CLNS Media
  • NBA
  • NFL
  • MLB
  • NHL
  • Betting
  • NBA History
  • Podcasts
    • A List Podcast
    • Almost Shameless
    • Black N’ Gold Hockey Podcast
    • Bruins Beat
    • Bob Ryan and Jeff Goodman
    • Cedric Maxwell Podcast
    • Celtics Beat
    • Celtics Lab
    • Celtics Stuff Live
    • Celtics Postgame Live
    • Dome Theory with Bobby Manning
    • The Garden Report
    • Greg Bedard’s Patriots Podcast
    • Patriots Beat
    • Patriots Postgame Show
    • Patriots Roundtable
    • Patriots Press Pass
    • Poke the Bear
    • Red Sox Beat
    • Winning Plays
    • View All Podcasts
  • About
    • About CLNS
    • Our Sponsors
    • Talent
    • Job Opportunities
    • Join Our Network
    • Advertise With Us
Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube TikTok
Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube TikTok Discord
CLNS Media
Subscribe
  • Home
  • NBA
  • NFL
  • MLB
  • NHL
  • Betting
  • NBA History
  • Podcasts
    • podcast
      • A List Podcast
      • Almost Shameless
      • Black N’ Gold Hockey Podcast
      • Bruins Beat
      • Bob Ryan and Jeff Goodman
      • Cedric Maxwell Podcast
      • Celtics Beat
    • podcast
      • Celtics Lab
      • Celtics Postgame Live
      • Dome Theory with Bobby Manning
      • The Garden Report
      • Greg Bedard’s Patriots Podcast
      • Patriots Beat
    • podcast
      • Patriots Postgame Show
      • Patriots Roundtable
      • Poke the Bear
      • Red Sox Beat
      • Winning Plays
      • View All Podcasts
  • About
    • About CLNS
    • Our Sponsors
    • Talent
    • Job Opportunities
    • Join Our Network
    • Advertise With Us
CLNS Media
Home » Lazar’s Most Important Patriots in the 2022 Season: Number Nine, Jalen Mills
NFL Featured Banner

Lazar’s Most Important Patriots in the 2022 Season: Number Nine, Jalen Mills

The Pats will rely heavily on the veteran as they go through a transition period at corner.
Evan LazarBy Evan Lazar06/27/20223 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email
Share
Facebook Twitter Email

Counting down the most important Patriots players heading into the 2022 NFL season.

Methodology: taking a concept from veteran NFL reporter Dave Dameshek, the most important Patriots series is like a giant game of Jenga. If we were to pull this player from New England’s lineup, who would cause the tower to fall completely or become unsteady the most? 

Most Important Patriots: No. 9, CB Jalen Mills 

After J.C. Jackson’s departure, Mills is a lock to start at one outside cornerback spot as the Patriots’ most reliable veteran corner heading into the 2022 NFL season. 

New England signed the multi-talented defensive back as a jack-of-all-trades from the Eagles in free agency a year ago, but due to Stephon Gilmore’s ongoing contract dispute and eventual trade, Mills started 16 games at corner, playing 74 percent of his snaps on the outside. 

The 28-year-old veteran was a pleasant surprise as a full-time cornerback for the Patriots, a role he struggled in with Philadelphia, leading to a transition to safety in his final season with the Eagles. 

Trending
Marinofsky’s expectations for Jake DeBrusk this season

Mills posted the second-best completion rate into his coverage of his career at 58.3 percent, allowing just 440 receiving yards on 60 targets as the primary defender in coverage. 

After playing at corner during training camp, Mills solidified himself as the top option opposite Jackson when the Pats played the reigning Super Bowl champion Buccaneers in early October. 

In that matchup, Mills was tasked with covering Tampa Bay Pro Bowler Chris Godwin in a man coverage-heavy game plan. Mills held Godwin in check, allowing three catches for 55 yards on four targets as the primary shadow on Godwin throughout the game. 

As the season progressed, Mills’s scheme versatility was a significant part of New England’s success in transitioning to more zone coverages to suit their personnel on defense better. 

Mills’s high football IQ, discipline, and field awareness fit right into the Patriots’ zone match principles. Above, he allows the drag route to release underneath the coverage, gaining depth in his drop to pick up the crossing route from the other side of the formation. 

Although Mills wasn’t the only player who sat out the Wild Card playoff against Buffalo, his absence due to COVID-19 protocols created a hole in the Patriots’ secondary that was a big reason why it was such a lopsided defeat. 

The Patriots are in a transition period at cornerback, with Jackson and Gilmore leaving the team in the last calendar year. Hopefully, rookies Jack and Marcus Jones will take the mantle down the road. However, in the meantime, the Pats will lean on steady veterans such as Mills. 

 

Post Views: 153
Bill Belichick J.C. Jackson Jalen Mills Patriots
Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email

Evan Lazar

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn

Evan Lazar is the New England Patriots beat reporter for CLNS Media.

Related Posts

Takeaways from Patriots Preseason Opener vs. Giants

08/12/2022

Can the Celtics Keep Jaylen Brown in Boston?

08/12/2022

Patriots Offensive Play-Caller Remains a Mystery

08/12/2022

Bedard’s Impressions from Patriots Preseason Opener vs. Giants

08/12/2022

Five Takeaways from Thursday’s Patriots Preseason Opener vs. Giants

08/11/2022

Tyquan Thornton continues to impress at Patriots training camp

08/11/2022

Comments are closed.

Follow Us
Facebook-f Twitter Instagram Youtube
Featured Videos
Celtics Lab

Diving into the seemingly endless combinations of lineups Celtics could use in 2022-23

By CLNS Media08/11/2022

The Boston Celtics had by most accounts one of the better offseasons around the NBA,…

Kevin Durant Names Celtics as ‘Desired Landing Spot’

08/10/2022

Kevin Durant Demands Nets Fire Steve Nash and Sean Marks

08/09/2022

What to Expect from Mac Jones in Year 2

08/09/2022
Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube TikTok Discord
  • Home
  • NBA
  • NFL
  • MLB
  • NHL
  • View All Podcasts
  • About
  • Privacy Policy

2021 North Station Media. Designed by J&R Marketing.


At North Station Media, we don’t just celebrate diversity, we live it. North Station Media is an equal opportunity employer that commits itself everyday creating the most inclusive environment for all its employees and hiring the best and most qualified individuals. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

Cleantalk Pixel