After being held catchless in the season opener against Seattle, Romeo Doubs looked a lot more like the wide receiver the Patriots thought he could be when they signed him to a four-year, $68 million contract this offseason.
Doubs hauled in three receptions on four targets for a game-high and career-high 96 yards in Week 2 against the Steelers, giving offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels plenty of reason for optimism.
“He’s in a good place. I thought Rome really stepped up and made some positive things happen the other day,” McDaniels said. “I think any time a player changes venues like Romeo has, there’s always going to be a period of acclimation. He’s getting acclimated to the players, he’s getting acclimated to the terminology, he’s getting acclimated to his coaches, our style, how we use him, and sometimes as coaches we want to use all the strengths and all the skills that these guys all have.
“So, you want to try to do a million things with them at the beginning, and I think one of the things we can do is try to focus on some of the things that he does well, and then we’ll add as we go. And I think we’ve kind of started to take that approach. Had a really good day at practice [Wednesday]. I love his attitude. I love this player. And I think he’s got a really bright future here for us. And he’s going to do a lot of good things for us.”
McDaniels isn’t the only one who has had good things to say about Doubs, who has quickly become a leader and mentor in a Patriots wide receiver room full of young talent.
“It’s been awesome. Anytime you get to learn from a veteran, it helps your game and helps you develop as a young guy. It’s been so cool and awesome to learn from him,” Efton Chism said. “He just plays so physical, and the different routes and different releases that he does. It’s just like something where you can kind of watch and see, like, man, it’s so unique.”
Kyle Williams added, “I love Romeo. I ain’t gonna lie, I feel like the way he plays is special. You don’t see a dude that size moving the way he moves. I mean, it’s astonishing watching him. I ask him so much. I try to pick his brain. I mean, he’s a great receiver in my eyes, and I’m so proud that like everybody else is able to notice that too.”
DeMario Douglas, who entered the league a year after Doubs, has also enjoyed learning from the fifth-year receiver.
“I love working with a guy like that. [He’s] got a lot of knowledge,” Douglas said. “He doesn’t say much, but he lets his playing do the talking.”
Two of Doubs’ receptions in Week 2 were explosive plays: a 29-yard catch and a 63-yard reception. The latter was the longest play of Doubs’ career and the second-longest completion of quarterback Drake Maye’s career.
With A.J. Brown out through at least Week 5 and likely beyond that, the Patriots will need more of that from Doubs. They need a playmaker who can help energize an offense that has been looking to generate explosive plays through the first two weeks of the season.
Perhaps the Jaguars’ defense provides an opportunity for Doubs to generate more of those explosive plays. Jacksonville has allowed eight completions of 20-plus yards, with opponents completing 71.4% of passes traveling at least 20 yards in the air.
His fellow wide receivers believe he can be that kind of playmaker.
“Very big. He’s going through the roof, man,” Douglas said when asked about how big of a contributor Doubs can be for the offense. “I feel like as long as he just keeps progressing, keeps learning the plays, and gaining that confidence, man, he’s gonna be good.”
Added Kyle Williams, “As big as the room could get. You know what I’m saying? I mean, he could be — He is very special. I wouldn’t say he can be. He is special. It’s just gonna take time for everybody to see it. I’ve been seeing it since I was a kid, and now everybody’s starting to take notice. He’s one hell of a player.”
If the Patriots can keep Doubs involved, which should be a priority in Week 3, it could go a long way toward getting the offense back on track and freeing up the rest of a quiet wide receiver room that has combined for just 20 receptions through the first two games.
“The defense gotta put their eyes on him. They’ve gotta have their eyes on him. I feel like that helps me out,” Douglas said. “The more eyes on him, the less eyes on me. It helps me get open more.”
