FOXBORO - Namdi Obiazor wasted no time making his mark for the Patriots.
In last week’s season opener against the Seattle Seahawks, the rookie linebacker turned a roster spot into real value on special teams, finishing with two tackles on kickoffs. One came on the game’s first play, when he came flying in for a strong wrap-up. The other landed in the third quarter, another heavy hit that kept his name popping up on the sideline.
Obiazor, a sixth-round pick out of TCU in April, didn’t log a single defensive snap. Even so, the Patriots saw enough from him in the coverage game to believe there may be more in store. Special teams coordinator Jeremy Springer said the rookie is making the most of every chance he gets.
"(He's) just taking advantage of his opportunities," special teams coordinator Jeremy Springer told reporters ahead of Thursday's practice. "I think Coach (Mike) Vrabel says that all the time. He was the guy that picked up on the 48-man roster for that game, and he took advantage of his opportunities.
"And I hope that he continues to do that and progress. And there'll be ebbs and flows of a football season where you have to learn as a young guy. And I just hope that he's on the more successful part of that."
Obiazor’s path to this point has been a little unusual. In college, he bounced around the field, spending time at cornerback and safety before finally settling in at linebacker.
That versatility showed up again during the summer, even if there were a few rough spots on defense along the way. The talent, though, is there.
Inside linebackers coach Vinny DePalma said the job now is to keep pushing that development forward.
"As a young player, you just try to ask him to improve," DePalma said. "Whatever reps that he has through the spring, through training camp, through the practices. You just try to ask him to improve, and his demeanor has always been great."
Against Seattle, Obiazor played 20 special teams snaps and was one of five Patriots to appear on four different special teams units. That kind of workload points to a player the staff already trusts in that phase. He remains behind Robert Spillane, Christian Elliss, Darius Muasau and rookie Erick Hunter in the linebacker room, but if New England needs him, the coaches sound ready to use him.
"He's an awesome dude," DePalma said. "There's a reason he's here. He's bought into the identity of the team, and you just keep trying to refine the fundamentals each and every day and get better and better, which I think he's doing."
Obiazor may be carving out a name for himself in a region that loves special teamers. Along with undrafted cornerback Channing Canada, he’s part of a young group starting to make noise in that role.
"I love our rookies, our young guys," Springer said. "They're taking advantage of their opportunuties, man, and they're continuing to come to work. ... I just hope all of those guys continue to take advantage of the opportunuties and play to our identity on this football team."
In Other News...
Robert Kraft Is Now At The Center Of A Growing NFL Controversy
Robert Kraft has landed in the middle of a messy music-world fight after reportedly pushing Macklemore off Ed Sheerans tour in response to comments the rapper made during a Sept. 4 show. Kraft, who cited those remarks and a history of antisemitic rhetoric as reasons for the removal, also made a $2 million pledge for humanitarian aid after a phone call with Sheeran, turning what started as a concert controversy into something much bigger.
The story has quickly widened beyond two performers and one tour stop. Other stadium owners, including David Tepper, Arthur Blank and Jeffrey Lurie, were reported to back Krafts stance, while several of Sheerans opening acts have since withdrawn from the tour in solidarity with Macklemore, leaving the situation unresolved and the fallout still spreading. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots Injury Report Could Change Everything Against Pittsburgh
The Patriots Week 2 prep has already taken on a different feel with the injury report becoming as important as the matchup itself. New England released its latest list alongside Pittsburgh, and it offers a clearer picture of who is tracking toward Sunday and who is still working through problems. For the Patriots, the mix is uneven: Dametrious Crownover and Carlton Davis III were among the players who did not take part in recent practices because of injuries, while Robert Spillane and TreVeyon Henderson are expected to suit up.
Pittsburgh has its own questions, with Michael Pittmans status uncertain and Joey Porter Jr. looking unlikely to play. For a game that could hinge on a handful of matchups and a few key absences, both sides are monitoring the final availability closely. The Patriots will get a better sense of how much flexibility they have only when the rest of the weeks practice work is done, and there is still room for the picture to shift before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
Former Patriots 1,000-Yard Receiver Suddenly On Ravens Radar
Baltimores wide receiver depth is already under pressure in September, and the Ravens have started looking for help after rookie JaKobi Lane went down with a wrist injury in Week 1. The team responded by signing Gage Larvadain to the practice squad and promoting Chris Moore to the active roster, while also keeping an eye on star target Zay Flowers, who is dealing with a hamstring issue and could miss the next game.
In that search for another reliable veteran, the Ravens also brought in Brandin Cooks for a workout, a notable name for a group trying to steady itself in a hurry. Cooks has long been the kind of experienced receiver teams turn to when they need someone who can step into a role without much ramp-up, and Baltimores interest speaks to how quickly the situation has become a concern. For a Patriots fan base that remembers his 1,000-yard season in New England, it is a reminder that a familiar face could be back on the radar for another contender. [Read more 🡒]