Q&A: Marcus Jones on his goals, Mike Vrabel’s coaching style, and what he’s seeing from Drake Maye
The Patriots cornerback sat down for an interview with Boston.com at the music camp he co-founded.
As he continues to gear up for training camp, Patriots cornerback Marcus Jones took some time out of his schedule to be at Covered By Music’s R.E.A.L. program, a music bootcamp in Randolph for local kids.
It’s a four-day workshop where kids get hand-on experience from music industry professionals. The program culminates in a showcase where the kids perform the music they created. Thanks to sponsorships, the program is offered to local youth free of charge.
Jones, who has a passion for making music in his free time, co-founded the program along with Berklee College of Music grads Keithen Foster and Kirjuan Freeman.
Boston.com sat down with Jones for an interview at the camp. The transcript has been lightly edited for length and clarity.
Training camp is almost here. How are you feeling?
“I’m feeling great. Ready for the season and everything like that. When it comes down to it, it’s training camp. I’m happy that the season is coming around and everything like that. I’m happy to be a part of this organization.”
How are things different now that you’re a vet and you’re used to the routines in Foxborough?
“It’s crazy because I remember my rookie year and everything like that when I was first learning, but now I am a vet and now the guys look at me as a leader. I’m one of those guys that leads by example. That’s my thing, I’m not like crazy vocal and stuff.”
“It’s a blessing to be back out there. The main thing is to take it one day at a time. Personally, I’m trying to get better. Our team dynamic is just to challenge the guy that’s in front of you and it will make the team better for sure.”
The Patriots have a lot of talent at cornerback, with guys like Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis, and yourself. What’s it like working with them?
“CD and I have known each other for a minute, and Gonzo is my guy too. We’re all cool. The DB room, in general, has been together for a minute once whether it’s [Jabrill Peppers] or [Kyle Dugger]. We definitely know what each other’s standard is and we’re going to be ready to attack training camp and make sure that we get the calls and things like that.”
The main thing, when it comes down to defense, is communication. I feel like our communication and everything like that is really good, but it’s a new year and it’s a new defense. I feel like when we’re talking to each other and communicating on the same page, we can be a very dangerous defense.”
What’s it like playing for Mike Vrabel?
“It’s crazy, I met him at the pre-draft process when he was at Tennessee. He’s a real-deal players coach. He’s been in the league, he knows what it takes, and he’s been a part of great organizations. It’s been great for him, and I’m looking forward to the season.”
What was your first impression during that pre-draft meeting with Vrabel?
“What I remember is that he was just chill. He was just talking. He was asking questions about what I’m looking for when I get to the NFL, things like that. It was a real good personable conversation and stuff. It wasn’t anything crazy. At the end of the day there wasn’t too much that he could ask us during the pre-draft process, but it was cool though.”
Vrabel seems like he has different sides to his personality. Keion White recently said he really respects and enjoys Vrabel’s tendency to be a bit of a hard a**
“I don’t really have a problem with that, though, because I love constructive criticism. I don’t really see it as, like, that from the sense of me. I can understand Keion’s situation because he’s in the trenches and everything like that. At the end of the day, that’s how you’re supposed to be coached. I’ve always had coaches who told me the standard that we needed to be at. It’s coaching.”
I had a military dad, so my situation was a little different. Discipline was always instilled. I’m not saying Keion doesn’t have discipline or anything like that, I’m just saying that coaching is coaching to me. I listen to the message, not the tone.”
Any lessons from your dad that stuck out to you?
“Control what you can control. And, I’ll say one more. Practice doesn’t make perfect, practice makes permanent. I feel like that practice makes perfect thing is something people love to say but as a person you’re never going to be perfect. You just have to be persistent and not get complacent. If you do that, everything handles itself.”
What are your goals for this season?
“Of course we want to win a Super Bowl. That’s why we’re playing the game. That’s for sure.”
What else are you chasing? What would a good year look like for you?
“My main thing is making it through the season healthy. That’s what I want to do. I didn’t play the last [three] games. I just want to end up finishing the whole season and go from there. That would be a great season for me.”
Are you good to go now? Fully healthy?
“I’m great. I’m ready to go for sure.”
What’s the biggest difference between last July and right now?
“We have a different coaching staff, that’s the only thing that’s really different for me. Mindset wise, it’s the same. Just trying to keep my head down and get one percent better the next day and go from there. It’s football. The only way you get better is by practicing.”
Drake Maye has talked about “testing” the defensive backs, such as Gonzalez and Davis, in practice to make them better. What about your perspective? Is part of the goal to push Drake too?
“It goes both ways. Drake is throwing it to a person that I’m guarding. It really comes down to – I’m trying to get myself better, the person across from me better, and also get Drake better. It’s not all about only trying to get him better.”
We’re going to put defenses in and make plays and all that. That’s going to make Drake better regardless. Training camp is to build the situation of making the roster too, as well. I’m not worried too much about Drake. He’s going to be a great quarterback and it’s all love for him.”
What aspects of Maye’s game have you seen improve?
“His accuracy. He was already accurate before but you can definitely tell going into year two that his confidence is really there. That’s a big thing when it comes down to being an NFL quarterback in general. Confidence is key. If you’re not confident then most of the time it’s not going to go your way. His confidence and everything like that is definitely evolving and I love to see it for sure.”
What’s the most gratifying part about the work you do with Covered By Music?
“The main thing that I would say is just being able to impact the youth and giving them a so-called soundboard so they can just let emotions go. When it comes to music, it’s a feeling thing. The best work comes from the emotions that are inside of you. Music is the best thing, I would say, for people to express what they need to express. They can say what they need to say and finish with a beautiful creation.”
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