Pats’ Marcus Jones on his goals and Drake Maye’s progress

As he continues to gear up for coaching camp, Patriots cornerback Marcus Jones took a while out of his schedule to be at Covered By Music’s R.E.A.L. program, a music bootcamp in Randolph for native children.

It’s a four-day workshop the place children get hand-on expertise from music trade professionals. This system culminates in a showcase the place the youngsters carry out the music they created. Because of sponsorships, this system is obtainable to native youth freed from cost.

Jones, who has a ardour for making music in his free time, co-founded the program together with Berklee School of Music grads Keithen Foster and Kirjuan Freeman.

Boston.com sat down with Jones for an interview on the camp. The transcript has been calmly edited for size and readability.

Coaching camp is nearly right here. How are you feeling? 

“I’m feeling nice. Prepared for the season and the whole lot like that. When it comes all the way down to it, it’s coaching camp. I’m pleased that the season is coming round and the whole lot like that. I’m pleased to be part of this group.”

How are issues completely different now that you simply’re a vet and also you’re used to the routines in Foxborough?

“It’s loopy as a result of I bear in mind my rookie yr and the whole lot like that once I was first studying, however now I’m a vet and now the fellows take a look at me as a frontrunner. I’m a type of guys that leads by instance. That’s my factor, I’m not like loopy vocal and stuff.”

“It’s a blessing to be again on the market. The primary factor is to take it in the future at a time. Personally, I’m making an attempt to get higher. Our workforce dynamic is simply to problem the man that’s in entrance of you and it’ll make the workforce higher for certain.”

The Patriots have loads of expertise at cornerback, with guys like Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis, and your self. What’s it like working with them?

“CD and I’ve recognized one another for a minute, and Gonzo is my man too. We’re all cool. The DB room, basically, has been collectively for a minute as soon as whether or not it’s [Jabrill Peppers] or [Kyle Dugger]. We undoubtedly know what one another’s customary is and we’re going to be able to assault coaching camp and be sure that we get the calls and issues like that.”

The primary factor, when it comes all the way down to protection, is communication. I really feel like our communication and the whole lot like that’s actually good, but it surely’s a brand new yr and it’s a brand new protection. I really feel like once we’re speaking to one another and speaking on the identical web page, we generally is a very harmful protection.” 

What’s it like taking part in for Mike Vrabel?

“It’s loopy, I met him on the pre-draft course of when he was at Tennessee. He’s a real-deal gamers coach. He’s been within the league, he is aware of what it takes, and he’s been part of nice organizations. It’s been nice for him, and I’m trying ahead to the season.”

What was your first impression throughout that pre-draft assembly with Vrabel?

“What I bear in mind is that he was simply chill. He was simply speaking. He was asking questions on what I’m searching for once I get to the NFL, issues like that. It was an actual good personable dialog and stuff. It wasn’t something loopy. On the finish of the day there wasn’t an excessive amount of that he may ask us in the course of the pre-draft course of, but it surely was cool although.”

Vrabel looks as if he has completely different sides to his character. Keion White just lately mentioned he actually respects and enjoys Vrabel’s tendency to be a bit of a hard a**

“I don’t actually have an issue with that, although, as a result of I really like constructive criticism. I don’t actually see it as, like, that from the sense of me. I can perceive Keion’s state of affairs as a result of he’s within the trenches and the whole lot like that. On the finish of the day, that’s the way you’re presupposed to be coached. I’ve all the time had coaches who advised me the usual that we wanted to be at. It’s teaching.”

I had a army dad, so my state of affairs was a little bit completely different. Self-discipline was all the time instilled. I’m not saying Keion doesn’t have self-discipline or something like that, I’m simply saying that teaching is teaching to me. I hearken to the message, not the tone.” 

Any classes out of your dad that caught out to you?

“Management what you possibly can management. And, I’ll say another. Observe doesn’t make good, follow makes everlasting. I really feel like that follow makes good factor is one thing individuals like to say however as an individual you’re by no means going to be good. You simply need to be persistent and never get complacent. In the event you do this, the whole lot handles itself.”

What are your targets for this season?

“After all we wish to win a Tremendous Bowl. That’s why we’re taking part in the sport. That’s for certain.” 

What else are you chasing? What would yr appear to be for you? 

“My important factor is making it by way of the season wholesome. That’s what I wish to do. I didn’t play the final [three] video games. I simply wish to find yourself ending the entire season and go from there. That might be an amazing season for me.” 

Are you good to go now? Absolutely wholesome?

“I’m nice. I’m able to go for certain.”

What’s the most important distinction between final July and proper now? 

“We’ve got a unique teaching workers, that’s the one factor that’s actually completely different for me. Mindset sensible, it’s the identical. Simply making an attempt to maintain my head down and get one % higher the subsequent day and go from there. It’s soccer. The one approach you get higher is by working towards.”

Drake Maye has talked about “testing” the defensive backs, resembling Gonzalez and Davis, in follow to make them higher. What about your perspective? Is a part of the purpose to push Drake too?

“It goes each methods. Drake is throwing it to an individual that I’m guarding. It actually comes all the way down to – I’m making an attempt to get myself higher, the particular person throughout from me higher, and in addition get Drake higher. It’s not all about solely making an attempt to get him higher.”

We’re going to place defenses in and make performs and all that. That’s going to make Drake higher regardless. Coaching camp is to construct the state of affairs of creating the roster too, as properly. I’m not fearful an excessive amount of about Drake. He’s going to be an amazing quarterback and it’s all love for him.” 

What elements of Maye’s sport have you ever seen enhance?

“His accuracy. He was already correct earlier than however you possibly can undoubtedly inform going into yr two that his confidence is absolutely there. That’s an enormous factor when it comes all the way down to being an NFL quarterback basically. Confidence is essential. In the event you’re not assured then more often than not it’s not going to go your approach. His confidence and the whole lot like that’s undoubtedly evolving and I like to see it for certain.” 

What’s essentially the most gratifying half concerning the work you do with Lined By Music?

“The primary factor that I might say is simply with the ability to influence the youth and giving them a so-called soundboard to allow them to simply let feelings go. In terms of music, it’s a sense factor. One of the best work comes from the feelings which can be inside you. Music is the very best factor, I might say, for individuals to precise what they should categorical. They will say what they should say and end with an attractive creation.”

Khari A. Thompson

Sports activities Reporter

Khari Thompson covers skilled sports activities for Boston.com. Earlier than becoming a member of the workforce in 2022, Khari lined faculty soccer for The Clarion Ledger in Jackson, Miss.