The news broke earlier today that the Patriots added veteran TE Lance Kendricks to their ranks.
https://twitter.com/davidcanter/status/1154052137711616016
What's the book on Kendricks and where does he fit in this scheme? Let's take a look, and also dream a little bit about the possible signing of DT Mike Daniels, who was a surprise release by the Packers.
On Kendricks:
- Generally, he's a solid, somewhat athletic tight end who is 6-3 and 250 pounds, and is 31.
- He's always tantalized with his athletic ability, but he's never come close to being an impact player. His best season was with the Rams in 2016 when he caught 50 passes for 499 yards and two touchdowns (his career-high was five in '14 with the Rams).
- He's a jack of all trades, but master of none at the tight end position. He lined up all over the place for the Packers, from inline tight end, H-back, fullback (65 snaps), wing and receiver.
- In watching film, almost all of his action came from slipping across the formation and into the flat. He was not dynamic with the ball in his hands. He's a 5- to 7-yard guy after the catch. Hands are OK, but not great.
- Kendricks makes sense for the Patriots because they've been light on "move" F-type for a while, to the point I thought they were phasing it out of the offense.
- Patriots traditional Y TEs: Ben Watson, Matt LaCosse, Ryan Izzo.
- Patriots F (flex) TEs: Stephen Anderson, Andrew Beck (UDFA), now Kendricks.
- Makes me think that Anderson could be on the way out.
Mike
Daniels
- I love Mike Daniels. I went to Green Bay in the summer of 2016 to do a story on him and other undersized defensive linemen. Couldn't have been more impressed by him on film and in person. Great leader. He oozes passion for football and, at that time, he was relentless on the inside.
- He just loves to brutalize people: "I've had quite a few plays where I've just dominated the guy across from me,” Daniels said matter-of-factly. “A lot of these defensive linemen, they're real whirling dervishes—they do all these fancy moves. I like to line up, punch a guy in his face, in his mouth, in his chest, then disengage, locate the ball, throw [my defender] and make a tackle. If you can do that consistently, you'll always have a job.”
- He seemed to slump a bit last season in the first year in Mike Pettine's scheme, which emphasizes linebackers and defensive backs more. Previously, he was perfect in Dom Capers' zone-blitz scheme.
- Daniels had a foot injury last season that limited him to 11 games, but he was still a very good player. Not quite to his 2015 level, but still pretty good.
- Daniels is only 6 feet and under 300 pounds.
- Is he a fit for the Patriots? Not as an everydown player, but he would be an upgrade as a subpackage rusher over an Adam Butler. Daniels isn't really a two-gapper; he likes to get up field. Capers let him do that.
- I think Daniels will find more money elsewhere. Teams like the Colts, Texans, Browns, Titans and Seahawks all have over $22 million in cap space (13 teams have more than $20 million). The Patriots have about $5 million.