For most Patriots practices, all Jalen Reagor wants is an ordinary uniform.
He grabs a helmet, shoulder pads, cleats, the identical light jersey, and a pair different items of kit frequent to each NFL participant.
But final week, with the intention to correctly put together for Buffalo, he wanted extra.
Reagor requested 4 sweatbands from the staff’s tools workers, two for every forearm. He slid one beneath every elbow, then tugged the leftovers above every wrist. Because in these practices, he would not be Jalen Reagor.
He was the second-most focused receiver within the league, a three-time Pro Bowler and armband fanatic: Bills star Stefon Diggs. The teaching workers tasked Reagor with simulating Diggs on the scout-team offense, his dwelling for many of the season as a practice-squad participant (the Patriots signed Reagor to their energetic roster Thursday). Each week, the Patriots’ scout-team offense practices towards their beginning protection, working performs the coaches count on to see from their subsequent opponent.
Prior to final weekend, Diggs had made a behavior of torturing the Patriots. He averaged seven catches for 95 yards and a landing of their final six regular-season video games. Theoretically, the nearer Reagor may act, look and play like Diggs, the higher the Patriots may defend him on recreation day.
And that’s precisely what they did, holding Diggs to season lows in catches (six) and receiving yards (58).
As for Reagor’s follow efficiency, teammates universally glowed days later. He crushed it.
“He’s helped us tremendously,” mentioned Patriots cornerback/security Myles Bryant. “I mean, you look at the receivers we’ve gone against so far this season, I don’t think there’s been a week where we can kind of relax. And every week he’s gone out there and gotten us better.”
The proof is within the numbers.
The Patriots protection ranks greatest within the league towards opposing No. 1 receivers by DVOA. They’ve allowed 44.5 yards per recreation to that group, which incorporates the AFC’s main receiver (Hill), the NFC chief (A.J. Brown), future Hall of Famer Davante Adams, and rising stars CeeDee Lamb, Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson. Combined, these No. 1 receivers have 20 Pro Bowl honors, however simply 4 touchdowns versus the Patriots this yr.
Since signing to the staff’s follow squad in August, Reagor has helped simulate most of these receivers. To the 24-year-old, no element is insignificant to his preparation; not Diggs’ arm bands and mouthpiece nor Adams’ mannerisms on the line of scrimmage.
On Adams, Reagor mentioned: “He never runs his routes full speed. If you notice, he runs the release at in-between (speed), then goes full. So, you just study that and then implement that into your game.”
Reagor admitted he’d examine gamers like Diggs and Adams anyway. He devours extensive receiver highlights at dwelling, within the facility, anyplace he can. A primary-round decide from the 2020 draft class, many believed Reagor would in the future be a part of the ranks of the league’s elite.
Instead, the the 24-year-old bought traded after two disappointing seasons in Philadelphia, and didn’t make a big affect final yr with the Vikings, who minimize him this summer season. He’s loved a fast rise in New England, thanks partly to an underperforming group round him. Only one Patriots wideout owns greater than 200 yards this season.
There’s a case Reagor stands out as the most naturally gifted receiver of their assembly room.
“When you talk about talent, (Reagor) can do everything,” mentioned Pats security Jalen Mills. “He can run short routes, he can run intermediate routes, he can run the deep ball because he’s fast. He’s got a strong enough build to go across the middle.”
“You see it out there on the practice field,” mentioned Patriots security Adrian Phillips. “He is legit.”
As a prospect, the 5-foot-11 Reagor clocked a 4.4 within the 40-yard sprint and examined as one of the vital explosive gamers in his whole draft class. He ranks among the many Patriots’ strongest receivers, one thing he ought to quickly be capable to showcase on Sundays with the beginning offense. Though Reagor mentioned he intends to proceed contributing on scout staff.
Patriots’ Kendrick Bourne opens up about final season’s struggles
“Scout team is fun for me,” he mentioned. “I can also work on my craft, but those types of receivers have a lot of freedom in the offenses. So being on scout team is just having fun.”
Ahead of Sunday’s showdown at Miami, Reagor declined to disclose a lot about simulating Hill. There was one unavoidable reality, nevertheless: further working.
As one of many NFL’s quickest gamers, Hill ranks among the many league’s leaders in pre-snap movement and deep routes.
“Before and during the play, you do everything he does. It’s a bunch of stuff, it’s crazy,” Reagor mentioned. “And I can see why they throw him the ball a lot.”
A deep risk himself, Reagor shared the final two months in New England have helped spherical out his recreation. In faculty at TCU, he ran the identical handful of routes enjoying inside a easy scheme that prioritized tempo and deep passing. But now, he is comfy tracing each department of the NFL route tree.
Reagor additionally believes he is grown personally, having endured all of the ache and criticism that accompanies failing to fulfill first-round expectations in a market like Philadelphia. He’s left social media behind, and divorced his self-worth from the opinions of strangers. He’s discovered objective in follow, and the reps that elevated him and a protection dominating the perfect within the recreation.
“It might be a blessing in disguise. Maybe I needed to be in a place like this, where hard work is the sole purpose. Who knows?” Reagor mentioned. “I’m just optimistic because at the end of the day, it can’t get worse.”
Pats’ commerce candidates dealing with finale?
Is this goodbye?
Whether the Patriots win or lose in Miami, a number of key gamers will face the chance they’ve performed their last recreation in New England.
The Pats will probably be a sub-.500 staff when the NFL’s commerce deadline arrives Tuesday at 4 p.m.. The entrance workplace has obtained a number of calls about their impending free brokers, a supply advised the Herald’s Doug Kyed. One front-office supply expects at the very least one commerce to be “definitely possible.”
Among the Patriots’ prime commerce candidates are extensive receiver Kendrick Bourne, move rusher Josh Uche, security Kyle Dugger and offensive lineman Mike Onwenu. All of them are on expiring contracts. Veteran tight finish Hunter Henry and beginning left sort out Trent Brown have additionally rumored as potential commerce targets, although their standings on the depth chart and within the locker room ought to hold them in Foxboro.
This week, Uche, who’s at the moment coping with a foot damage, addressed the potential for an extension and commerce with the Patriots.
“My agent’s been in communication with the team. I’ve had some communications. I’m not gonna really disclose with whom or what it was about,” he advised the Herald. “So I simply know I wish to play soccer, I might like to be in New England, and on the finish of day it comes all the way down to me doing all the things I can.
“And that starts with playing football, so that’s where my priority is right now.”
Meanwhile, Dugger insisted he knew little about any commerce rumors.
What’s the chance Patriots make a deal at subsequent week’s NFL commerce deadline?
“Honestly I haven’t heard too much about that,” he mentioned. “I just keep trying to focus on the field.”
As for communication together with his brokers, Dugger added: “If something happens, obviously I have to know about it, but (my agents) just let me focus on playing football, trying to get better and be better.”
Onwenu is taking an identical mindset forward of the deadline. His worth may rise across the league if he continues to play at proper sort out, a place that pays larger than proper guard.
“No, I haven’t thought about it,” he mentioned of a doable commerce. “I mean, whatever happens, happens. I can’t control it.”
Last week, Bourne admitted the commerce deadline will weigh on his thoughts. This is the second straight season the Patriots have taken calls from outdoors entrance workplaces about his availability.
“Definitely will be on my mind, but just being ready for whatever man,” Bourne mentioned. “I want to be here, I would love to be here. But if there are other plans, then it is what it is.”
Dugger dissatisfied in his play
Through seven video games, one of many Patriots’ 5 greatest gamers is enjoying something prefer it.
Safety Kyle Dugger has extra pressures as a move rusher than move breakups in protection. He’s but to drive a turnover. He’s whiffing on greater than 10% of his sort out makes an attempt and monitoring for one of many worst Pro Football Focus grades of his profession.
“Personally, I don’t feel like I’ve played even close to my best ball,” he mentioned. “So I’m just trying to build and get into that. Fundamentally, things like that, just get myself playing better ball … get the simple things back in alignment.”
What does Dugger consider he is missing?
“Just missed opportunities when I watch the film,” he mentioned. “It might not be something that’s super obvious to anybody outside, but just things that I know personally, you know, I should have done better you know, go offense, things I didn’t take advantage of whatever reason.”
Dugger mentioned enjoying extra free security in Devin McCourty’s absence hasn’t contributed to his struggles. The Patriots suffered from communication points of their secondary throughout a latest three-game dropping streak towards Dallas, New Orleans and Las Vegas.
“No, I’m not gonna let that — that’s something that I think the defense needs somebody needs to do, and I feel like I have to do that,” he mentioned. “I don’t think that’s an excuses. I just have to be better fundamentally.”
Quote of the Week
“I’m not a big space guy.” — Patriots heart David Andrews explaining why he is by no means seen Star Wars.
Source: www.bostonherald.com