On the Bubble: Kenbrell Thompkins
 |
| Kevin C. Cox/ Getty Images |
Last season:
If we were to go off of 2013 production, Thompkins likely wouldn't even be in this discussion, as his production was neck and neck with Dobson through much of his rookie year. Thompkins finished the year with 32 catches, 466 yards (for a solid 14.6 yards per catch) and four touchdowns, while the more-heralded Dobson caught 37 balls for 519 yards and four touchdowns.
Thompkins started out hot, with 24 catches in the season's first seven games, a pace that would have had him at 55 catches over a full season. That included a breakout 6 catch, 127 yard, 1 TD performance in Week Four against the Falcons, with his contributions proving instrumental in a Patriots win. However, the emergence of Dobson and injury woes combined to slow that production to a crawl over the rest of the season, as he would miss four games with injury and caught only 9 passes in the other five games he played. The Patriots clearly missed having an outside threat at the end of the year, as the passing offense sputtered with both Dobson and Thompkins out with injuries.
While Thompkins certainly wasn't immune from your typical rookie struggles (drops, consistency), he also flashed potential as a playmaker. His impressive combination of footwork and body control allow him to quickly gain separation from opposing corners. In fact, his route running ability recalls Chad "Ocho Cinco" Johnson, which is a good thing as long the similarities between the two don't extend to their grasp of the playbook. He also showed an impressive ability to make contested catches, and plays much bigger than his listed 6'1", 195 pounds.
And yes, who could forget his game winning touchdown in the waning seconds of the Patriots comeback against the Saints? You certainly can't accuse him of being scared of the moment.
2014 outlook:
By all accounts, Thompkins is off to a good start in 2014, with multiple observers noting his performance in mini camps. It's always dangerous to read to much into practice performance, especially from non-contact OTA sessions, but the Boston Globe did describe Thompkins as "sometimes dominant" in mini-camps, noting that he repeatedly got the better of starting cornerback Brandon Browner. Thompkins has also reportedly put on noticeable muscle in the offseason, which should help him against physical press corners.
How much playing time Thompkins can earn himself if he earns a roster spot remains to be seen. He'd likely be battling both Dobson and LeFell for reps at the outside "X" receiver spot in the offense. One factor that could play in his favor is the team's lack of depth at tight end, which could lead to more 3 and 4 receiver sets early on as the Pats await the return of Rob Gronkowski.
I personally wouldn't bet against Thompkins, who has the potential to not only make the team but contribute in 2014. The Belichick-led Patriots have always prioritized production over other factors such as draft status, and Thompkins certainly displayed an ability to produce while healthy last year. In fact, it wouldn't surprise me to see Thompkins leapfrog a veteran like LeFell on the depth chart with a strong camp.
Health will certainly be a factor when it comes time for the Patriots to make cuts. All three of the Patriots 2013 rookie receivers dealt with injuries during their rookie seasons, and Dobson (recovering from foot surgery) and Boyce (tweaked knee in mini camp) head into training camp still dealing with some ailments. The opportunity could be there early on for Thompkins to lock down a roster spot with a strong performance early on.
Wonder what other players are in danger of being cut? Check out more of our On The Bubble series.
