New England Patriots 2018: Now is the time for Stephon Gilmore

The New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore is entering his second season with the team and out to prove he is a true NFL shutdown cornerback.

It wasn’t the greatest start for Stephon Gilmore. After signing a massive five-year, $65 million contract with the New England Patriots, the 27-year-old cornerback was expected to become the team’s number one cornerback and help the secondary become one of the top units in the league.

With Malcolm Butler still on the team, Gilmore was supposed to be part of a duo of cornerbacks that would be tops in the league. At least at the beginning of the 2017 season, it didn’t quite work out that way.

Due to a combination of injuries and a heavy dose of miscommunication on the field, Gilmore’s transition in New England wasn’t great at all. In fact, doubt arose on whether he would live up to any part of that massive contract.

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On a defense that ranked at the bottom of the league in yards given up, the 2016 Pro Bowler became the scapegoat. He had issues playing in the zone-based coverage scheme and those communication issues were quite evident on the field. Simply put, Stephon Gilmore didn’t look the role in the first four games of the season.

Like any good player, however, Gilmore got his act together as the season waned. After returning from a head injury in Week 9, the veteran cornerback started to look like the guy the Patriots envisioned. He stifled the opposing team’s top receivers and suddenly the communication issues he had at the beginning of the season were no longer issues.

His skillset started to shine and by the end of the season, Stephon Gilmore was one of the team’s top defenders. Poetically, it was his pass breakup in the AFC Championship game against the Jacksonville Jaguars that clinched the team’s Super Bowl LII berth, where he was also the team’s bright spot on defense limiting Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Alshon Jefferey once he was put on him.

In all, by the end of the season, Gilmore was trending up as a top corner in the NFL, which makes the 2018 season an exciting one for an All-Pro caliber player.

Second-year leap

With Malcolm Butler now playing in Tennessee, there is no question who the No. 1 corner is.

Entering his second season with the New England Patriots and with more understanding of the season, Stephon Gilmore should blossom. He is certainly looking forward to the challenge.

"“Yeah, any time you go through something a second time, it’s always better,” Gilmore said in May during an appearance at the Spaulding Rehabilitation Center. “But, at the end of the day, you still have to go out there and do your job and compete at a high level every year. That’s what it’s about. Obviously, I feel more comfortable being around the guys, being around my teammates. I’m looking forward to it.”"

Using the Super Bowl LII loss as his motivation, Gilmore also said he is “driven” to do whatever it takes to help his team win.

While the addition of veteran cornerback Jason McCourty should help, Gilmore will be the leader on a team comprised of some young, unproven cornerbacks. Jonathan Jones, Cyrus Jones and 2018 second-round pick Duke Dawson will all be out to etch their roles in the secondary.

Gilmore’s ability to lock it down will be huge in helping those players progress. It should also help McCourty and Jason Rowe be more effective in the defensive scheme.

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In summary, if Gilmore is that player he was going down the stretch last season, the New England Patriots defense will be a much improved unit. If there is any time to flourish into an elite defender, now is the time for Stephon Gilmore.

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