Cyrus Jones is a projected slot corner who also excels as a return ace. Some quick profiles:
CBS Sports:
PatsPulpit:
CBS Sports:
From NESN & our friend Doug Kyed:Jones started his career on offense as a true freshman and caught four passes for 51 yards, playing mostly special teams. Jones moved to defense as a sophomore in 2013 (five starts) and was part of the cornerback rotation, recording 25 tackles, seven passes defended and two interceptions.
He started all 14 games as a junior in 2014 and led the Tide in passes defended (16) and interceptions (three), adding a career-best 46 tackles. Jones again started every game in 2015 as the team's primary punt returner (NCAA-best 42 punt returns in 2015) and starting corner, finishing with 37 tackles, nine passes defended and two interceptions.
Strengths: Jones has a fantastic combination of speed and agility, with a 4.4-second 40-yard dash and sub 6.8-second three-cone drill. He’s adept in both man and zone coverage, according to Pro Football Focus, which also notes Jones’ strong run defense. He’s also one of the best punt returners in the draft, averaging 12.6 yards per return with four touchdowns last season.
Weaknesses: Jones definitely is on the small side for an NFL cornerback, which might force teams to slide him inside to the slot, where he doesn’t have much experience. He gave up 39 catches on 68 targets for 497 yards with six touchdowns and two interceptions in 2015. He allowed 10 touchdowns in his final two years in college, and that’s on the high side for a top cornerback prospect. He “plays very well between lapses,” however, according to Pro Football Focus.
Patriots fit: Jones’ combination of speed and agility has to be attractive to the Patriots. His run defense also should make him a fit. New England values tackling ability and run defense at cornerback more than most teams.
PatsPulpit:
Strengths: Despite only playing defense since his 2013 sophomore season, Jones brings a lot of experience to table. Not only did he play his entire college career in football's best conference, the SEC, he was also used in various ways as a defensive back: Jones has played in man and zone concepts, lined up on both the left and the right defensive side (and in the slot at times), and played close to the line of scrimmage as well as off it.
Jones also possesses good physical skills. He uses his arms and his upper body strength well to re-route opposing receivers, while having good footwork and hip flexibility to stick with them even after double-moves. Furthermore, he is a physical press corner and does also not shy away from bringing this physicality to run defense.
During his college career, Jones intercepted seven passes and displayed good ball skills in the process of doing so (a remnant of his wide receiver days). In general he is dangerous with the ball in his hands, whether it is as a defensive back or as a punt returner.
Weaknesses: The biggest knock on Jones is his size. At 5'10 he could struggle at times against taller receivers, especially on jump balls. To make up for his lack of size and his average speed, he plays physical but needs to be aware of the situation when doing this on the next level to not risk any unnecessary penalties.
Another problem for Jones is turning his head around and locating the ball while in the air. This, paired with to-be-improved hip movement on comebacks, in- and out-routes, prevents him from potentially undercutting more throwing lanes. While he displayed good awareness of his assignments in man coverage, he needs to improve in zone to not risk communication breakdowns throughout the secondary.
Furthermore, Jones has to work on his decision making when returning punts: he returned an SEC-high 42 punts in 2015 and some of them should probably have been called as fair catches.
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