Patriots
Mac Jones, Demario Douglas, and Marte Mapu have all impressed to this point throughout coaching camp.
FOXBOROUGH — With 12 full-squad practices now within the books, we’re lastly beginning to see a little bit of separation amid a couple of of the extra aggressive segments of the 2023 Patriots roster.
Because the Patriots brace themselves for his or her preseason opener in opposition to the Texans on Thursday evening, right here’s a have a look at who’s rising and falling on New England’s depth chart by means of the primary few two weeks of coaching camp.
STOCK UP
QB Mac Jones
There are many questions surrounding New England’s offense, particularly relating to the state of the group’s offensive line.
However Jones’ personal play — and his standing on the depth chart — has not been a difficulty to this point throughout coaching camp. For the entire speak surrounding a possible QB competitors between Jones and backup Bailey Zappe throughout camp, that hasn’t translated so far as the allocation of reps between each sign callers.
Jones has earned a majority of snaps with New England’s anticipated prime offensive weapons like JuJu Smith-Schuster, DeVante Parker and Hunter Henry, whereas Zappe has primarily operated with New England’s backups.
As famous by MassLive’s Mark Daniels, Jones has accomplished 68% (99-of-146) of his passes in aggressive group drills by means of the primary 11 practices, whereas Zappe has accomplished 59% (86-of-145).
Invoice O’Brien’s affect as New England’s OC has already been felt, with Jones and the Patriots using loads of pre-snap reads and totally different formations throughout their aggressive drills, resulting in a marked enchancment within the group’s offense from what we first noticed within the early days of camp.
Jones to this point is wanting like a longtime quarterback within the NFL ranks — reasonably than the rudderless sign caller who couldn’t discover any traction in final 12 months’s dysfunctional offense.
WR Demario Douglas
No participant has elevated their inventory greater than Douglas, who was as soon as considered as being on the surface wanting in at significant reps in 2023.
However the Patriots’ 2023 sixth-round decide has arguably been New England’s most reliable playmaker to this point throughout camp. He first put himself on the media’s radar by primarily working with Jones and the first-team unit throughout early drills, with these reps translating to tangible manufacturing.
MassLive’s Mark Daniels tweeted on Tuesday that Douglas is the present chief in receptions to this point throughout camp with 23 — greater than different established skills like Smith-Schuster (21) and Henry (21).
An explosive athlete and crisp route-runner, Douglas has torched his teammates to this point throughout 1v1 drills, with the previous Liberty College standout but to lose a rep in opposition to a defensive again.
His 5-foot-8 body does elevate some considerations about his sturdiness, however Douglas has doled out some heavy blocks throughout drills, and has been powerful to convey down throughout live-tackling conditions. He doesn’t seem to be the kind of participant to shrink back from contact.
Add in his added special-teams reps, and Douglas positive looks like a lock to make the 53-man roster subsequent month. New England might need one other late-round steal on its fingers.
LB Marte Mapu
A standout expertise throughout New England’s minicamp, the 2023 third-round decide has continued to shine as a featured contributor on New England’s first-team protection.
Regardless that he noticed seems at each security and linebacker earlier this offseason, he has earned most of his snaps with New England’s different prime LBs like Ja’Whaun Bentley and Mack Wilson throughout camp.
He nonetheless must shed his non-contact jersey (a results of surgical procedure to restore a torn pectoral muscle in February), however Mapu’s velocity, instincts, and consciousness have stood out throughout aggressive drills.
TE Hunter Henry
Mac Jones’ most dependable red-zone goal in 2021 appears primed for a bounce-back season.
After spending most of final offseason rehabbing from shoulder surgical procedure, Henry had the chance to coach extensively this spring and even dropped some weight. It’s straightforward to identify the distinction in aggressive drills, as Henry has routinely reeled in powerful throws from Mac Jones and has accomplished loads of injury in red-zone conditions.
Henry figures to be a giant piece in New England’s offense in 2023, though his affect may very well be negated if O’Brien has to allocate extra blocking duties in an effort to account for a lackluster O-line.
WR DeVante Parker
For the entire speak of New England whiffing on a confirmed No. 1 wideout in DeAndre Hopkins, Parker appears to be embracing the problem of being Jones’ go-to deep risk in 2023.
When wholesome, Parker could be an efficient pass-catching risk (539 yards over 13 video games in 2022), particularly when utilizing his 6-foot-3, 219-pound body to reel in powerful catches in tight protection.
Time and time once more this camp, Parker has drawn cheers from the crowds on the follow fields after hauling in catches alongside the sidelines and in the long run zone — even with defensive backs normally draped throughout him.
Jones isn’t essentially a QB whose sport revolves across the deep ball, however a wholesome and engaged Parker provides the Patriots’ offense a much-needed factor as an out of doors risk.
WR Kayshon Boutte
It wasn’t the most effective begin for Boutte throughout his brief time up within the NFL ranks to this point, with the previous five-star recruit out of LSU restricted throughout minicamp and failing to make a lot of an affect throughout aggressive drills.
However over the past week, Boutte has seemingly made essentially the most of his reps, particularly in wake of Tyquan Thornton getting relegated to extra second-team work with Zappe.
The 21-year-old receiver has continued to stack good days in camp with a couple of standout segments, together with a nifty one-handed snag off a excessive throw from Malik Cunningham on Monday.
It stays to be seen the place precisely Boutte components into what seems like a reasonably crowded receiver room. However give credit score the place it’s due. The rookie is making a push and benefiting from the added snaps the coaches are giving him.
LB Josh Uche
Let’s face it, we can provide any variety of gamers in New England’s entrance seven on protection the nod right here. And given the state of the Patriots’ O-line, nearly any completed go rusher (Matt Judon) or bodily pressure up entrance (Christian Barmore) has constantly accomplished some injury throughout aggressive drills.
However we’ll give a tip of the cap to Uche, who continues to search out himself within the backfield each time the ball is snapped. Forward of a doubtlessly enormous payday, the fourth-year go rusher appears poised to construct off of his 11.5-sack season in 2022.
CB Jonathan Jones
He’s missed a few of previous couple of practices, however one of many elder statesmen of New England’s secondary has been efficient each time he’s been on the sphere. The strides made by youthful gamers like rookie Christian Gonzalez and second-year nook Jack Jones may have pushed Jonathan Jones again to his common spot at slot nook.
However to this point, Jonathan Jones has greater than held his personal matching up in opposition to prime wideouts on the boundary throughout camp.
STOCK STEADY
WR Kendrick Bourne
Had we launched this record a couple of days in the past, Bourne seemingly would have discovered himself on the “inventory dropping” record, provided that the 28-year-old appeared to be largely phased out of the Patriots’ first-team offense throughout passing conditions.
Granted, he has began to return on as of late with a couple of nifty snags throughout aggressive reps. Bourne was one in all Mac Jones’ most reliable receiving threats in 2021, when he totaled 800 yards and 5 touchdowns. An analogous lead to 2023 would do wonders for a Patriots offense trying to proper the ship.
TE Mike Gesicki
Very similar to Bourne, Gesicki — one in all New England’s prime free-agent pickups — seemingly would have been a lot additional down on our record if we had been wanting on the first week-plus of camp.
However after failing to make a lot of an affect early on, the 27-year-old tight finish has began to type a strong rapport with Jones. After reeling in a one-handed catch from Jones throughout a 7v7 section on Sunday, Gesicki had the catch of camp to this point on Tuesday with a one-handed landing catch with Jabrill Peppers throughout him in protection.
“It’s fairly spectacular. I obtained a good view so I’m excited to observe that on movie,” Hunter Henry mentioned of Gesicki’s catch. “I imply, it’s who he’s. It’s what he does. It’s what he’s accomplished on this league. That was a giant time play.”
CB Jack Jones
Jack Jones is a tricky participant to gauge right here. By way of on-the-field manufacturing, his protection expertise and ball-hawk instincts are evident. He’s been a ache in each Mac Jones and Zappe’s sides all camp, recording a minimum of 5 go break-ups throughout drills.
However whether or not it’s his looming authorized points or his incident final Thursday the place it regarded like he stormed off the follow area, Jones’ availability and maturity stays a serious concern.
He has the entire expertise in place to be an efficient beginning nook up within the NFL ranks. It stays to be seen if he’s truly going to get the inexperienced gentle to get these alternatives.
STOCK DROPPING
New England’s tackles
Trent Brown’s return can’t come quickly sufficient.
New England’s offensive line has usually been a large number throughout camp, resulting in the Patriots’ protection recording a minimum of 5 “sacks” in every of the final three full-squad practices.
Accidents to Cole Unusual and Mike Onwenu have severely hindered the inside of New England’s O-line. However with Brown nonetheless working his approach again from a lingering ailment, the Patriots’ remaining tackles haven’t precisely impressed confidence.
Be it veteran free-agent pickup Riley Reiff or Conor McDermot, Mac Jones has confronted loads of stress each time New England’s tackles have confronted warmth on the surface.
Jones could be in line for a standout season, particularly with O’Brien working the present on offense. However the entire strides made on offense this preseason received’t matter all that a lot if Jones spends a majority of the group’s drives slammed into the turf.
WR Tyquan Thornton
Thornton’s straight-line velocity and shiftiness performed a serious function in why New England opted to pick the previous TCU standout within the second spherical of the 2022 NFL Draft.
However considerations over his body (6-foot-2, 185 kilos) have but to subside throughout camp, with the 23-year-old receiver nonetheless struggling to achieve that a lot traction throughout aggressive drills. After lacking minicamp because of a soft-tissue harm, Thornton’s targets to this point in camp have led to a justifiable share of go breakups and different lackluster outcomes.
The expertise is there, however Thornton’s struggles with getting himself open, staying wholesome, and combating by means of contact are elevating questions as as to whether or not he can carve out a featured function on this offense.
CB Marcus Jones
Jones is anticipated to do loads of injury this season on particular groups. However to this point, his outcomes as New England’s slot nook have been extra of a combined bag. At 5-foot-8, Jones isn’t anticipated to be a reliable choice on the boundary. However the speedster has additionally been burned loads of occasions in short-yardage and 1v1 conditions in opposition to gamers like Demario Douglas.
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