Edge with an edge: Jennings deemed ‘a problem’ by opposing coaches originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
FOXBORO — When the Patriots coaching staff gathers players next spring to show them clips of what exactly they’re looking for from a technique standpoint, odds are Anfernee Jennings is going to be featured.
Few defenders have been more dependable than Jennings in 2024, and in a season where the Patriots are hoping to find building blocks for their program moving forward, he’s only further solidified himself as that kind of piece with each passing week.
In New England’s 25-22 win over the Jets in Week 8, Jennings played a whopping 60 of 62 possible snaps, getting work in all situations.
While typically used as an early-down run defender, Jennings led the team with 24 pass-rush snaps, and he had one of the team’s four hits on quarterback Aaron Rodgers. He also recorded three run-stuffs, supplying some of what outside linebackers coach Drew Wilkins calls “clinic tape” in the process.
Fun to hear Patriots OLB coach Drew Wilkins talk about Anfernee Jennings and the “clinic reps” Jennings regularly puts on tape.
Wilkins ID’d one example from last week, with Jennings taking on a pulling guard to create what Wilkins called a “10-car pileup” to blow things up. pic.twitter.com/HPUPCS56vd
— Phil Perry (@PhilAPerry) October 31, 2024
“We’ll talk about it Monday,” Wilkins said, “when we’re watching tape with these guys: ‘This is a clinic rep. This is a teach-tape rep.’ We’ll be sitting there next spring, when we want to talk about that technique, ‘This play was the one that exemplifies that.’
“Particularly when it’s run at him and he’s at the point of attack, whether it’s a tight end, a tackle, a puller, a flashing tight end. When he’s at the point of attack, you’re going to get some teach-tape reps from him because he’s physical, he throws his body in there. Really, for the rest of the room to see that — that this guy plays with that kind of abandon and that…
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