FOXBORO — Along with making an attempt to determine why the Patriots can’t rating within the crimson zone, or convert on third down, right here’s one other query that pops up when dissecting the offense:
What occurred to Tyquan Thornton?
The rookie receiver, who caught 4 passes for 37 yards and a landing in the course of the Week 6 win over the Cleveland Browns, has been on a milk carton ever since.
He’s had simply 4 catches within the 5 video games following the Browns sport. Against the Vikings on Thanksgiving, he performed 20 offensive snaps, and wasn’t focused.
The promising 22-year-old, who was taken within the second spherical out of Baylor, boasts velocity and explosiveness. In coaching camp, he confirmed good route operating abilities, as nicely. None of that has been on show in current weeks.
Could he have hit a rookie wall after taking part in in seven video games following his early season stint on IR because of the collarbone damage he suffered within the preseason?
Speaking with Troy Brown and Ross Douglas, who deal with the receivers, each coaches had nothing however constructive issues to say in regards to the rookie throughout their video availability Sunday. There didn’t appear to be any points hindering the younger wideout.
They each sounded happy together with his progress. It’s simply not translating on the scoresheet.
“Tyquan’s doing everything we ask of him,” mentioned Brown. “He comes out, he practices onerous, he goes within the sport and he performs nicely.
“We haven’t been trying to keep him on any pace or anything like that, measuring him against another rookie or anything,” he added, “but he’s doing what we ask him to do for our football team.”
Douglas echoed these sentiments. Based on what he’s seen in follow and on movie from the video games, Douglas sounded assured Thornton could be extra seen quickly given the separation he’s been getting in video games.
“I think Tyquan, I see him as a young player that’s ascending and he’s getting better every single day,” Douglas mentioned. “The ball hasn’t actually discovered him right here up to now couple weeks. But after we look on movie, he’s doing a variety of good issues. He’s creating some separation. He’s blocking onerous within the run sport.
“He’s a player that will continue to improve. And, by him just continuing to do what he’s doing, he’ll be able to contribute more.”
As the saying goes, no time like the current. Perhaps he’ll have his quantity referred to as somewhat extra towards the Bills and make some pivotal performs.
The Patriots may positive use a secret weapon to assist the offense preserve tempo with Josh Allen and the NFL’s second-best scoring offense (28.1 ppg). He’s one receiver the Bills protection has but to cope with in a sport. Thornton may present a spark towards among the finest defenses within the league.
He might be an X-factor together with his blazing 4.2 velocity.
The hassle is, for the time being, he’s just about been a zero issue within the offense in the course of the previous month and past.
He’s fallen down the depth chart behind Jakobi Meyers, DeVante Parker, Kendrick Bourne and Nelson Agholor.
After Meyers and Parker, although, the play from the opposite receivers has been inconsistent at greatest.
Thornton has dropped just a few passes in current weeks, and has displayed a little bit of alligator arms in site visitors, which might be one cause Mac Jones hasn’t regarded in his route extra continuously. Or, it’s merely a matter of him being a rookie, and each Bill Belichick and play-caller Matt Patricia tending to lean on the veterans extra in essential video games.
The Patriots have additionally been utilizing him somewhat extra within the slot, versus outdoors, within the current video games he’s performed. It simply hasn’t translated into manufacturing. He’s solely been focused 13 occasions in the course of the previous six video games.
For his half, Thornton says he’s fully wholesome following the shoulder surgical procedure wanted to repair his preseason damage. The rookie wideout, nevertheless, says the time misplaced and practices missed initially had an impression.
“I feel like the time I missed definitely played a role. That time was critical with all the practices … of course that time affected things,” he mentioned throughout a cellphone interview Monday. “But I feel like after I came back, I didn’t miss a beat.”
Thornton believes his chemistry with Jones, in addition to the opposite quarterbacks, is nice. They’re on the identical web page.
And whereas he’d like to make a splash towards Buffalo, he’s simply going to do what the coaches ask him to do.
“I’m just coming in and doing my job,” he mentioned. “If it’s one catch a game, as long as I did my job, then I’m cool with it.”
Like Thornton, the 2022 rookie class as an entire began out nicely, however lots of the others have pale like just like the receiver. Returner Marcus Jones has been a vivid spot of late, however a lot of the others have been struggling.
First-round choose Cole Strange has been benched, and continues to permit pressures and sacks when he’s in at left guard. Cornerback Jack Jones has cooled off each by way of limiting performs towards him, and producing turnovers. Running again Pierre Strong, in the meantime, dedicated a game-changing penalty making an attempt to dam a Vikings punt Thursday night time.
Running again Kevin Harris and defensive lineman Sam Roberts haven’t performed a lot, whereas quarterback Bailey Zappe had a pleasant little run with Jones and Brian Hoyer damage, however has returned to backup standing.
It’ll be fascinating to see how the remainder of the season performs out for Thornton specifically and if he’ll have any impression. Naturally, he’s going to be in contrast with a number of receivers who went instantly after him within the draft, particularly Pittsburgh’s George Pickens, Indianapolis’ Alec Pierce, and Kansas City’s Skye Moore, who’ve all gotten off to higher begins.
Still, Thornton maintains he’s getting higher each week, even when it doesn’t translate statistically.
“I feel like I’m learning a lot here, just learning and growing within our system and connecting with the players on the team,” he mentioned. “I feel like I’m handling everything pretty well … right now, it’s just about being consistent, coming in every day, and putting your best foot forward.”
The expectation was for him to place somewhat extra sizzle into the offense, and take the highest off of defenses. Fortunately for Thornton, there’s nonetheless time.
Source: www.bostonherald.com