FOXBORO — There’s one clear and apparent means the Patriots can probably enhance their league-worst offense: Get rookie vast receiver Demario Douglas on the sphere extra.
Extenuating circumstances have saved Douglas from receiving a full slate of snaps six weeks into the season. He fumbled in Week 2 and was benched for the rest of the Patriots’ Week 2 loss to the Dolphins. Then he was working his means again into incomes belief within the offense earlier than leaving the group’s Week 5 loss to the Saints early with a concussion. Douglas missed Week 6 however has returned to follow forward of the group’s Week 7 matchup in opposition to the Bills.
“I think he has a very important role,” Patriots vast receiver Kendrick Bourne stated this week. “Pop is great in man-to-man. You don’t really know the threat he brings I feel like for opposing defenses. He can do a lot of things that — I think people doubt him, being an underdog in a sense, small guy. He just needs to keep doing that, making those big plays. He’s very explosive. I think he can be great. He just has to keep working and doing it and want it every day. For all of us.”
Douglas has been praised for his capability to get open in man protection. Head coach Bill Belichick was requested how he’s seen the 2023 sixth-round choose enhance in opposition to zone.
“Yeah, Demario’s a smart player,” Belichick stated Friday morning. “He’s not a huge target, but he’s fast, he’s quick, got good receiving skills. Yeah, he can get open.”
Douglas has 10 catches on 17 targets for 143 yards to date this season with 67 of his 81 snaps popping out of the slot. The Liberty product might be the Patriots’ best weapon getting open in opposition to man protection, however he’s additionally confirmed to be an efficient deep goal regardless of his 5-foot-8, 192-pound body. Quarterback Mac Jones has accomplished 3-of-6 deep passes to Douglas for 89 yards and is 2-of-18 concentrating on his different go catchers on passes of 20-plus yards.
Veteran vast receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster has been the Patriots’ major slot receiver this season however has struggled in 5 video games, catching simply 14 passes on 25 targets for 86 yards. He additionally missed Week 7 with a concussion.
With a 1-5 file and going through a juggernaut within the Bills this weekend, now can be a very good time to see if a full share of snaps from Douglas may add a jolt to the offense.
Douglas ranks seventeenth amongst 95 certified vast receivers with 2.27 yards per route run. Smith-Schuster is 77th at 0.89 yards per route run.
Source: www.bostonherald.com