Christian Gonzalez has seemed the half as Patriots’ No. 1 nook to date throughout coaching camp

Patriots

“It is at all times good to only come out and compete towards the perfect.”

FOXBOROUGH — The tempo that have to be adopted to carve out a task within the NFL ranks takes a while to get used to.

For Patriots rookies like Christian Gonzalez, Demario Douglas, Marte Mapu, Keion White and others, the hours away from the observe subject provides little respite from the deluge of knowledge put upon them.

“It’s only a bunch of conferences, coming to observe, doing all that,” Gonzalez mentioned Friday morning at Gillette Stadium. “And you then bought to do all of it once you get residence. It’s not a whole lot of time. However you simply bought to attempt to soak every thing in as a lot as you possibly can.”

However on the sphere, Gonzalez hasn’t missed a lot of a step in his first introduction to NFL competitors.

The Patriots have been thrilled when the 6-foot-2 cornerback was obtainable on the seventeenth total decide within the 2023 NFL Draft, with Gonzalez’s body, velocity, and instincts providing hope that an already stout New England protection was including a possible No. 1 boundary defensive again into the equation.

Up to now, the 21-year-old Gonzalez has but to disappoint in no matter daunting task Invoice Belichick and the Patriots’ teaching employees has doled out to him.

“He’s been nice to work with,” Belichick mentioned Thursday. “Very diligent. He’s performed every thing we’ve requested him to do. He’s improved day-after-day. Nonetheless a protracted approach to go like each rookie does, however he’s been nice to work with.”

Regardless of the anticipated studying curves that include making the soar from the collegiate ranks to the professionals, Gonzalez has been tossed proper into the fireplace all through New England’s preseason packages.

A daily on New England’s first-team protection throughout minicamp, Gonzalez hasn’t been bumped from his featured spot on the depth chart now that the calendar has flipped to July.

All through the primary three training-camp practices behind Gillette Stadium, Gonzalez has been entrenched as certainly one of New England’s beginning exterior corners, primarily alongside Jonathan Jones.

“It’s enjoyable. I am going on the market and get the perfect competitors I can,” Gonzalez mentioned.

Each Gonzalez and Jonathan Jones made life depressing for Mac Jones and New England’s quarterback corps on Friday morning.

A sputtering New England offense discovered little respite within the purple zone towards the first-team protection, with Jonathan Jones breaking apart two passes meant for DeVante Parker over a four-play stretch throughout 11-on-11s.

To not be outdone, Gonzalez thwarted Mac Jones’s 7-on-7 session. After breaking apart a move meant for Tyquan Thornton, Gonzalez compelled an incompletion by draping himself over Kendrick Bourne.

The Patriots do boast loads of expertise within the secondary, particularly in different corners like Marcus Jones and Jack Jones (if he’s finally cleared to play within the common season). However to date, the 1-2 punch of Gonzalez and Jonathan Jones on the skin is wanting like a poised and harmful beginning combo.

“It’s been good. He’s been actual with us,” Jonathan Jones mentioned Thursday of Gonzalez’s influence. “He’s been round, he confirmed his character. I’d say he’s a rookie, so it’s type of that neat house. However he is available in, he says his voice. He’s been on the market competing, and that’s what you wish to see with younger guys.”

As anticipated, it hasn’t at all times been seamless for Gonzalez, particularly given the elevated competitors that the Patriots have put in entrance of him.

Primarily matched up towards arguably New England’s most elusive wideout in JuJu Smith-Schuster on Thursday, he was knocked for a landing throughout full-team drills. Nevertheless, Gonzalez did reply by later batting down one other move meant for Smith-Schuster.

Over the past two practices, Mac Jones is 3-for-7 when concentrating on Gonzalez throughout 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills.

As promising as he’s been, extra hurdles will await Gonzalez as camp progresses. Although he already boasts a pro-ready body, Gonzalez might want to add muscle and brace himself for the added physicality discovered at this degree, particularly as soon as the pads are placed on Monday morning at Gillette Stadium.

“I’m excited,” Gonzalez mentioned of reside contact throughout observe subsequent week. “That’s soccer.”

However even with the anticipated bodily toll and grind ready within the weeks and months forward, Gonzalez isn’t missing in confidence as he tries to consolidate his spot on the prime of New England’s depth chart.

“I imply confidence is at all times the factor. It by no means actually got here simply from popping out right here,” Gonzalez mentioned. “It’s one thing I’ve had. Nevertheless it’s at all times good to only come out and compete towards the perfect. So it doesn’t get higher than that.”