FOXBORO — Rookie huge receiver Demario Douglas’ 1-on-1 drills have been must-watch spectacles via the primary two weeks of coaching camp.
Douglas is undefeated — an ideal 8-for-8 — within the drills to this point. The 5-foot-8 huge receiver can put his foot within the floor, break and all of the sudden acquire a quarter-field of separation on his defender when matched up individually.
Half of these wins have come in opposition to one of many quickest gamers on the group in cornerback Marcus Jones, who’s a courageous soul for making an attempt to tackle Douglas any likelihood he can get.
“He’s a quick guy, for sure,” Jones mentioned Tuesday. “We’ve just been going at it every single time. Whenever I see him go up there, I try to go against him, he’s trying to go against me. Just trying to make each other better.”
Douglas, a 2023 sixth-round decide, credited Jones with making him sooner. The rookie has additionally overwhelmed cornerbacks Christian Gonzalez, Myles Bryant, Rodney Randle and Shaun Wade within the 1-on-1 drills. Douglas’ win over Bryant got here in a red-zone drill Tuesday on an in-route when his sudden quickness left the slot cornerback going through the flawed route and static whereas the rookie wideout simply hauled in quarterback Mac Jones’ move.
The key, based on Marcus Jones, is that Douglas by no means loses his momentum.
“I would say definitely his quickness, making sure he knows how to stem,” Jones mentioned when requested what makes Douglas so tough in these 1-on-1 assignments. “And then additionally getting out of his breaks. He’s actual fast. He doesn’t decelerate. Some receivers of their rookie yr decelerate out of their breaks, however he retains it going. That’s an incredible factor to have.
“And then also taking the coaching,” Jones added. “Coaches say something one time and he’s right on it, making sure that he’s trying to perfect it. So that’s a great thing to have.”
Douglas has change into a favourite goal of backup quarterback Bailey Zappe in full-team aggressive drills all through coaching camp. He has two latest catches from starter Mac Jones, as properly, as he seems to be ascending up the huge receiver pecking order.
“I’m getting opportunity working with either quarterback, whoever I go with,” Douglas mentioned. “As long as I get an opportunity, I say I try to maximize every time I’m in, going 1s, 2s or 3s.”
It was notable to see Douglas earn time with the Patriots’ quarterbacks, huge receivers JuJu Smith-Schuster, DeVante Parker, Kendrick Bourne and Tyquan Thornton and tight ends Hunter Henry and Mike Gesicki on Tuesday whereas the remainder of the group labored on kickoff drills. He did muff a punt on Tuesday and took a lap across the follow subject.
It bears watching how the huge receiver depth shakes out earlier than Week 1 in simply over a month. Douglas has extra catches from quarterback Mac Jones over the previous week than second-year professional Tyquan Thornton. Thornton had a strong day of follow Tuesday, nevertheless, profitable each of his 1-on-1 drills over Wade and Gonzalez and catching three passes throughout full-team drills.
“Better than last year,” Belichick mentioned Tuesday earlier than follow about Thornton. “Much better idea of what to do, how to do it, how to prepare, what to expect. Smart kid, works hard, understands a lot.”
JuJu Smith-Schuster, DeVante Parker, Kendrick Bourne and Thornton — as a 2022 second-round decide — all look like locks for the 2023 roster. But Douglas is pushing Thornton for reps in follow, and fellow 2023 sixth-rounder Kayshon Boutte has proven particular traits in follow after a sluggish begin to coaching camp. Boutte hauled in among the best catches of coaching camp Monday on a considerably errant throw from rookie quarterback/huge receiver Malik Cunningham. Boutte leaped within the air and hauled within the move one-handed within the nook of the top zone.
Smith-Schuster, Parker, Bourne and Douglas have earned roster spots via coaching camp to this point. Thornton has the pedigree to earn one other yr within the offense although he’s missed time this summer time and been on the receiving finish of 1 too many move breakups. Boutte may power the Patriots to maintain a sixth huge receiver.
Boutte has made an particularly robust push within the final week. He fell to the sixth spherical resulting from an damage, a poor exhibiting on the NFL Scouting Combine and off-field issues, however he’s proven sufficient of the talents that after made him a five-star recruit popping out of highschool to doubtlessly persuade the Patriots that he’s price persevering with to develop.
The Patriots open preseason Thursday at Gillette Stadium in opposition to the Houston Texans. Expect to see plenty of Douglas and Boutte as Belichick mentioned, “The players who are least experienced will get the most playing time.”
If the Patriots hit on Boutte or Douglas, the group can be forgiven for not choosing a playmaker sooner than the sixth spherical of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Source: www.bostonherald.com