Why I WORRY about Jones.

[Lurker64]

Uhhh Harvey? The team scouts ARE the experts...

But they're not the "experts." The "experts" have nicer hair and get more time on ESPN.

[motife]

from New Era Souting's chat on James Jones :

Can you tell us about James Jones and give us some insight as to what Thompson sees in him to take him as high as he did? Im assuming they see him as a #3 this year since he was drafted so soon. Thanks.

Jeff.Cottrill-NewEraScouting] In my draft preview he was a guy that I had them targeting in round four, so I was only one round early. Jones is a guy that really caught my eye when I watched him play a couple games this season. While he may not have played in a great conference, he does have talent. I think he has a great chance of challenging for teh 3 or 4 spot as a rookie. He is a hard worker and he has great hands. The biggest negative is his straight line speed which is not as important in the Packer offense

[motife]

more on James Jones from Jeff Cottrill :

Jeff.Cottrill-NewEraScouting - "I honestly like Jones a lot and I think a lot of you will too when you see him play. He reminded me a lot of Donald Driver. He may not be fast in a straight line, but he has decent cutting ability and good hands. He will be a very dependable target for Favre. Clowney might need a little work, but he has some nice potential. Harris is another dependable guy, but his blocking leaves a lot to be desired. I think maybe they might want to bring in another veteran to push everyone, but"

Well I would say the one position with the strongest chance of surprising everyone would be receiver. There are quite a few young guys with good talent there. I really like James Jones and think he has the ability to work his way onto the field early on as a rookie. Clowney is a guy that could have an impact on special teams. Other young guys like Martin and Holloway (I think) have some potential to surprise as well. Don't be shocked at all to see Ferguson pushed right out of a roster spot

[motife]

a 42 yd TD vs. Stanford



49 yd. punt return vs. Cal Poly



one of his 9 receptions vs. Cal Poly


James Jones ran from scrimmage, threw a TD pass, caught five passes and returned a punt in the win vs. San Diego St.



James Jones caught eight passes for a season-best 134 yards v Utah St.



fingertip became a TD v Utah St.

[Patler]

The guy looks solidly built.

[mmmdk]

Don't know if this helps anyone, but in my ESPN Mel Kiper Jr. has him going in the 6th round, BUT he does have a SLEEPER symbol next to him, so he was saying he may just be a diamond in the rough.

Ah geez Mel, you know TT reads your stuff and he so craves those diamonds in the rough.

[packrulz]

I admit I don't know much about him but I like what I see in the video. He gets jacked up for games, has good size, likes to mix it up with DB's, comes back to the QB on a busted play and makes a great catch, has good timing, fights for the ball, and the one handed fingertip catch at the end was spectacular. Likewise, it seemed everytime the QB threw at Clowney he was in a crowd and always came up with the ball. I assume TT likes these guys because they're used to catching the ball in heavy traffic. I still think TT should make a run at MeShawn Johnson though, I do think he's matured a bit.

[Joemailman]

Don't know if this helps anyone, but in my ESPN Mel Kiper Jr. has him going in the 6th round, BUT he does have a SLEEPER symbol next to him, so he was saying he may just be a diamond in the rough.

Sporting News had the same thing. They had him rated #82 overall, but projected him to go in round 6. Apparently they either thought he would be overlooked because he played for a smaller achool, or they thought teams would be put off by his 40 time.

[HarveyWallbangers]

I admit I don't know much about him but I like what I see in the video. He gets jacked up for games, has good size, likes to mix it up with DB's, comes back to the QB on a busted play and makes a great catch, has good timing, fights for the ball, and the one handed fingertip catch at the end was spectacular. Likewise, it seemed everytime the QB threw at Clowney he was in a crowd and always came up with the ball. I assume TT likes these guys because they're used to catching the ball in heavy traffic. I still think TT should make a run at MeShawn Johnson though, I do think he's matured a bit.

Actually, to me it looked like Clowney beat his guy by yards on most patterns, but their noodle arm QB couldn't hit him. Saw a few, but didn't see a whole lot of catches in traffic. Kind of what I was hoping to see out of a burner. Jones looks like a possession receiver, but if he's a good that we can put at #3 or #4, he'll help.

[cpk1994]

I don' know but Central Michigan didn't play the toughest schedules either so it mgiht not be a tell all.

It was Western Michigan...and the MAC has a far better credibility in terms of delivering NFL caliber talent than the WAC.

That is a rediculous statement. It may have more credibility, but the MAC defenses are some of the worst in the country. There is a reason for the saying, "'There is no 'D' in 'The MAC'".

[Charles Woodson]

Wouldn't all Pac-10 receivers be discredited then? What were the numbers for the defenses that Dwayne Jarrett played? Also, Jarrett had Leinart and Booty throwing him the ball. Who was the San Jose State QB? Is he any good?

Details Harvey, just details!
Isn't it easier just to write the guy off before he plays in a single scrimmage?

Maybe he will wilt in the face of NFL calibre competition.
But maybe he will step up his game to a level he never had to before and will be even better than he was in college.

This is just me but i find it easier to instead of beliving in a guy and having him fail, to have him surprise me... I mean i think jones could do pretty well but im not holding my breath. But guys letss remember Who did Marques Colston play for? Hofstra now what division were they?

[HarveyWallbangers]

I think what Patler is suggesting is not get worked up either way, see what the guy can do. Then, either rip or praise Thompson for it. I think it's okay to give a snap judgement, but to think a guy will fail for some of the reasons people have suggested are silly. We've had to go through this every year (Collins, Jennings, Moll, etc.). There were others that failed, but that happens. Third rounders are far from automatic. I'd be disappointed if we spent our 3rd rounder on a stiff though.

You hear people rip Collins, Jennings, or Moll--but seldom hear them admit they were wrong. On the other hand, they are often the ones that rip Jones or continue to rip previous poor picks.

We all want the Packers to win. Me as much as anyone else. However, it's my team. I'm going to have some faith. It's not like Thompson has shown he's a poor evaluator when it comes to the draft. It's likely this class will be pretty good.

[swede]

Abdul Hodge was projected to go in the 2nd round. Thompson "stole" him in the 3rd round. Hodge didn't do shit this year.

Dayrn Colledge and Greg Jennings were considered "reaches". They did well as rookies.

Jason Spitz was projected to go in the 4th-5th round last year. Thompson "reached" for him in the 3rd round. Spitz started at RG.

Tony Moll was projected to go undrafted. Thompson "reached" for him in the 5th round. Moll started 10+ games.

Aaron Rodgers was projected to be a top 10 pick. Thompson "stole" him in the 20s. Rodgers hasn't shown much.

Nick Collins was projected to be a 4th round pick. Thompson "reached" for him in the 2nd round. Collins has started for 2 years.

Mike Montgomery was projected to be a 4th-5th round pick. Thompson "stole" him in the 6th round. He hasn't shown much.

Seems to me, it's more likely than Jones will kick ass than not. The guys that Thompson "reaches" for seem to have a better track record than the guys that Thompson "stole" according to the scouts.

Yes, I understand the reverse has been true. Just trying to point out that the "experts" haven't even been remotely close while judging the Packers drafts recently. Seems to me the Packers scouting staff (which gets paid to do it) is doing a better job than the so-called experts.

Quality post, Harv. I'm changing my sig for a day in honor of this insightful interpretation of the facts.

Either TT has shot himself in the foot by picking dudes where he did, with one seeming reach after another, or he has once again recognized some good core talent and played his draft board exactly how it had been planned in order to get the kids he wanted.

[Charles Woodson]

I was watching Jones' highlight tape again and i kept noticing his QB wasnt horrible. I know we dont neccesarily need one but


YEAR CMP ATT YDS CMP% YPA LNG TD INT SACK RAT
2006 181 276 2284 65.6 8.28 85 21 7 19 155.13

i know its a weak dvision but hes shown alot of improvement from last year

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=148370

[woodbuck27]

Abdul Hodge was projected to go in the 2nd round. Thompson "stole" him in the 3rd round. Hodge didn't do shit this year.

Dayrn Colledge and Greg Jennings were considered "reaches". They did well as rookies.

Jason Spitz was projected to go in the 4th-5th round last year. Thompson "reached" for him in the 3rd round. Spitz started at RG.

Tony Moll was projected to go undrafted. Thompson "reached" for him in the 5th round. Moll started 10+ games.

Aaron Rodgers was projected to be a top 10 pick. Thompson "stole" him in the 20s. Rodgers hasn't shown much.

Nick Collins was projected to be a 4th round pick. Thompson "reached" for him in the 2nd round. Collins has started for 2 years.

Mike Montgomery was projected to be a 4th-5th round pick. Thompson "stole" him in the 6th round. He hasn't shown much.

Seems to me, it's more likely than Jones will kick ass than not. The guys that Thompson "reaches" for seem to have a better track record than the guys that Thompson "stole" according to the scouts.

Yes, I understand the reverse has been true. Just trying to point out that the "experts" haven't even been remotely close while judging the Packers drafts recently. Seems to me the Packers scouting staff (which gets paid to do it) is doing a better job than the so-called experts.

Harvey.

What else is the HC going to do but play the players that TT designates as to be retained.

We had holes all across the middle of our OL and Colledge and Spitz were picked to start. Same goes for Tony Moll. Being a starter and being solid in the position are two seperate measurements.

Abdul Hodge is certainly in a fight this season to be a backup LBer.

This will be a telling season on Nick Collins. He seemed to come on late last season against easier opposition.

The same goes for Al Harris who had a poor start to 2006. I recall that he looked very bad against the Rams. Maybe being at camps will avert that slow start.