Jones in middle of hunt for open slot corner role
FOXBORO — Cornerback Jonathan Jones wants to secure a vital job in the upgraded Patriots secondary.
One of the fastest guys in the team’s defensive backfield, he is angling to fill an open corner position, specifically the slot role.
He showed signs of gaining ground in that quest during Day 2 of the Patriots’ minicamp yesterday, when he took snaps with the first-team defense.
“I just get in where they put me and I just show up every day and try to make a play and keep getting better every day,” said the 5-foot10, 190-pound Jones. “I am trying to string the days together and have a series of good days and see where I end up after that.”
An undrafted free agent signing out of Auburn, he earned a roster spot with the Patriots last season as a gunner on the special teams and performed at a high level. He finished with eight tackles on special teams and added a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
But Jones had limited opportunities to contribute on defense playing behind starting right corner Malcolm Butler and backup Justin Coleman. The Patriots fortified the left side this offseason when they signed Pro Bowl cornerback Stephon Gilmore to a five-year deal.
Jones has more in common with Butler than Gilmore. Butler was a rookie free agent in 2014 while Gilmore was the first-round pick (10th overall) of the Buffalo Bills in 2012 following an All-America season at South Carolina.
“Those are great guys with great experience, Pro Bowl players,” said Jones. “Just being out there and contributing with those guys is a great experience.”
With Butler and Gilmore on the flanks, Jones has been squeezed toward the middle. He made enough positive plays in two days of minicamp to show the coaching staff he can function at the three cover positions.
“We’ve been working inside, outside and moving around,” he said. “Coverage corner outside, coverage corner inside and getting a little bit of work at both.
“We have guys with speed on both sides of the ball and that is what is happening in the NFL where everybody is good so you have to be prepared.
“You try to use your attributes and whatever you may have to help you. But a lot of it comes down to studying and understanding the defense and learning to make plays.”
Jones spent time this offseason at home in Carrollton, Ga., working on conditioning. He arrived at minicamp with a better grasp of defensive coordinator Matt Patricia’s cover schemes.
“For me it has kind of slowed down because I have a better understanding of the defense and how things operate,” said Jones. “But we are competing with the same intensity and all of us are competitors.
“When you step on that field you have to feel that you’re the best from rookies to veterans. That helps having that competitive spirit and that competitive mentality.”