Patriots news
- Thread starter LordSensei1958
- Start date
Christian Gonzalez entered the 2024 season in a bit of a weird spot. On the one hand, so much was expected of him, a cornerback who was already penciled in — at least locally — as one of the game’s best. On the other hand, he’d played just four NFL games to that point, most of his rookie season having been wiped out by shoulder surgery.
But Gonzalez backed up the promise of his brief rookie season as one of the few Patriots who actually exceeded individual expectations a year ago. He quickly showed that he’s one of the league’s 10 best cornerbacks.
Now, anticipation builds for what Gonzalez has in store for a 2025 campaign in which it wouldn’t be a surprise if he played as the NFL’s top cornerback. Oh, and he just turned 23 a couple of weeks ago.
From the beginning, his talent was obvious. He was dominant even at his first few Patriots practices, then played like one of the game’s best corners in his first four NFL contests. But a shoulder injury wiped out the final 13 games of his rookie season.
There were plenty of reasons Gonzalez’s play could have dipped a year ago, including that basically every player’s performance dipped under Jerod Mayo’s coaching staff, plus Gonzalez was coming off a serious injury and he’d barely played in a year. Instead, he was excellent as the team’s true shutdown corner, drawing the opponent’s top wide receiver week after week.
Now, it’s fair to note his advantage in going up against a still-figuring-it-out offense with a poor group of wide receivers, but Gonzalez did everything in the spring you’d hope from a No. 1 corner. He was a big part of the reason the Patriots’ offense looked out of sorts for long stretches.
With Davis, that could change this season. He’s not at Gonzalez’s level, of course, but Davis can be a really good No. 2 cornerback. And if he’s as good in coverage as the Patriots think he will be, that could force more teams to test Gonzalez, which could lead to more interceptions for the third-year corner and, thus, more national attention.
He was great against No. 1 wide receivers. He was great no matter which side he lined up on and great in man or zone coverage. How could a guy with that track record not keep improving as he gets older and more experienced?
Maybe this is overstating things for a player with 20 career NFL games, but Gonzalez is everything you want in a cornerback.
But if we’re spotlighting any issues with Gonzalez, it’s nitpicking.
Of course, that’s setting the bar massively high. But after last season and the way Gonzalez played this spring, such is life.
If there’s one other thing to watch this summer, it’ll be Gonzalez matching up against Justin Jefferson during joint practices with the Vikings in mid-August. That matchup will be a blast to follow.
But Gonzalez backed up the promise of his brief rookie season as one of the few Patriots who actually exceeded individual expectations a year ago. He quickly showed that he’s one of the league’s 10 best cornerbacks.
Now, anticipation builds for what Gonzalez has in store for a 2025 campaign in which it wouldn’t be a surprise if he played as the NFL’s top cornerback. Oh, and he just turned 23 a couple of weeks ago.
History
It always seemed like a steal that Gonzalez fell to Bill Belichick and the Patriots at the 17th pick in 2023. He’s everything you look for in a modern outside cornerback — tall (6-foot-1), lanky (32-inch arms), fast (4.38-second 40-yard dash), and explosive (41.5-inch vertical).From the beginning, his talent was obvious. He was dominant even at his first few Patriots practices, then played like one of the game’s best corners in his first four NFL contests. But a shoulder injury wiped out the final 13 games of his rookie season.
There were plenty of reasons Gonzalez’s play could have dipped a year ago, including that basically every player’s performance dipped under Jerod Mayo’s coaching staff, plus Gonzalez was coming off a serious injury and he’d barely played in a year. Instead, he was excellent as the team’s true shutdown corner, drawing the opponent’s top wide receiver week after week.
Offseason recap
Gonzalez seems to have taken things to a new level. He was easily the best player on the field in every practice this spring. He had three interceptions in five practices open to reporters, and it’s difficult to remember many catches allowed.Now, it’s fair to note his advantage in going up against a still-figuring-it-out offense with a poor group of wide receivers, but Gonzalez did everything in the spring you’d hope from a No. 1 corner. He was a big part of the reason the Patriots’ offense looked out of sorts for long stretches.
X-factor
The Carlton Davis signing could be an interesting one as it relates to Gonzalez. A year ago, one of the Patriots’ biggest defensive flaws (of many) was the lack of a true outside corner opposite Gonzalez. That was especially an issue against teams with multiple good wide receivers, including AFC East rivals the Jets and Dolphins, when it wasn’t enough for Gonzalez to take out a top receiver.With Davis, that could change this season. He’s not at Gonzalez’s level, of course, but Davis can be a really good No. 2 cornerback. And if he’s as good in coverage as the Patriots think he will be, that could force more teams to test Gonzalez, which could lead to more interceptions for the third-year corner and, thus, more national attention.
Reasons for optimism
Where to begin? Gonzalez is still a year or two away from his prime and he’s already among the best cornerbacks in football. He showed little rust a year ago, even while coming back from injury. Now, he gets to build on a healthy offseason.He was great against No. 1 wide receivers. He was great no matter which side he lined up on and great in man or zone coverage. How could a guy with that track record not keep improving as he gets older and more experienced?
Maybe this is overstating things for a player with 20 career NFL games, but Gonzalez is everything you want in a cornerback.
Reasons for concern
There aren’t many. Maybe the new scheme is one, considering this will be Gonzalez’s third different defensive coordinator in three NFL seasons. That could be difficult (though, again, he was so good this spring in the defense). There’s also the shoulder injury from a year ago, which might be a concern.But if we’re spotlighting any issues with Gonzalez, it’s nitpicking.
What to watch in camp
He’s going to be great in camp — the only question is just how great. Can he put together the kind of camp that Stephon Gilmore did in 2019 before winning defensive player of the year, a camp so dominant that coaches from that time still talk about it? If he does, what does that say about the expectations for him this season?Of course, that’s setting the bar massively high. But after last season and the way Gonzalez played this spring, such is life.
If there’s one other thing to watch this summer, it’ll be Gonzalez matching up against Justin Jefferson during joint practices with the Vikings in mid-August. That matchup will be a blast to follow.
captain stone
Well-known member
He was a Phatt Matt overdraft from 2019 - 43RD overall
- who sucked his dick while they were in Detroit so Patricia brought him to NE with him in 2022... Piece of shit better not fucking make the Opening Day 53 or there's gonna be Hell to pay now that I'm so much closer...
I think it's a combination of versatility and depth. He's played well two seasons ago, and was trash last year. Maybe he's getting the "Mayo" pass, and the team wants to give him a shot to earn a spot under the new staff. If used correctly he's a decent player.
Lord Chevy
I'm home
I am not a tape analyst, but it seems like Tavai was always quick to the spot. The problem was, it was hit or miss on it being the right spot. I hope he is doubling his film time to get the mental processing up to the physical processing.
He should be watching every second of Bruschi tape he can get his hands on.
