‘D’ hopes to turn corner
Young DBs must step up
FOXBORO — The Patriots have been quick to shake things up in the secondary.
Against Jacksonville, Jason McCourty replaced Eric Rowe at cornerback following the second series. And at Detroit, with Rowe injured, the Pats went to rookie J.C. Jackson over McCourty on the third drive.
They also subbed in rookie Keion Crossen in the dime package.
On cue, Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford went right at the young fellas.
He spotted Crossen in coverage against star receiver Marvin Jones on a third-and-7 and connected with Jones for a 16-yard pickup. On the ensuing play, the Lions ran a fleaflicker and drew a defensive holding call on Jackson, who was covering Kenny Golladay.
On Friday, Jackson called the Lions game — his NFL debut — a “learning experience.”
“(Golladay) was bumping me, but it’s an offensive game,” Jackson said. “You know they’re going to call it on defense every time. I’ve got to keep my eyes out of the backfield, because I looked in the backfield a little bit, too. Keep my eyes out of the backfield, keep my eyes on my man, and don’t grab.”
Depending on the status of Rowe, who missed Thursday’s practice and was limited on Friday with a groin injury, Jackson could get another shot today against the undefeated Dolphins.
The Pats have a surplus of young cornerbacks. They’re carrying seven corners on the active roster, and that’s not including second-round rookie Duke Dawson (hamstring), who is on IR.
They don’t need Jackson, Crossen and Cyrus Jones to immediately become starters. But they’d benefit from
some production out of those three. Signed off the Ravens’ practice squad prior to the Lions game, Jones was thrust into a new role. He was on the field in dime packages and was assigned to covering running backs. He was beaten by tailback Theo Riddick on an angle route for a 20-yard gain in the fourth quarter.
Jones admitted the role was an adjustment, but he’s willing to take on any task in his second go-around with the Pats.
“You don’t really have a say, to be honest with you,” Jones said. “Coach wants you to do something and you’re going to say ‘yes or no,’ and you’ve got to suffer the consequences for whatever you choose. The best thing to do is just embrace whatever role the coaches ask of you and go out there and do your best at it.”
If Jones is in a similar position this afternoon, he’ll draw Miami running back Kenyan Drake, who caught five passes for a career-high 79 yards the last time the Dolphins and Pats squared off.
And if the Pats re-insert Jackson at the No. 2 cornerback spot, he expects to be tested by Ryan Tannehill.
“I love the fact that I’m a rookie and teams are going to try to pick on me to throw the ball my way,” Jackson said. “That just makes an opportunity for me to make plays, show the coaches I can ball.”
Culture change
The Dolphins pried away wide receiver Danny Amendola in free agency, and they pounced on running back Brandon Bolden when he became available following the preseason.
Both ex-Patriots have proven to be valuable to Miami.
Earlier this week, special teams co- ordinator Darren Rizzi told reporters that Bolden has an “A-plus” leadership style and personality.
“I kind of knew Brandon Bolden as the player, but getting to know Brandon Bolden the person, the leader, that kind of thing has been kind of neat for me,” Rizzi said. “A really mature guy (with) really good football IQ. He’s been really good, to be honest with you, with some of our younger players.”
Let’s get Gronk going
The entire Pats offense is slumping, and that includes tight end Rob Gronkowski. Due to the dearth of talent in the passing game, Gronkowski has consistently faced double cover- age. His production has suffered.
Gronkowski has totaled 66 receiving yards in the past two games (15 vs. the Jaguars, 51 against the Lions). Not since the beginning of the 2014 season, when Gronkowski was returning from an ACL tear, has he been held under 60 yards in three consecutive games.
The Pats need to get Gronk on track this afternoon . . . .
The Patriots released wide receiver Corey Coleman from the practice squad.