Bill Belichick breaks the mold with rookies on Patriots’ initial 53-man roster

Author Alex Barth

August 31st, 2021 7:19 PM

Rookie players – especially those taken after the first round – generally have taken a back seat on Bill Belichick’s Patriots teams. In the past, the team has generally put extra emphasis on experience, allowing their younger players to observe and develop their games behind the scenes before playing meaningful snaps.

Based on the team’s initial roster, the 2021 season will likely be a departure from that scenario. Based on the way the team is currently constructed, rookie players are set to play a number of key starting and reserve roles.

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  Of course, that conversation begins with Mac Jones. With Cam Newton's release Tuesday morning, Jones is now the team's unquestioned starting quarterback. He'll be just the third rookie quarterback ever to start a Week 1 game for the Patriots, and the first since Drew Bledsoe in 1993.
  
  Right up until the news of Newton's release, the 11-year NFL veteran was projected by many to win the job regardless of Jones' impressive performance this summer. Based on the historical context of how the Patriots' typically operate, Newton's experience in the league gave him a seemingly insurmountable built-in advantage ahead of Jones.
  
  Yet this clearly isn't a typical Patriots team. Jones was able to show enough to earn the coaching staff's trust, and although there may be the growing pains associated with a rookie throughout the season, Belichick and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels have signaled they're ready to ride that roller coaster.

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  Running back is another position that has seen a departure from the norm when it comes to personnel. Since Belichick took over as the head coach of the Patriots in 2000, only three rookie running backs have seen more than 100 touches in a season. Two of those were first round picks, the other was J.R. Redmond in Belichick's first year with the team. The majority of the rest saw under 50. For the full list from Pro Football Reference, click here.
  
  Fourth-round pick Rhamondre Stevenson will likely be an exception to that rule. He won't be the starter - at least not right away - but by trading Sony Michel last week, the Patriots opened the door for Stevenson to play regularly as Harris' backup on early downs.
  
  Based on how the Patriots' have handled things in the past, it seemed likely that the Patriots would keep Michel and bury Stevenson on the depth chart to give him a 'red shirt' year. Yet after leading the NFL in rushing during the preseason, it appears the Oklahoma product is set for a semi-regular role in the Patriots' offense.

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  On the defensive side of the ball, Christian Barmore is another rookie that won't start, but projects to play a key rotational role. His might be the least surprising situation of any of the rookies, but after thinning out their tremendous defensive tackle depth on Tuesday by cutting Montravius Adams, Akeem Spence, and Nick Thurman, Barmore will likely be thrust into some key situations early on.
  
  It's not so much Barmore's overall workload that's surprising - defensive lines is one of the few spots Belichick has thrown rookies in right away over the years - but he'll be counted on in key situations early on. An interior pass rush specialist, expect him to be on the field quite a bit on third downs, trusted to get after the quarterback and collapse the interior of the pocket.
  
  Then there's cornerback Shaun Wade, who isn't just a rookie but a new rookie - he didn't arrive in New England until Thursday after being acquired in a trade with the Baltimore Ravens. Like Barmore, Wade won't play a starting role early on. But with a lack of depth at both corner and safety, Wade figures to factor in as a rotational player.
  
  That doesn't mean Wade won't be asked to make plays on a weekly basis. Last year, the Patriots had four cornerbacks play at least 62 percent of their defensive snaps. Wade currently projects to be the team's fourth corner while Stephon Gilmore is on PUP. In addition, seven total defensive backs played at least 50 percent of the team's defensive snaps - the Patriots have just eight DBs on their initial roster. The numbers point to Wade being involved at least somewhat regularly over the course of the season.
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  Finally, we get to Quinn Nordin. All things considered, Nordin winning the starting job may be the pound-for-pound most shocking news of the day. While yes, Jones being named the starting quarterback is dramatic, he did outplay Newton down the stretch in training camp.
  
  It's not instantly clear that Nordin outplayed the veteran Nick Folk. The rookie hit 10 of his 15 total kicks in preseason games, and may have been helped more by Folk's inability to get on the field - the 36-year-old missed multiple weeks of practice and attempted just one field goal the entire preseason.
  
  Nordin also breaks the mold of the typical Patriots kicker. In the past, Belichick has favored accurate kickers over those with expanded range - an apt description of Folk's playing style and the antithesis of Nordin. But as we saw today, historical context isn't much of a guide right now.
  
  Really though, the most shocking part about Nordin being named the starter is his lack of another usual key Belichick trait - consistency. Nordin was a 72 percent field goal kicker in college, then hit below that rate in the preseason. The Patriots may be able to fix Nordin's issues in the long term, but until they do, it will be hard to rely on the kicker position. Yet as was the case with the quarterback position, Belichick has signaled again that he is ready to be on the edge of his seat at times this year.

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  Some people may look at this all as a negative, but that's hardly the case. Far from it. Although it's rare, the last time the Patriots employed such a strategy was 2010, a season which served as a catalyst for the Dynasty 2.0 era.
  
  Over the last two years, the Patriots have been hurt at times by failing to turn to their younger players sooner, instead opting to let veterans attempt to play their way out of ruts. That doesn't look like it will be the case in 2021. Based on the initial roster Belichick is ready to embrace a youth movement - and all the ups and downs that come with it.
  

MORE: Meet the Patriots’ 53-man roster

Alex Barth is a writer and digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Thoughts? Comments? Questions? Looking for a podcast guest? Let him know on Twitter @RealAlexBarth or via email at abarth@985TheSportsHub.com.

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