These 11 Patriots Have Stood Out To Defensive Coaches

FOXBORO, Mass. -- The New England Patriots defense expects to look similar under head coach Jerod Mayo and defensive coordinator DeMarcus Covington as it did during the Bill Belichick era. But there have been some new faces and younger players taking on expanded roles through 13 training camp practices.

Patriots defensive coaches spoke to the media at Gillette Stadium on Monday and offered some insight into which players have impressed. The coaches included Covington, defensive line coach Jerry Montgomery, linebackers coach Dont'a Hightower, safeties coach Brian Belichick, cornerbacks coach Mike Pellegrino and others.

Here are 11 players who have stood out to them:

Christian Gonzalez, CB
"He's improving. He's improving as a leader, as a competitor on our team," Covington said. "He's doing it on the field, which we need him to do. We need our good players to, you know, be good and be good in their roles. And really for all our other corners at that position to match him, Jon Jones, those guys. Play to the level of their competition."

Jeremiah Pharms Jr., DT
“That goes back to last year, too. He took advantage of every opportunity he had last year, and he's doing the same thing right now," Covington said. "So he's one of the guys that needs to help us out to fill that void (of Barmore)."

Montgomery added: "He's a guy you appreciate so much because he comes out every day, he works on the things you ask him to do and it transitions from practice to game. He's just been great to coach and he's done a phenomenal job. ... He's smart, he can pick things up, and he can plug and play just about anywhere. It's nice to have those guys because, like the situation we're in now, it's next man in. He allows you to get in and out of games, and on top of that he does a good job when he gets in there."

Matthew Judon, LB
"He's been the same for us," Covington said. "For us on the defensive staff, he's been Judon. He's been Matt Judon. He's been great in the classroom, he's been great on the practice field. I look at it like this, we all have bad days, right? ... Unfortunately for him, his bad day will be on camera. Just like our bad day will be behind doors. So, he had a bad day and that was it. Everybody got to see it. And then other than that, he's been who he's been since we signed him a couple years ago. I have nothing but respect and love for Judon, and what he can do and will do for this team."

Marco Wilson, CB
"Marco is steady making improvements every day. And so for us, it's guys like that we need to come up for us. We need Marco to perform well for us," Covington said. "He's another guy that can play with a little length, too, to match up to different receivers and use his different techniques, whether it's press or off-man. I'm ready to see what he does (Tuesday), even Thursday. He's been doing a good job so far."

Alex Austin, CB
" … And I'll give credit to Alex Austin, he's done a good job for us, too," Covington said. "Both of those guys (including Wilson) are working hand and hand and competing."

Shaun Wade & Isaiah Bolden, CBs:
"First off all, when you play in the slot you have to be smart. So I would say those guys are smart enough to do it," Covington said. "That's the No. 1 thing. And then just their quickness on the inside to handle the different matchups that's in there. They bring that skillset to us, too, which is good because depending on who we're playing we can use their size to our advantage whether it's a smaller receiver or a bigger receiver in the slot."

Azizi Hearn, CB
"I would say just from the beginning, working with him on practice squad last year, Azizi Hearn, I'm really, really pleased with his progress," Pellegrino said. "(Jerod) Mayo talks all the time process, progress, payoff, right? He went through the process, he's seeing the progress, which I'm so proud of for him. I really am proud of his ability to play outside, play inside, really slow the game down because that was his thing from the beginning. I'm just impressed with where he is right now."

Christian Ellis, LB
"Ellis really has worked to be where he is. He's definitely one of the most improved guys in the room," Hightower said of the linebacker, who communicated the calls in the defensive huddle during New England's preseason opener. "He has a really good set of skills. He's super fast, he's super quick, he's strong. He's able to play most of the positions in our defense. He's done a good job as far as learning that, being versatile, doing a good job of communicating. Just want to keep (thriving), keep getting him in our system, keep communicating."

Joe Giles-Harris, LB
"Joe Giles has really stepped up, done a great job communicating, getting guys lined up," Hightower said. "His overall effort, whether it's on defense or special teams. ... I couldn't put a spot on it, but he has a really good feel of zone awareness, being in zone. The concept of something under and something behind. Again, the communication part of it -- he's just been doing a good job. He's definitely being very impactful on the defensive end."

Jaylin Hawkins, S
"I think anybody out there watching practice would notice Hawk, and what he's brought to the defense -- energy, communication, toughness, playing fast," Belichick said. "Those are great things that he's added to the group, which is, to me, the most important thing."