FOXBORO — The Patriots are unlikely to see the complete potential of their cornerback group this season, however due to an early-season commerce they will no less than get shut.
The Patriots are anticipated to be with out cornerbacks Christian Gonzalez and Marcus Jones for the remainder of the season, however they put a really robust group on the sector Sunday. And the unit must be getting even higher in time for Sunday’s sport towards the Dolphins.
J.C. Jackson, reacquired in a commerce with the Chargers earlier this month, is again to enjoying near 100% of defensive snaps in his return to the Patriots. Jack Jones, in his first sport again from injured reserve, and Jonathan Jones, who was nursing a knee harm suffered in Week 7, break up snaps on the different exterior cornerback spot. And Myles Bryant manned the slot. Jackson, Jack Jones and Jonathan Jones all performed in Sunday’s win over the Bills however by no means all shared the sector on the similar time.
But Jackson, Jack Jones and Jonathan Jones have all been full-gos in apply this week. And the potential of a place group with Jackson and Jack Jones on the skin and Jonathan Jones again manning the slot appears excessive.
“Through the roof,” is the place Jack Jones units it. “I don’t want to put a cap on it. I feel like if I was to say anything, it would be putting a cap on it. Just let us go out there each Sunday and play to our potential and see where we land, but I think we’ve got a really good group.”
Jackson concurs.
“I feel like we have the potential to be one of the best secondaries in the league with this defense,” Jackson stated. “We just got to play up to that.”
Jack Jones, who was one of many league’s prime rookie cornerbacks final season, was annoyed by a hamstring harm he suffered previous to Week 1 that stored him out for the primary six weeks of the season. The ailment occurred after gun prices, stemming from an arrest in June when police allegedly discovered two handguns and ammunition in his carry-on bag at Logan Airport, had been dropped towards him.
“That was tough, bro,” Jack Jones stated of his harm. “That’s the worst, especially first week. I mean, we go through all fall camp and the summer and you’re good. And then the first week is just a bummer. You don’t want that to happen at all. But you’d rather it have it earlier than later. It’s God’s timing, not mine. It was an unfortunate situation, but I’m blessed to come out of the situation and be able to play football.”
Jonathan Jones, who has primarily performed exterior over the past two seasons after serving as one of many NFL’s finest slot cornerbacks for the primary six years of his NFL profession, stated he’d be snug transferring again inside.
“That’s my thing about my career,” Jonathan Jones stated. “I’ve kind of done everything here. Whatever I’ve ever been asked to do has always been an option.”
And Jackson, who was one of many NFL’s prime cornerbacks in his earlier tenure in New England, has been praised by Patriots cornerbacks coach Mike Pellegrino for the trouble he brings again to the crew.
“I love J.C.,” Pellegrino advised reporters on Tuesday. “I missed him when he was gone. … J.C.’s bringing a unique power to the room on working arduous and on the point of go for apply and stuff like that. That’s been actually good. I’ve been actually impressed together with his new perspective, pushing himself, pushing all people to play higher. …
“He’s always been a guy who loves to work. I’m out there at practice, I’ve got two seconds to myself, he’s like, ‘Mike, let’s go do something. Let’s go do some long balls.’ He always wants to do extra work. He’s out there 10 minutes before practice starts, working on his footwork. He does a great job trying to stay on top of his craft.”
Jack Jones stated Jackson will get the entire group going “being himself really, just being J.C.”
Jonathan Jones sees Jackson motivating youthful gamers like Jack Jones.
“I mean, he doesn’t say too much, but just his presence,” Jonathan Jones stated. “He’s one of those playmakers and has been here for a while. Just the energy he brings to the room is different, different energy, and a lot of those younger guys can kind of gravitate to that, as well.”
If Jackson and each Joneses begin, that might permit Bryant to return to his power of being a flexible chess piece within the Patriots’ protection, able to enjoying within the slot, exterior and at security.
The Patriots may catch a break this week with Dolphins broad receiver Tyreek Hill lacking Wednesday’s apply with a hip harm. Jonathan Jones has been adept at limiting Hill, who returned Thursday, up to now if the speedy wideout can energy via the ailment.
Source: www.bostonherald.com