Hogan still confident
Drop in production not issue
By KEVIN DUFFY
FOXBORO — This summer, Chris Hogan looked poised for a career season.
With Julian Edelman suspended, Hogan emerged from training camp as the No. 1 receiver. He’d shown steady improvement in each of his two seasons in Foxboro. In 2017, he became the first Pats receiver since Randy Moss to record at least 60 yards and a touchdown in four consecutive games. PATRIOTS NOTEBOOK
Everything lined up for Hogan to break out ... until he didn’t.
Hogan played a combined 105 offensive snaps against the Packers and Titans. He did not catch a pass in either game. It’s a statistical low point for the veteran.
“You can’t really concern yourself with that,” Hogan said yesterday. “Don’t let any of that really consume you. For me, I think I just have to go out there and do my job the best that I can and try to show up on film as much as I can.”
Competition for targets from Tom Brady is a non-issue within the Patriots locker room, according to Hogan.
“All the guys, skill players specifically, I think everyone on this team knows their role,” Hogan said.
Following the Week 10 loss to the Titans, Brady admitted he missed an open Hogan on a crucial fourthand-6 in the fourth quarter. Hogan beat Tennessee cornerback Malcolm Butler ona stop-and-go route down the right sideline, but Brady threw at Edelman across the middle. The pass was broken up, and the Pats turned the ball over on downs.
Asked if he and Brady still share a strong connection on the field, Hogan said, “Of course.”
“The quarterback-receiver connection is a constant work in progress,” he added. “You’re always working on your communication on the field, off the field. Tom and I have developed a pretty good relationship.”
Despite the decline in production, Hogan still earns special praise from Bill Belichick.
“He’s one of our hardest workers,” Belichick said. “He’s got good stamina, can practice and go all day. We have a lot of confidence in Chris.
“Each wee, (reporters) pick out a player that doesn’t have as many carries or targets or whatever, and then ask about that. As I said, in the passing game passes aren’t designed to go to one person. It’s a team route based on the coverage and the matchups. Tom (Brady) goes to where he feels is the best place to go in the coverage” Mason ready
A calf injury sidelined guard Shaq Mason the past two games. But coming out of the bye week, Mason is trending toward a return.
“I’m ready whenever the trainers turn me loose,” he said.
Mason, who signed an extension in late August, has been durable throughout his career. Before the calf injury knocked him out of a Week 8 win against Buffalo, Mason had played in 54-of-56 career games.
“It’s tough,” said Mason, who was replaced by Ted
Karras. “As a football player and competitor, you want to be out there with your guys ... but we had the bye and have New York this week and we’re ready to get back on track.” Bye week review
Brady spent the bye week doing exactly what you’d expect: taking stock of the first 10 games and planning adjustments.
“I don’t think we’ve played our best football,” Brady said on WEEI. “I took a lot of time this weekend to watch the entire season a couple of times. We just had a lot of communication with our coaches, and I think a lot of guys took the weekend to let their minds really be free of football for a few days. I am excited to start this week.”
There have been times when the offense has looked like one of the league’s most well-rounded units, only to suffer unexpected setbacks.
“I think we’ve built to this point where we are in a position to start playing our best,” Brady said. “It’s really up to us. There’s no way to talk your way into it. You have to do it. I think we all have to make the commitment to doing it and being our best every day.”