FOXBORO — One of the extra intriguing questions heading into the Patriots’ 2023 season was who would emerge because the Patriots’ No. 1 vast receiver?
Coming out of coaching camp, the favorites, based mostly on pecking order in observe reps have been vast receivers DeVante Parker and JuJu Smith-Schuster, and tight finish Hunter Henry. Seven weeks into the season, a fourth candidate has not solely emerged, he’s almost doubling the Patriots’ subsequent prime go catchers in receiving yards.
Wide receiver Kendrick Bourne leads the Patriots with 34 catches, 370 yards and three touchdowns. The Patriots’ next-top goal, Henry, has 20 catches for 210 yards and two touchdowns. Parker has simply 14 catches for 144 yards, and Smith-Schuster hasn’t even cracked the century mark in receiving yards with 14 catches for 86 yards.
Henry has been constant as one of many Patriots’ prime offensive gamers, however Parker noticed observe squad elevation Jalen Reagor eat into his snaps in Week 7. Smith-Schuster may need misplaced his beginning slot job to Demario Douglas final week, as nicely. Meanwhile, Bourne is fifth on crew in offensive snaps. He was off of the sphere for simply 4 snaps in every of the final two video games, during which he has 16 catches for 152 yards with a landing.
He’s additionally been the NFL’s Eleventh-best vast receiver, per ESPN analytics, which makes use of “player-tracking data from NFL Next Gen Stats to evaluate every route a pass catcher runs and scores his performance in three phases of the game, from 0 to 99.”
He ranks fourth in yards after catch, thirty sixth in getting open and fortieth in catching, based mostly on these metrics.
So, what’s been going so proper?
“Just practicing well, executing well with the team,” Bourne mentioned. “Just focusing each and every day to make the plays work. Just practice as an overall group has been going good.”
This is the participant Patriots followers have been anticipating to see in 2022 as Bourne got here off of a profession yr in his first season in New England, catching 55 passes for 800 yards with 5 touchdowns in 2021 with Josh McDaniels as offensive coordinator. But Bourne noticed his snap depend lower in 2022 beneath Matt Patricia, and he disillusioned with simply 35 catches for 434 yards with one landing.
“I just was kind of not bought in last year, just going through a lot of personal things and mental battles,” Bourne mentioned. “And last year helped me a lot for this year, though. So when I look back at it, I’m thankful for it. It was some things I regret, but ultimately, it was God’s journey for me to become who I am right now. And so ultimately, it was worth it. But I definitely don’t want to go through it again.”
When requested if final yr’s teaching employees needed to do with Bourne not shopping for in, he mentioned he was simply not “personally, mentally” purchased in.
He was focusing extra on himself than soccer as he “turned his life around for God.” But in the long term, it made him a greater participant this season.
“I just lived with discipline, not partying, not doing things I used to do,” Bourne mentioned about final season. “And simply caring for my physique and never placing alcohol in my physique a lot, simply different issues, (not) hanging out girls and doing all of the — staying up all evening. The entire 9 life-style I type of modified round.
“And it was it was hard for me personally, and just was focusing on myself and football was hard to focus on. So two things at once in doing that ultimately made me a better football player.”
But studying to give attention to himself meant not doing the little issues within the facility all through the week final season. And he regretted how he was “approaching every day.”
“Not taking care of my body, going home too early and things like that,” Bourne mentioned. “Not getting treatment and getting in the tubs and the sauna. Just the little things after practice. You know, I would go to practice, I had good days but my body was aching. And now you know, (my) body still aches. Just doing it the right way. Now, my body feels a lot better. It can endure more.”
Bourne has discovered steadiness and adjusted to his new life-style, and with that has emerged a greater soccer participant.
He was in a position to bulk as much as 205 kilos over the offseason, and regardless of the trials of observe and sport snaps, he’s been in a position to preserve that weight on. He’s been working with Patriots dietician Ted Harper.
“I’m on a consistent nutrition routine,” Bourne mentioned. “Ted has me — I don’t eat strictly but I eat better than I used to. Last year that was my struggle too was my nutrition, eating unhealthy and so this year has been much better.”
Bourne is on tempo for profession highs this season as quarterback Mac Jones’ prime goal.
Source: www.bostonherald.com