The best player for the Patriots this summer has been their best player through the first two weeks of the regular season. Christian Gonzalez has, at least so far, made a case as the top cornerback in football.
Per Next Gen Stats, the fourth-year pro didn’t allow a single catch when matched up head-to-head with Jaxon Smith-Njigba in week one, then followed it up by surrendering just three catches (two on screens) for 11 yards (34 snaps) against D.K. Metcalf.
“I think you’ll appreciate a good defensive back on your team,” Drake Maye said earlier this week. “It's one of the coolest things about playing quarterback because you realize a route concept they run, what he's doing and mixing up release, jamming and playing shadow. So, it's really cool to see every week, and he just attacks it every day. He's not going to say much, but you know that every time the lights come on, No. 0’s going to come to play.”
Actually, Drake, I hate to correct you, but Gonzalez was seen chirping at the Steelers’ top wideout, and seemed to relish the frustration his tight coverage caused. It would have been easy to get caught up in some retaliatory type behavior. Not this kid. He remained calm, cool and collected, celebrating with teammates, engaging the crowd and reveling in his performance and that of the team.
“I think it is a level of maybe comfortability being just in the league, understanding the game more,” he said. “As far as confidence, I feel like I've always been like this. Yes, I don't talk that much, but I mean, I talk. I think everybody thinks I don't say a word. I've always say stuff, but it just kind of I don't talk as much.”
What I see is a player coming out of his shell. The Gonzalez I observed in the locker room last year mostly kept to himself. This year’s version isn’t what I’d call outgoing, but I’ve seen him