Patriots demand more work and better professionalism from players during team meetings originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
FOXBORO — If there was ever a time to do more, it would be now. The Patriots, sitting at 1-6, held a team meeting Thursday morning to discuss that same topic.
The fact that it needs to be said that there needs to be a reminder to spend more time maximizing production seems to be an indication that the collective mentality of the team is not where it should be.
And there may not be a position group on the team more representative of the still-inventing professional approach than New England’s wide receivers.
Javon Baker’s lack of route details and understanding of the offense has prevented him from contributing, offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt said earlier this season. Baker was listed on the injury report last Friday due to illness and was ruled inactive for the game against the Jaguars.
DeMario Douglas expressed disappointment in Jacoby Brissett’s lack of targets at quarterback and later apologized, explaining that he knew he shouldn’t act that way.
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Tyquan Thornton started the season as the starter – the team understood it needed a speed element to its offense – but has been a healthy scratch in recent weeks.
Ja’Lynn Polk suffered a series of drops in his rookie campaign, told MassLive.com he believes he has the best hands in the league, then dropped two passes that hit his hands in London before leaving with a concussion . He posted a peace sign on Instagram in the immediate aftermath of the 32-16 loss to Jacksonville.
Kayshon Boutte has been something of a bright spot in recent weeks. He has received long passes from Drake Maye in consecutive weeks, but still expressed some annoyance that he hasn’t seen more passes go his way.
“For me personally, I get frustrated in the game when I don’t get the ball thrown, knowing that I’ve caught every ball thrown to me this season,” Boutte said. “I just feel like I would always go to the sideline and demand the ball. So whether it was that deep ball, that’s what I asked for. The Texans play, that’s what I asked for. So I feel like that I shouldn’t have done that.” to really ask.”
KJ Osborn is now being touted by Van Pelt as perhaps the best leader in that position group. That makes Osborn’s comments on Wednesday all the more striking.
When asked if he wanted to be traded, he said with a laugh, “That’s like an alley. This is where I am. This is the place I signed up for. Many things are out of my control. I like to be where my feet are. Today I am here.
Osborn added that it was difficult being a veteran on a team that focuses on developing younger players.
“It’s extremely difficult. It’s frustrating,” Osborn said. “Many of those things are out of my control. The organization is going to do what is best for them. Or I would say: for us.”
Van Pelt was asked Thursday if he and his offensive staff should get together with the wideouts and get everyone on the same page.
“I think we all understand that we’re frustrated,” Van Pelt said. “Nobody will be happy at 1-6. It’s just the reality. But I think that space should mainly keep the focus inward. We have a big game this week, all our focus should be on how we can get a ‘W’. This is a very good opponent coming in.
“If we understand that frustration is part of losing football, the best way to take care of that is to get a win. Our focus right now has to be solely on the Jets because it’s a challenge.”
And part of the focus on the Jets game, according to Van Pelt, will be on their individual efforts throughout the week, on and off the field. Thursday’s team meeting focused on how individuals can do more.
When asked about his young wideouts and whether they are doing everything they can to prepare every day to put their best foot forward, Van Pelt alluded to the latest theme of the team meeting.
“We had a very nice team meeting this morning where this was pointed out,” said Van Pelt. “It’s clear that at 1-6 it’s not good enough for all of us.
“We have to be better. We have to work harder. We have to rehab harder. We have to refresh better. We have to take care of ourselves. We have to spend more time in the room. Good meeting this morning that demanded more from us everyone across the board , and those guys are included.”
Whether or not that meeting – and the focus it sought to encourage – resonated remains to be determined. The Jets game will serve as the No. 1 indicator in determining whether or not the message has landed.
