The 2015 New England Patriots rookie class received enormous praise from their head coach Tuesday.
Bill Belichick complimented this year’s rookies for their dedication to the team.
“I think overall it’s been a real good group,” Belichick said. “Those guys have really come in and done everything we’ve asked them to do. We’ve had a lot of groups, had a lot of players fall into this category, but I would say as a total group, these guys have been as good if not better than any group we’ve had off the field in terms of their preparation, doing what they’re asked to do, doing what they’ve been told to do, improving, paying attention to the little things, trying to do the right thing for the team, all those things.
“I mean, each individual player’s characteristics and performance, those are all kind of separate discussions, although I think overall we’ve gotten contributions from that group, but each one individually has a little different dynamic. But as a total group and the chemistry that they have with each other and with the team has been very good. It’s been great; it’s been great.”
Defensive tackle Malcom Brown, safety Jordan Richards, defensive lineman Geneo Grissom, guards Tre’ jackson and Shaq Mason and long snapper Joe Cardona remain on the Patriots’ 53-man roster among the team’s 2015 draft picks. Linebackers Matthew Wells and Xzavier Dickson no longer are on the team, while tight end A.J. Derby and cornerback Darryl Richards are on injured reserve.
The Patriots also added rookie free-agent center David Andrews, linebacker Brandon King and wide receiver Chris Harper after the draft. Andrews and King are on the active roster, while Harper is on the practice squad.
The Patriots have signed rookie running back Joey Iosefa and cornerback Justin Coleman as the season progressed. Rookie wide receiver DeAndre Carter, linebacker Kevin Snyder and offensive tackle Torrian Wilson are recent additions to the practice squad.
Andrews has been the Patriots’ most active rookie contributor on offense with 751 snaps. Mason, with 672 snaps, and Jackson, with 513, are close behind. Iosefa, with 14 carries for 51 yards, is the only Patriots offensive rookie with a touch this season.
Andrews began the season as the Patriots’ starting center with Bryan Stork sitting out on short-term injured reserve. Andrews lost his starting role when Stork returned, but played every snap in the Patriots’ 33-16 win over the Tennessee Titans. Stork was inactive because of personal reasons.
Brown, the Patriots 2015 first-round draft pick, has 418 defensive snaps this season. Coleman has played 279 as a nickel cornerback, while Richards has 163, Grissom has 110, Flowers has four and King has one. King has been a key contributor on special teams, where he has 12 tackles.
Brown has emerged as one of the Patriots’ best run defenders as the team’s top draft pick. He has 37 tackles and has contributed three sacks as a pass rusher.
Thumbnail photo via Kevin Hoffman/USA TODAY Sports Images
