The Patriots offense was disappointing in 2022.  With new offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien, the team hopes to turn things around.  Veteran receiver Kendrick Bourne was also disappointed in himself, Mike Dussault of the team's official website reports.

"I didn't give the team my best effort," admitted Bourne about 2022. "Personally we as players have to be our best so we can give the team the opportunity to win and I feel like I didn't do that. So I've been grinding, trying to get bigger, weighing more, just being a more solid receiver and being able to do more.

"I don't really go off stats, I go off how I feel, how I look and I just wasn't in a good place, now I just want to avoid that. So it was a good learning process, it was good that it happened to me, and it's always good to learn from hard times, struggling times."

Bourne has looked noticeably bigger as he continues to lay the groundwork to put the 35-catch, 434-yard season in which he caught just one touchdown behind him.

"New year, new me, new us, new everything," said Bourne flashing his trademark grin. "That's what we're focused on, that's the goal every year, to move forward and be better."

O'Brien's arrival has been a welcome one for the seventh-year wideout, as the experienced coach has a firm grasp of how he wants it all to come together, a focus and confidence that is already apparent to the receiver and rubbing off on everyone during the install.

"Just Bill's familiar with what he's doing so it feels good. You can tell he knows what he's doing in all areas of the offense, from receiver, running back, lineman... He knows offense a lot so it feels good.

"He knows how to engage with all of us I feel like. He knows our traits now and he knows where to puts us so it's been good. We're still learning each other as a group but he's doing well."

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