FOXBORO — Patriots undrafted rookie cross rusher Elijah Ponder has continued to “wow” exterior linebackers coach Mike Smith all through the season.
Smith said in August that Ponder, who made the 53-man roster as a rookie free agent out of Cal Poly, was “in all probability top-of-the-line (undrafted) free agent pickups” he’s ever seen.
Ponder has seen his workload improve because the Patriots traded Keion White to the 49ers, and he has two sacks in his final three video games.
“He’s (a) child that’s good for his age. He’s nicely above a rookie,” Smith stated. “He nonetheless has received these rookie stuff that you just’ll see if you’re like, ‘what the heck have been you considering?’ He simply strikes like a vet. He’s very clean. He’s robust. He’s beginning to perceive the leverage and stuff.
“Generally I simply watch him with (senior defensive assistant) Ben McAdoo. He’s over there with me, and we each generally simply cease and have a look at one another like, ‘Wow, that was fairly spectacular that he can bend like that at that dimension.’ He’s (a) man that may play a number of positions. That children received a vibrant future. He’s received plenty of work to do. His first sack was nice. … He’s simply getting higher each week. There’s nonetheless a handful of issues he’s started working on, and all the time started working on, however he’s only a child that, man, we have been fortunate to get him. He’s an awesome discover. He’s an awesome one.”
Smith has two rookie edge defenders in his room. Bradyn Swinson, a fifth-round select of LSU, didn’t make the roster out of coaching camp and spent the primary half of the season on injured reserve.
Swinson was signed to the 53-man roster off the practice squad this month and made his NFL debut in Sunday’s win over the Bengals, taking part in 10 snaps on particular groups.
Smith has appreciated what he’s seen from Swinson’s work ethic.
“Generally you get these rookies coming from school, and actually, most of them, it’s a special transition. It’s changing into knowledgeable, doing the fitting factor day by day, making ready a sure manner. And for him, it was that stuff and getting his weight down, being constant within the weight room,” Smith stated. “I imply, there’s all that stuff that you just simply received to be taught to be knowledgeable. Generally you bought to look again — these guys are nonetheless youngsters. And if you begin doing that stuff, Vrabes (head coach Mike Vrabel) will begin rewarding you. And he’s been working his butt off and observe participant of the week and beginning to do the fitting factor and studying the best way to be skilled. And so if you begin doing that stuff, and also you get rewarded.”
Ponder and Swinson actually have the assist from their teaching workers. Time will inform how they’ll proceed to blossom as NFL edge defenders.
