The New England Patriots biggest play against the New Orleans Saints was undrafted free agent rookie cornerback Cre’Von LeBlanc’s one-handed interception in the end zone.
The second best play goes to Aaron Dobson on James White’s 56-yard catch and run.
This is the Dobson block out of the far slot that Belichick credits for White's big catch and run. pic.twitter.com/PuyDH1j7Tu
— Rich Hill (@PP_Rich_Hill) August 13, 2016
Dobson has been increasing his time in the slot this offseason in order to maximize his ability; I like it. He’s dynamic once he gets the ball in his hands, so placing him in the slot allows him to serve as a Marques Colston or Jordan Matthews type in the offense. It also allows him to use his size on crack blocks to spring the running back.
“Jimmy [Garoppolo] did a good job of getting the ball off,” head coach Bill Belichick said in Friday’s press conference. “They [Saints] were in a blitz and [Roman] Harper was coming off of the edge, so we did a good job of getting the ball around them. Shaq [Mason] got out in front and made a good block, [Bryan] Stork made the defender – the linebacker sort of ran around him – and that opened up a little space, but I'd say really the key block on the play was by [Aaron] Dobson, who got the linebacker that was in coverage on White. It was certainly one of our better executed plays of the night, offensively.”
Dobson turned heads this offseason by making spectacular grabs on a daily basis, but these blocks are the plays that will make Belichick take notice and eventually win him a spot on the roster.