FOXBORO — Shortly after this third-ever coaching camp follow, Patriots cornerback Marcus Jones wasted no time figuring out the most important distinction between faculty and the NFL.
It’s quicker. Lots quicker. And you higher sustain.
“That’s the main thing,” Jones mentioned, “And as things can happen fast, just making sure you stay on top of everything and get in the film room.”
Lucky for Jones, he’s teammates with Tyquan Thornton.
Thornton, a second-round rookie out of Baylor, timed because the quickest huge receiver prospect on the NFL Combine final March with a 4.28 within the 40-yard sprint. He and Jones have seen loads of one another so far in camp, the place each are rapidly discovering their footing. Thornton led the Patriots with 4 catches in Thursday’s follow and nabbed one other throughout Friday’s crew drills.
“It’s pretty obvious that I’m fast, now I’m just trying to fill in all the other areas… strength, route running, contested catches,’” Thornton mentioned Friday. “Trying to become a full complete receiver.”
Unlike Jones, Thornton faces a steep depth-chart climb, with established veterans DeVante Parker, Jakobi Meyers, Kendrick Bourne and Nelson Agholor forward of him. He and Agholor have frequently repped with the second-team offense to date in coaching camp, whereas the highest three run with the starters.
As for Jones, he took over nickelback duties for the beginning protection Friday. He didn’t permit a single catch in man protection throughout 11-on-11 and 7-on-7 durations. He did drop a punt, however atoned with a penalty lap and later acknowledged these errors are inevitable — at the least early in camp.
Later, with all the crew watching on the finish of follow, Jones fielded punts in a 1-on-1 competitors between himself and Tre Nixon, the place they held footballs whereas attempting to catch one other. Jones gained by holding 5 footballs on his individual — 4 had been tucked inside his jersey — as he caught a sixth, and the protection went wild.
The former All-American returner appears to be like at dwelling within the fires of early coaching camp competitors, similar as first-round rookie offensive lineman Cole Strange who’s began at left guard from Day 1 of OTAs.
“I feel pretty good honestly,” Strange mentioned Thursday. “I think it’s just a matter of — and I’d say it’s probably the same for anybody else coming in — just making sure you’re familiar with your assignments and not having paralysis by analysis. When you know your play and you don’t think about it, you just got.”
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