If BB believes in Cyrus Jones, I do too.

[skinnydog]

McCourty had a really good rookie year and then looked like crap for a couple years. We were wondering what happened to the McCourty from his rookie season. I remember him getting burned badly and our secondary being one of the worst in the NFL. Finally he moved to safety and became a leader on the defense. Now he's regarded as one of the best safeties in the league and a core part of our D.

Chung had a really good 2nd year. Then he had a terrible 3rd and 4th year. Those 3rd-4th years were when our secondary was getting roasted. Chung looked horrible by the time he left New England. He went to Philly and was a huge failure there too. He came back and most of this forum thought he was just "camp fodder" or "just another camp body" and most didnt think he'd even make the roster. Not only did he make the team, by mid-season he was a main staple in our defense which also had Revis and Browner. Chung was a huge part of that Super Bowl run and made a lot of clutch plays, particularly pass break ups on TE's in the red zone. He's one of the core players on our Defense now.

Logan Ryan didnt look great his first couple seasons either. It took him a long time to finally come around and look comfortable out there.

My point being, all of these secondary players had their trials and tribulations. They all looked lost at times. All of them, particularly Chung, seemed like busted draft picks at times. Give Cyrus some time. He'll come around too.



With that said, sit him on the bench and don't let him close to the football for the rest of this season.

I'm not really seeing any analysis here supporting the thread title that BB believes in Jones. I suspect that we won't see Cyrus as a punt returner again this year and if true, I suggest it means that BB no longer believes in Cyrus at least as a punt returner.

 

[VrabelJr]

BB can do whatever he wants and I know he knows better than I. In BB I trust. No doubt.

But if he puts Cyrus back there to receive another KO I'm going to ask for a free pair of undershorts.

Well, BB does cut two sleeves off of his hoodie every Sunday...

 

[Patstopia]

As always BB knows best, but that play last night was a head scratcher. WTF was he doing tapping the ball with his foot? Even in middle school you know enough to stay away. I am surprised BB didnt run out on the field and kick him in the b...butt.

 

[Patriot Missile]

Well, if he is out there on Sunday I'm gonna give him positive vibes support from my couch. Sucks he had a terrible game so I'm hoping if he is out there, he redeems himself in a big way. Even if he just does his job that will be enough. I imagine last night and today wasn't the best for him. I liked Julian's and others supportive comments. That's what teammates do.

 

[AtomicDawg]

 

[Soul_Survivor88]

I was just about to post this

 

[Deus Irae]

BB's believed in a lot of players who turned out to be dog ****, so let's stop with the appeal to authority nonsense.

 

[AtomicDawg]

I was just about to post this

You and I must follow the same folks on the Tweety thingie.

 

[long distance]

 

[IllegalContact]

BB's believed in a lot of players who turned out to be dog ****, so let's stop with the appeal to authority nonsense.

 

[turkeyneck]

Cyrus was rattled by his early in the season flubs. He's now over-thinking and over-trying in an effort to make up but that's just causing him more problems. He just needs the returning duty removed from his plate so he can build confidence with his CB play. Let him focus on that. If he keeps being sent out for PR duty we'll get an Ensign Ralston Bedford Incident from the yips overwhelming him.

 

[thecore762]

I better not see him in the playoffs returning any punts!

 

[Kdo5]

I better not see him in the playoffs returning any punts!

No way is he returning punts in the post season. Even if Bill has surprised us by his willingness to keep putting Jones back there, the playoffs are different. They'll put Edelman back there or another player who isn't an experienced returner but can at least make the fair catch cleanly.

Cyrus was rattled by his early in the season flubs. He's now over-thinking and over-trying in an effort to make up but that's just causing him more problems. He just needs the returning duty removed from his plate so he can build confidence with his CB play. Let him focus on that. If he keeps being sent out for PR duty we'll get an Ensign Ralston Bedford Incident from the yips overwhelming him.

Fully agreed. I still have hope for him on defense but returns? Shelve that until next season at least. I'm very curious to know what is happening at practice. Is Jones fielding everything well and looking good as a returner? He must be to be receiving this many opportunities. Unfortunately I think we have passed the point where Jones can mentally force his way out of the struggles. It's only getting worse and he is losing confidence quicker and quicker.

 

[oldrover]

I truly hope he goes the way of Kevin Faulk, who struggled early but proved BB absolutely right and not Jake Bequette, whom much of this board despised and couldn't believe kept sticking around for so long.

Hey, Bequette might be coming back!!!!










...if he can catch a punt.

 

[patsfan-1982]

McCourty was asked to play zone with some of the worst safeties in NFL history over top and no pass rush and because he was always the best DB on the field moving him to safety made the whole defense better,

as for Jones he looked ok at DB and I am hoping that's why the pats drafted him cause if not they wasted one more 2th round pick cause the guy is not a good return man even when he dose not fumble he is not doing much with the ball

 

[Patjew]

Give him some garbage time reps and get his confidence up. The kid will be ok.

 

[WaterfallJumper]

He's small and slow as a db too. Can't jump high, just generally unathletic.

Total bust of a pick.

That's just not true. He's 1/8th of an inch taller than Malcolm Butler and actually outweighs him by 10+ pounds. He also ran in the 4.4s and had a 6.7 second 3-cone time. Those are good numbers. His vertical was the same as Butler's. So it's not like he's a slouch athletically, and it's uninformed to argue otherwise.

Whether he's a bust remains to be seen. All we know is that this season, he has not been good on punt returns. He has played pretty well at corner, however, minus the big play down the sidelines. For the record, I wasn't a huge fan of the pick, and I liked other corners better this draft, but I also posted before the draft that he was extremely easy to project in our secondary. I had him as a virtual lock for us to pick. I hope he improves, and I'd be very happy to see him become a contributing member to the Patriots team.

 

[kennyb]

That's just not true. He's 1/8th of an inch taller than Malcolm Butler and actually outweighs him by 10+ pounds. He also ran in the 4.4s and had a 6.7 second 3-cone time. Those are good numbers. His vertical was the same as Butler's. So it's not like he's a slouch athletically, and it's uninformed to argue otherwise.

Whether he's a bust remains to be seen. All we know is that this season, he has not been good on punt returns. He has played pretty well at corner, however, minus the big play down the sidelines. For the record, I wasn't a huge fan of the pick, and I liked other corners better this draft, but I also posted before the draft that he was extremely easy to project in our secondary. I had him as a virtual lock for us to pick. I hope he improves, and I'd be very happy to see him become a contributing member to the Patriots team.

He didn't look too fast when that wr blew right by him. He kind of shuffled after him, can't even run.

He's not fumbling punts because of nerves. He runs up and dances with the bouncing ball rather than run away. It's like he's thinking of grabbing it and running. There's no way he hasn't been coached not to do that. So he's either a moron or a maniac. Then when he does try to catch it he fumbles. Utter bust.

 

[Bill Lee]

Give him some garbage time reps and get his confidence up. The kid will be ok.

But.. but.. but.. we thought it was about to be garbage time just before he muffed the punt on Monday night!

I guess it needs to be 'deep garbage time'...

 

[Mack Herron]

What if BB believes he should return punts Sunday in Denver?