One of the most important surprises from the Patriots’ Week 1 loss to the Eagles from a personnel standpoint was huge receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster’s relative lack of taking part in time.
Smith-Schuster, who the Patriots elected to signal to a three-year, $25.5 million contract over bringing again Jakobi Meyers in free company this offseason, performed simply 43 of 80 whole offensive snaps. He was outpaced by Kendrick Bourne (73 snaps) and rookie Kayshon Boutte (55 snaps). He out-snapped rookie Demario Douglas (33 snaps) by simply 10 performs.
Most surprising out of these figures is Boutte’s excessive snap depend in comparison with Smith-Schuster’s taking part in time. The reasoning behind it, in accordance with a supply, is basically as a result of Smith-Schuster doesn’t play the X-receiver position that was left vacant when DeVante Parker (knee) was dominated inactive. Boutte basically served as a 1-for-1 swap for Parker, primarily taking part in the X-receiver position. Then the Patriots had a three-man rotation with Bourne, Smith-Schuster and Douglas for the Z and slot roles.
Smith-Schuster who caught 4 passes on seven targets for 33 yards, performed 22 snaps within the slot and 21 exterior, per PFF’s charting. Bourne — six catches on 11 targets for 64 yards with two touchdowns — performed 56 snaps exterior and 17 within the slot. Douglas — 4 catches on seven targets for 40 yards — performed 29 snaps within the slot and 4 exterior. Boutte — catchless on 4 targets — performed 54 snaps exterior and only one within the slot.
The Patriots had been sometimes working non-traditional formations when Boutte was on the sideline.
Tight finish Mike Gesicki, who had three catches for 36 yards, was additionally blended into the offense, taking part in 28 snaps within the slot, 4 exterior and one inline. Starting tight finish Hunter Henry — 5 catches on six targets for 56 yards with a landing — noticed 32 snaps within the slot, 29 inline and two out huge. Third-string tight finish Pharaoh Brown performed 5 snaps inline and one out huge.
The Patriots went with a heavier rotation at huge receiver, partly, as a result of it was Week 1 however primarily as a result of they don’t really feel like they’ve the kind of huge receivers who can play almost 100% of snaps in the identical mildew as Eagles huge receivers Devonta Smith and A.J. Brown, per a supply. Smith performed 65 of 66 whole snaps, whereas Brown was on the sector for 60 snaps. Eagles third receiver Quez Watkins performed 52 snaps.
Smith-Schuster taking part in extra snaps would have meant taking Bourne, Douglas and even Gesicki off of the sector extra. It’s maybe most damning that Bourne had earned extra taking part in time than Smith-Schuster in Week 1 and {that a} rookie like Douglas can eat into the veteran wideout’s taking part in time.
But Boutte subbed in for Parker, the Patriots wished to get Douglas on the sector, and Bourne, Smith-Schuster and Douglas had been rotating into two spots within the offense.
Head coach Bill Belichick was requested after the sport why Boutte and Douglas had been taking part in over Smith-Schuster with the sport on the road within the remaining minutes of the fourth quarter.
“We had different groups, different rotations, so we’re good with whoever is in there,” Belichick mentioned Sunday.
Belichick mentioned he feels Smith-Schuster and the entire workforce are in good situation Monday through video convention name.
Smith-Schuster talked to MassLive.com’s Kare Guregian after the sport.
“It was different personnel for the two-minute (drill),” Smith-Schuster defined, “and that’s what they went with.”
The Patriots play the Dolphins at Gillette Stadium on Sunday evening. If Parker is again, it shouldn’t closely affect anybody’s position apart from Boutte.
Source: www.bostonherald.com