FOXBORO — It was considerably straightforward to see why the Patriots got here out trying like a unique workforce final Sunday in opposition to the Bills.
The Patriots made key personnel modifications that led the offense and protection to carry out significantly higher than they’d performed via the primary six weeks of the season.
They performed a rookie broad receiver extra, made a key change on their offensive line and activated a defensive playmaker earlier than the sport.
Head coach Bill Belichick should now proceed to journey with what labored Sunday in opposition to the Dolphins.
So, these 4 gamers should proceed to play key roles in Week 8:
WR Demario Douglas
It’s not unreasonable to check Douglas to a number of the gamers who got here earlier than him within the lengthy lineage of Patriots slot receivers.
Douglas isn’t Troy Brown, Wes Welker, Danny Amendola or Julian Edelman but, however he’s additionally a rookie and has already proven a number of the identical abilities at beating man protection and making performs after the catch utilizing his quickness that they delivered to the Patriots’ offense in the course of the dynasty period.
It’s too dangerous that the Patriots invested a lot cash in broad receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster in free company earlier than deciding on Douglas within the draft, as a result of the rookie has been significantly higher out of the slot up to now this season. He acquired his most enjoying time Sunday with Smith-Schuster out.
It’s unclear what’s going to occur with Smith-Schuster if Douglas retains incomes beginning snaps within the slot. The veteran may play the “Z” function within the offense, however Kendrick Bourne performs that spot and is the Patriots’ most constant broad receiver. DeVante Parker and Jalen Reagor have been competing for snaps within the “X” function final week, and the workforce nonetheless has Tyquan Thornton and Kayshon Boutte on their 53-man roster.
Smith-Schuster was inactive after being listed on the damage report with a concussion final week. We’ll see if he can get again on the energetic roster in Week 8.
RT Mike Onwenu
The offensive line performed its finest sport of the season in Week 7’s win, and it’s actually no large shock that it got here with Onwenu at proper sort out.
Onwenu is a greater proper guard, however he’s additionally one of the best proper sort out choice the Patriots have on their roster. They’ve rifled via Riley Reiff, Conor McDermott, Sidy Sow, Calvin Anderson and Vederian Lowe since coaching camp broke in July. Then they lastly made the transfer to begin Onwenu at proper sort out Sunday, and it paid off in a giant manner.
The Patriots might elevate McDermott from the follow squad and transfer Onwenu again to proper guard. But it labored with Trent Brown at left sort out, Cole Strange at left guard, David Andrews at heart and rookie Sidy Sow at proper guard. The Patriots are higher off not messing with what labored.
CB Jonathan Jones
The Patriots took what was most likely a wise strategy at cornerback with Jack Jones returning off of injured reserve and Jonathan Jones nonetheless nursing a knee damage suffered in Week 7.
J.C. Jackson served as one outdoors cornerback, and Myles Bryant performed the slot whereas Jack Jones and Jonathan Jones break up snaps the opposite outdoors cornerback place.
If Jackson and each Jonses are wholesome, then they create the workforce’s finest cornerback mixture with Christian Gonzalez anticipated to be out for the season. Jackson and Jack Jones can play outdoors, and Jones can return to the slot, the place he spent the vast majority of the early portion of his profession.
The Patriots can be higher off with Gonzalez on the energetic roster, however Jackson, Jack Jones and Jonathan Jones is usually a superb cornerback mixture.
DT Christian Barmore
The 2021 second-round pick of Alabama has made a significant impression in consecutive weeks. He registered 5 defensive stops Week 6 in opposition to the Raiders after which generated 4 pressures, together with one sack, in opposition to the Bills whereas nonetheless producing two defensive stops.
“B-More’s had a really good year,” Belichick stated Wednesday. “He’s been healthy. He had a good offseason. I’d say this is the hardest that he’s trained or was able to train. Some of that’s been a little bit rehab-related. He’s had a good offseason, good training and he’s playing well. I think those things usually go together.”
Barmore is on tempo to set a profession excessive in defensive snaps. The 24-year-old ranks twelfth out of 54 certified defensive tackles in PFF’s pass-rush grade, twenty second in pressures and twelfth in pass-rush win price.
Source: www.bostonherald.com