FOXBOROUGH - I’m not putting Demario Douglas in Canton, but the rookie wide receiver has been doing everything the Patriots ask: he’s making plays, limiting mental mistakes and stacking the days. Through 13 days in camp, the 6th rounder from Liberty hasn’t had a bad one yet. That’s hard to do, but here we are.
The longer camp has gone on, the more we see Douglas getting reps with Mac Jones and guys like JuJu Smith-Schuster, Kendrick Bourne, DeVante Parker, etc. The young wide receiver doesn’t want to read too much into it, instead focusing on the big picture.
“I just see I’m getting opportunity, working with either quarterback, whoever I go with,” he said, noting, “As long as I’m getting an opportunity, I’m trying to maximize every time I get in. Going with ones, twos or threes.”
He’s done just that, impressing one of his chief competitors in training camp, 2nd-year cornerback Marcus Jones.
“He’s doing really good with the way he stems, and also taking coaching,” Jones told us. “Coaches say something one time and he’s right on it, making sure he’s perfecting it. That’s a great thing to have.”
I have Douglas undefeated in one-on-ones, a perfect 8-0. Yes, Marcus Jones has been his biggest whipping boy, but Douglas has also gotten Christian Gonzalez, Myles Bryant, Shaun Wade and Rodney Randle. He's taking on all comers and, to this point, getting the best of each and every one of them. Who had that on their bingo card?
What we’ve detailed, again and again, is how sharp Douglas has been with his release and then his ability to get in and out of his breaks. Jones has found himself in a trailing position a whole bunch against him, and indicated that the 5’8” pass catcher is a handful because of how he moves.
“Definitely his quickness,” Jones said. “Making sure he knows how to stem, like I said, and also getting out of his breaks. He doesn’t slow down. Some receivers, you know, their rookie year, they slow down. He doesn’t. He just keeps it going.”
Now I mentioned the height on Douglas, but his weight needs to be changed on the team’s roster. They have him listed as 192 pounds. Douglas today told us he’s between 180 and 182 (he may get in trouble for being too forthright on that answer). However, when you consider where Douglas was just a handful of years ago entering Liberty - he was 149 pounds - that’s one hell of a jump.
“I always had that mentality that I need to get better, I need to do something,” he said. “I believe my weight was a problem. I’d say my height, but I can’t change that, you know? I say I gain - as I was going on through my years - I kept gaining and gaining. My coaches at Liberty helped me. They taught me how to eat right, maintain my speed and things like that.”
It has showed, and several of the defensive backs have mentioned how Douglas’ physicality has played well so far. It’s been a little more difficult for him when the offense gets closer and closer to the end zone. There’s less space to work with, the refs tend to allow the defenders to be a little more handsy in that area, and I’d say that would be a place Douglas will need improvement in. But that’s not a bad place to be for the kid as we close in on preseason game number one, and some highly competitive joint practices on tap with Green Bay and Tennessee in the coming weeks.
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