When Josh Uche got the phone call from the New England Patriots during the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft on Friday, he knew he was perfect for the franchise — and that they were right for him. They’d shown interest in him in the pre-draft process, but he didn’t know he’d land with Bill Belichick and company. Uche felt he’d landed with the right organization.
“I just knew that that was the perfect fit for me. I knew that the Patriots were going to maximize everything that I have to offer,” he said on a conference call on Friday.
He added: “I would say it’s a good fit for me, because I’m a hard-ass worker and the Patriots work their asses off.”
With an answer like that, he sure sounds like a Patriot. Maybe they’ll tone down his answers during media training, but that’s the truth. Players won’t succeed in New England if they don’t embrace the workload. But the match goes beyond Uche’s professionalism.
“The Patriots themselves are just very unique, very diverse, very dynamic. And I think that’s just the way I am as a football player, and I just feel like it’s definitely a perfect fit,” he said.
Uche played just 50% of the Wolverines defensive snaps, but he still managed 33 tackles, 7.5 sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss. He’ll likely play a rotational role in New England, probably initially as a pass-rusher. But he clearly boasts versatility and a willing mindset to learn a diversity of skills. He mentioned there was schematic overlap between Michigan coach John Harbaugh’s system and that of Bill Belichick. With that familiarity and work ethic, Uche should be just fine in his rookie season.
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