So Far, So Good: Patriots' Rookie Impressing During OTAs
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By the time we get to make-or-break games in December, no one will remember who "turned heads" during a June minicamp. Nonetheless, New England Patriots rookie Christian Gonzalez is making a good first impression.
Making his debut appearance at OTAs this week - at least in front of the media - the rookie first-round pick from Oregon immediately jumped into action at cornerback. For most of the reps, Gonzalez was opposite Jonathan Jones during the team's 11-on-11 drills on the fields adjacent to Gillette Stadium.
As advertised, Gonzalez' size and smooth movements turned heads and impressed teammates.
“He’s coming to work every day, focusing in meetings," Pats' cornerback Jalen Mills said of the rookie. "I think that’s the biggest thing you want to see with these rookies. Are they taking what coach is saying in the meetings out to the field? And as of right now, he’s doing that.”
Other than a late-session fight, Tuesday’s OTA was a light session. But at 6-2, it was already clear that Gonzalez could run and cover both receivers and bigger tight ends such as Pats' 6-foot-6 newcomer Mike Gesicki.
“It’s pretty effortless just the way he does everything,” safety Kyle Dugger said of Gonzalez. “The way he moves in and out of breaks, he runs easy. It just looks very light, very fluid. It’s easy to see.”
It's not exactly Bill Belichick's style to praise anyone, much less rookies. But so far, so good with Gonzalez at OTAs.
“A lot of what we are doing is really just teaching," Belichick said. "So, the evaluations will come in training camp when they are able to go out there and compete against each other. He’s a smart kid. He’s got good skill, and a pretty good level of experience from what he did in college at Colorado and Oregon. He’s learning out there every day.”\
Gonzalez and Jonathan Jones were joined at cornerback by Jack Jones. Marcus Jones played in the slot and Mills even got time at safety.
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