FOXBORO — There isn’t a lot put on and tear on Kendrick Bourne’s large receiver gloves by means of the primary 4 practices of Patriots coaching camp.
Bourne did all the pieces proper in his lead-up to coaching camp, however by means of 4 practices, the arduous work hasn’t produced leads to the best way of targets or catches.
Bourne mentioned this spring that he had bulked up within the offseason. That was famous on the Patriots’ roster with 27-year-old large receiver’s weight growing from 190 to 205 bounds. He mentioned Sunday that is the very best he’s ever felt.
Head coach Bill Belichick raved about Bourne’s offseason to reporters forward of Sunday afternoon’s apply.
“KB’s had a really good offseason. Really good,” he emphasised.
“Physically, he’s good. Mentally, he’s good. Participation was good. He’s good on the field, good off the field. Really had a good offseason. One of our best.”
But Bourne has been focused simply twice in aggressive drills by means of 4 practices. He’s gone with out a goal for 2 total practices.
“Of course, you want the ball, but it’s about the team,” Bourne mentioned. “We don’t depend stats. It’s all concerning the recreation. I simply gotta be ready within the recreation, coming into apply like I’m going to be getting the ball each time, operating my route like I’m gonna get the ball, and within the recreation, it’ll come collectively.
“Just want to make sure I’m getting touches. If I’m not getting it in practice, I have to make sure I’m getting touches with the jugs. Just catching with the teammates before practice or whatever. Just so that I know I’m getting catches. It’s all about the game for me, though.”
Even inside the group, there’s not a number of readability on why Bourne isn’t getting focused in apply. The 6-foot-1 pass-catcher seems to be good, he’s in form, he’s operating crisp routes, the ball’s simply not going his means proper now, a supply mentioned. The Patriots primarily have labored within the purple zone by means of 4 practices, however Bourne was focused 10 occasions within the purple space by means of his first two seasons in New England. It’s not as if he’s been ignored in that space of the sector.
The large receiver is staying upbeat. He’s having enjoyable in new offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien’s offense after calling final 12 months, “a struggle.” He completed his first season in New England with 55 catches for 800 yards with 5 touchdowns. That was beneath former offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. Under prime offensive coaches Matt Patricia and Joe Judge final 12 months, Bourne caught simply 35 passes for 434 yards with one landing. Once a focus of the offense, Bourne was an afterthought in 2022.
A video clip surfaced final week of Bourne and head coach Bill Belichick sharing amusing in apply. It was notable if solely due to Bourne’s relative lack of utilization. Based on taking part in time and targets alone, it appeared as if he had discovered himself within the doghouse.
Bill Belichick & Kendrick Bourne. @ABC6 #Patriots #ForeverNE pic.twitter.com/YhWjyQUhj1
— Nick Coit (@NCoitABC6) July 27, 2023
“He said something funny,” Bourne mentioned. “He said, ‘You’re sweating already. We haven’t even started yet.’”
“That’s just my guy,” Bourne mentioned about his head coach. “We have a good relationship. I enjoy being coached by him. It’s really awesome for my career and to be able to just say that when I’m done and whenever that time is, it’s an honor to be close to someone like that. And I know after football, I’ll be able to talk to him, call him. Through whatever it might seem like, I have a good relationship with him.”
The Patriots have extra starting-caliber pass-catcher than they do precise beginning spots of their offense. It’s a decently good drawback to have, but it surely means Bourne is probably going competing for snaps with tight finish Mike Gesicki, large receiver Tyquan Thornton and presumably even rookie receiver Demario Douglas behind de facto starters Rhamondre Stevenson, JuJu Smith-Schuster, DeVante Parker and Hunter Henry. So, each rep, goal and catch means a chance to separate himself from that pack in apply.
Bourne was saying all the best issues about that competitors Sunday after apply.
“I think it’s just about staying ready personally,” Bourne mentioned. “There’s a plan the coaches have, you simply acquired to observe it. You can’t get into ‘starting and if I’m in proper now’ or not. That second may come the place you is perhaps the largest participant of the sport. And you’ll be able to change the sport.
“So, personally, that’s what I think about. When is that play going to be important for me to make instead of I’m not in the first three downs. So I might go in fourth down and change the whole trajectory. Not personally, anybody can be that. That’s how you should think for anyone.”
The Patriots may add much more competitors to that group of ability gamers in the event that they signal one of many remaining veteran free-agent operating backs to their roster. Running again Ty Montgomery is banged up in apply, and the Patriots have hosted free brokers Leonard Fournette, Darrell Henderson and Ezekiel Elliott during the last two weeks.
Source: www.bostonherald.com