This Patriots Defender Ready To Win After Position Change

The New England Patriots have entered a really important offseason. Head coach Bill Belichick and his assistants will work with a new group of players. Some of the veterans left the team in free agency, leaving a few major holes on the roster. Patriots defender Ronnie Perkins will have to get used to the new position change. The same goes to other players.

Perkins was defensive end at Oklahoma. Well, Belichick had a different idea and turned Perkins into outside linebacker.

“Pretty much, at Oklahoma I was like a Deatrich Wise,” Perkins said Wednesday, referring to the Patriots’ sixth-year D-end. “Pass rushing, not dropping (into coverage) at all, not playing in a two-point (stance). So just coming here, the whole technique and everything I do is different.”

The Patriots defender to show his great performance following the position change

Perkins is an excellent player and the team will really try to get the best of his skills.

“Of course, I’m a competitor,” said Perkins. “I want to compete no matter what. But at the same time, I knew what I had to do as a football player, so I definitely attacked everything I did last year with the right attitude. I came in, I worked hard every day, I was never down on myself about not playing. I always just kept saying at the time, I was telling myself when I do get out there, I’ll be ready.”

New England will have a tough schedule in 2022. Perkins and his teammates have to build great chemistry and beat their opponents. He didn’t have a chance to show his true potential, but this will change in September.

“I did a lot of things, put the work in, so I feel like I’m ready to help myself and be a linebacker,” Perkins said. “… I like (playing) in space now. The first time doing it, it was kind of off, like anybody’s first time doing anything. But now, I’m comfortable in that feeling, and I like it.”

“It’s definitely sad to see those guys go — Jamie, High, KV — but it also tells us it’s time to step up,” Perkins said. “Can’t lean on those older guys anymore. It’s time for us to step into their shoes.”