Jonnu Smith was one of the centerpiece additions of the Patriots spring free agent flurry and the tight entered the new season in his new home expected be the centerpiece of New England’s rebuilt passing attack.
But through three games, Smith has been a pretty big disappointment and that bottomed out with an ugly performance in Sunday’s loss to the Saints at Gillette Stadium.
Not only did Smith have just one catch for 4 yards on six targets, but he had a handful of bad drops. None was worse than Mac Jones’ first pass play of the third quarter, a throw that hit Smith in the hands only to be bobbled up into the air resulting in a pick-6 interception score for New Orleans safety Malcolm Jenkins.
During a Monday afternoon Zoom call with local reporters, Smith took full blame for the game changing turnover.
“Mac threw a catchable ball, Mac did everything right,” Smith said. “I've just got to make that play that I know I can make and that I will make when the opportunity presents itself.”
Smith went on to take the blame for all the failures to connect between him and his rookie quarterback.
“Mac, he didn't do anything wrong, it's on not on his end, I put that on myself,” Smith said. “Every ball he threw to me yesterday was catchable, catches that I've made, that I know I can make and unfortunately just couldn't come up with them. But, you know, we're gonna keep working. We're gonna keep doing our job and going what we're supposed to do and keep working whether that may be looking at ... getting extra work after practice and trying to hit some of those throws. So whatever it may take.”
With just a very quiet 10 catches for a mere 74 yards through three games and despite Sunday’s mistake-filled performance, Smith is staying positive. He said he’s “absolutely” comfortable with the Patriots offense and his role in it.
“You know I got to have a certain level of honesty with myself in the mirror, man,” Smith said. “But the great thing about it is I have another opportunity. I didn't put my best product and myself out there yesterday. I know that, the whole world knows that. But, you know, I know the player I am, I'm confident in the player I am, and I'm just looking forward to moving forward.
“This game isn't easy man. No way form or fashion is this game easy. It's not meant to be easy. It's not for people who are not mentally tough, you know what I mean because there will be certain failures, you know, certain trials and, you know, adverse situations that you're gonna have to overcome. You know what I mean. And, you know I wouldn't be here... I've been through, (we're) talking about football ... I've been to life situations … things that were really serious, you know what I mean? So, at the end of the day, you got to have a certain level of mental toughness to say OK like this is what I've been doing all my life, I know what I can do, I'm confident in what I do. You got to bounce back, you know what I mean? Every dog has his day. So you just got to keep going.”