The New England Patriots’ first touchdown of the season went to rookie tight end Eli Raridon.
The following week, Raridon was on scene again, generating one of the team’s explosive plays in a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers by fighting through defensive pass interference to haul in a 30-yard catch.
As Raridon has made his first two receptions in the NFL count, his coaches have enjoyed the growth the 22-year old has shown early on.
“He made some great progress. I think from day one, just a transformation
from when he initially got here to where he is now, but also excited about where he’s going,” tight ends coach Thomas Brown said Thursday.
“What I love about Eli is obviously the growth potential, but the way he goes about his business. Super smart dude, coachable, is becoming a tough individual playing the tight end position because obviously, not saying it’s completely different in college, but what he’s asked to do being in the point of contact, obviously being in pass protection, but also what he can do versus man-to-man coverage you saw [vs. Pittsburgh] is a a good example and a good deal to build forward week in and week out.”
Coming out of college, the Patriots identified Raridon’s willingness as a blocker. They wasted no time testing that theory.
In Raridon’s NFL debut against a physical Seahawks defense, the rookie was tabbed with a handful of tough assignments in the run game. That included matching up against physical edge rushers such as Uchenna Nwosu at the point of attack as he played 38 snaps in-line.
While the results were mixed, head coach Mike Vrabel shared this week that Raridon has become “a better blocker earlier than we thought.” Brown feels similarly.
“That was probably the biggest question mark I had about him when he came out Notre Dame, was what happens at the point of contact when you’re matched up with one of these big outside linebackers in the NFL,” Brown said. “I would say there was a progression towards it from day one to where he is now. I think also being able to have a shot to go against our defense week in and week out in training camp is — you got to put up or shut up if you going to get better. Keep getting beat up every single day.
“So he’s answered the bill, continue to try to find ways to be aggressive, working on technique, and combine it with his natural god given ability of being able to be a good route runner, catch the ball with his hands, and make plays in space.”
That growth has already begun to have an impact beyond Raridon’s individual production, helping give the Patriots’ offense more flexibility through two weeks.
When the Patriots deployed Raridon in their 12-personnel grouping against the Steelers, Pittsburgh matched with its base defense. That’s something defenses did not do last season, as a lack of fear from New England’s tight ends in the run game allowed defenses to stay in nickel with an extra defensive back on the field.
In Week 2 against Pittsburgh, New England threw six passes against 19 overall snaps in which the Steelers were in their base defense. Those plays generated 76 total yards (12.7 YPA), including Raridon’s 30-yard reception in a matchup against a linebacker.
“I think it gives you an opportunity to take advantage of matchups,” Brown said. “I think the way our offense is built and what Josh [McDaniels] has done a really good job of for a long time is trying to force people’s hands. So if you want to play us in nickel defense with both tight ends on the grass, we should be able to run the ball pretty effectively.
“He matches in base, particularly matches in base and play man-to-man coverage, there’s multiple options with the tight end group, but also with the receivers, to be able to take advantage of some of those matchups and try to play the game on your own terms.”
Entering this week’s game against the Jaguars, Raridon’s status is unclear. The third-round pick exited the Steelers game with a thigh injury and after participating in limited fashion during Wednesday’s practice was a no-show on Thursday.
