FOXBORO — Two video games into the season, the Patriots are averaging 12 factors per recreation. That’s third worst within the NFL behind Indianapolis and Dallas.
While the Patriots protection has held up its finish, the offensive output clearly has to enhance if the Pats need to keep within the hunt for a playoff spot.
Where to start out?
Obviously, quarterback Mac Jones has to play higher, and the tight ends must be extra concerned, however there’s one different space that’s screaming for enchancment.
Specifically, the Patriots want extra from extensive receivers DeVante Parker and Kendrick Bourne. Neither has been utilized to the fullest extent, or in a single case, employed hardly in any respect.
To this level, they are often categorized as a pair of untapped belongings.
Even with Jakobi Meyers firmly established as Jones’ go-to-guy, and Nelson Agholor offering some splash on the surface, the Patriots must squeeze extra out of 1 or each of those receivers.
Let’s begin with Parker.
Over the course of the primary two video games, he’s been on the sector for a majority of the offensive snaps. And produced subsequent to nothing.
He’s had only one catch for 9 yards on 4 targets. Lil’ Jordan Humphrey has as many catches. Making issues worse, two of Parker’s targets have resulted in Jones’ interceptions.
So one thing has to vary. Parker must get extra concerned, or finally have his snap depend whittled down.
On the floor, Parker isn’t a real No. 1, per se, however in 2019 whereas with the Dolphins, he posted No. 1-like numbers: 72 catches, 1,202 yards and 9 touchdowns.
That shoots him above everybody within the Patriots’ receiver room, but when he’s solely right here to try to make contested catches on 50-50 balls, that’s not going to chop it.
Play-caller Matt Patricia and the collective of coaches placing the offensive recreation plan collectively each week must put Parker in higher positions to succeed. Forget the bounce balls. Patricia must do a greater job of scheming him open within the weeks to come back, beginning Sunday towards the Ravens.
That means having him run extra fast slants, in-cuts, or quick crossers. Just get him the ball, and see the place it goes from there.
While it was simple to see his contested-catch means through the summer time, when observers famous he was the kind of receiver the Patriots needed N’Keal Harry to turn out to be, it behooves Patricia to dial up performs that put the ball in his arms with room to run.
Because proper now, the back-shoulder throws, deep fades, and 50-50 balls aren’t working. Part of that’s on Jones, half on Parker, nevertheless it additionally goes again to play-calling.
Parker’s energy isn’t gaining separation on go-routes. He hasn’t been in a position to beat anybody down the sector. So Patricia must see if he can spring Parker with shorter routes over the center.
If the Patriots strive that, and Parker stays unproductive, in the reduction of on his snaps, and hand them over to Bourne.
CBS analyst Charles Davis, who known as the Patriots-Steelers recreation on Sunday, sounded a bit skeptical when it got here to what extra Parker may present, merely based mostly on the receivers historical past in Miami.
“Is he dynamic enough to find a way to make some of those plays? To be determined,” stated Davis, when reached Wednesday. “That’s why they traded for him. But again, look at his track record through the years. It’s not a criticism or a shot. I’m just going on pure record. His one big year in the league was 2019. And it’s almost starting to be like it’s an outlier, as opposed to a predictor.”
That was the 12 months Parker had a giant recreation towards Stephon Gilmore, the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year. He caught eight passes for 137 yards, working quite a lot of completely different routes to get the higher of the then-Patriots shutdown nook.
So the Pats must see if they’ll get Parker on monitor with some simpler throws. If they accomplish that mission, the harder contested catches ought to comply with.
Bottom line: Parker’s obtained to get going or sit down.
As for Bourne, his play in coaching camp didn’t assist his trigger. He was behind Meyers, Agholor, and Parker on the depth chart, and was additionally headed behind Tyquan Thornton previous to the rookie receiver being placed on IR with a damaged collarbone. He additionally confirmed up late for a gathering earlier than the Carolina preseason recreation, which didn’t assist his trigger.
But he seems to be again heading in the right direction. After getting on the sector for simply two snaps towards the Dolphins, he had 24 towards the Steelers. He additionally made his share of performs.
Basically, Bourne must see extra motion for a few vital causes.
First, he has chemistry with Jones. Second, he’s their most explosive participant with the ball in his arms.
Moreover, he’s producing when he will get an opportunity. Parker isn’t.
“I think Mac Jones likes him, and trusts him,” Davis stated of Bourne. “I requested Mac about it final week. He stated he wasn’t nervous about (Bourne) as a result of ‘we have banked reps. We can get right back to it whenever he gets back on the field.’
“So I think we’ll see more of him. I really do,” added Davis. “He’s a good player.”
The offense wants an infusion of Bourne’s explosiveness. If which means slicing again on an unproductive Parker, so be it.
If Parker begins to provide, and Bourne does as effectively when he will get on the sector, that might remedy a whole lot of issues for the offense.
At the very least, they must attempt to flush one thing out of Parker. They additionally must get Bourne extra concerned, even when that’s with jet sweeps or performs popping out of the again area.
It’s on Patricia to get essentially the most out of his belongings.
Source: www.bostonherald.com