Pick #26 - Datone Jones

[wist43]

Universal praise--which means diddly squat.

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/204804611.html

Here's the Senior Bowl practice.

[RashanGary]

Eric Fisher sure makes you wish we weren't starting Marshall Newhouse look at that guy's combination of power and movement. Yikes.

[RashanGary]

Your guy, Brandon Williams, looks pretty good, Wist.

[wist43]

Your guy, Brandon Williams, looks pretty good, Wist.

He's a little short of 6'2", 341 lbs. He's a load, but he's also got excellent movement skills for a man his size. I want to plop him down at NT, and let him eat guards, centers, and snaps.

At least TT seems to recognize how desperate our DL situation is.

[Fritz]

He's a little short of 6'2", 341 lbs. He's a load, but he's also got excellent movement skills for a man his size. I want to plop him down at NT, and let him eat guards, centers, and snaps.

At least TT seems to recognize how desperate our DL situation is.

I too would like to see TT draft a big man to anchor the middle, but I am hoping that guy can be found in the fourth or fifth round. But I would not complain if your man B Will was a GB pick.

[3irty1]

This pick makes me hate the Nick Perry pick even more. We could have the RB, Doug Martin or the S Harrison Smith. Instead we have a pudgy OLB who covers like a DT. The DE we just drafted looks more fluid and natural in space than the OLB we drafted last year. On top of that, Perry is a big dummy and didn't want to be here. Makes me sick.

That pudgy OLB is a physical freak. He's exactly what is needed to take the defense to the next level.

[3irty1]

As for Jones, I like the player and don't understand the fit yet. I'll be interested to see how and where he gets used.

[Fritz]

I don't understand the hating on Jones after all the talk about how the Packers had the wrong-sized guys for the 3-4 front. He's the classic 3-4 DE size.

It could be fun if these bastards all stay healthy - Neal, Perry, and now Jones in the mix all year long could provide some energy, some burst, to this team.

I had like Sylvester Williams, but as I look at his height and weight, adding him to the mix would be adding another heavier/shorter guy like Worthy. So I understand going in a different direction and getting the classic sized DE.

All day long yesterday I was bummed about what McGinn wrote about how out-of-shape Raji, Pickett, and Jolly were at the conditioning stuff that just went down last week or so. But later I began to wonder: did McGinn or any reporter actually see these guys conditioning and reporting out of shape, or were the reporters given those descriptions by a "source"?

Anyone know?

[denverYooper]

Doug Farrar weighs in: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-sh...8991--nfl.html

What he brings to the team: The return of a Cullen Jenkins-type player, which the Packers have been missing since Jenkins went to the Eagles. Because Jones has the legitimate ability to play as a penetrating defensive tackle and run-stopping defensive end, and potential to play as an end in certain 3-4 and 5-2 fronts, Jones provides optimal value in Dom Capers' defense.

"I feel like the game is changing," Jones said at the combine. "There’s more versatile defensive linemen in today’s game. You don’t really see every-down defensive linemen now. You see a guy who plays first and second down, then goes and sits down. Then another pass-rush specialist comes in on third down and takes his spot. I want to be a guy who can play every down."

The tape shows, quite conclusively, that he's already doing it

Was it the right pick? Perfect fit -- this is a lock for both player and team. Jones is set up to excel as a potential Defensive Rookie of the Year level.

[Bretsky]

I like Jones when he decides to play - from the write-up that 3irty1 posted:

"Jones lacks the speed to be an edge rusher, and struggles to consistently finish and close once out in space. At times, he appears to take plays off, content to let blockers tie him up at the LOS and drive or seal him off the ball when he is clearly physically capable of controlling the LOS. When he gets too high off the snap, he limits his COD ability and makes himself an easy target for blockers...

"Datone Jones was a frustrating player to evaluate at times because he has the physical gifts to be a dominant interior lineman against both the run and pass, but does not give consistent effort on every down."

That's what I saw when I was watching film of him. Lot's to like if you watch his highlight reel - lot's to be afraid of if you watch him playing lazy. His blase', slow waltz, lack of effort act scared me off of him.

That said, I figured TT was going to zero in on this guy. He's got some length, long arms, strong hands, and can hold the point very effectively - when he's interested apparently.

The guy has tools, that's for sure, but I don't trust this pick at all.

Lots of great writups on ths guy wist; why you choosing the negative slant ? This pick was a no brainer

[Bretsky]

This pick makes me hate the Nick Perry pick even more. We could have the RB, Doug Martin or the S Harrison Smith. Instead we have a pudgy OLB who covers like a DT. The DE we just drafted looks more fluid and natural in space than the OLB we drafted last year. On top of that, Perry is a big dummy and didn't want to be here. Makes me sick.

AGREE

[wootah]

If Jones was all that, he would have been a top 10 pick.

The best players on our roster were selected 24th & 26th.

[Joemailman]

Lots of great writups on ths guy wist; why you choosing the negative slant ? This pick was a no brainer

Asking Wist "Why the negative slant?" is like asking Santa Claus on Christmas Eve "Why the sleigh filled with presents?" It's what he does.

Watching the video of their USC game, I sure didn't see Jones taking plays off. And he didn't take plays off during Senior Bowl week when he was reportedly the only guy to get the best of Eric Fisher. Maybe he took some plays off against some of UCLA's lesser opponents. I don't know. In the NFL though, you're facing top competition every week, so I don't think that playing down to the competition will be a big problem.

[3irty1]

We needed a DE, we still need a NT - I've got my fingers crossed for Brandon Williams.

My take with Jones is somewhat similar to TT's draft last year. I do like Jones's talent; he has ability; and I do see him as a much more natural 5 than Raji. But as with Worthy... what player are we getting?? To me, there were enough red flags with Jones that I had crossed him off my wish list - conceding that he would likely be TT's pick if he were still on the board. If Jones was all that, he would have been a top 10 pick. He dropped to 26, and many had him rated lower than that, for a reason.

Truth be told, I was hoping someone would snag him before our pick, and that we'd trade out of the 1st round. But alas, Jones is a Packer, and I hope the flashes of good play are a glimpse of what he can do consistently on the next level.

I think some of the hot/cold will disappear once he's playing with the big boys and competing for opportunity. His motor was going full force during the whole senior bowl week. A bunch of those OL picked at the top all got beaten one on one by Jones and that's the kind of thing we'd both love to see for our 2-gap scheme. He also seems like a pure 5-tech which isn't a thing in a 2-4. So hopefully this is a bit of evidence that we'll be moving away from the 2-4 as a run defense. I suspected that would and should die with the loss of Woodson but you might have something to celebrate as the biggest detractor of it in all of Packerland. Don't panic, what you're experiencing is just your brain releasing serotonin for the first time but its totally normal. If your face feels funny its probably just your atrophy-ridden muscles trying to smile. This is what happiness feels like.

[Fritz]

Asking Wist "Why the negative slant?" is like asking Santa Claus on Christmas Eve "Why the sleigh filled with presents?" It's what he does.

Watching the video of their USC game, I sure didn't see Jones taking plays off. And he didn't take plays off during Senior Bowl week when he was reportedly the only guy to get the best of Eric Fisher. Maybe he took some plays off against some of UCLA's lesser opponents. I don't know. In the NFL though, you're facing top competition every week, so I don't think that playing down to the competition will be a big problem.

One positive note for me was that Thompson indicated he had an opportunity or two to move down but decided not to. This suggests that A) the offers were lousy, or B) Thompson didn't want to lose out on Jones.

So I'm going with "B" and am going to think Ted really liked this pick.

I feel about this one better than Nick Perry last year, but not quite like Bulaga, which was a total no-brainer.