Patriots
“In fact you need the ball, however it’s concerning the staff.”
Kendrick Bourne and Invoice Belichick have stated and achieved all the best issues in terms of the wideout’s hopes of a clear slate in 2023.
After a disappointing 2022 marketing campaign the place the 27-year-old receiver was seemingly phased out of an already lackluster New England offense, Bourne opted to level the finger at himself for his dip in manufacturing.
Noting earlier within the offseason that he “didn’t give the staff my finest effort,” Bourne spent many of the summer season within the weight room. He gained 15 kilos of muscle after weighing simply 190 kilos final 12 months.
Belichick was fast to reward Bourne’s efforts to show the web page when requested concerning the receiver’s progress coming into his third season in Foxborough.
“Each method,” Belichick stated of the ways in which Bourne has improved. “Bodily it was good, mentally it was good, participation was good. He was good on the sector, good off the sector. Yeah, he had a very good offseason.”
Sadly for Bourne, these offseason efforts haven’t translated into tangible manufacturing out on the gridiron. A minimum of by means of the primary few days of coaching camp.
Via 4 full practices, Bourne has spent most of camp with the remainder of Mac Jones’ anticipated offensive; JuJu Smith-Schuster, DeVante Parker, Hunter Henry, Mike Gesicki, and Tyquan Thornton.
However regardless of these featured reps, Bourne has but to catch a move throughout aggressive staff drills thus far. In these 4 practices, he’s solely been focused twice.
It hasn’t precisely been the beginning that Bourne was on the lookout for. However the promising pass-catcher isn’t getting caught up within the good and unhealthy from 4 days of non-contact practices.
“In fact you need the ball, however it’s concerning the staff,” Bourne instructed reporters following Sunday’s follow at Gillette Stadium. We don’t rely stats. It’s all concerning the sport. So I simply gotta be ready within the sport, and coming into follow like I’m going to get the ball each time, operating my route like I’m going to get the ball, and within the sport, it’ll come collectively.
“Simply ensuring I’m getting touches. If I’m not getting it in follow, I’ve to verify I’m getting touches with the jugs. Simply catching with the teammates earlier than follow or no matter. Simply in order that I do know I’m getting catches. It’s all concerning the sport for me, although.”
A bounce-back season from Bourne shall be welcomed by Mac Jones and a Patriots offense that fully unraveled in 2022.
After reeling in 55 catches for 800 yards and 5 touchdowns in 2021, Bourne was restricted to simply 35 receptions for 434 yards in his second season with New England. His lone landing got here in Week 16 towards the Bengals.
All season lengthy, Bourne appeared to be caught in Matt Patricia’s doghouse, together with his candid feedback on the state of New England’s play calling probably hurting his trigger.
Regardless of his sub-standard play and evident frustration in New England’s dysfunctional offense final fall, Bourne appears prepared to start out contemporary.
Even together with his lack of touches within the final week, Bourne supplied up loads of reward for Belichick and his relationship with New England’s head coach.
“That’s simply my man,” Bourne stated of Belichick. “We’ve an excellent relationship. I take pleasure in being coached by him. It’s actually superior for my profession and to have the ability to simply say that after I’m achieved, every time that point is, it’s an honor to be near somebody like that. I do know after soccer, I’ll be capable of discuss to him, name him, by means of no matter it could appear to be, I’ve an excellent relationship with him.”
Invoice O’Brien’s arrival in Foxborough ought to supply hope that New England’s offense is due for a return to normalcy. If O’Brien is seeking to encompass Jones with reliable choices on offense, Bourne’s chemistry with the Patriots QB in 2021 stands as an already stable basis to construct from.
Bourne will nonetheless must show his price throughout camp. Each Smith-Schuster and Parker sit forward of him on the receiver depth chart, and he might want to compete for snaps alongside gamers like Thornton and even rookie Demario Douglas.
However after being left rudderless on a flimsy Patriots offense in 2022, Bourne believes the items are there for New England to make some noise within the months forward.
Ideally, Bourne is a part of that successful equation.
“I feel it’s about staying prepared, personally,” Bourne stated of his strategy this season. “There’s a plan the coaches have. You’ve received to observe it. You may’t get into beginning and if I’m in or not. That second would possibly come the place you is likely to be the largest participant of the sport and you’ll change the sport, so personally, that’s what I take into consideration.”
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