FOXBORO — For his first sack last season, then Patriots rookie Elijah Ponder beat All-Pro left tackle Tristan Wirfs during a win at Tampa Bay.
That play typified the potential Ponder’s position coach, Mike Smith, had seen in him ever since Ponder signed months earlier as an undrafted kid out of Cal Poly. Ponder eventually finished with four sacks playing a rotational pass-rushing role, and added just one QB hit over four playoff games.
Now entering his second season, the Patriots are asking more of Ponder. Smith believes the relatively unknown 23-year-old is capable of meeting the challenge of making more plays. In fact, he expects it.
“I’ve got very high expectations for him. Very,” Smith said this week at Patriots minicamp. “I mean, all these guys have done great all spring, but he really, really looks comfortable out there. (The game) has really slowed down for him.”
Ponder started Tuesday’s opening minicamp practice with the top defense in place of the injured Harold Landry (knee surgery). Currently, Ponder projects to be the first edge rusher off the bench after Landry and free-agent addition Dre’Mont Jones. Second-round rookie Gabe Jacas is also in the mix, though he has yet to report to minicamp, as he is without a contract and is coming off a recent “procedure,” per coach Mike Vrabel.
Ponder, at 6-foot-3, 261 pounds, fits the Patriots’ prototype at the position. He’s athletic enough to occasionally drop into coverage, as he did 21 times last year, according to Pro Football Focus. But it’s Ponder’s burst around the edge that has Smith excited for the relatively unknown pass rusher who could be on the verge of making a name for himself in Year 2.
“He’s very intelligent. He’s big, he’s athletic, he’s done some kind of freaky stuff this spring around the edge at the top of his rush, that you’re like, ‘Oh, wow. That’s pretty nice to see,'” Smith said. “But again, let’s get the pads on, and let’s see if we can do that stuff when the bullets are flying. But he’s had a really good camp. He has made some big, big strides.”