Kendrick Bourne seemed annoyed on the sidelines in Sunday’s loss as he received much less taking part in time than anticipated. But his closest Patriots teammates are maintaining him inspired and hope extra is coming for the vast receiver.
The absence of Bourne on Sunday stays one thing of a thriller after the vast receiver performed simply two of the Patriots’ 54 offensive snaps. Bourne didn’t see the sphere till greater than halfway by means of the fourth quarter, when he hauled in a 41-yard reception – the Pats’ longest passing play of the day – on his second and closing snap.
Bourne admitted frustration after Sunday’s sport and famous that he must observe higher to ensure that the coaches to belief him. But showing on WEEI’s “The Greg Hill Show” on Monday, Bill Belichick gave the impression to be inspired with the receiver.
“I thought K.B. did a great job stepping in there when we needed him,” Belichick stated to WEEI. “He made a big play for us. He’s a good player, and I’m sure there will be plenty of opportunities, as all of our skill players will, going forward. We’ll see how it all plays out.”
Pressed on why Bourne didn’t play till the fourth quarter, although, Belichick didn’t get into element.
“It just kind of worked out that way,” Belichick stated to WEEI. “It wasn’t anything that was specifically avoided. It just didn’t work out.”
Bourne was one in every of Mac Jones’ favourite targets and was arguably the Patriots’ most dynamic menace final season as he completed with 55 receptions for 800 yards. But in a extra crowded receiver room that now consists of DeVante Parker, he has struggled to hold that momentum after a disoriented preseason.
Jones, who’s now a captain, is attempting to maintain Bourne constructive.
“I think K.B. has to control what he can control and when he gets the chance to play or practice, just like we all do, we have to try and do our best that we can,” Jones stated. “He simply has to proceed to be himself and he’s carried out a great job. He’s an incredible teammate and now we have loads of guys on our crew like that, so I hope he can contribute extra and he’ll and his time will come, like I all the time say.
“The plays will come, don’t chase them and he’ll get a chance and when he does, I have confidence in him. He’s a great route runner, great competitor, so he just has to keep doing what he’s doing and continue to see his role increase.”
Matthew Slater, a veteran who’s shut with Bourne, had an identical message.
“Any time a teammate is in that situation, you want him to stay positive, continue to work hard, keep his down and stay committed to the team and to his craft, and I know he’s going to do that,” Slater stated. “He’s a selfless player. He loves his team and he wants to help this team any way that he can. He’s going to keep working, just like we all are and hopefully opportunities will present themselves for all of us that we can take advantage of.”
Communication mixup?
Who’s accountable for the Patriots’ massive mistake within the second quarter, when Brandon Jones ran free into their backfield from the left facet to strip-sack Jones for a Dolphins landing and 10-0 lead?
Asked if there was something he may have carried out otherwise earlier than the snap, Jones – who by no means noticed Brandon Jones approaching his blind facet – gave a basic reply.
“I think that’s an X’s and O’s question and you’ll have to ask Coach Belichick,” Jones stated. “But we know we can protect better, and I can do things to communicate better. So, we’ll all get better at that and that’s all there is to it.”
Trent Brown, who was taking part in left deal with on the play, additionally failed to choose up the Dolphins security. He was requested if the free blitzer was his accountability.
“They made a play,” Brown merely stated. “Gotta get better this week.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com