If BB believes in Cyrus Jones, I do too.

[MrNathanDrake]

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.

 

[Kdo5]

I'm OK with him continuing to get occasional reps on defense if we need him in, but you just can't keep putting him back on returns at this point in the season. The kid is totally rattled, it's mental. He almost touched another ball on a punt I believe this game.

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

Long term I think there's still a shot. Short term - I hope to not see him again until OTAs. This has to be the worst rookie season we (Belichick era Patriots) have ever seen

 

[MrNathanDrake]

I'm OK with him continuing to get occasional reps on defense if we need him in, but you just can't keep putting him back on returns at this point in the season. The kid is totally rattled, it's mental. He almost touched another ball on a punt I believe this game.

Yes, he almost screwed up another one earlier in the game.

Complete deer-in-headlights. Gave up a huge pass on defense too.


He is very talented but like you said, it's all just mental right now. He's probably overthinking it all.

 

[BobDigital]

I am fine with him getting another chance. Against NYJ assuming we are crushing them. But there is no excuse for him being back there again against Denver.

 

[Tony2046]

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.

 

[irishfanatic]

Even if BB did not believe in him, he would not throw him under the bus, are you listening Arians.

 

[long distance]

Poor kid. For a moment there I wished for him a merciful injury to take the nightmare away. But he's bouncing back .. and on D i don't mind that at all - despite being heavily burned on occasion. He was quite competitive in the slot though - definitely showed improvement - and thats what matters to BB I guess.

EDIT: His snaps on D are increasing quite a lot. Of course yesterday was partly due to Rowe's injury .. but Im guessing it might also have something to do with BB trying to get his self-confidence back with some good plays on D.

One of the things that stood out to me upon the draft reports was that Cyrus was very (maybe even extremely) emotional and very much under influence of media and social media pressure (injustice to him). That can be a great gift and could translate in production but it can also be a trap hard to escape from. I think he needs some help besides BB in the offseason. He can be an asset .. if he manages to grow up and control his emotions. This will be the make or break for him ..

I like the title of the thread and I somehow enjoy BBs approach with him .. showing once again a unique approach to every player. And above all - his #1 quality according to Lombardi - patience.


Unlike some people:

 

[Username]

As a DB I think he's done ok, in his limted snaps. But as a KR/PR he's been abysmal and seems to have stagefright. He needs to be taken off return duties asap.

 

[TBR]

Nobody has questions about his future at CB yet. I'm sure Belichick is fine with developing him there.

But as a kick/punt returner, he does not deserve another chance this year.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

I believe in jones too. Just not this year as a returner.

 

[JarOfMayo51]

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 agree that you don't just completely give up on him, but as far as I'm concerned he's finished with returning punts the rest of this season... let him get out of this mental funk he's fumbled himself into and use the offseason to work on his technique, etc to build his confidence back up and then hit year 2 with a better grasp of how the Patriots operate as an organization, then let him compete in training camp.

Let him prove his worth all over again thru mini camp, training camp and preseason... if he looks to have it all together again, you put him back out there week 1 and let him try to redeem himself, but if he goes back to fumbling, then his days as a punt returner are over unless they find themselves in some ultra rare worst case scenario where they have no other viable options due to injury or something

He has enough skills to earn a spot as a 2nd or 3rd CB on this roster, so he's not garbage that I would just cut midseason like some extremists have suggested.. For the rest of this season, don't let him get anywhere near a punted football... maybe keep him on kickoffs, since those he seems more comfortable with probably because he has a spotter looking at the coverage and determining whether he should run it or not, allowing him to concentrate on just catching it... its also at more of a trajectory, without the fear of getting pummeled by a gunner as soon as you catch it

He's just a mental case right now with punt return duties.. so you pull him off of the punt return team and let him focus his energies and build confidence as a member of the secondary and kick return team.. although I'd give serious consideration to removing him from the kick return team as well.. just have him focus on being a CB2/CB3 in this defense

 

[JDot]

I liked what Jules had to say about Cy.

Julian Edelman's perspective on Cyrus Jones' punt-return struggles (via WEEI): "This happens to a lot of guys. He's still learning a little bit of how it's done up here [in the NFL]. These punters are putting these crazy Aussie punts -- end over end, with like a winder, and they're hooking them. If you don't read it right, you can get caught in between ... it's a learning experience for him.

He can do two things from this. He can learn from this and move on and work hard. It's going to suck, the coach is going to be all over you. Everyone has been in this doghouse. But if you do well, you work hard, you work your way out of it, you can learn from it. There's another side -- if you go in the tank and go that route. That's when it goes the other way.

But Cy works his tail off, he practices hard, and it's a growing pain, a learning experience. He just has to gut through it and we're all going to be behind him to help him do it."

 

[jefmblrd]

I think the kid will work out as a player when he gets some experience, but for his own confidence level it's probably better to keep him out of punt return situations for a while.

 

[fxkane]

Punt return guys often seem to have problems. How many times have I seen returners not signal a fair catch when it is very obvious that they should have... the guy gets slammed simultaneously with catching the ball, and somehow miraculously doesn't fumble, or about 1 in 3 times, does actually fumble. It's a treacherous job, and given all the flags and fumbles that accompany returns, I'm amazed we don't see a lot more fair catches. And if a team doesn't want to get any more stars injured why not just order the fair catch--at least for a game or two.

And could the league order that punt returners make their fair catch sign more direct and clear. This rapid semi wave business is nuts.

May Cyrus have a long career here as a db. You watch... he'll make a few pick sixes.

 

[Soul_Survivor88]

Some of these comments, and the insights offered by Edelman, are very informative.

I wish nothing but the best for Cyrus ...he should get more opportunities to prove himself. I just don't want him put in a position where he compromises the team.

While the #1 seed is still up in the air, he should not return kicks or punts....nor should he make returns during the postseason

 

[kennyb]

At this point if bb puts him back there. It's on him. Why not just tell him not to even fair catch it. Scratch that, when he did that he kicked it. If you're not going to fair catch it, get away from the ball. He does the opposite, almost touched it in the first quarter too. He gets up close to the bouncing ball kind of like he's thinking of possibly grabbing it on the bounce. Either they haven't coached him to get away or he's a maniac.

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

Total bust of a pick.

 

[deroc5050]

As a DB I think he's done ok, in his limted snaps. But as a KR/PR he's been abysmal and seems to have stagefright. He needs to be taken off return duties asap.

I absolutely agree, when he is back there and the ball is coming down I am just waiting to see where the ball ends up because I know it won't be in his possession. I am being serious too.. thats the bad part.

 

[jboston19]

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.

 

[MitchKumstein]

Troy Brown was another player who struggled early in his career. If I remember correctly, Parcells cut him right after he fumbled a punt in a preseason game.

Thankfully Tuna brought him back, and the rest is history