New England Patriots
“Try to get him some jumbo tight end work, and he will play some tackle, he will play some guard,” coach Mike Vrabel said of the versatile rookie.
Caleb Lomu Barry Chin/The Boston Globe
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FOXBOROUGH — Caleb Lomu has spent the bulk of his reps so far at right tackle, which makes sense given that the Patriots are one year removed from spending a top-five pick on a left tackle (Will Campbell) and will eventually need to replace 35-year-old right tackle Morgan Moses.
But, the 21-year-old first-round pick has also found himself getting bits and pieces of experience at other positions during his first training camp.
Coach Mike Vrabel said Lomu is a quick learner who doesn’t usually make the same mistake twice. Patriots executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf said Lomu has the “upside to play anywhere on the line.”
So far, that has included lining up pretty much everywhere but center.
“There are a lot of new things, a lot of firsts out there, and things that show up,” Vrabel said. “Try to get him some jumbo tight end work, and he will play some tackle, he will play some guard.”
“We are just going to look at some versatility and see where he fits and how he can help us, but there will be a lot of things that are going to be new to him and some techniques that are different and run schemes and pass protection.”
Lomu primarily played left tackle in college at Utah. Spencer Fano, who played right tackle for the Utes, ended up being a top-ten pick in this past year’s draft.
While there have been questions about Will Campbell’s ability to return to form after an MCL injury impacted his play during the second-half of last season, the Patriots have consistently started Campbell at left tackle throughout the spring and through the first five days of training camp.
When Lomu has been out there with the starters, it has been mostly been at right tackle when Moses has needed rest.
But, Lomu said learning the other positions is valuable experience that could help him become a better tackle down the road.
“Being able to know more than one position is a huge thing,” Lomu said. “If you want a role on the team, learning more than one position is the biggest key to that, so when I came out here switching around positions I was more than happy to do it and play any position. I just love playing football, so wherever I can be to get on the field is where I want to be.”
The Patriots slid Jared Wilson from left guard over to center during the offseason. They filled the left-guard spot by signing Alijah Vera Tucker to a three-year deal worth up to $42 million. Vera-Tucker has shown upside, but he also missed 41 out of 85 possible games since he was drafted in 2021.
New England experimented with several linemen as jumbo tight-ends last season under Vrabel including Ben Brown and Thayer Munford.
Lomu told reporters Thursday that he feels “super comfortable” at right tackle. He got off to a fast start during 1-on-1 drills during New England’s first padded practice of training camp, knocking linebacker Bradyn Swinson down as he finished his block.
“Finishing is the biggest key as an offensive lineman,” Lomu said. “You’ve got to know what to do and then do it with a violent demeanor and then finish. Finish longer than the guy with the ball is what we say.”
“So, as an offensive lineman, you’re going to have those plays where the quarterback starts to scramble or the running back switches his way all along the field, so you’ve got to strain as long as you can, longer than the guy that you’re going against.”
Offensive guard Mike Onwenu said he’s looking forward to seeing what Lomu can do this summer as the Patriots continue to ramp up the physicality.
“He’s been like a sponge taking up whatever position he has been playing,” Onwenu said. “Whether it’s getting reps at guard or getting reps at either tackle, I think he’s done a good job of that.”
Learning multiple positions on the offensive line is a difficult thing, Moses said. The rookie has a lot on his plate as he adjusts to the NFL.
“Everything is a lot faster,” Lomu said. “The guys here are a lot faster, bigger, and stronger, but it’s still football. At the end of the day, you’ve got your assignment to do.
“You’ve got to be able to come out here on the field and execute that assignment. The people out here are on a whole other level skill-wise, so it’s a little bit more difficult, but it’s still football.”
Khari A. Thompson
Khari Thompson covers professional sports for Boston.com. Before joining the team in 2022, Khari covered college football for The Clarion Ledger in Jackson, Miss.
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