FOXBORO — Patriots rookie broad receiver Demario Douglas was taught a lesson on Sunday night time: fumble and also you may not see the sphere once more.
Douglas didn’t seem to play any offensive snaps after dropping a fumble on the ultimate play of the primary quarter within the Patriots’ 24-17 Week 2 loss to the Dolphins. Douglas caught a goal from quarterback Mac Jones on third-and-8 from the Dolphins’ 39-yard line. He had sufficient yards to transform the third down earlier than Dolphins edge defender Bradley Chubb chopped at his arm from behind, dislodging the soccer. Patriots operating again Rhamondre Stevenson jumped on the soccer however couldn’t safe it. Chubb got here away with the restoration.
“Just something to learn from,” Douglas mentioned.
Douglas mentioned he wasn’t instructed that he wouldn’t return to the sport on offense. He mentioned he needed to get again on the sphere.
“I believe I could have made a difference, but the offense did a good job still moving that ball,” Douglas mentioned.
The promising rookie caught two passes for 19 yards and confirmed off his spectacular agility on each grabs earlier than the fumble. He did nonetheless return punts for the Patriots after Marcus Jones left the sport with a shoulder harm and didn’t return.
Douglas was seen holding a ball on the sideline. He mentioned operating again Ty Montgomery handed it to him and instructed him to carry it excessive and tight.
Head coach Bill Belichick was requested why Douglas didn’t play on offense after the fumble.
Here are the exchanges:
Q: Bill, what went into the choice to maintain Demario Douglas off the sphere after his first quarter fumble?
BB: Yeah, we performed all of our ability gamers. They all performed.
Q: I don’t suppose we noticed him take one other offensive snap after that play.
BB: Look, we had a whole lot of manufacturing on offense. [DeVante] Parker had an excellent day. [Mike] Gesicki had an excellent day. Hunter [Henry] had an excellent day, JuJu [Smith-Schuster], KB [Kendrick Bourne]. So, you recognize, a whole lot of good gamers. Can’t play everyone.
Q: Bill, was the plan to not use Demario Douglas after the primary half on offense?
BB: He returned punts.
Q: Well, on offense –
BB: We performed all of our – yeah, look, we may speak about this each week. And there will likely be any person that performed lower than any person else. We’ve received a whole lot of expert gamers.
Q: He didn’t get on offense after the fumble, although.
BB: Yeah, OK.
Douglas performed 33 whole snaps all through the whole lot of the Patriots’ Week 1 loss to the Eagles. He did return two punts for 12 yards with a good catch after Marcus Jones left the sport.
The Patriots gained 288 yards on offense. Parker caught six passes on eight targets for 57 yards. Henry had six catches on seven targets for 52 yards with a landing. Gesicki caught 5 passes on six targets for 33 yards. Bourne caught 4 passes on 9 targets for 29 yards. Douglas and JuJu Smith-Schuster shared snaps in Week 1 out of the slot. Smith-Schuster caught 5 passes on six targets for 28 yards.
Quarterback Mac Jones went 31-of-42 for 231 yards with one landing and one interception.
“Yeah, I think Pop [Douglas], obviously, a young player and just trying to keep him encouraged,” Jones mentioned. “Obviously, considered one of my shut buddies. So it’s going to occur. Young gamers, you recognize, there’s going to be errors. But for him, it’s a studying expertise for all of us. And myself included with the interception.
“You can’t have the turnovers. Got to work on it, address the situation, and then get better at it. So for him, you know, I told him, just keep your head up and, you know, just practice every day holding onto the ball, people hitting at it, things you can do to get better.”
Belichick has benched gamers after fumbles up to now. The Patriots additionally had extra proficient groups on the time who may overcome key losses on offense. This crew is now 0-2 on the younger season.
“Not sure, really,” Bourne was requested in regards to the determination to bench Douglas. “Coaches, that’s their job. You just gotta have better ball security as a group. Not just Pop, everybody. No turnovers. Receivers gotta go up and catch the ball, bat it down when it’s tough plays.”
Patriots broad receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster mentioned the crew will rally behind the rookie wideout.
“As a rookie, it’s tough. You go into the game and you make a great play, and then it turns over. It’s a tough situation. I would say this, though, with that being said, we’re just going to come back from it and keep him up, lift him up and keep working hard.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com