FOXBORO — Cyrus Jones’ ascension as Alabama’s alpha cornerback can be traced back to a poignant moment on the sideline.

It occurred during his sophomore year immediately after he was torched for a 95-yard touchdown connection between Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel and wide receiver Mike Evans. Alabama won the high-profile showdown between top-10 teams, but Manziel’s 464 passing yards led to early substitutions, and Jones had been called on to replace John Fulton.

Jones, who transitioned from wide receiver to cornerback that season, was off to a strong start with an interception by the goal line. But after Evans stiff-armed Jones, Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart pulled him aside.

“I remember grabbing the kid,” Smart said. “He was just devastated. I was like, ‘Look, you’re in the game before you should be because you’re talented. You don’t have all the skills yet. You don’t have all the demeanor you need. You don’t know all the defenses yet, but you’re really talented and you’re going to be a really good player.’ I remember that moment being like, ‘This is a wow moment for this kid.’”

Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban and Smart, who was hired as Georgia’s head coach in December, ruthlessly pushed Jones during his three seasons at corner. That’s how they knew he had the mental fortitude to match his overflowing skillset.

The Patriots scooped up Jones with the 60th pick in last month’s draft, and he fell because of his undersized 5-foot-10, 197-pound frame. Bill Belichick cares more for football players than measurables, as his best cornerbacks since 2000 were all shorter than 6 feet. Asante Samuel was 5-10, while Ty Law, Darrelle Revis and Malcolm Butler have all been listed at 5-11.

There are certain things a tape measure can’t project.

“All things being equal, let’s be honest, we’re all going to take the taller guy. But things aren’t equal,” Smart said. “So when you start going off the competitive fiber inside, what’s between their ears, what’s their physical makeup. So much of football, people have gotten away from tackling people, being physical at the line of scrimmage, getting your hands on (players).

“At the end of the day, (Jones) is a valuable football player because good football players, in my opinion, are hard to find, and he is a good football player.”

Belichick likes to match his corners with specific receivers, sometimes for a full 60 minutes, but the coverages change throughout each game. As a recent example, Belichick didn’t even use Revis as a straight-up, man-to-man corner from start to finish in 2014.

Smart praised Jones’ capacity to play a number of coverages, and Saban’s defense uses a lot of the same terminology as Belichick’s system. The rookie should be even more useful within the Patriots’ ever-changing looks.

Jones had to work for those abilities, though. When Jones changed positions as a sophomore, Smart believed he was already their most athletic cornerback, but he had to learn the position, which wasn’t much of a struggle because Smart called Jones one of the smartest cornerbacks he coached in nine years at Alabama.

“I’ll be honest with you. He got coached,” Smart said. “Coach Saban and all the guys we had on defense over there, we coached the hell out of that kid because we knew he was one of the better players. He just had to get the reps.”

Numbers game

Maybe retired linebacker Jerod Mayo’s number won’t be given away so quickly after all.

The Patriots assigned No. 51 to sixth-rounder Elandon Roberts for rookie camp, but he was handed No. 52 this week after the release of linebacker Tony Steward. Neither number was Roberts’ decision.

“I don’t ask questions,” Roberts said. “I just do what I’m asked to do, and whatever number they put me in is great. I’m just glad to be a Patriot.

“I have no problem with the switch. I’m just blessed to be in this situation and be a Patriot.”

Friendly faces

Hawaiian native and Eastern Illinois alum Kamu Grugier-Hill was happy to see former EIU teammate Jimmy Garoppolo upon his maiden voyage to Foxboro.

“It’s obviously nice to have someone that you know here, but all the guys are great,” Grugier-Hill said.

Ditto for high school rivals and Ole Miss teammates Woodrow Hamilton and C.J. Johnson.

“It can be tough coming to a place you’ve never been before,” Johnson said of his fellow undrafted rookie. “You’ve got someone here you know and can relate with a little bit, so us being here together is a plus for the both of us to lean on each other, help each other and kind of get through some of the tough times.”