Patriots kickoff 2016: A look at Darryl Roberts
Today marks 27 days until the New England Patriots open the 2016 season, so we’re taking a closer look at the owner of the No. 27 jersey, cornerback Darryl Roberts.
Size: 5-foot-11, 180 pounds
College: Marshall
NFL experience: One year
Selected by the Patriots in the seventh round of the 2015 NFL Draft, Roberts missed all of his rookie season after sustaining a broken wrist in his preseason debut against the Green Bay Packers. It was really a shame, too, because Roberts had been turning heads in Patriots training camp a year ago and was considered a favorite to make the roster and contribute.
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Alas, that was not how it played out for the Marshall product. Roberts could do nothing but watch film and wait for his chance in 2016. Unfortunately, however, Roberts showed poorly in the preseason opener against the New Orleans Saints last Thursday, drawing a pass interference penalty after neglecting to look back and locate the ball in coverage.
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While Roberts was getting laundry thrown at him by the referees, undrafted rookies Cre’von LeBlanc and Jonathan Jones fared much better. LeBlanc, as you may remember, made an awesome one-handed interception in the end zeon; Jones did a beautiful job of turning back and finding the ball in coverage, unlike Roberts.
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The margin for error is extremely slim for Roberts in the next three weeks. He must improve his in-game preseason performances, or else he simply won’t make the roster. There is no shortage of talent at the Patriots’ cornerback position this year, and while this writer doesn’t want to count Roberts out quite yet, it looks like the sophomore pro faces an uphill battle to remain in New England.
Next: 10 Most Exciting Sophomore Pros on Pats Roster
Tomorrow marks 25 days until the Patriots open 2016, so be sure to stop by Musket Fire as we profile the owner of the No. 25 jersey, veteran safety Patrick Chung.