Chism was one of the Patriots’ spring standouts.
When Mack Hollins needed a ride back from the team facility after a late night of work, rookie wide receiver Efton Chism was one of the few left in the building to help out.
But the short trip from Gillette Stadium to the team hotel did not end there. As Hollins mentioned he was heading back to continue to study, Chism asked to join the veteran.
Now, it’s an almost every-day event.
“We just kind of go through everything that we kind of went through, going through different plays, stuff like that in in the hotel,” Chism said. “It’s been awesome. He’s been a big help just helping me kind of feel confident out here and knowing that I’m ready to go.
“Every time we get home, that’s kind of what we go do.”
The work hasn’t stopped there for the New England Patriots’ ndrafted wide receiver. In addition to his study sessions with Hollins, offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels has continued to provide Chism old Patriots’ film to go back and watch.
That currently includes old cutups of targets to Danny Amendola, who’s size and skillset fall in-line with Chism’s.
“I’m going through and watching that right now. So, trying to just kind of see how he ran through his offense with McDaniels when he was here, and I learn everything I can through that,” Chism said.
“He’s super twitchy. He knows how to release. If the guy’s playing off, the guy’s playing press, he knows how to sit in zones, but he also knows how to win versus man. I don’t think a lot of people—at least me, like before becoming a Patriot—I didn’t watch a lot of him, but now I’m watching it and like, man, he can really win versus man too, not just a zone catcher.”
After being a spring standout, Chism hasn’t piled up the reception numbers to begin training camp in team work. That all hasn’t been his fault, however, as Chism has still flashed plenty of separation ability only to see several uncatchable targets thrown his way — such as the last play of Wednesday’s practice when a Joshua Dobbs’ pass sailed over the receiver’s head after he created ample room against Marcellas Dial.
As Chism continues to try and make a push up New England’s crowded wide receiver room, he will continue to bank on that route-running ability and his other strengths to do so.
“I think I just try to kind of be myself each and every day. I think whatever I bring to the table is what I’m going to bring,” Chism said. “They’re going to put me in situations to excel at and to be in a good spot. But I mean, I’m not trying to be anyone else besides myself. And so I kind of just try to elevate that each and every day.”