Previous draft pick breakdowns:
Bedard’s Breakdown: What Kyle Dugger’s Senior Bowl film tells us about his Patriots future
Bedard’s Breakdown: Putting Josh Uche’s impressive Senior Bowl in proper and needed context
Bedard’s Breakdown: Coaches will need to find right front seven fit for experienced Anfernee Jennings
Bedard’s Breakdown: 9 plays show why TE Devin Asiasi could be Patriots’ most impactful draft pick
Bedard’s Breakdown: Wouldn’t put Dalton Keene into TE box for Patriots – he might need a new one
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The Patriots certainly have their well-worn systems in all three phases of the game, but they're not averse to straying from their ideal body types at positions.
This year's draft is just the latest example.
Second-round pick Josh Uche is an undersized end at a position where the Patriots have traditionally favored brawn over speed.
Dalton Keene, a third-round pick, may spend more time roaming the backfield than with his hand in the ground at tight end.
Sixth-round linebacker Cassh Maluia doesn't even stand 6 feet tall.
And Michael Onwenu, taken with the first of three sixth-round picks, is an enormous (6-3, 350 pounds) player who can tussle in a phone booth at a position, guard, where the Patriots have traditionally sided with athletic players who can scoot down the field.
Logan Mankins was a country-strong brawler, but largely the Patriots have found most of their success at guard with players like Shaq Mason, Joe Thuney, Damien Woody, Tre' Jackson, Dan Connolly and Ryan Wendell — most of whom were considered a little undersized and the Patriots, in turn, played to their athletic ability.
By drafting Onwenu (No. 50 for Michigan), the Patriots are going completely against their normal type. Will it work? It's going to be an uphill battle.
- Just a huge human with long arms and big hands. His lower body is among the biggest I've ever seen for an NFL player.
- Not flashy, but gets the job done efficiently in both run and pass blocking. Plays to his strength (size) in game situations by just getting in front of the defender.
- Put up very good pressure stats, according to PFF:
- Has surprisingly agility for his size. Can pull and get down the field in short areas and does so quickly. Most guys his size it takes them all day, but he moves well.
- Largely plays angles well.
- Hardly ever on the ground, which is derived from good balance and that he has an anchor like few others with his enormous legs and glutes.
- Might have played out of position at Michigan and could be better at left guard if/when Thuney moves on.
- Struggled in 1-on-1 pass rush drills at East-West Shrine Game when he played right guard. Was much better at left guard, which is odd considering he played every snap at RG for Michigan.
- When Onwenu is in space and can't play off of teammates, he gets very reachy and can be beaten with speed.
- Weak punch in pass pro, and his 25 reps of 225-pound bench press is not great for his position and size.
- Has long relied on his size and developed bad habits like allowing defenders to get into his chest — they can be seen in his high school film — that have not been corrected in college. Makes you question whether they will ever be corrected.
- Does not have great makeup ability. If he turns to a block and sees another rusher flashing the other way, he has little chance of recovering.
- Displays a passive, even polite attitude on the field. Guards should be nasty and impose will through the whistle and to the ground. You hardly ever see Onwenu completely dominate an opponent in his weight class. I know his line coach has said he's improved in that area, but still a lot of room for improvement.
Considering Onwenu's size, balance and overall ability, I'm guessing the hope is if the Patriots can coach more finish and better handwork — pass rush specialist/coach Joe Kim will be needed on the other side — and Onwenu can stay at about 330 pounds, then the Patriots could really have something there. That is a definitely possibility and Onwenu really won't be needed this season, so he'll have time (and maybe the Foxboro Flu) for needed development.
But if Onwenu doesn't develop — especially without Dante Scarnecchia around — then it's going to be a tough challenge for him to make this team down the road, unless the Patriots are completely going with size and ditching some of the athletic parts of their running game.
It's really going to be up to Onwenu. He seems very bright, so the ability to improve is there. And he'll certainly be given the tools to rise in the ranks with the Patriots.
The bottom line is an Onwenu at 330 pounds with more finish and better technique could be a very good NFL player.
Onwenu at 340 pounds with the same habits he's shown going back to high school will be picked on by more athletic NFL players and smart coordinators, and won't be in the league very long.
