Why Patriots linebacker Josh Uche is the defensive X-factor vs Dolphins
How will the New England Patriots defense contain a Miami Dolphins defensive featuring Jaylen Waddle and the ultra-fast Tyreek Hill? Get after Tua Tagovailoa!
In the last couple of matchups against Tagovailoa and the Dolphins that hasn’t been the case for Bill Belichick and the Patriots’ defense. That was mostly due to his mobility. When they kept him in the pocket and applied some pressure, they did find some success and that’s why third-year linebacker Josh Uche has an opportunity to shine in this Week 1 AFC East battle.
While the emphasis is on the secondary, primarily Jonathan Jones and how Belichick decides to limit both Waddle and Hill, the answer may be in not little Tua get the ball down the field. That is where Matt Judon, Christian Barmore and Uche will play a vital role.
New England Patriots will need Josh Uche to keep Tua Tagovailoa from doing big things
Again, it is easier said than done on the field because as Belichick said in his conference with the media the week leading up to this game, Tua is a smart football player.
"“Productive player knows how to use his weapons, receivers, backs,” Belichick said of what impresses him about Tagovailoa. “Makes a lot of good critical plays, goal line, third-and-one, fourth-and-one. Couple plays that formatted against us last year. Smart football player.”"
In fact, Tua is one of those quarterbacks who exposed the New England Patriots lack of athleticism and speed last season, especially in the second matchup between the Pats and Dolphins in which Tagovailoa was able to keep plays alive with his mobility.
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With a younger, more athletic linebacker group including former Dolphins linebacker Raekwon McMillian and newcomer Mack Wilson, the Patriots’ defense will be put to the test in this matchup. That athleticism and speed will need to keep Tagovailoa with the ball in his hand and in the pocket for the tandem of Judon and Uche to do their thing coming off the edge.
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In fact, Uche has a big opportunity to wreak some havoc in this game. Not only is he fast, but he is also a powerful force coming off that edge and a player the New England Patriots need to flourish in his third season. They are pretty much expecting a big season out of the third-year Michigan product who has shown glimpse of the pass rush influence he can be in any game.
That may be over hyping a player with just 3 career sacks, but he has the ability and motor to equal those career sacks in one game…it just might be this game.
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In all, health and consistency are the only roadblocks in his way and in this Week 1 NFL matchup against the Dolphins, he will be the biggest factor in limiting what Waddle and Hill may do in this game. No, he isn’t covering them, but consistently getting in Tua’s face will take some pressure off a secondary that has some unproven and unexperienced players needing to step up.
To say it all starts up front is an understatement, but the edge rush of Josh Uche has a chance to impact this game immensely.