Patriots mailbag: Could young receiver take snaps from JuJu Smith-Schuster?
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As the Patriots look to add more explosive plays into their offense, a young wide receiver who ranks as one of the NFL’s fastest players is close to being eligible to return off of injured reserve.
The top question this week is about what kind of role Tyquan Thornton could see in the offense.
Let’s get into this week’s mailbag:
@PeterHoults
Hey Doug, this is my first time asking a mail Doug question. Do you see Thornton taking juju’s spot when he comes back?
I don’t think Patriots 2022 second-round pick Tyquan Thornton, who’s eligible to return in Week 5, will immediately take JuJu Smith-Schuster’s role, but if the offense continues to struggle, then he is an in-house option to potentially provide a spark.
The issue is that Thornton had fallen behind Smith-Schuster, DeVante Parker, Kendrick Bourne and rookie Demario Douglas with a shaky training camp. So even if Thornton is healthy enough to come off of injured reserve next week, he’ll need to work his way back up the depth chart.
I just need to see it to be convinced that Thornton can contribute meaningfully to the Patriots. He ran hot and cold over training camp after a very quiet rookie season. And he’s had a lot of trouble staying healthy early in his career.
After Thornton was passed by a rookie on the depth chart this summer, a team source said the wide receiver still has a lot to prove.
He caught 22 passes for 247 yards with two touchdowns last season while playing over half of the Patriots’ offensive snaps.
The Patriots do need his speed element in the offense, however. He just needs to prove that he can be an explosive threat, because despite having 4.2-second 40-yard dash speed, he averaged just over 11 yards per reception last year.
@bobhenry
Seemed like Kayshon Boutte was on the verge of earning more snaps. Is his opportunity mostly based on injuries in front of him or might he earn more snaps soon on his own merit?
I feel like a lot has been made out of Kayshon Boutte being a healthy scratch the last two weeks. I think he probably would have been a healthy scratch in Week 1 too, but DeVante Parker was injured, and Boutte is the Patriots’ backup “X” receiver.
He’s just simply further down the depth chart from other Patriots wide receivers. He has a ton of potential, but he’s still a rookie, and the team liked what they saw out of Douglas more this summer.
@YarrBill
What’s up with Adrian Phillips’ snap count
It sounds like it’s a combination of things keeping safety Adrian Phillips’ snap count down through three weeks. After playing 62.3% of snaps in 2022, he’s only been on the field for 18.75% of snaps this season.
But the Patriots have just added players who are younger and faster than Phillips. And the defense is playing well with him having just a limited role. So, until that changes, I don’t know if we’ll see a lot of him in the defense.
Kyle Dugger, Jabrill Peppers, Marte Mapu and Jalen Mills have all played more snaps that Phillips from the safety position. And Myles Bryant has taken on a big role early this season, as well.
@goonsofpitt
Keep asking the same question, do the Pats expect to have most of their O line back by Sunday?
Based on what we saw in practice on Thursday, it would be a bit of a surprise if left guard Cole Strange (knee) played. That would likely mean rookie Atonio Mafi filling in at left guard. Rookie Sidy Sow would be another possibility. Both Mafi and Sow started in Week 1 against the Eagles.
It’s been a tough year for Strange already. He missed most of the summer plus Week 1 with a knee injury and has really struggled when he’s been on the field.
He also struggled as a rookie. It’s too early to give up on Strange, but if Mafi or Sow play well in his absence, do we know for certain that he’s getting his starting job back?
That is putting the cart before the horse, though, because Mafi and Sow haven’t been phenomenal in limited action.
@BrianLeFort
What do you think the reasoning is for not utilizing Ty Montgomery in the running game as a third down back? Any chance they start to give it a try?
I just think the Patriots like having Rhamondre Stevenson and Ezekiel Elliott on the field more, and I can’t totally blame them.
A third-down back is useful if that’s a player like James White or Kevin Faulk or Dion Lewis or Danny Woodhead. I’m not sure if I’d put Montgomery in the same bucket. White, Faulk, Lewis and Woodhead were good enough that it was worth taking the early-down back off of the field.
@byanruckley
What’s your early impression of Marte Mapu?
He’s been solid. He’s moved around quite a bit in his limited snaps with 21 in the box, five in the slot and 20 at free safety. He’s also been a contributor on special teams.
I think he’s one of those guys who has taken some snaps away from Phillips.
@ashley1992__
Hi Doug, through 3 games so far, who has been the most pleasant surprise for the Patriots and who has been the biggest disappointment in your opinion?
My most pleasant surprise is Christian Gonzalez. Honestly, he struggled a lot more in training camp than he has during the regular season so far. He’s been very impressive.
Biggest disappointment is probably Smith-Schuster. I expected Stevenson to be better through the first three games, as well, but the offensive line can be blamed for his performance.
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