Patriots Gameday: Jonnu Smith hungry for a breakout performance

When will the real Jonnu Smith show up and be the type of tight end the New England Patriots envisioned when they signed him to a big free agent contract?

There have been small glimpses, but through Week 9 of the 2022 NFL season, Patriots fans haven’t seen the kind of weapon the team thought they were given.  To go further, the tight end duo of Smith and Hunter Henry haven’t really risen to expectations.

Is it the players or is it gameplan driven?

New England Patriots still searching for how to best use Jonnu Smith

As far as last season goes, Henry did eventually turn into a top target for Mac Jones.  Jonnu Smith on the other hand became lost in the mix as the Patriots seemingly didn’t know how to use his talents.  With a focused offseason, that was supposed to change this season, but outside of a 53-yard catch and run against the Cleveland Browns, the talented tight end has been quiet again this season.

Can and will he get it cooking as a playmaker?

Time is running out as we are already at the midway point of the season.  A season in which he has just 13 receptions for 133 yards.  Much of that coming on that one play against the Browns.  While he has been contributing in different ways to help the team win, Smith knows the offensive struggles and lack of consistency is something they have to figure out as a unit before he can individually be that explosive type of tight end the team and fans are hungry for.

"“As an offense, we’ve really got to look at ourselves in the face and figure out where we want to be at,” Smith said, via Masslive.com.  “We’re kind of getting into that real football – not saying we haven’t been playing that but people’s season either starts to shape out or they don’t around this time.”"

Hopefully for Jonnu Smith, it does start to shape out in a positive way with Mac Jones back under center and the offense as a hole finding its identity.  With running back Rhamondre Stevenson starting to become a dual-threat type of running back and Jakobi Meyers solid in the middle of the field, things should open up a bit for both Smith and Henry to be the type of pass-catching threats they have shown they could be.

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"“We have to define ourselves as a total offense,” Smith continued.  “It’s not about the quarterback.  It’s about that.  It’s about every individual on that side of the ball doing what we can do to help us win.  We need to look ourselves in the mirror.  All of us.”"

It’s a great approach by Smith who could easily blame how the New England Patriots are using him.  Instead, he is taking responsibility and seems to be challenging himself to be better within the offense.  As a player willing to do whatever the team asks, it’s time for the New England Patriots coaches to find a way to unlock the potential of Jonnu Smith on a consistent basis.

Get him involved and keep him involved.  Against the Indianapolis Colts there is a potential for a big day out of the tight end position.  If that big day is Jonnu Smith, the New England Patriots offense will be that much better.

So, let’s get ready, it’s gameday.