Jack Jones was good as a boundary corner, but I can’t give him the nod over Marcus Jones since he shit the bed late in the year.
1. Marcus Jones
2. Cole Strange. He had his problems, but he started for the whole year.
3. Jack Jones. Potential starting CB if he can fix whatever problems are going on with him now.
4. Brandan Schooler. Looks like he can be a top ST player for a few years. The Pats KO coverage unit could have used him today.
5. Bailey Zappe. Did all that could have been asked of him when he got his chance.
6. Tyquan Thornton. The ahleticism is real but he has a lot to improve on.
2. Cole Strange. He had his problems, but he started for the whole year.
3. Jack Jones. Potential starting CB if he can fix whatever problems are going on with him now.
4. Brandan Schooler. Looks like he can be a top ST player for a few years. The Pats KO coverage unit could have used him today.
5. Bailey Zappe. Did all that could have been asked of him when he got his chance.
6. Tyquan Thornton. The ahleticism is real but he has a lot to improve on.
There’s no one in this class who is elite off the bat, but I think this is a draft with 6-8 guys who have average to above-average starter potential (Defensive Joneses, Strange, Thornton, both RBs, Thornton, Schooler). There is a ton of value in getting above-average production on rookie contracts, so if just 3-4 of them can pan out in that direction, then this is a really good draft, even if none of them turn out to be elite.
I would have said Jack Jones but his season totally fizzled out. Marcus Jones didn't start strong but really came on. Strange was good at the beginning, pretty bad in the middle, and better at the end, but he was a regular starter all season long as a rookie. Hard to say who wins it. Probably Jack Jones was actually the best on-field player for them.
Marcus Jones: true three way player that adds some explosiveness or elusiveness on the offense. Excellent in the return game. Could be a useful slot piece or depth piece in the secondary.
Excited by both Joneses. Strange is a starter but ideally will develop into more as a FRP. Thornton showed signs; he’s not Pickens, but not a total washout season. The whole offense is tough to judge because of how poor the coaching seemed to be.
Well, it's a good thing we don't have to pick up the 5th year yet.
I didn't vote for him, but a guy starting all year isn't a bad result for a pick.
Strange is fine for a rookie interior lineman. I would expect him to make a pretty big leap in season 2.
I voted for Marcus Jones. A great draft pick and a dynamic player in all 3 phases of the game.
I voted for Marcus Jones. A great draft pick and a dynamic player in all 3 phases of the game.
One of the priorities for this offseason has to be finding more ways to get Marcus Jones the ball. He's absolutely electric. What a playmaker.
I don't really understand the "he started all year so he must be alright" rationale. Plenty of people start because there are no better options, not because they are any good.
I'll leave it to others to judge Strange's rookie year, but the fact that he started on a bad O-line doesn't automatically get me too excited about his season.
There has seemed to be a consistent belief that all 3 of Strange, Thornton, and Jack Jones at least would really benefit from a year on an NFL strength and nutrition program.
With Cole, the concern about him having enough "anchor" to deal with power seems to have been noted at times, so I'd expect him to have the best odds of year 2 jump based on that alone.
There's got to be some room for improvement with rail-thin Thornton but it's probably a little trickier to ensure he doesn't lose speed and explosiveness.
I'd think Jack Jones is in a similar boat, but with the attitude concerns and this late season suspension that's seemingly turned into a big question mark.
With Cole, the concern about him having enough "anchor" to deal with power seems to have been noted at times, so I'd expect him to have the best odds of year 2 jump based on that alone.
There's got to be some room for improvement with rail-thin Thornton but it's probably a little trickier to ensure he doesn't lose speed and explosiveness.
I'd think Jack Jones is in a similar boat, but with the attitude concerns and this late season suspension that's seemingly turned into a big question mark.
That’s awesome. Just hope he can stay healthy and they find him a role with the ball in his hands often.
Nah. Jones had the better season. Strange may have more future upside. Depends how much Jones grows on both offense and defense.
From Reiss. And he did it as a rookie!
10. Did You Know: Jones is one of just 10 players to score on offense, defense and special teams in their career, joining Deion Sanders, George Martin, Nolan Cromwell, Terence Newman, Bobby Humphrey, William White, Mike Fuller and Chris Moore.
10. Did You Know: Jones is one of just 10 players to score on offense, defense and special teams in their career, joining Deion Sanders, George Martin, Nolan Cromwell, Terence Newman, Bobby Humphrey, William White, Mike Fuller and Chris Moore.
Special Teams was a hot mess this year but Marcus Jones could be the spark that made it all worth it for next year.