The Patriots’ offense was a slog last season. Screen after screen after screen. Nothing down the field. Totally undoing the surprising success of Mac Jones in his rookie season. But, Matt Patricia and his awful play-calling has been replaced with a competent Offensive Coordinator who has a history of leading an NFL offense. That in itself should be enough for change.
Juju Smith-Schuster signed a 3 year $25 million contract this off-season which will give the receiving group a big boost. But, as they add Smith-Schuster, Jakobi Meyers left to go play for his old OC in Las Vegas. The current receiving roster is Smith-Schuster, Devante Parker, Kendrick Bourne, Tyquan Thornton and then rookies Kayshon Boutte and Demario Douglas.
Parker is the supposed deep threat, he had 31 receptions for 539 yards in the 2022 season. Kendrick Bourne had a really good 2021 season but got in Matt Patricia’s doghouse for missing a meeting during Training Camp and was used minimally last season. He had 35 rec and 433 yards. Tyquan Thornton was a training camp revelation last year. After suffering an injury in the preseason he struggled to get on the field all year. As for the rookies, who knows. Boutte is an intriguing prospect but it is far too early to know what to expect.
I truly believe that the coaching change will bump everyone’s numbers up. It has to. Look at what the change in Jacksonville did. Remove Urban Meyer, get a real coach and then your in the Divisional Round the next season. The team still lacks a true number one receiver that you can go to in big moments. This group could be a solid group. It just may not be enough with the other receiving rooms in the division.
Photo by John Tlumacki/Boston Globe Staff
The Never Weres 
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