Roster Evaluation: Patriots Downgrade CB Christian Gonzalez to Out for Sunday's Recreation vs. the Steelers – New England Patriots

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Solid in Foxborough Episode 3: Constructing An Identification
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Regardless of training in a restricted capability in the course of the week, CB Christian Gonzalez’s (hamstring) season debut might want to wait a minimum of another week.
On Saturday, the Patriots dominated out Gonzalez for his or her Week 3 matchup vs. Steelers after initially itemizing the star cornerback as questionable on Friday’s remaining harm report. The All-Professional cornerback returned to Patriots observe this week after a prolonged absence that dates again to the early levels of coaching camp.
On July 28, Gonzalez injured his hamstring masking a move route throughout a coaching camp observe session, and was held out of shape and the primary two regular-season video games over the past a number of weeks. Gonzalez returned to observe this week, taking part in a restricted capability, which included particular person and non-contact tackling drills and sprinting throughout warmups whereas observe was open to the media. On Friday, head coach Mike Vrabel gave an replace on Gonzalez in his return to observe.
“He did some work,” Vrabel mentioned earlier this week. “It was good to see him on the market. It is excellent to have him on the market, and the extra guys we will get on the market, the higher.”
Though it will’ve been nice to see Gonzalez play this weekend, it is sensible that he wants a ramp-up interval after such a protracted layoff. It had been over seven weeks between practices for the star cornerback, who additionally did not have a lot of a coaching camp or any preseason video games to knock the rust off heading into the season. The notion that Gonzalez would be capable to instantly play after a 51-day absence with simply three in-season practices underneath his belt appeared far-fetched. So, the Patriots are taking issues slowly.
Nonetheless, the Patriots protection has struggled with out their All-Professional nook, permitting a league-high 677 passing yards whereas rating thirty first in passer score allowed by means of two weeks (126.1). New England has additionally struggled in man protection, permitting a league-high 11.2 yards per move try whereas taking part in man-to-man. The Patriots signed veteran CB Carlton Davis within the offseason to kind a formidable duo with Gonzalez, so the struggles in man protection, particularly, wasn’t the imaginative and prescient for the way this protection was going to cease the move this season.
The Patriots protection will now attempt to decelerate Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers and firm with out Gonzalez for the third consecutive sport. Most certainly, New England will keep on with the identical cornerback trio because it had within the first two video games, with Davis taking part in alongside captain Marcus Jones and third-year professional Alex Austin. Davis and Jones have principally held up their finish, however Austin has been inconsistent in Gonzalez’s spot, whereas opposing offenses have additionally efficiently attacked the Patriots linebacker and safeties in protection over the center of the sphere.
On Sunday, the system to stopping Rodgers has been to play man protection and to get the 41-year-old quarterback to carry the ball. Rodgers’s escapability or sack avoidance has declined, resulting in the fifth-highest pressure-to-sack price amongst certified quarterbacks (30.4%), whereas the long run Corridor of Famer ranks second-to-last within the league in common air yards per move try (5.7 yards). Rodgers does not throw deep as usually and is much less inclined to take a seat in muddied pockets, in order that’s why man protection has been efficient.
Though it is tougher to do with out their prime cowl nook, Davis matches up effectively in opposition to Steelers star receiver DK Metcalf, whereas Jones is not a nasty matchup for Pittsburgh’s No. 2 receiver, Calvin Austin. Then, it comes right down to who’s masking the Steelers backs and tight ends, with RB Jaylen Warren and Pittsburgh’s two-tight finish units presenting the most important matchup issues. How effectively the Patriots maintain up in man protection in opposition to Warren as effectively tight ends Pat Freiermuth and Jonnu Smith would possibly determine this sport when the Steelers offense is on the sphere.
The Patriots will host the Steelers with kickoff at 1 p.m. ET at Gillette Stadium on Sunday.
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Solid in Foxborough Episode 3: Constructing An Identification
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