Sunday Patriots Notes: Stefon Diggs proving his worth with early impact

It’s been nearly three years since the New England Patriots have two straight games. After a big Week 2 win over the Miami Dolphins, Mike Vrabel’s team will have a chance to snap that streak — and begin protecting their home turf — with a matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.

Naturally, our focus this week was on both of those games. For anything else not covered previously, let’s clean out the notebook. Welcome to this week’s edition of our Sunday Patriots Notes.

Diggs’ worth

Drake Maye dropped back to pass on fourth-and-three on the Patriots first drive down in Miami. In a flash, wide receiver Stefon Diggs uncovered right in front of his quarterback for an easy first-down conversion.

While the 10-yard gain did not lead off any highlight videos, it was a play the Patriots likely envisioned when they signed Diggs to a three-year, $69 million contract in the offseason. A case of the veteran receiver making life easier on his young quarterback.

“He’s a great teammate. I think that’s the biggest thing,” Maye said about the receiver. “He’s fire on game day, you see him. You see him even in practice, he wants to bring it, rightfully so. He thinks a lot of the guys around him, he wants to be a great teammate, he wants to bring the energy, he’s a leader, and he wants the ball. 

“I’ve got to do my part of trying to get it to him more, and then from there, still being honest about throwing to the right guy. But getting him the football, and he’s trying to do all the right things and showing up every day, so yeah, pretty cool.”

Through two games, Diggs’ 10 receptions for 89 yards looks like rather modest production on the stat sheet. But it’s plays like the fourth-down completion in Miami that has showed his early worth, especially as he’s played just 54 percent of New England’s offensive snaps as Diggs continues to work back from a torn ACL he suffered last October.

And while Maye made note that he’d like to get Diggs the ball more and more — despite the receivers 10 receptions and 12 targets being team highs — that is not a mandate from the four-time Pro Bowler.

“I haven’t heard Stef say one thing about needing the ball ever. That would surprise me if he did,” offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels said. “Every skilled player wants the ball, wants to help the team win the best they can. But Stef, whether he’s out there blocking, running routes, catching the ball — whatever it is — he does his job the best he can.”

As New England hopes the production and number of impact plays will continue to grow as the season progresses, the 31-year old has already made his mark in helping establish the team culture.

McDaniels praised the veteran for his intense leadership style and energy every day, while wide receivers coach Todd Downing, who spent time with Diggs on staff in Minnesota early in the receiver’s career, has seen a different version of the 11-year pro now in New England.

“One of the cool things is watching his maturity as a leader and hearing him be a champion of the cause for Coach Vrabel, Coach McDaniels, and myself,” Downing said. “If there’s something that we emphasize, he’s going to have our backs with the young guys. If he sees somebody on the field not doing it, he’ll hold them accountable. Between he and Mack [Hollins], that’s a really fun part of the room. 

“He’s always had a relentless work ethic. He’s been working diligently mentally to handle everything we throw at him, and that’s been awesome to see as well.”

Tackling

Through two weeks, no team has missed more tackles than the Patriots (25). That is largely due to linebackers Robert Spillane (8) and Christian Elliss (6) being first and second in the league, respectively, is misses.

While increased game reps will be the best method of improving, New England did begin practices this week with a tackling simulation drill from training camp.

“The only thing that matters now is how we tackle in the game,” Vrabel said. ”How we’re able to tackle [Jaylen] Warren, Jonnu [Smith] and DK [Metcalf] and [Calvin] Austin [III] and those skill players, that’s what matters. And again, there was a lot of times of good tackling.“

Mapu’s opportunity

Following the Patriots first win of the season, Mike Vrabel tossed one of several game balls to Marte Mapu. The coach’s message was simple: Mapu took advantage of his opportunity.

After not playing any defensive snaps in the season opener, Mapu played seven in the win over the Dolphins. That was enough to record a key interception in the fourth quarter to help lead the Patriots to victory.

While Mapu’s defensive role may continue to increase, the third-year linebacker has also embraced his role as the Patriots’ personal protector on punt team — which Vrabel noted has improved with Mapu in that role.

Special teams coordinator Jeremy Springer then added: “He wants to know everything. And as a coach, you love that. He’s going to meet with you extra. He’s going to want to know every detail like a coach would want to know it. So when he gets out there, he’s fully prepared. And he’s taking ownership of that role on the punt team.”

Brown’s role

Like many assistant coaches on the offensive side of the ball, tight end coach Thomas Brown has an extensive history of working in West Coast offenses. That’s why it was no surprise to see New England open the game in Miami with zone runs, bootlegs, and other West Coast staples.

And despite his title as pass game coordinator, Brown has also carved out a role when it comes to New England’s rushing attack.

“He’s very important. He runs a couple of our run game meetings and things like that that get us all on the same page,” Rhamondre Stevenson shared. “Very knowledgeable guy, so I think he’s a big part of what we do, honestly.”

As offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels shared this week, the team’s offense will continue to evolve from week-to-week. McDaniels’ willingness to collaborate with Brown and his staff is a big reason why.

Rookie kicker

With Bill Parcells back in town as he gets inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame and kicker Andy Borregales struggling, it serves as a timely reminder to perhaps not rush rookie kickers out the door.

In Adam Vinatieri’s rookie season, the kicker missed three field goals in Week 2 before missing a field goal attempt and an extra point attempt the following week. Parcells nearly cut Vinatieri that week, but stuck with him after he knocked through a 31-yard attempt late in Week 3 with his job on the line. The rest is history.

Since Borregales missed a pair of extra points last Sunday, the staff has remained confident in the sixth-round pick, who responded well with a fourth quarter make from 53 yards.

“Couple of things I love about Andy, if he has a mistake early, he fixes it late. Done it in both games,” special teams coordinator Jeremy Springer said. “No one in this room or in this building who has more confidence than I do in Andy.”

Gillette memory

Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is 0-2 in his career as a starter at Gillette Stadium. Despite the struggles in Foxboro, Rodgers looks back at one specific moment fondly from a matchup in 2010 that he was sidelined.

“Matt Flynn played, played well, but we gave up one of the greatest plays I’ve been a part of in my NFL history. And that’s when Dan Connolly had a kickoff return that almost went for a touchdown,” Rodgers recalled this week.

“Hated that it was against us, but as a lover of the big guys, when they get the opportunity to show the athleticism, there may have been a few of us on the sideline who had a very tiny, quiet ‘go’ on that play.”

Tying Tom

Following a career-game, running back Rhamondre Stevenson could be in for another big day against a Steelers defense that has allowed 149.5 rushing yards per game (29th). If Stevenson finds the end zone on the ground, he would tie Tom Brady and Stevan Ridley and move into 10th place in franchise history with 22 rushing touchdowns.

Week ahead

With another home game on deck, the Patriots will likely maintain their typical in-season schedule in Week 4:

• Monday, Sept. 15: Mike Vrabel media availability, player media availability
• Tuesday, Sept. 16: Day off
• Wednesday, Sept. 17: Practice, Mike Vrabel media availability, player media availability, injury report
• Thursday, Sept. 18: Practice, player media availability, injury report
• Friday, Sept. 19: Practice, player media availability, injury report
• Saturday, Sept. 20: Pre-game walkthrough, practice squad elevations
• Sunday, Sept. 21: Game day vs. Carolina Panthers at Gillette Stadium (1 p.m. ET)