Why Hart's Pats optimism just went down a little
Offensive tackle seemed like a priority for the New England Patriots headed into the 2023 NFL Draft, yet curiously they did not address it directly. Instead, they opted to load up on interior linemen in the middle rounds with three selections between rounds four and five, though guard Sidy Sow out of Eastern Michigan will reportedly get a look at tackle. Still, with left tackle Trent Brown in a contract year and no definitive starter at right tackle, the prevailing thought was they'd address it early.
Director of Player Personnel Matt Groh said the team was happy with the moves the team had made in the offseason, adding depth and competition at the position, a sentiment echoed by the team’s approach in the draft. One of the players they brought in to compete for the job met the media for the first time Tuesday.
Veteran tackle Riley Reiff, 34, is no stranger to the NFL, having played in Detroit, Minnesota, Cincinnati and Chicago over his 11-year career. But he is a stranger to New England, though he is acclimating quickly, and fondly, noting that the area is beautiful and has “great food, great people.” Obviously food is a priority when you’re a man who’s 6-foot-6 and 315 pounds.
“I’ve had a lot of good food…the lobster, lobster rolls,” Reiff said.
Reiff says that every year is different and he has a lot of work to do learn the playbook, like any vet would say switching teams, but he does have a bit of a head start on familiarizing himself with the team, staff and scheme as his college roommate, veteran interior lineman James Ferentz (also one of Reiff’s good friends), is entering his sixth season with the Pats.
Ferentz’s father, Kirk, was Reiff’s coach at the University of Iowa, and is also a noted good friend of Patriots coach Bill Belichick. Reiff says the programs are very different, noting though that Iowa “does stuff right especially as an offensive lineman” and has always “heard great things” about New England. He knows it’s a grind on the line in Foxboro.
“You come here, you come to work,” he said.
Reiff admitted he continues to play because he wants “a ring” but didn’t go into detail about why he chose New England in pursuit of that goal. The closest he came was two seasons ago as a member of the Cincinnati Bengals, who lost Super Bowl 56 to the Los Angeles Rams, 23-20. Reiff was on IR for the game.
The vet said he doesn’t have a preference as to where he plays along the line.
“I’m just an offensive lineman,” Reiff said. “Wherever the coaches want me to do it I’ll do it.”
He said his early interactions with new offensive line coach Adrian Klemm have been great and they’re busy learning the way he wants them to play, setting no low or unrealistic expectations.
“You stack the days,” Reiff said. “You put a bunch of good ones together, who knows what happens?”
Reiff, who played 542 snaps at tackle last season, giving up three sacks and four penalties, figures to be the presumed starter at right tackle, though he will likely face competition from recently acquired veteran Calvin Anderson, as well as incumbent vets Yodny Cajuste and Connor McDermott, and maybe even second-year tackle Andrew Steuber. This could make for a fun position battle on an offensive line that underperformed and was riddled with injuries in 2022.
As far as fun goes, Reiff seems to have the perfect attitude for his new team.
“You guys know this, but to have fun you have to win, right?,” he said.
To watch the entire interview click HERE.
Spoken like someone ready-made for a Patriots uniform.
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