FOXBOROUGH - Christian Gonzalez's rookie season was a tantalizing tease. The first-round pick immediately showed that his elite athleticism would translate to the NFL but after just four games he was lost for the season with a shoulder injury, but not before earning AFC Defensive Rookie of the Month honors. Coming into his second season expectations were high and thus far Gonzalez has played up to them.
"He's doing a good job of excelling in his role," said Patriots cornerbacks coach Mike Pellegrino. "I've talked about this in the past, but his film study, preparing for the game, whether it's a unique role where he's following a guy around the whole game, or he's just working one side, you know, to go back and forth is not easy for a corner. Some some corners in the National Football League only play left, only play right, or only do one thing right. And I've asked him to do a lot, plays inside, he plays outside. Does a lot of good things, and embracing that role, I'm very proud of him."
Gonzalez's silky smooth athleticism is his best trait, but it's complemented by his elite speed and recovery ability that enables him to stick with the most explosive receivers in the league.
"Speed. Can't teach it, right?," said Pellegrino. "He's got great top-end speed and poise at the top of the route. So what do I mean by poise? He doesn't panic when he sees that ball in the air or the guys pulling away down the field like he feels him turn on the jets. Christian's cool, calm, collected and just going down the field with it. Gets his eyes back up to see the ball. It's great."
Gonzalez admitted the defense as a whole needs to be more consistent. Last week against the Dolphins multiple communication errors were pinned on the defense after some of Miami's biggest plays. It's been a big points of emphasis this week as the team prepares to take on the Colts.
"It's the film room. It's practice. It's walkthroughs. Just anytime we're, as a defense together, making communication [a priority], being loud, being confident," said Gonzalez. "It's really just talking with each other, even when we don't have to be in practice, or in a walk-through or just throughout the building... Then just at the end of the day, just going up and doing it."
Anthony Richardson and the Colts offense will present plenty of challenges for Gonzalez and the Pats secondary. With a stable of big receivers who can get downfield, blown coverages this week could quickly result in scores if the back end of the defense is not all on the same page.
Gonzalez expected that he and his teammates would bounce back strong.
"I feel like we're going to respond," said Gonzalez. "It's been a tough season, but we still come in every day and put the work in and go out there and compete. As a defense, I know we're going to go out there and go do what we got to do, and then just try to get the ball back to the offense."
O-Line Shuffle
With the release of starting left guard Michael Jordan on Tuesday evening, the Patriots will have at least one change along their offensive line against the Colts. Jordan was promoted early in the season from the team's practice squad, but now it appears the Pats are ready to take a closer look at one of their younger draft picks.
"Yeah, it was very tough," said starting left guard Michael Onwenu of Jordan's release. "You know, [Michael]'s one of the one of the guys, part of the family, but, you know, I wish him the best, and that's all I can."
Onwenu did plenty of shuffling this season between right guard and right tackle, but now, after sticking in one spot for the last few weeks it seems like the veteran is settling in and returning to the high level of play that earned him a three-year contract extension this offseason.
"I feel like me being back at right guard I've been a little bit more comfortable," said Onwenu. "I've been able to play to my strengths. So I've been seeing that on the tape, and I'm just trying to put more good tape out there and just finish well for the last couple games."
The team could have a couple different options to replace Jordan. Last year' starter at left guard, Cole Strange, returned to practice this week though it appears that Strange is still getting up to speed and spending a large amount of time working at the center position.
"Cole is looking strong," said Onwenu. "He's been training and working his tail off this whole time during rehab. So, you know, it's really good seeing him out there and then him being able to snap the ball, getting his football smarts out there playing center."
Perhaps the more obvious choice is rookie Layden Robinson, who has 288 snaps all at right guard this season. Last week offensive line coach Scott Peters said that Robinson was repping at both guard spots since being lifted from the starting lineup in the last two contests. Getting a better look at the rookie over the team's final five games seems to be a priority.
"[Layden] pretty much knows his strength when he's on the field, he's a mauler and a brawler," said Onwenu. "I just tell him not to worry about the outside noise and not to worry too much."
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