FOXBORO — Patriots huge receivers coach Todd Downing heaped immense reward on two of his pass-catchers within the lead-up to Sunday’s season opener towards the Raiders.
The veteran offensive coach mentioned undrafted rookie receiver Efton Chism’s “relentless work ethic” is what separates him from the pack.
“It begins nicely earlier than he ever hits the sphere,” Downing mentioned. “This man’s one of many first guys in. A whole lot of occasions he’ll pop into my workplace tremendous early within the morning, as I’m simply getting going, and he desires to take a seat there and simply watch me construct the PowerPoint for the assembly that day or one thing. Simply to type of get an additional time or an additional rep, the psychological processing for the system.
“He stays late with Mack (Hollins) and goes by way of issues with Mack, and people two have developed a cool relationship, in order that piece of it’s cool, after which what he does on the sphere is he interprets that into taking part in quick and assured. He is aware of precisely what to do, so then he can exit and execute it.”
Downing mentioned the work that Hollins is keen to place in and the time he’s keen to dedicate with Chism to nail down the playbook isn’t “uncommon, but it surely’s particular.”
“Guys which have that keenness for the X’s and O’s and the scheme of the sport and eager to be so rock strong on their task, they’re all the time spending additional time within the rooms,” Downing mentioned. “I’ve been lucky sufficient to teach a number of completely different positions. That stayed true all through any place group. When you’re staying additional, you need the additional time and the additional sources that this career gives you, it’s going to repay. And so Mack’s a superb man for Efton to emulate that means.”
Chism was one of many Patriots’ coaching camp and preseason standouts this summer season, serving to him earn a spot on the 53-man roster. Hollins was nonetheless rehabbing an harm early in coaching camp, so he bought a later begin to observe than the remainder of the Patriots’ receivers.
He shortly made up for misplaced time and was a constant playmaker late in the summertime, utilizing his 6-foot-4, 221-pound body to face out with one-handed and toe-tapping catches.
He’s additionally the loudest participant on the observe discipline. Downing was requested if Hollins is all the time turned as much as 11.
“When have you ever seen him down at 11?” Downing quipped.
“There has not been a time that I’ve been within the constructing with Makc, or on the observe discipline with Mack that he’s not able to go. And actually, actually spectacular how he may be as constant as he’s.”
On paper, the Patriots aren’t anticipated to have one of many prime huge receiver teams within the NFL, but it surely’s been a aggressive room led by Stefon Diggs. DeMario Douglas, Kayshon Boutte and rookie Kyle Williams all have stood out in a constructive method this summer season.
