Things might have gotten off to a rocky start between the Patriots and cornerback Carlton Davis, one of the team’s op offseason signings, going for three years and $60 million in what is expected to be a shutdown pairing with fellow corner Christian Gonzalez. Davis has ability, no doubt, but eyebrows were raised when he did not come to early OTAs for the Patriots but instead posted a video of himself vacationing in Turks and Caicos.
That went over like a lead balloon in some quarters.
“Up until minicamp, Davis was largely invisible,” MassLive’s Karen Guregian wrote. “His absence, even during voluntary workouts, isn’t a good look, especially going to a new team, and being paid a fortune.”
One FanSided writer claimed Davis is taking it easy now that he’s gotten the mega-contract, which ranks in the top 15 in average value, with the new Patriots DB described as, “already slacking off after getting (a) major payday.”
Carlton Davis Leaps & Bounds
But, of course, OTAs are voluntary, and a veteran who decides to forgo the practices has a pretty easy path to quickly putting any criticism behind him: Just go out and play well in minicamp and training camp. And judging by what Davis posted on Instagram this weekend, he is poised to make an impression there.
Davis was shown making consecutive leaps over bars set at higher than five feet, clearing both. His athleticism was obvious. And an enticing thought for the Patriots.
As Carlos Lopez of the Los Talks Pats account notes: “QBs better not test Carlton Davis on jump balls because he WILL go up and get it! The #Patriots’ secondary is filled with elite athletes. (via overtimeathletes IG).”
Patriots Hoping to Play ‘Cat’ Coverage
Davis is 28 and spent last year with the Lions, where he had two interceptions as part of a solid season that–like much of the Detroit defense–was cut short by injury (he broke his jaw). He posted a 74.5 grade at Pro Football Focus, which ranked 21st out of 116 cornerbacks.
The Lions had traded for Davis after he spent six years with the Buccaneers, winning a Super Bowl and tallying nine interceptions.
Coach Mike Vrabel said after the Patriots signed Davis that he expects the outstanding man-to-man skills of both he and Gonzalez will simplify the team’s back-end coverages.
“Hopefully we can just play cat coverage, like I got this cat, you got this cat, and we can go to work,” Vrabel said. “Just an aggressive — I would say the bring I appreciate about watching CD is they may catch a ball on him and he just lines back up and he competes and he challenges and he tries to play aggressive, and there’s a play style that we embrace.
“Corners are — it’s a tough position in the National Football League. So they’re going to have passes that are caught on them. It’s can they line back up the next snap and challenge and compete and get their hand on the next football.
