What Could This Promising Patriots WR’s Return Mean For The Team?
After going down with a broken clavicle back in the Patriots’ preseason week two, Tyquan Thornton has been activated off IR. What does it mean for the Patriots?
One of the more promising picks the Patriots made in the 2022 NFL Draft was that of Thornton, and what had been a great start in training camp and preseason was derailed too quickly. However, he is back in time for the Patriots’ game against the Lions, and here, I dive into how this will impact not just Sunday, but the rest of the season for the Patriots.
How Was Tyquan Looking For The Patriots Pre-Injury?
The Patriots had drafted Tyquan in the second round for one somewhat obvious but significant reason: speed. Thornton’s 40-yard dash time in the NFL combine of 4.28 seconds was the fastest, not just in his position, but of any player in the entire draft class. His Baylor tape showed that the speed translated on the field too, as his off the line speed made it incredibly hard to keep up with him, and his agility and ability to cut made it even harder.
Thornton was explosive and reliable and had great numbers in otherwise struggling offenses, and significantly simplified the equation for otherwise middling quarterbacks Charlie Brewer and Gerry Bohanon, and in his last year, he had half of Bohanon’s 18 TDs. He always showed up for the big moments, and in 2021, he had touchdowns in Baylor’s three most important games: against Oklahoma, the Big 12 Championship Game against Oklahoma St, and the Sugar Bowl against Ole Miss.
His skills clearly translated to the NFL, and in training camp, he was winning most of his matchups and catching a very high percentage of his targets. He seemed to adjust well to NFL speeds and was able to improve quickly in some of the strategic aspects that he didn’t really need in the Big 12. Early in the preseason, that translated, and Tyquan was quickly blowing past his matchups against the Giants. Hoyer wasn’t always able to get the ball to him, but Thornton blew past his assignments and had to be held multiple times to be stopped.
His time in the preseason was cut short by injury, but he showed an ability to run short and longer routes well (his touchdown against the Giants was actually in the red zone), and it was clear that he could be useful as a Patriot.
Where Does Thornton Fit In The Current Matrix Of The Offense?
The Patriots already have two receivers comfortable with deeper passing in Nelson Agholor and Devante Parker. Furthermore, with Zappe as the starter in the place of the injured Jones, the comfort level with deeper passing isn’t quite there yet. The Patriots will likely play a more conservative game offensively against the Lions, and so at first glance, it’s hard to find a place for Thornton.
However, Thornton’s promise shown in camp in short to medium passing situations is reason for his insertion. Furthermore, the Patriots like throwing a number of different looks at teams, and Bailey Zappe will certainly be able to get it to an open receiver with a clean pocket, and with Thornton’s speed, it’s certainly possible for that scenario to arise.
As the season moves forward, integrating Thornton will be important. When Mac is back, Tyquan will make the equation simpler for him just as he did for Bohanon, because he adds another deep threat and can get open more quickly than anyone on the team. With a struggling offensive line that compromises time, that’s extremely important. Furthermore, he can be a decoy that forces defenses to focus on the pass and can open up opportunities for the run.
With his speed and reliable hands, and Mac’s increased aggression and Tom House-workshopped arm, Thornton could be a key piece to a deep passing attack that could give the Patriots a truly complete offense. Baby steps, first. Ease him into the offense starting with the Detroit game and see what he can do! Keep in mind as we approach the end of the article that in the average time an article of this length takes to read, Tyquan could do 70 40-yard dashes.
With his speed and reliable hands, and Mac’s increased aggression and Tom House-workshopped arm, Thornton could be a key piece to a deep passing attack that could give the Patriots a truly complete offense. Baby steps, first. Ease him into the offense starting with the Detroit game and see what he can do! Keep in mind as we approach the end of the article that in the average time an article of this length takes to read, Tyquan could do 42 40-yard dashes.
With his speed and reliable hands, and Mac’s increased aggression and Tom House-workshopped arm, Thornton could be a key piece to a deep passing attack that could give the Patriots a truly complete offense. Baby steps, first. Ease him into the offense starting with the Detroit game and see what he can do! Keep in mind as we approach the end of the article that in the average time an article of this length takes to read, Tyquan could do 42 40-yard dashes.
With his speed and reliable hands, and Mac’s increased aggression and Tom House-workshopped arm, Thornton could be a key piece to a deep passing attack that could give the Patriots a truly complete offense. Baby steps, first. Ease him into the offense starting with the Detroit game and see what he can do! Keep in mind as we approach the end of the article that in the average time an article of this length takes to read, Tyquan could do 42 40-yard dashes.
With his speed and reliable hands, and Mac’s increased aggression and Tom House-workshopped arm, Thornton could be a key piece to a deep passing attack that could give the Patriots a truly complete offense. Baby steps, first. Ease him into the offense starting with the Detroit game and see what he can do! Keep in mind as we approach the end of the article that in the average time an article of this length takes to read, Tyquan could do 42 40-yard dashes.
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