Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez wants to be light on his feet to handle a heavy load - The Boston Globe (2024)

“You don’t want to lose a step in the offseason. You want to gain a step in the offseason, that just gives you the momentum to get through training camp and into the season.”

The cornerbacks hope their hot feet can chill some of the best receivers in the league in 2024 — a group that’s scheduled to include Cincinnati’s Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase, Miami’s Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, Houston’s Stefon Diggs, Arizona rookie Marvin Harrison Jr., the Rams’ Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp, and San Francisco’s Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel.

And while the Patriots will continue to preach the gospel of team defense — the pass rush will work in concert with the coverage — it’ll be up to corners like Gonzalez and veteran Jonathan Jones to joust with those receivers.

Gonzalez is ready to return after playing only three-plus games as a rookie. While he flashed positively at times, he was unable to stay on the field, suffering a labrum injury in Week 4 and ending the year on the sidelines.

Now, the 6-foot-1-inch, 205-pounder says he’s “feeling good” and can’t wait to get back to game action.

“Feels great,” he said. “It feels amazing to be out here with the guys again and come out here and learn and get back into it.”

Even though Gonzalez was limited in his first season, Jones says the Oregon product has the mental toughness needed to succeed, adding that Gonzalez was on track to eventually becoming “one of the best players in the game.”

“There are going to be learning curves,” Jones said. “There are going to be things teams are going to see that he hasn’t perfected and they’re going to start to key on those things, and that’s his job, to come back from that. You’re going to have ups and downs.

“But just mentally, how he is, he’s not the type of kid who will get down on himself. He comes in every day with an even-keeled approach. I don’t think [we] have anything to worry about when it comes to his mentality.”

Booking his time

When asked what he learned in his first full spring session as a head coach, Jerod Mayo sort of shrugged.

“I’ve learned a ton,” Mayo said. “Not only just out here on the field, but also in the classroom. Being able to talk to coaches that have been outside of this building has been great. Being able to reach out to guys like Kevin O’Connell, having Tony Dungy here, it’s been fantastic for me.

“That’s why I say this is the first evolution for me as Jerod Mayo the head coach, and it’ll probably be different at some point in time.”

Mayo isn’t sure what the next few weeks hold for him, only that they will include some family time and maybe some reading.

“I’ve always looked at this period of time, even as a player, as a time to really develop,” he said. “So if you guys have some good book titles or anything like that, send them my way.

“But I’ve got to spend some time with my family as well. This is a time you build up that goodwill with your family knowing that once you get to camp, now it’s go time. The work/life balance, the 50-50 thing, that’s not a thing. It’s 100-100. Either I’m 100 percent at work or I’m 100 percent at home.”

Happy ending

Minicamp ended on a high note for the offense, and quarterback Drake Maye in particular. The rookie delivered a pair of impressive throws to wide receivers to put a capper on his day, the first to Kayshon Boutte and the second to Ja’Lynn Polk, who won a battle for a 50-50 ball against cornerback Mikey Victor for a touchdown. The latter set off a wild celebration.

“It was just me going out there and competing for the ball,” Polk said. “End of the game, I’m putting myself in those situations. Like I will in the regular season.”

Maye took the bulk of the second-team reps, following Jacoby Brissett and ahead of Bailey Zappe and Joe Milton.

Asked if he intends to carry four quarterbacks into training camp next month, Mayo said, “Absolutely. That’s how I see it right now. We’ll have these conversations as the week progresses, but that’s how I see it right now.”

In with both feet

There’s a nice kicker battle brewing between Chad Ryland and Joey Slye. Near the end of practice, they alternated field goal attempts. Both were good from 32, 42, and 47 yards. On the second rep from 47, Ryland was wide right. Slye was iced on his ensuing attempt when Mayo called a timeout, then missed right. Slye followed with a clean make from 47 to finish the drill … Linebacker Matthew Judon was scheduled to be one of the players to speak with the media following practice, but he declined to talk.

Christopher Price can be reached at christopher.price@globe.com. Follow him @cpriceglobe.