In his first year with the New England Patriots, veteran cornerback Stephon Gilmore had his fair share of ups and downs throughout the campaign. He had struggled early on in the process of adjusting to his new team but truly found his way into being an effective option in the fold as the year wore on.
With all that in mind, Gilmore has voiced that he believes this upcoming season will allow him to gather more comfort in playing in the Patriots' defensive scheme, according to Karen Guregian of The Boston Herald.
“Yeah, any time you go through something a second time, it’s always better,” he said. “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.”
This offseason provides a chance for Gilmore to get more acquainted with the defensive game plan now that he has had a year under his belt in the system. However, he could take on a much larger defensive responsibility following the departure of former Pro Bowl cornerback Malcolm Butler over the offseason via free agency.
Gilmore looks to have become a prominent piece to the puzzle as he proved to be an effective option in the playoffs as he gave up on four catches on 15 targets for 55 receiving yards while also breaking up six passes. His promising performance on the field gives the Patriots a reliable option in the secondary heading into next season.
With a full offseason to gain more familiarity in the defensive scheme with the Patriots, Gilmore could quickly become one of the team's key defensive assets for the 2018 campaign in their quest to reach a fourth Super Bowl in the last five years.
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