FOXBORO — Maybe Jalen Mills isn’t lower out to be a No. 1 nook.
After all, when the Patriots signed him as a free agent final spring, they envisioned a do-it-all security. Someone who may cowl the slot, often rotate deep and battle within the field. But Mills by no means did any of that in 2021 as a result of Stephon Gilmore’s contract dispute required the Pats to maintain Mills at cornerback, the place he hadn’t performed full-time in two years.
But then Mills caught. He began 16 regular-season video games at exterior nook reverse J.C. Jackson, who adopted Gilmore out the door final spring.
Now heading into the 2022 season, Mills tasks because the crew’s lead nook, and he feels prepared for a starring position.
“100 percent. That’s (been) the standard here for corners for the past decade,” Mills mentioned after Thursday’s follow. “Guys have to be able to line up, play man-to-man, play zone. Whatever it might be, you’ve got to stand up to the challenge.”
According to Pro Football Reference, Mills allowed opposing quarterbacks to finish simply 56.9% of their passes in opposition to him final 12 months. Opposing huge receivers averaged simply 6.2 yards per goal versus Mills, one other private greatest, regardless of the very fact he noticed 65 passes thrown his method, the best single-season complete of his profession.
Mills, 28, is now one of many veteran leaders of a protection he mentioned already feels quicker than final 12 months’s unit, which ranked second in factors allowed per sport.
“100 percent,” he mentioned of the elevated pace. “Definitely in that linebacking corps. We got Mack (Wilson), we got (Raekwon McMillan). … Those guys are flying around.”
Since the entrance workplace pieced that protection collectively within the offseason, Mills has taken each snap at exterior nook. He’s helped tutor rookies Marcus Jones and Jack Jones and answered the occasional query for Terrance Mitchell, this 12 months’s veteran free-agent signing. Mills, unquestionably, has additionally been the most effective of the bunch throughout coaching camp, with two cross breakups and an interception.
But Mills received’t rule out taking part in one other place this season, understanding Bill Belichick is more likely to deploy his defensive backs all caross the protection in the event that they’re succesful.
“You never know within our defensive scheme,” he mentioned. “I come in one week and they might say, ‘Play in the slot.’ Or it might just be like you’re saying, play outside. So, I always keep myself refreshed, whether it’s nickel or outside.”
He paused.
“But as of right now, yeah, I’ve just been focusing on outside.”
And not less than for now, that’s for good purpose.
Source: www.bostonherald.com