Patriots rookie Demario Douglas is separating himself from the pack to this point throughout coaching camp

Patriots

“I consider I simply must go on the market and present the coaches what I can do.”

Demario Douglas doesn’t precisely stand out among the many swarm of Patriots gamers jogging out onto New England’s apply fields.

Clocking in at 5-foot-8 and 192 kilos, Douglas doesn’t measure as much as big-bodied wideouts like DeVante Parker (6-foot-3, 215 kilos). He’s not going to be tasked with doling out blocks, preventing by way of safeties and snagging contested catches on deep routes.

However when he’s out on the sphere and will get in movement, it’s straightforward to see why the 2023 sixth-round choose is separating himself from the remainder of the pack at coaching camp.

By way of the primary 4 full practices of coaching camp, Douglas has earned loads of first-team reps with Mac Jones and his projected group of weapons like JuJu Smith-Schuster, Hunter Henry, Parker and others.

Sunday’s apply marked one other main step ahead for the 22-year-old receiver out of Liberty College.

Throughout aggressive drills, Douglas led all pass-catchers with 4 receptions off of 5 targets. Alternating between the primary and second-team models, Douglas has constantly been capable of separate himself from defenders because of an explosive first step and elite stop-and-start acceleration.

“I’ve been going with everyone,” Douglas informed reporters of his early workload throughout camp. “Whoever I am going with I really feel like I’m gonna go on the market and do what I’ve to do …I consider I simply must go on the market and present the coaches what I can do.”

Depend Invoice Belichick amongst those that have been impressed with the rookie’s fast begin in camp.

“Douglas had a superb spring and he’s adopted it up with just a few couple good practices right here,” Belichick mentioned. “Once more, coaching camp is a marathon, it’s not a 100-yard sprint. So, simply maintain grinding them collectively day after day. We’ve been within the crimson space. We’ll transfer out into the sphere after which we’ll get into third downs, begin placing all of it collectively.

“Pads haven’t been on but, in order that’s a part of the analysis for everyone, so we’ll see. All people has obtained a protracted method to go, however we’re making progress, guys are working laborious, you recognize, we’re getting higher. So, we’ll see the place it goes.”

It gained’t take very lengthy for Douglas to tackle the following hurdle of coaching camp, because the pads are anticipated to be placed on Monday morning in what could be a full-contact session at Gillette Stadium.

Despite the fact that lots has been made about Douglas’ smaller body, he’s landed with the appropriate crew by way of using his fleet-footed skillset.

Whether or not it’s Troy Brown, Wes Welker, Julian Edelman, or others, the Patriots have diced up opposing defenses for years because of undersized — however extremely expert — receivers working out of the slot.

Douglas hopes to be the newest addition to that established pipeline of expertise within the coming years.

“I’ve watched [Troy Brown],” Douglas mentioned. “[Wes] Welker — once they play highlights they’re those who was on there. I watch highlights and every thing that they do as a result of they was profitable. I must see what they do to develop into profitable.”

Past simply the anticipated challenges that await Douglas and any rookie trying to regulate to the NFL ranks, the younger wideout additionally faces an uphill climb this season in relation to New England’s depth chart.

Already, receivers Smith-Schuster, Parker, Tyquan Thornton, and Kendrick Bourne sit forward of Douglas, with Smith-Schuster the seemingly starter out of the slot place.

However given his standing as a comparatively unheralded sixth-round choice, Douglas’ early seems with the primary unit supply indicators that the rookie isn’t removed from factoring into New England’s plans at wideout.

“I need to have the ability to play wherever, as a result of being versatile has at all times been in my sport,” Douglas mentioned. “I’m able to play wherever he needs me to play, particularly particular groups however wherever. You’ll be able to put me wherever and I’m prepared to come back play.”