Pats Pulpit
Defensive coordinator Terrell Williams made sure to remind reporters on Thursday that nothing had been decided yet. However, with Christian Gonzalez still missing from practice after suffering a hamstring injury in late July, all signs point toward the star cornerback missing the New England Patriots’ upcoming season opener against the Las Vegas Raiders.
A healthy Gonzalez would, of course, a pretty big piece of the Patriots’ defensive puzzle. He is one of the best cornerbacks in football and a player capable of taking on an opponent’s top wide receiver in 1-on-1 coverage.
But even with his availability in question, the team will try to stay its course as best as possible. Williams said so himself on Thursday.
“We’re going to call our defense and play football. That’s what the league’s about,” he explained.
“We feel pretty good about our secondary and really our whole defense. The guys have been working hard and doing the things that we need to do to try to win a football game on Sunday. Ultimately, that’s what it’s about.”
Gonzalez got banged up in an 11-on-11 segment during the Patriots’ fourth training camp practice. Initial optimism about his outlook had to give way to the reality of the situation: the third-year man has missed five weeks of practice so far, and seems like a long shot to suit up against the visiting Raiders this weekend.
With him out, the Patriots’ depth options will need to answer the call. Fellow starting CB Carlton Davis, who himself missed time this summer for an undisclosed ailment, will be joined by a mix of Alex Austin, Marcus Jones and D.J. James (as well, to a lesser degree, recent waiver claim Charles Woods).
Williams seems happy with what he has seen out of the group over the summer, which adds a further element to his insistence that the Patriots will “call our defense” with or without Gonzalez in the lineup.
“They both are great cover guys,” he said about Austin and Jones, who both provide the flexibility to line up outside in Gonzalez’s spot or move inside into the slot. “They’re both smart. They both understand who they’re going against as a slot receiver; you don’t play every guy the same way. And they’re different body types. They both play to their strengths, but we feel comfortable with either guy going in there.”
If Gonzalez is indeed out against Las Vegas, Austin and Jones are both expected to see heavy action. The former would be the prime candidate to help replace the second-team All-Pro on the perimeter, while the latter — a first-time team captain — looks like the top nickel and slot option at the moment.
Joining them will be one of the pleasant surprises of training camp, second-year man D.J. James. Originally a sixth-round draft pick by the Seattle Seahawks last year, James joined the Patriots’ practice squad in September and from there steadily developed into a player worthy of a spot on the 53-man roster.
“Tough kid,...
