FOXBOROUGH - Friday's release of JuJu Smith-Schuster was not surprising by any means — he's no longer the same player you saw in Pittsburgh or Kansas City — but it was wasteful. Midway through week one, it was evident that all the springtime buzz about him running better was either PR spin or someone in high places needing a stronger prescription for their glasses. That meant wasted reps for a player who had no chance at being part of your future.
"Yeah, it was a decision between Eliot [Wolf] and myself, really, to give the younger guys an opportunity to go out there and get more reps and show what they can do," said Jerod Mayo, speaking on the subject for the first time this morning.
Ok, better late than never, especially with a joint practice Tuesday against the Eagles and two more preseason games. Besides, the kiddie corp has been vocal about the wide receiver room being disrespected, so this is as good a time as any to state your case.
"Like coach said, when somebody goes down, or someone is released, it's another chance to step up," said vet K.J. Osborn. "You're getting evaluated every time you're out here on the field, so, you know, they'll just be more opportunity."
That puts the focus on players like third-year pro Tyquan Thornton, rookie JaQuae Jackson (TD catch Thursday), and Kayshon Boutte, who continues to have his moments - good and bad - as well (three catches in the first half, two incompletes that, frankly, he should have had).
"I feel like we all fighting for a job, but there's not a doubt in my mind I'm not gonna make the team," said Boutte of the competition. "I feel like I'm doing everything I'm supposed to do to make the team, and I feel like I'm gonna do more as time goes on."
Boutte's shown strong, if inconsistent, hands during his brief year-plus with the Patriots. He's also got one of those "softer" looking bodies (if I may cross sports, think Paul Pierce), but his conditioning has not been an issue here in July and August, for good reason. It was his primary off-season goal.
"Physicality," he said of what's different between this year and last. "Working this offseason getting stronger, getting off the line, running cleaner routes - just getting open."
Interestingly, in many ways, Boutte's push comes at a time in camp as last year, as if it takes him a little to get going, but then you see those collegiate flashes from his days at LSU (mostly his freshman season). Speaking of which, Boutte brought those same collegiate shoulder pads from Baton Rouge with him (the purple is a dead giveaway).
'"I just gotta keep on representing them, Lousiana," he said.
Meanwhile, Osborn has been a solid mentor for the younger players while also turning up his game in the last week. He had a terrific sliding catch in the back corner of the end zone during a team red zone period — he was the third read on a play they just put in this morning — a sign of the chemistry developing between him and starter Jacoby Brissett.
"We worked out a lot of times together this offseason in Miami," said Osborn. "We come in in the morning, we watch film - (watch) all throughout the spring - and we're talking. We're watching our practices, we watch the previous offense he was in with the Browns. Some Amari Cooper stuff, some Jarvis Landry stuff, and, you know, we're just talking football, man.
"He's played a lot of football, and I'm going to year five now, so, you know, just talking ball, and when we get out here in these situations, if something goes right, try to do it again, and if something goes wrong, talking about that. So, it's just really communication."
There's no telling if that communication will elevate the Pats' receiving group from the bottom quarter of the league, as it was last year (and I'm being kind), to something more consistent and capable, but at the very least, there's some potential to raise the floor, and if one or two of these youngsters elevate, push through the ceiling as well. This week with Philadelphia will give us our subsequent evidence, one way or the other.