New England Patriots: Players under pressure vs. Eagles
Eric Decker, Wide receiver
Although the pairing of Eric Decker and Tom Brady has always sounded unstoppable on paper because of Decker’s abilities in the red zone and after the catch, it’s been slow-going since he joined the Patriots as a free agent.
Decker has reportedly been struggling to create (legal) separation in practices and is also struggling badly with drops, something the media gathered around him to address after practice on Monday.
Decker may be past the best years of his NFL career, but these are likely just hiccups of being in a new place with new teammates and adjusting to being part of an NFL team again.
Keep in mind, Decker was not in anyone’s offseason program and is digesting the Patriots’ playbook as well as getting used to a new practice routine all at the same time.
This is a smart, veteran player who has always been a reliable target and in the Patriots’ scheme, he should thrive.
Hopefully, there are signs of improvement for him in the Patriots’ second preseason game, as he did not catch a pass in the first one.