One of the nifty alterations that the Patriots‘ offensive brain trust has made to the team’s attack over the course of this season has been the use of defensive lineman Khyiris Tonga as an offensive player. The fifth-year journeyman is on his fourth NFL team here, in New England, but he has made an impact with his development on the defense’s interior–and now, too, in the offensive backfield as a fullback.
Tonga won’t be confused for Mike Alstott any time soon, but he did make his first appearance at fullback with one snap in Week 9 against the Falcons, and followed that up with eight snaps against the Buccaneers in Week 10. He played only one snap on offense in Week 11 against the Jets.
All the while, Tonga has proven to be an effective addition in the middle of the line, rating a 69.0 grade at Pro Football Focus–No. 30 out of 124 defensive linemen in the league. Not bad for a guy the Patriots landed on a one-year, $2.4 million contract.
Khyiris Tonga Might Be Needed to Play More Defense
But the problem the Patriots now face is the prospect of wearing Tonga too thin. He plays most of his snaps on defense, of course, but there’s the handful on offense as well as a handful in kick-blocking situations on special teams. Tonga chips in for all three Patriots units.
With Milton Williams out, though, it might do to have Tonga limit his focus on the D-line, though. At least, that would be the conventional wisdom.
Patriots coach Mike Vrabel, though, clapped back at that notion–it implies that Tonga’s role with special teams and as a fullback are playful gimmicks and not important parts of the team. The Patriots won’t look at how they use Tonga through that lens, though.
Patriots Will Keep Focus on Maximizing Units
Vrabel said the key with Tonga will be getting the most the Patriots can out of his abilities. If that means keeping his workload on all three units the same, and using other players to fill the gap for Williams, that’s what New England will do.
“Those are things we have to consider,” Vrabel said. “But it’s also – we have to do everything that we can do to try to put the pieces together to help us win. We just have to be able to play the game and put the guys where we expect them to – any sort of injury can occur on any play at any point in time in football. So, every play is critical.
“More blocked kicks this past week and on and on and on. So, we have to make sure that the 11 guys out there are the ones that give us the best chance in those critical situations, and kicking field goals and extra points, those are critical situations.”
Khyiris Tonga the ‘Best 2-Way Player in the League’
Certainly, Tonga’s presence with the offense has helped him gain popularity among Patriots fans–who doesn’t like a 335-pound fullback, after all? And he has already earned fans among his teammates.
As Patriots receiver Stefon Diggs said of Tonga, “It’s very impressive. Best two-way player in the league, if you ask me. Guy does everything you ask of him and he’s making plays, taking out like eight people including our own players.”
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