Pats out to contain WR Thomas
FOXBORO — Like the Patriots, the Saints wide receiver depth is a bit depleted for tomorrow’s matchup in New Orleans, but that doesn’t mean the Pats secondary won’t have its hands full.
After the Saints traded Brandin Cooks to the Patriots in the offseason, second-year wide receiver Michael Thomas became Drew Brees’ No. 1 option, and the Patriots will treat him accordingly. After getting gashed by the Chiefs for big play after big play in their season-opening loss, one of the Patriots defense’s priorities will be preventing Thomas from going off.
Thomas presents a tough matchup due to his 6-foot-3 size and physicality combined with his big-play ability. As a rookie, he became one of football’s best big-play producers, finishing in the top 10 in yards after the catch and catches of 20 yards or longer.
“He’s a big, strong receiver,” said Pats cornerback Stephon Gilmore, who will likely draw the bulk of the matchup. “Good hands. He’s got a great quarterback throwing it to him, so he’s a good receiver, young guy, so it’s going to be a good challenge.”
Thomas finished last season ninth in the NFL with 1,137 receiving yards on 92 receptions. The presence of Cooks, who racked up 1,173 yards, likely helped take some of the attention off him, but now without Cooks, and with Willie Snead suspended for the first three games, all eyes will be on Thomas. The Saints will likely trot out journeyman Ted Ginn Jr. as their No. 2 receiver.
Still, the Patriots will take no chances. Gilmore and the secondary will have full attention on the explosive wideout. Taking Thomas out of the game could be key given the Saints’ talented backfield that now includes Adrian Peterson.
“He’s a tough receiver,” Pats coach Bill Belichick said this week. “Big, strong, strong hands, tough, hard to tackle, a very physical receiver. Probably as physical as any receiver we’ll see.”
The Patriots know that first-hand. Thomas showed glimpses of his talent and potential in his first professional game, a preseason contest against the Pats last August in which he hauled in four catches, including two for 25 and 28 yards.
Thomas didn’t line up against Gilmore or Malcolm Butler, but his ability will come as no surprise.
“He’s kind of unique a little bit,” Gilmore said. “He’s strong, bigger guy, good hands, likes to push off a lot and he uses his techniques well. Just be aggressive with him, be physical with him back and study his routes, study his techniques and go from there.”