Onwenu was my favorite rookie draftee this year. Roadgraders like him don't grow on trees. He had a great 1st game. His first block was a pancake of Elandon Roberts!
Lazar talks about his part in the Dolphins game here
Onwenu, a sixth-round pick from the University of Michigan, was a surprise standout among New England’s rookie class in Week 1.
Despite only playing guard in college, the roughly 340-pound Onwenu played 16 snaps at right tackle and six more at tight end in an excellent performance, especially considering the circumstances.
Rookies had a month of practices with no preseason games to prepare for the regular season, but that didn’t stop Onwenu, who finished Sunday’s contest with a 75.4 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, best among rookie offensive linemen. In 16 snaps at right tackle, Onwenu only allowed one hurry and was dominant at times as a run-blocker.
“It was a great feeling. I mean, you know, it’s been a long time coming. You know, not knowing if we were going to have a season or what not. It was a great feeling to finally get out there,” the Pats rookie said reflecting on his pro debut.
“Personally, I did okay. There’s always room for improvement. So you know, watching the film, and watching the tape, you know, I’m always (looking) at my technique, there’s always stuff I can improve, whether it’s as an extra lineman or at right tackle,” Onwenu added.
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick had high praise for Onwenu as well, comparing his role as a swing tackle and sixth offensive lineman to former Pats left tackle Nate Solder.
Belichick said Solder’s rookie season serves as a blueprint for Onwenu, who, behind starting guards Shaq Mason and Joe Thuney, needs to find creative ways to get on the field. Solder, of course, was behind tackles Matt Light and Sebastian Vollmer as a rookie in the 2011 season.
“Mike’s a very flexible player. I don’t think he’s played tackle since high school, but he played a number of positions for us in training camp – guard, tackle, we saw tight end there in the game yesterday,” Belichick said earlier this week.
“Mike’s earned playing time, and he’s been able to play different spots for us. Right now, our two guards are pretty established players, and they played well. If we can find a way to utilize our personnel productively, then we’ll try to do that.”
“Even though he doesn’t have a lot of experience there, he learns quickly and is able to utilize his skills to be productive,” Belichick concluded.
The Patriots are no strangers to finding productive offensive lineman late in the draft. Mason was a fourth-round selection, center David Andrews went undrafted, and former right tackle Marcus Cannon was a fifth-rounder for New England and all blossomed into starters.
However, it was a major surprise to see Onwenu, who was labeled slow-footed and heavy by draft experts, play at right tackle and as a sixth offensive lineman in jumbo sets rather than on the interior.
Onwenu focused on dropping from his college playing weight of nearly 380 pounds down to a slender 340 pounds now that he’s in the Patriots’ strength and conditioning program.
The weight loss is paying off as Onwenu showed some impressive explosiveness to mirror pass rushers and make climbs to the second level to combine with his immense play-strength.
Lots more at the link
https://www.clnsmedia.com/patriots-rookie-michael-onwenu-primed-for-big-role-in-run-heavy-offense/