When the New England Patriots selected linebacker Chase Winovich in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft, one of his perceived strengths was the relentless motor he exhibited while making splash plays as a run defender. So, it was a bit of a surprise when Winovich was almost exclusively used in pass-rush situations as a rookie.
Nearly 82% of Winovich’s defensive snaps came against the pass in 2019 when he was on the field for just 28.9% of total defensive plays. But that ratio leveled out Sunday in the Patriots’ 21-11 Week 1 win over the Miami Dolphins when Winovich was on the field for 68% of total defensive snaps and 62.