PATRIOTS NEWS Patriots Training Camp 7-30-2023

[One-If-By-Sea]

The dude looks like he's growing Weed on his head...

Attracts a lot of women his age I am sure you know that feeling.

 

[jdlboot14]

Douglas might be legitimately 5'8", but he's not far off from Tyreek Hill. Who seems not really 5'10" as listed.
Hill might be 1" taller, (officially) 0.14 seconds faster (8 years ago), and the same weight as Pop.
Just saying - his "size" isn't a big concern if he can provide even half of what Hill does.

 

[Patriot Missile]

Steve Smith was 5’9 195. In no way am I comparing a rookie to his greatness. But it was nice to see the commitment to his body and career.

 

[Ring 6]

Douglas might be legitimately 5'8", but he's not far off from Tyreek Hill. Who seems not really 5'10" as listed.
Hill might be 1" taller, (officially) 0.14 seconds faster (8 years ago), and the same weight as Pop.
Just saying - his "size" isn't a big concern if he can provide even half of what Hill does.

Hill was 5’8.13” at the combine

 

[Ross12]

It is good to hear that the offense appeared to "open up" and have its best day once they finally left the red zone. Makes sense. It's always harder when you have less space to work with and the defense has less space to defend. If things didn't improve, it'd be cause for concern. So not going to be overly optimistic, but does sound like things are on track. I was most encouraged by the snippets about Demario and about Mac correctly reading a late blitz and beating it for a TD. That was really a sore spot last year. Sounds like BOB has Mac in a better place this year mentally.

 

[Ring 6]

It is good to hear that the offense appeared to "open up" and have its best day once they finally left the red zone. Makes sense. It's always harder when you have less space to work with and the defense has less space to defend. If things didn't improve, it'd be cause for concern. So not going to be overly optimistic, but does sound like things are on track. I was most encouraged by the snippets about Demario and about Mac correctly reading a late blitz and beating it for a TD. That was really a sore spot last year. Sounds like BOB has Mac in a better place this year mentally.

This will be an above average offense. I have no doubt about that. The defense will be among the best.
Ball security, and red zone success will determine how far this team goes.

 

[Patsgofor4]

Welker was 5’8” 3/4, 195 at his pro day. If Douglas flames out, I doubt that it will be due to his size.

 

[Ross12]

Welker was 5’8” 3/4, 195 at his pro day. If Douglas flames out, I doubt that it will be due to his size.

Welker is a good comp from a frame standpoint.

 

[Ring 6]

Welker is a good comp from a frame standpoint.

But there are 1000s of guys that fit that comp and almost none are good nfl players, so it’s more a “not impossible” than “likely”

 

[PScottman]

Ball security, and red zone success will determine how far this team goes.

I would add injuries (and depth to potentially weather them) and offensive line play to those two factors as well. There are always multiple variables that contribute to a successful campaign.

 

[A Defiant Goose]

He weighed 175 at the Shrine Bowl, and 179 at both the Combine & his pro day. It's really only a dozen pounds he's gained.

And even then unless he was a 13 year old prepubescent boy who has never lifted any weights in his life and who then took steroids and applied himself like a professional bodybuilder over the next 6 or 7 months there's no way he put on that much muscle that quickly

 

[Horace's Ivories]

lots of positives - nice.

 

[patsinthesnow]

It’s encouraging to hear the offense had a good day when they opened it up more as opposed to mostly redzone work. I went to training camp last year & it was the worst patriots offense I’ve seen by far. Pretty sure they didn’t have one good day offensively & the running game was a mess. Having one productive day is already an improvement!!

Something to monitor with Douglas is where he’s producing in training camp & the preseason. When it’s with the first team (Jakobi Meyers, J.C. Jackson, etc.) it’s a good sign. When it’s with the scout team (Ralph Webb, Chris Harper, etc.) you should probably pump the breaks. Him earning reps with the first team is a good start.

 

[scott99]

Jack Jones opposite Gonzo is what i needed to read

If Jones could stay out of prison, that is the future at corner (Jones and Gonzo).

 

[scott99]

These Patriots Rookies Are ‘Popping’ in Early Stages of Training Camp

The Patriots rookie class is coming along nicely in the very early stages of training camp.

www.patriots.com

New England's top three draft selections are coming along nicely, but this scribe is most excited about Douglas emerging as a real possibility to make the roster at wide receiver. Although it's important to temper expectations until all these rookies perform well in padded practices and beyond, there's a lot to like about Douglas's game.

With the 5-foot-8, 192-pound slot receiver surrounded by bigger teammates in the wide receiver room, Douglas stands out as the lone jitterbug of the group. The Liberty product is a slick route-runner with good separation quickness to lose defenders at the top of routes.

For instance, Douglas's first competitive rep in team drills during Sunday's practice saw him turn Myles Bryant around on a five-yard out, but the ball didn't come in his direction. Later in practice, it did, mainly when Douglas came in short motion into a two-receiver stack. Douglas broke inside, hit Marcus Jones with a sudden hesitation move, and adjusted to a slightly off-target throw by Bailey Zappe for six. Next, he wisely recognized a slot blitz and broke on an out route to get open against safety Adrian Phillips. Then, Douglas ran a filthy 'whip' route to shake fellow rookie Isaiah Bolden, broke Bolden's 'tackle' by ducking underneath him, and got some love from head coach Bill Belichick for his efforts.

"It's a blessing. It's a blessing to be out here and be out here with my brothers," Douglas told reporters on Sunday. "I just come here and do what I can. I take every play, play-by-play, so I just keep going."

I liked the Douglas pick way more than the Boutte pick when we made those picks. Douglas has that speed and quickness, maybe more so than any slot receiver we’ve ever had. Edelman, Welker, Branch and Brown had that short distance quickness, cutting and route running that drove defenders crazy, but I think Douglas adds that straight line speed that maybe only Brown and Branch had. Might be faster than they were. Time will tell. Branch and Brown were able to get open deep, and of course Brown and Edelman were great punt returners. But I would definitely say Douglas certainly fits the mold of a classic Pat’s slot receiver.

Can you imagine having Douglas, Marcus Jones and Thornton all out there at the same time ? Thornton with his straight line deep speed, and Jones & Douglas with the shiftiness, and deep speed to go the distance.

 

[WinstonSmith]

And even then unless he was a 13 year old prepubescent boy who has never lifted any weights in his life and who then took steroids and applied himself like a professional bodybuilder over the next 6 or 7 months there's no way he put on that much muscle that quickly

I think that you're being a tad dramatic. Some folks can put on muscle easier than others. Putting on 2 plus pounds per month by using legal supplements and having a structured workout regiment is feasible.

 

[Zuma]

I liked the Douglas pick way more than the Boutte pick when we made those picks. Douglas has that speed and quickness, maybe more so than any slot receiver we’ve ever had. Edelman, Welker, Branch and Brown had that short distance quickness, cutting and route running that drove defenders crazy, but I think Douglas adds that straight line speed that maybe only Brown and Branch had. Might be faster than they were. Time will tell. Branch and Brown were able to get open deep, and of course Brown and Edelman were great punt returners. But I would definitely say Douglas certainly fits the mold of a classic Pat’s slot receiver.

Can you imagine having Douglas, Marcus Jones and Thornton all out there at the same time ? Thornton with his straight line deep speed, and Jones & Douglas with the shiftiness, and deep speed to go the distance.

I was originally pulling for Boutte because I saw some Antonio Brown in him. Douglas seemed like a small gadget player to me but I am really happy to be wrong so far on him. I think he’s at an ok weight now and his quickness is still off the charts so far. Let’s see things go this week with pads.

 

[A Defiant Goose]

I think that you're being a tad dramatic. Some folks can put on muscle easier than others. Putting on 2 plus pounds per month by using legal supplements and having a structured workout regiment is feasible.

In one offseason, 20 lbs of muscle for an experienced lifter is just impossible unless you're talking about another 20 lbs of fat and using drugs. A new lifter maybe, but a professional athlete? Just not happening. I can see if he gained 20lbs of weight over 8 months and maybe 5-10 lbs of that is muscle (which is a ton of muscle on its own accord for such a timeframe)

 

[signbabybrady]

In one offseason, 20 lbs of muscle for an experienced lifter is just impossible unless you're talking about another 20 lbs of fat and using drugs. A new lifter maybe, but a professional athlete? Just not happening. I can see if he gained 20lbs of weight over 8 months and maybe 5-10 lbs of that is muscle (which is a ton of muscle on its own accord for such a timeframe)

 

[Ochmed Jones]

Sunday Patriots Notes: What the first week of training camp taught us about the 2023 Patriots

Notes and thoughts on the Patriots on July 30.

www.patspulpit.com

Christian Gonzalez looks like a steal: The Patriots raised quite a few eyebrows when they were able to snatch Oregon cornerback Christian Gonzalez with the 17th overall selection in this year’s draft. Gonzalez, after all, was projected as an almost sure-fire top-10 pick but inexplicably fell down the board. That drop becomes even more puzzling when looking at the first-round rookie’s performance this last week: he did not win all of his battles, but he impressed nonetheless and is well on his way to earn not just a starting role this season but possibly also become New England’s No. 1 cornerback further down the stretch.

All of that being said, we need to add a bit of a disclaimer: those are only preliminary takeaways, and things can change quickly in training camp and preseason. The addition of full pads to the practice operation in particular has the potential for change.

Gonzalez is a very touchy guy! Hands all over receivers! Could be a lot of pass interference penalties in his future