Josh Uche didn’t have such a big role in Michigan as he was more of a role player, but clearly the Patriots saw something draft him in the second round last April.
With a number of linebackers starting this offseason and Dont’a Hightower retiring, Uche could play an even bigger role than expected as a rookie. From what we’ve seen over a week of training camp sessions, this appears to be the case.
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“Right now I’m doing whatever it takes, whatever the coaches ask me to do,” he said Monday via video conference. “Every day, I’m improving slowly and surely, brick by brick. I put pressure on myself every day. This is how my dad raised me, so whatever the coaches tell me to do, I try to do my best to make it happen. “
Uche added, “I just keep my head down and work, whatever God has in store whenever that happens, I do my best to be ready. But I just work every day, brick by brick. “
The Michigan product was primarily a linebacker during his college days, but he seems to be okay with potentially playing offline in the NFL.
“I mean, look, it’s football at the end of the day, and all I need is what I’m going to do at the end of the day,” Uche said. “Football is football so I’m here to do a job that they got me to do a job at and I’m working hard every day to get what I’m asked for.”
Uche benefited from the presence of a college teammate – Chase Winovich – to help him level up.
“I mean, it’s great that you know to have a familiar face around the facility,” he says. “He’s just a really good mentor and he’s just trying to compete with him. He’s setting the bar really high. It’s great. It’s a blessing and what a great coincidence that we are on the same team.”
Bill Belichick noted that all rookies have a lot of catching up to do, so Uche takes things one day at a time and doesn’t try to look too far ahead.
“It’s the NFL. Everything is new to me. Everything is new,” he said. “It’s just the highest level possible for this game and every day I’m learning something new that I’ve never experienced before. Just learning to be professional and soak up everything.”
Related: Observations from Monday Patriots training camp: Defense wins day in lively session
