Rookie receiver Malcolm Mitchell follows his mom’s advice learning Patriots’ playbook
"My mom always said..."
The Patriots offense is supposed to be challenging for pass-catchers to pick up. But rookie receiver Malcolm Mitchell doesn’t seem overwhelmed.
“My mom always said you put as much into something as you want to,” he said Sunday after practice. “To be completely honest, it’s only hard if you make it. Learning is just simply looking over information until it becomes habit or instinctual. Now, will that take an hour or will it take five? I guess that depends how well you learn.”
He said he studies the Patriots’ playbook every night until he falls asleep. And apparently, when he wakes up, he’s on to learning from his coaches and position-mates.
“I credit my coaches for giving me the material, installing it in a way for everyone to learn,” Mitchell said of the playbook Thursday. “Obviously, it’s a learning process. I haven’t picked it all up, so there’s a lot more to install. … I just take it all in from all the guys [in the receiver group]. There’s so much to learn, so many great players, so much experience. For me being a rookie, me being new, the best thing I can do is listen to everybody.”
He’s a favorite target of rookie quarterback Jacoby Brissett, who locks in on Mitchell in the end zone, sometimes to Brissett’s detriment. Mitchell has also worked with Tom Brady and Jimmy Garoppolo in team drills, and has been slippery in 1-on-1 matchups. He can not only create separation with strong route-running, but can also catch jump balls over defenders in tight coverage. The next step is applying those skills to earn more first team-reps, and perhaps a spot on the line of scrimmage with Garoppolo in Week 1 — and then Brady after that.
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com