Uche and it extends beyond the organization.
With the opt-out of Dont’a Hightower and the departures of Kyle Van Noy, Jamie Collins and Elandon Roberts, the undersized linebacker out of the University of Michigan is not only expected to get extended snaps in his rookie season, but according to Peter King, he is predicted to be the best rookie defensive player in 2020.
In making his 2020 predictions, King writes:
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"“The 60th pick in the draft is intriguing because he’s a little undersized (6-3, 230) and he played only 53 percent of the defensive snaps at Michigan last year. He may not play more than that in Foxboro, but his production around the edge could mimic Kyle Van Noy’s last year in the best season of Van Noy’s life. The Michigan tape of Uche suggests the versatility and production Bill Belichick demands from his linebackers.”"
Immediately compared to Tedy Bruschi when drafted, Uche is one of those players who has the versatility and skillset to play in the middle of the defense and rush the passer off the age. Like his Michigan and now Patriots teammate Chase Winovich he has the type of motor that can’t be measured.
Like King says, he is a bit undersized, but he makes up for that with his speed and football smarts, which will make him a Bill Belichick favorite rather quickly and a player who will open some eyes around the NFL.
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That is a very bold prediction, even for the great Peter King, but I can’t disagree with him given the depth the New England Patriots are going into the season with at the linebacker position. Third-year linebacker Ja’Whaun Bently was named as a captain and is the group’s most experienced linebacker.
Along with fellow rookie Anfernee Jennings, Josh Uche will have an opportunity to earn more time on the field. As a rookie in a Bill Belichick defense, there will be some headaches, but if Uche is able to learn and show growth in those situations, he will be put in more situations in which he could produce.
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Another factor in this prediction is linebackers’ coach and defensive play caller Jerod Mayo who had success as a rookie for the New England Patriots. That mentorship and motivation should go a long way in helping Josh Uche find comfort within the defense.
In all, he won’t come close to 100 tackles in his rookie season like Mayo racked up back in 2008 when he took home the Associated Press top defensive rookie honors, but Josh Uche will be all over the field doing all the things Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots staff asks of him to do, which he has already prepared himself to do.
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"“Right now I’m just doing whatever is needed of me, whatever the coaches are asking of me,” Uche said during a video conference call back in August. “Each and every day, just improving slowly and surely, brick by brick. I put pressure on myself every day. That’s the way my dad raised me, so whatever the coaches tell me to do, I’m trying to I’m doing my best to get that done.”"
Sound like the New England Patriots have themselves a steal in Josh Uche and Peter King certainly agrees.