6 rings: Patriots continue positive momentum with another very efficient practice
Patriots wide receiver Demario Douglas has taken the Foxborough area by storm over the last two weeks. The rookie sixth-round pick out of Liberty has put his speed, quickness, ability to get open, and understanding of New England's offense on full display since the start of training camp.
Wide receiver's coach Troy Brown, howver, is staying patient:
"I haven't seen a big enough sample yet," Brown said when asked about Douglas on Friday. "I'll put him in a bucket with the rest of the rookies."
The rest of the rookie group includes fellow sixth-round pick Kayshon Boutte and UDFAs Malik Cunningham and Thyrick Pitts. Ed Lee, who the Patriots signed out of Rhode Island, was also a member of the group but was released on Wednesday.
Douglas isn't just playing well on scout team. The shifty pass catcher is getting legitimate reps with the first-team, and getting open for Mac Jones in the slot almost at will, something Troy Brown knows about all too well from his time in a Patriots uniform. When we spoke to the 5-foot-8 Douglas last week, he was asked about both Brown and some of the other small-framed pass catchers New England has had success over the last two decades:
“I watch what they do [on film], because they were successful and I want to be successful.”
When the Patriots staff coached at the East-West Shrine Bowl this past February, Douglas was a part of their squad. Co-wide receivers coach Ross Douglas was asked about what he's seen from the rookie since they worked together in Vegas:
“A lot of the same things we saw at the Shrine Bowl. His ability to make things happen, makes people miss.” He added that Demario is still very young and has a long way to go.
The Patriots staff clearly doesn’t want to put the cart before the horse here, but if Douglas continues to put on display the skillset he’s shown over the last several weeks through joint practices and preseason games, he’ll be a shoo-in for a roster spot. Not only that, but “Pop Shotta”, as Mac Jones calls him, will also have a real chance at making plays on Sundays.
Make sure to follow Mike on Twitter @mikekadlick, and follow @WEEI for the latest up-to-date Patriots and Boston sports news!
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