Shutdown corners are usually a supremely assured bunch.
They’re cocky. They’re boastful. In their thoughts, there isn’t a receiver they’ll’t deal with, irrespective of if it’s Davante Adams or Ja’Marr Chase.
So they trash speak. And in the event that they’re actually good, they again it up.
Meet Jack Jones.
The Patriots’ fourth-round rookie nook needs to fill No. 1 footwear as a high nook. He’s a shutdown wannabe.
Already, he talks massive. And if he’s in a position to again up the bravado this season, particularly if he will get on the sphere in opposition to a proficient Dolphins receiving corps throughout the Week 1 opener, he might assist solidify a place that’s an enormous query mark for the Patriots.
Jones was principally a second-string nook throughout coaching camp, in addition to preseason video games. He had some run with the highest unit throughout the summer time, and is an efficient wager to ultimately have a extra distinguished function.
Just ask him.
“I think what I bring to the table, I can shut down one side of the field,” Jones mentioned final week, earlier than the crew headed to Florida to work out within the warmth previous to the sport. “Whether it’s the best receiver or the worst receiver, I have the ability to cut off that side of the field.”
While Jones may need thought-about himself a shutdown nook in school, he has a protracted strategy to go to be in that dialog within the execs. Jones, nonetheless, doesn’t give an inch. He believes he’s already in that stratosphere.
Is he actually that assured in his talents, particularly since he’s largely untested, and hasn’t performed a down in an everyday season recreation?
“I am that confident,” Jones answered.
Reminded the Dolphins are stacked at receiver, with Tyreek HIll, Jaylen Waddle and Cedrick Wilson, Jones was steadfast.
“I’m confident no matter who it is,” he mentioned. “You can be the best receiver (in the league) or the worst receiver. It’s whoever is lined up against me.”
What occurs if he will get beat? Does he use that as motivation for the following play?
“I don’t remember the last time I got beat,” he shot again. “If I did, I don’t remember it.”
Jones did get beat throughout coaching camp, joint practices, in addition to the preseason video games. But he didn’t get beat fairly often. Mostly, he held his personal.
It virtually goes with out saying, having a brief reminiscence is one other high quality desired for a high nook.
Of course, the very last thing Bill Belichick needs is having his rookies speaking smack, or boasting about their talents. Rookies haven’t accomplished something but within the league to brag about.
Belichick additionally by no means needs to provide bulletin board materials to the opposing crew.
Jones will study. Perhaps the onerous means. As a smallish boundary nook – he’s 5- foot-11 and 175 kilos – he’ll get examined lots.
But with the 2022 season about to start, Jack Jones may very well be a vital addition to the secondary if he can again up his boasts. He stands as a little bit of an X-factor for the Patriots protection.
In school – he performed at USC and Arizona State – he was in a position to succeed largely due to his ball expertise, instincts and talent to alter instructions on the fly.
He additionally exhibited that capacity throughout coaching camp. He simply appeared to be across the soccer on a regular basis. Like former high nook J.C. Jackson, who left in free company, Jones creates turnovers.
Asked in regards to the rookie earlier within the week, Belichick identified a number of traits that stood out.
“Jack’s got very good hands. He has good quickness and change in direction in a short area,” mentioned the Patriots head coach. “He actually has loads of expertise taking part in perimeter nook at USC after which at Arizona State for good DB coaches too, like Marvin (Lewis) and Herm (Edwards), guys who’ve coached on this league.
“I know other players have college experience, but I’d say his college experience relates more to pro experience than some other players. I’m sure he’s benefited from that.”
That expertise has additionally allowed him to pump out his chest. Against the Raiders within the remaining preseason recreation, Jones leveled a few ball-carriers and compelled a fumble. He dismisses no matter dimension drawback he may need outright.
“If size mattered, the elephant would be the king of the jungle,” he mentioned with a smile.
His teammates take pleasure in having him within the room. They get a kick out of his braggadocio.
Asked if he’d ever met a cornerback who was extra cocky than the rookie, Jonathan Jones laughed.
“Yeah, he’s confident,” mentioned the veteran. “As a nook, you need that. You want that.
“It’s not like you’re never going to give up any plays. But it’s bouncing back to that next play after you give up a play, that’s what defines a corner.”
No doubt Jack Jones will undergo some rising pains. He’ll get beat. But the prospects appear good that he’ll bounce again, and likewise play an vital function within the success of the secondary this season.
Jones mentioned doubters of the Patriots secondary, in addition to those that query his capacity, solely serve to gas him.
“I look at it as a challenge. But I try not to focus on any of the outside noise if it’s good or bad. Because that comes and goes,” he mentioned. “You don’t want to build off of that. It has to come from within, something you just have within yourself that you don’t want to quit, you don’t want to lose, and you can’t lose. That’s what I have.”
He has confidence, uncommon instincts for a rookie, and a burning need to keep away from dropping. He says he doesn’t should conjure up his hatred of dropping. He’s all the time been like that.
“I don’t know what it is. Sometimes I ask myself why I’m like that,” mentioned Jones. “I have no answer. That’s just who I am.”
Captain Karras
Former Patriots offensive lineman Ted Karras, who wasn’t re-signed in free company, was named a captain this week in his first season with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Karras was additionally a captain with the Dolphins his lone season in Miami previous to returning to New England final yr on a one-year deal.
Bengals head coach Zac Taylor advised reporters how Karras earned a management function with the Super Bowl runners-up so quickly.
“He’s made a really strong impression on his teammates. He comes in and does all the extras, leads by example, leads vocally, guys trust that he knows what to do to the utmost,” mentioned Taylor. “I have a lot of confidence with him in here, just talking to him, seeing him every day and how he goes about his business. His dad’s a tremendous coach. Maybe some day he’ll be a tremendous coach. So it’s not surprising seeing him voted for that, based on what I’ve seen over the last five months or so.”
Taylor mentioned the Bengals did their homework on Karras previous to signing him in free company, and up to now, he’s surpassed any expectations they’d of him when it comes to his persona and the intangibles he brings.
“It’s really hard, unless you’re around him for a really long period of time, to really get the full Ted experience,” mentioned Taylor. “He’s a phenomenal human being. He works his tail off and it’s really important to him. He really brings a lot to the table locally. I think he’s been to every restaurant in town and made friends with everybody he could possibly make friends with. He’s had a great impact on our community and our team in a short time.”
Bills meet the hype
New Bills punter Ryan Talbot by no means left the bench Thursday evening. Against the defending Super Bowl champion Rams within the season opener, the Bills have been by no means pressured to punt.
The Patriots might definitely relate to the Rams’ plight. They couldn’t get off the sphere, both, throughout their first-round playoff recreation final yr. In truth, the Bills haven’t needed to punt in 4 of their final six video games courting to final season.
They opened with a 31-10 rout of the Rams, however didn’t brag an excessive amount of afterward.
“I wouldn’t say it was a signature win; I would say it was the first game,” Bills wideout Stefon Diggs, who completed with 122 yards on eight catches, and a landing, mentioned by way of the Buffalo News. “We could win the first game and then lose every one after that, so we’ll try not to ride this wave.”
High reward for TB12
Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons might be attempting to make Tom Brady’s life depressing Sunday evening when Dallas hosts the Buccaneers within the season opener.
Smartly, Parsons didn’t present Brady any bulletin board materials within the lead as much as the sport. He simply heaped a ton of reward on him.
He pointed to Brady’s killer intuition as one thing he’s tried to emulate.
“He has that fire inside of him. He looks to kill you,” Parsons mentioned by way of The Dallas Morning News. “He needs to step in your throat such as you’re a roach. And that’s what you search for in rivals. I feel that’s why, in case you’re an actual competitor, you look as much as Tom Brady. You look as much as Kobe, that Mamba mentality. You look as much as Michael Jordan. You love these varieties of mentalities. People love Mike Tyson due to how fierce he was.
“You look up to that because you aspire to be that fierce or be that strong. He inspires me.”
Belichick has sights on Halas
Entering Week 1, Bill Belichick has the third-most wins of any NFL head coach in historical past. But he’s in placing distance of leaping over No. 2.
With 321 profession wins, Belichick is 4 wins away from passing George Halas (324 wins).
As for the highest spot, Belichick nonetheless has some work left.
Don Shula is firmly entrenched within the high spot with 347 profession wins.
It stays to be seen if Belichick will draw nearer by beating the Dolphins, Shula’s former crew. Belichick taking the crew to South Florida early within the week, and training at a Division 2 faculty with no soccer area, has elicited loads of reactions on each side of the spectrum.
Former Patriot Rodney Harrison, an NBC analyst, gave it a thumbs up.
“That heat ain’t no joke in Miami,” Harrison mentioned by way of textual content. “Smart move by Bill.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com