Asked around the league after the Patriots made the Michael Hoomanawanui signing official on Wednesday, and while he’s a good receiver (20 catches for 229 yards and three touchdowns in two seasons with the Rams), the one thing that came up on each occasion was the fact that he is a better-than-average blocker. Our pals over at Pro Football Focus have Hoomanawanui rated as a 2.7 pass blocker (ninth-best among all tight ends last season) and a 2.2 run blocker in 2011, putting up those numbers in 401 snaps last season with the Rams.
It’s easy for everyone to make fun of the Pats for signing so many tight ends but it’s clear that they needed a big blocker like Uh Oh, especially with their lack of depth at tackle.