Jones provides cover
Rookie fits well on slot
FOXBORO — The pads go on today at Patriots training camp, but Cyrus Jones already has made his physical presence felt.
At 5-foot-10, 200 pounds, one major takeaway from the rookie out of Alabama’s game is his ability to effectively jam receivers at the line in press man coverage. Both in 7-on-7 and full-squad drills, Jones has knocked players off their routes and been able to shadow them effectively when they break free. He also appears to have picked up the zone concepts well, which are tougher for new players to digest.
Drafted in the second round (60th overall), Jones is expected to win the job as the team’s slot corner, and the attributes he has shown so far seem to make him a good fit.
“I’m comfortable (doing press man),” Jones said yesterday after practice on the fields behind Gillette Stadium. “That was something coming in that I was comfortable with. So I’ve just tried to come in every day and stay consistent.”
Jones was consistently a standout during the spring’s organized team activities and minicamp.
However, he is not exactly cruising into a starting spot without any competition. Logan Ryan and Malcolm Butler are entrenched as the top two corners on the outside, and Justin Coleman played well in the slot role last season. So far, Coleman is playing both inside and outside, where Jones has yet to get many repetitions.
“I’m not really sure,” Jones said of when he’ll get more shots on the outside. “I’m just taking the reps that I get, trying to do my best at whatever position I play and come out here and just try to put good days together.”
By and large, that’s exactly what he’s done. Jones has been particularly good in a goal line drill that features defensive backs covering receivers, tight ends and running backs on passes from one of the quarterbacks. Yesterday, that quarterback was Jacoby Brissett, who had trouble finding open men in general, but especially those covered by Jones. Jones was able to get up in the shirt of his man, throw off his timing and make passing windows small.
While other defensive backs have made more pass breakups early on, quarterbacks have been less inclined to challenge Jones, which is the best compliment a corner can get.
And while Jones projects a serious demeanor, he’s enjoying his first NFL experience.
“Football is always fun,” Jones said. “I think that’s what makes it great. When you’re not having fun out there, that’s a problem. This time of year is definitely super-intense. It’s training camp. Everybody’s just fighting for a job and trying to do something to catch a coach’s eye and separate themselves. So, you definitely feel the intensity out there, but it’s still a game. You’ve just got to come out here and work hard and everything else will take care of itself.”