FOXBOROUGH, Mass — Carlton Davis gave the Patriots a steady presence opposite their top cornerback last season. But they will be without him on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers, as the team ruled him out with a neck injury.
So, it will be up to another member of the cornerback room to step up in his absence.
"Every week, no matter where I'm at on the depth chart or my role going into the game, I always prepare like a starter," Charles Woods told Patriots Wire in an exclusive conversation on Friday. "Because, in the National Football League, you're one play away from being in. So that's my mentality going into every week is to prepare like a starter because you never know when you will be up."
Woods also credited his teammates with giving
him the confidence to go out there and perform at his best, no matter the competition.
"I got high confidence being out there. It's guys like Gonzo, Marcus (Jones), KB (Kevin Byard III), Craig (Woodson)," he added. "They uplifted me throughout the week, giving me confidence. And then I think the confidence comes from preparation. So, just making sure I'm preparing right throughout the week."
Plus, it helps that all of his coaches have complete faith in his abilities.
"Well, he had a full camp with us this year. He's got some multiplicity, got some versatility," head coach Mike Vrabel said. "He plays outside, plays inside, works hard in the kicking game. So, I think he just continues to improve, is ready to go. He prepares as a starter. I think he has a great energy. I like being around Woodsy. He's got a good demeanor to him, and I know that if he has to go in there, he'll be ready to go."
On Thursday, defensive coordinator Zak Kuhr was specifically asked about the possibility of Davis not playing.
“I mean, if that happens, it’s always been a next man up mentality,” defensive coordinator Zak Kuhr said. “We got all the trust in the world in the next person up, whoever, whatever position is edge inside, (inside linebacker), (defensive back), and I think those guys have bought into that and they all prepare as a starter, as we always teach them. And, you know, when that happens, you hope that we don’t skip a beat.”
And cornerbacks coach Justin Hamilton added on, explaining how both Woods and another member of the team would need to step up.
“It’ll be Marcus and Charles Woods that will come in and play a little more in those spots and situations,” Hamilton said. “Both guys have quality reps outside and inside. So, that’s valuable from training camp, and in the past with Marcus. To have two guys that are multiple enough to be able to play in two corner groups outside and then come in and play in the slot is very valuable to us.”
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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Patriots CB ready to step up with Carlton Davis ruled out
