Patriots’ receivers have their hands full with refining their arsenals this spring - The Boston Globe (2024)

It’s all part of an offseason of growth.

“He had, as everybody saw, a solid first season,” said receivers coach Tyler Hughes. “And he did some really good things on film that everybody saw. This spring, what he’s been working on are just details, and getting more refined on all the little things that he has to do well.

“He’s a real competitive player on the ball. The ball is in the air, and he’s going to go get it for us. I would say he has some ball-dominant characteristics when that ball is in flight. He has great quickness and great acceleration.”

After a nice stretch midway through the season where he averaged more than five catches a game, Douglas struggled to the finish, dealing with injury and an increased defensive focus. Opponents were playing him differently, and it had an impact.

Hughes said Douglas has been working hard this offseason to “add tools to his tool belt,” because he needs to figure out ways to counter that increased defensive focus.

“Guys around the league are really good at studying film and seeing players’ tendencies, their strengths, their weaknesses,” Hughes said. “For Pop, or for any player, they have to understand that their tape is their résumé and are people watching that.

“They have to identify, ‘OK, what’s the next step I can take as a player to add a couple other routes or a way I can get off the line of scrimmage vs. press coverage?’ And I think he’s doing that.”

Douglas’s job figures to be secure, but there’s uncertainty down the depth chart. Tyquan Thornton has struggled with health issues in his first two years, but the speedster has responded this spring with a series of strong practices and is displaying the urgency needed to win a roster spot.

“He’s put in a lot of work this offseason,” Hughes said. “I’m really, really proud of him in that regard. He’s gotten stronger. He’s gotten bigger. All that has helped him.

“He’s had a real, real strong spring.”

Another receiver who could use a strong spring is JuJu Smith-Schuster. Last month, the veteran discussed some of the lingering health issues that plagued him in 2023, saying he is now back to 100 percent. Hughes said Smith-Schuster, who had just 29 catches for 260 yards last season, has been “strong in our position room,” and praised his versatility.

“He talked about some of the things he was working through last season,” said Hughes. “He’s been really professional. He’s been a good teammate. He’s been strong in our position room in terms of helping the younger players.

“He’s played multiple spots this spring; he’s at a point in his career where he can do that pretty smoothly. That’s certainly valuable to me and to the group.”

Running through possibilities

One thing the offense lacked the last two years was a consistent third-down back. The proud lineage that seemingly started with Kevin Faulk and included dynamic playmakers like Danny Woodhead, Shane Vereen, and James White came to an end.

Now, running backs coach Taylor Embree has his eye on multiple possibilities when it comes to filling that role. While it’s tough to get the measure of which backs will fill which roles when OTAs are held in shorts and T-shirts, Embree hopes the running backs can contribute heavily in the passing game.

He pointed to Rhamondre Stevenson (an average of 50 catches a season the last three years) and newcomer Antonio Gibson (an average of 43 the last four seasons) as primary possibilities.

“I think we have two, maybe three backs that can do some stuff in the passing game,” Embree said. “The young guys are learning too, and that’s happening quickly. And you know, we have Troy Brown working with us as well in our room, so they’re getting it from all aspects.”

Embree also is lobbying for the return of a full-time fullback.

“I’m always looking out for a fullback,” he said. “It’ll happen when the right one is there, I’ll say. I’m picky with that. Right now, we have so many good runners, it’s hard — we have to focus on that first.

“I will say that some of the tight ends, like [Jaheim] Bell, they can do some of the fullback stuff too. We’ll see. We’ll find that goal-line one to come downhill.”

A sunny disposition

Rookie quarterback Joe Milton III didn’t get any reps in the team drills Tuesday, but he’s been loving the acclimation process. Milton, who grew up as a Patriots fan, has welcomed the chance to work with a fellow Floridian in Jacoby Brissett.

“It’s been great,” said Milton. “Learning from him and coming from my hometown … him, being a Floridian, it’s great, because he’s going to speak the [truth]. He’s always going to be real, no matter what.

“Every day, you wake up and you get an opportunity to come out here and put on a show. But most importantly, you get to learn from older guys. I’m used to being the oldest guy in the locker room, so coming here, seeing guys who are 31 and have got a full family, it’s different.”

Christopher Price can be reached at christopher.price@globe.com. Follow him @cpriceglobe.