Patriots Preview: ‘Opportunity’ for the Youth

What do you do when your leading receiver in touchdowns and yardage has a season ending ACL tear against the Dolphins?  ABC 6 Sports Director Nick Coit says "you turn to your youth."

Coit says he expects to see names like Kayshon Boutte and Tyquan Thornton given a chance to step up and contribute as soon as this Sunday against the Washington Commanders.

"(Bourne) is such a positive influence in that locker room.  He's such a bright guy. You lose that guy on an offense that already struggles to move the ball and it hurts.  But it's time to turn to your younger guys."

Kayshon Boutte really hasn't had the opportunity to play since week one when he couldn't get that second foot down, but is certainly a talented young man.  Coit believes Tyquan Thornton could also be one to shoulder some of that weight on the receiving corps.

"It's opportunity is what it is," said Coit.  "I'm sure the Patriots are looking at it in practice this week and saying who are we going to feed the ball to?  Who's going to step up for us?"

Even though the Patriots lost their game down in Miami last week (a game Coit felt like they had a chance to win), he is sticking to his optimism and is picking New England at home.

"We're heading into the part of the schedule that we always thought these are winnable games.  The key is going to be taking advantage of opportunities that present themselves and not turning the ball over at key times in the game (they way they did in Miami)."

Coit also said to watch out for an emergence from Pop Douglas, who has been bubbling under looking for some light to shine.