Attending to play in 4 completely different offenses over the course of his eight-year NFL profession served new Patriots tight finish Austin Hooper properly.
Hooper believes it expanded his talent set and gave him the required instruments to deal with the huge quantity of duties on the place.
And Hooper, who joined the Patriots in free company on a one-year, $4.25 million deal, is raring to indicate his new workforce he isn’t a one-trick pony.
“I satisfaction myself off of being like that jack-of-all-trades kind man,” Hooper advised reporters on a video convention name Thursday, per team-provided video. “A man who will be snug within the slot, be snug in-line. You must me to be within the backfield choosing up blitzers, I’ve completed that. Being in so many various offenses, I’ve been requested to take action many various issues.”
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Taking over new assignments didn’t all come naturally to Hooper. He estimated that he spent 50% of his time within the slot throughout 4 seasons with the Falcons — he was named a Professional Bowler twice with Atlanta and caught a career-high 75 passes in 2019. However when Hooper went to the Cleveland Browns, the place he performed in Alex Van Pelt’s offense for 2 seasons, he was requested to dam on the road extra usually.
Hooper, who performed one season for Mike Vrabel and the Tennessee Titans and spent final season with the Las Vegas Raiders, sees the advantages of the flexibility that he discovered.
“With that at the beginning, it was numerous, to be sincere, discomfort,” Hooper mentioned. “All people likes to be in their very own consolation zone. However being by way of all these completely different experiences has allowed me to turn out to be extra snug with so many various facets of the place.”
It’s unclear what kind of function Hooper can have in New England’s offense, however aiding him is his familiarity with Van Pelt’s scheme. Hooper seems like he will probably be slotted in because the second tight finish behind Hunter Henry, who was a part of the identical draft class as Hooper and re-signed with the Patriots this offseason.
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Hooper didn’t wish to speculate on how the Patriots will deploy him and Henry, however he’s thrilled with the prospect to play alongside his fellow tight finish.
“We received to see precisely what we wish to do offensively and seeing who’s the place,” Hooper mentioned. “… I simply know he’s actually proficient and I’m going to have the ability to study quite a bit and it’s going to be enjoyable taking part in subsequent to him.”
Hooper is coming off of a down yr with the Raiders, posting 25 receptions — the bottom of his profession since his rookie season — for 234 yards and no touchdowns. However he’s not essentially seeking to show something, simply hoping to contribute to a Patriots workforce seeking to bounce again after a 4-13 season.
“I’m simply excited concerning the subsequent alternative,” Hooper mentioned. “I’m going Yr 9 in an offense I’ve been part of earlier than, serving to a corporation do what they should do to get wins. So, I’m simply grateful to be a part of one other workforce, a traditionally actually good workforce with numerous superior management that’s been in place there for a very long time.”
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