Ngakoue was claimed last Friday.
Yannick Ngakoue hit the ground running in his first practice with the New England Patriots.
If defensive coordinator DeMarcus Covington didn’t know any better, he would have believed Ngakoue has been apart of his defense since training camp.
“[Wednesday], I thought he stepped in like he was here in training camp for us,” DeMarcus Covington said Thursday morning. “I’m impressed in the way he is in the meeting room, how he attacked practice yesterday, willing learner, ready to do whatever the team asks him to do.”
With Eliot Wolf and New England’s scouting department claiming Ngakoue off waivers last Friday, the 29-year old edge rusher will now look to spark the Patriots pass rush. He’ll do so under outside linebackers coach Drew Wilkins, who coached Ngakoue briefly in 2020 with the Ravens.
“Had him in Baltimore. Great player. Been a good pass rusher for a long time in this league. Great addition,” Wilkins said. “A guy that you’re able to claim off waivers — it’s a tribute to our scouting staff… Always a consideration for them to upgrade our roster. So a guy like this becomes available, what a find this time of year to be able to get a boost in our pass rush and incorporate him in our defense. It’s really a credit to them.”
Changing teams is nothing new for Ngakoue, as the Patriots will mark the seventh team he’s suited up for in his nine seasons. Wilkins noted how those past travels have helped him quickly adjust to New England as he’s worked closely with defensive assistant Keith Jones since his arrival in order to get caught up to speed.
“He can still play at a high level,” Wilkins said. “He’s done a really good job getting here over the weekend, getting settled in and attacking the playbook. Really done a good job of learning the terminology – some differences in techniques here verse other places he’s been. He’s attacked that at a high level.”
Throughout his career, Ngakoue has primarily been a pass rusher which led to him earning Pro Bowl honors back in 2017. Along New England’s front, the team has no plans to box him into one role with the hope that he can become a three-down player.
“Anytime a guy gets anywhere you figure out what kind of role he can play in early then grow it from there. With him, he’s really developed his game to be an every-down player,” Wilkins said. “Earlier in his career, probably more pass rush, now he’s really working on becoming a complete player. It’s just about what he can do in this system.
“We’re looking at this thing like a blank slate. Forget about what you did, we believe you can do all this stuff. We’re not going to put him in a box — similarly to really anybody on our team. If you don’t put guys in a box, it’s amazing how much they can grow.”
While the Patriots will hope Ngakoue can contribute against the run, his biggest impact will likely come as a pass rusher. With 70.5 career sacks to his name, Wilkins noted how he’s a “total package” as a rusher due to his ability to his get-off the line of scrimmage, his counter moves, and finishing ability.
“He’s got tremendous get-off ability. So, his first two steps, the quickness and the burst to anticipate the snap and get off the ball — really good,” Wilkins said. “He also, when he gets there — what we call the fight area — when the tackle really throws their hands or dictates how they’re going to set, that fight area, it’s how can I get on top of this guy?
“That’s something where, really throughout his whole career, he’s got some signature moves that he goes too. He probably has a better cross-chop than anybody in the league. But then with that, he keeps adding tools. He’s got a really good power rush, really good counter rush off that.”