Jonnu Smith’s first month of action in New England probably isn’t going anything like the tight end envisioned when he was the Patriots top offensive free agent signing last spring, inking a four-year, $50 million contract that included more than $30 million guaranteed.
Smith was brought aboard to inject playmaking life into what’s been a lifeless tight end position in New England the last couple seasons.
But through three games, Smith has been a clear disappointment.
His play actually bottomed out in Sunday’s loss to the Saints when he had just one catch for 4 yards on six targets. Beyond the lack of positive production, Smith dropped/deflected Mac Jones’ first throw of the second half resulting in an easy pick-6 interception for New Orleans safety Malcolm Jenkins.
Expected to be a central part of the Patriots overall offense in 2021, Smith has actually seen his playing time decrease over each of the first three seeks of the season. After playing 73-percent of the snaps in the season opener against Miami, Smith played 49-percent of the snaps in Week 2 in New York while he was also dealing with an apparently minor hip injury. This week his snaps shrunk slightly to 41.7 percent against New Orleans, some of that likely related to his struggles catching the football and making a positive impact.
Beyond Smith’s disappointing, shrinking role in the Patriots offense, here’s a look at some of the other snap count/playing time notes from Sunday’s loss to the Saints:
--New England played 72 offensive snaps against New Orleans with offensive linemen Isaiah Wynn, Mike Onwenu, David Andrews and Shaq Mason as well as quarterback Mac Jones playing every snap.
--After sharing time in Week 2 with Yasir Durant, Justin Herron started at right tackle and played 67 snaps in the spot against the Saints.
--Both production and playing time make it clear that Jakobi Meyers is the Patriots No. 1 receiver early in 2021. Meyers played 69 snaps (96 percent) against New Orleans, the second time in three weeks he’s been over 95 percent play time. Meyers has played 95.8 percent of New England’s total offensive snaps through three weeks while also leading the team with 19 catches for 176 yards.
--Elsewhere at receiver, Kendrick Bourne saw his role grow for the third straight game. Bourne played a season-high 55 snaps (76.4 percent) against New Orleans after playing 44 and 54 percent of snaps in the first two weeks, respectively. Bourne had six catches for a game- and career-best 96 yards against the Saints, including a 22-yard touchdown. Through three games the former 49ers leads the Patriots with a 13.7-yard average, totaling 123 yards on his nine catches.
--While Smith has been the bigger disappointment, fellow $12-million-a-year tight end Hunter Henry has had a consistent if unremarkable start to his Patriots career. Henry played 52 snaps (72 percent) against New Orleans, finishing with five catches on six targets for 36 yards. Henry has played just under 75 percent of the snaps in his first three games in a Patriots uniform while hauling in a very quiet 10 catches for 109 yards.
--Even with James White lost to a hip injury early on, Damien Harris had a limited role in the loss to the Saints. Harris played just 22 snaps (31 percent). He ran the ball a mere six times for 14 yards, only once for 1 yard in the second half.
--Meanwhile Brandon Bolden likely took the bulk of the reps that would have gone to White, the veteran backup logging 33 snaps (46 percent) against the Saints. Bolden finished with three carries for a total of minus-1 yard and caught three passes on four targets for 23 yards.
--J.J. Taylor also likely saw action thanks to White’s departure, playing 10 snaps (14 percent). The second-year backup had one carry for 2 yards and caught two passes for 3 yards.
--The Patriots played 62 snaps on defense against the Saints, though no New England defender played every snap.
--Devin McCourty once again led the defense in snaps played with 61 (98 percent), missing his first snap of the season after playing every rep in each of the first two weeks.
--New England’s defense utilized primarily a big nickel look against New Orleans with cornerbacks J.C Jackson (97 percent), Jalen Mills (95 percent) and three safeties in McCourty, Kyle Dugger (92 percent) and Adrian Phillips (92 percent) on the field together for nearly the entire game.
--New England continues to use a relatively large number of bodies on defense with 16 players seeing at least 26 percent play time.
--Despite missing practice to a knee injury last week, Matthew Judon led non-defensive backs with 50 snaps (81 percent) against New Orleans. New England’s big-money free agent addition on defense had 2.5 sacks in the losing effort and leads the Patriots with 3.5 sacks on the season.
--Deatrich Wise saw the most snaps of any defensive lineman with 42 (68 percent). The veteran was active all afternoon, finishing second on the team with six tackles including a half sack.
--Even with Josh Uche inactive with a back injury, Chase Winovich played just 17 snaps (27 percent). Winovich played 58 percent of New England’s defensive snaps in 2020, topping 27 percent in 13 of 16 games played.
--Veteran free agent newcomer Henry Anderson continues to be a non-factor for the most part on the defensive line. Anderson played 11 snaps (18 percent) against the Saints. He’s played just 32 snaps (17 percent) in three games this season.
--Matthew Slater, Justin Bethel, Brandon King and Cody Davis all led the way as core special teamers logging 26 snaps (90 percent) in the kicking game. Dugger led the way among regular offensive/defensive players contributing in the kicking game with 20 snaps played on special teams.