FOXBORO — Within the look for Devin McCourty’s different at safety inside the Patriots’ starting safety, Jalen Mills made a sturdy first impression in Thursday night’s preseason opener in opposition to the Houston Texans.
Mills has some ground to make up if he’s going to be part of the Patriots’ starting unit for the third straight season, nonetheless. The good news is that the eight-year veteran made the Patriots’ prime defensive play in Thursday’s loss, undercutting rookie giant receiver Tank Dell in a cross from No. 2 complete resolve C.J. Stroud for an interception.
“I used to be truly in man-to-man with the tight finish,” Mills outlined. “He was within the backfield, although. It was an extended down and distance, so I type of confirmed a two-high look. I believe it was Myles Bryant who was subsequent to me. As soon as the tight finish type of chipped and launched by, I knew that I may take him from depth, however I simply stored eyes on the quarterback. He simply so occurred to look to his proper and my left, and I used to be capable of get beneath the route and intercept the ball.”
.@greengoblin on the moveeeeee!!
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— New England Patriots (@Patriots) August 10, 2023
The undeniable fact that Mills was on the sphere the least bit, nonetheless, implies that he’s not thought of by the workforce as a surefire starter. Fellow safeties Kyle Dugger, Adrian Phillips and Jabrill Peppers all dressed for Thursday night’s sport nevertheless didn’t play, hanging out on the sideline sans helmets. Cornerback Marcus Jones moreover sat out no matter being in uniform. Mills has primarily been collaborating in with the second unit in teaching camp, so it made sense to see him in a secondary with Myles Bryant, Jack Jones, Joshuah Bledsoe and rookie Christian Gonzalez to start the game.
Mills has primarily carried out cornerback through his first two years with the Patriots. It’s actually been a shock to see how little they’ve utilized his versatility since he moreover carried out safety and inside the slot early in his occupation with the Philadelphia Eagles. It seems head coach Invoice Belichick did initially plan to utilize him in a number of roles inside the Patriots’ safety as soon as they signed him to a four-year contract, nonetheless.
“Yeah, Jalen is an skilled man, performed security,” Belichick said. “Performed all of the positions actually within the secondary. Performed the nickel, performed the nook. Performed security at Philly. He performed security right here for the primary 12 months for the higher a part of — I believe all of the spring, then slightly bit in coaching camp. He’s a wise, versatile man. Performed all these positions within the NFL. Provides us some good versatility and expertise at totally different spots.”
The aim Mills wasn’t used further at safety is perhaps because of cornerback Stephon Gilmore started the Patriots’ 2021 season on the bodily unable to hold out file after which was traded to the Carolina Panthers. The Patriots couldn’t use Mills at safety because of they instantly had a gaping hole at cornerback reverse JC Jackson.
Mills, who teammates have said has stepped up in a administration perform in McCourty’s absence, is correct right down to play wherever. It’s all as a lot as Belichick.
“Actually, it’s wherever Coach sees match,” Mills said. “I can play within the slot. I can play sturdy security; I can play free security. I can blitz off the sting. I can do numerous various things, so I believe it’s nearly trusting Coach to place me in the proper place to assist this protection, make performs and assist the crew win video games.”
The Patriots internally anticipated some trial and error in altering McCourty at free safety. Mills, Peppers and Phillips have primarily probably the most experience inside the perform. However players have said they think about they are going to make up for McCourty’s absence by the usage of quite a lot of players at free safety and disguising seems to be like.
It was reported this offseason that the Patriots consider to launch Mills. As a substitute, they trimmed a yr off of his contract and saved him on a diminished maintain a spot change.
Mills appeared cozy at safety in restricted time Thursday.
There moreover exists the prospect that historic previous will repeat itself and the Patriots might need him once more at cornerback counting on Jack Jones’ licensed situation. Jones faces gun chargers for allegedly carrying loaded firearms into Logan Airport. The Patriots’ cornerback depth may very well be examined if Jones misses time and if late-round rookies Isaiah Bolden and Ameer Velocity can’t contribute immediately. The Patriots nonetheless have Gonzalez, Jonathan Jones and Marcus Jones at cornerback, nevertheless the workforce solely has Bolden, Velocity and totally different inexperienced cornerbacks Shaun Wade, Rodney Randle and Quandre Mosley behind them. Mills is doubtless one of many few players on the roster with exact experience outside.
If Thursday night was a check out for Mills, then he handed it collectively together with his alert play from safety. His subsequent step is ascending the depth chart above the no-helmet crew in Dugger, Phillips and Peppers.