Fotop Posted March 30, 2005 Share Posted March 30, 2005 Anyone read up on this guy at all or have seen him play? Chris Mortenson on ESPN wrote a rather long article about this guy, and it was damn impressive. The kid is 6'6" and ran a 4.37 (hand-timed)/4.40 (electronically-timed), as well as having a 39.5 in vertical jump. He played QB for Arkansas, but doesn't project as one because of his unorthodox style and an old shoulder injury. But what I'm thinking is he'd be one heck of a receiver...something out of the Randel El mold. He's taller and faster than Mike Williams, granted he hasn't played nearly enough reciever as Williams has but potentially he could be a huge matchup problem. So here's what I'm thinking, with all of this talk of the Niners trading down and the chargers grabbing edwards before us...why not take the best player available at the #4 (probably a RB) and grab this Jones kid with the 2nd round pick? Maybe 2nd rd is a reach, but he's got all of the tools of the top guys. Maybe I'm jumping off a cliff for this guy, but mark him down as one of my favorites in the draft. I think taking a long look at this guy is warranted, especially if the Bears grab a third round pick in a trade. I've linked the article I read below if you're interested. Matt Jones Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gene Honda Civic Posted March 30, 2005 Share Posted March 30, 2005 Drafting him high will be a mistake... It will be a couple years cefore he ever does anything, and then it will be in a specialized position... Sortof an H-back/TE combo that would get matched up on LB's in the slot and create matchup problems is what I envision him as... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Palehosefan Posted March 30, 2005 Share Posted March 30, 2005 I watched him QB several games at Arkansas, I was just amazed at his athleticism for such a big guy. He would just take off running and the LB's would be in shock seeing him blow past them. I don't know how well he can catch the ball, but it wouldn't be a bad idea to snatch him up in the 3rd-4th round to see what you can make of him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CWSGuy406 Posted March 30, 2005 Share Posted March 30, 2005 QUOTE(Palehosefan @ Mar 30, 2005 -> 09:48 PM) I watched him QB several games at Arkansas, I was just amazed at his athleticism for such a big guy. He would just take off running and the LB's would be in shock seeing him blow past them. I don't know how well he can catch the ball, but it wouldn't be a bad idea to snatch him up in the 3rd-4th round to see what you can make of him. Listening to Sportcenter last night, Mortenson seems to think Jones might have improved his stock to that of a late-first round pick, if not that -- then a definite second round pick. Is he really that good? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Palehosefan Posted March 30, 2005 Share Posted March 30, 2005 Is his athletecism 1st round potential good? Definitely. But he's VERY raw as playing anything outside of QB. I think it would be a bad decision to take a non-impact player in the 1st round, atleast for his 1st year. Like GHC said above, it will take him some time to be an impact player. I don't know if he will ever be able to pack on the strength and weight to be an adequate blocking TE or H-Back. WR/TE hybrid is likely his future, but I don't know if thats worth a 1st round pick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AddisonStSox Posted March 30, 2005 Share Posted March 30, 2005 He is one of the best pure athletes in the draft. Jason Campbell is another one of these ubber-athletes. That said, a second round selection of Jones is a reach. A first round selection is downright goofy. If a team falls in love with him (the way Fotop has ) you may see him go in the second round, but I think he is a third-fourth round fit. Some scouts question his hands; others question the impact he can have on an offense. I think he'll be a nice TE/WR hybrid that may or may not be a crucial piece of an offense. Can someone tell me the last ubber-athlete QB gone WR in the NFL? Yikes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Palehosefan Posted March 30, 2005 Share Posted March 30, 2005 (edited) Can someone tell me the last ubber-athlete QB gone WR in the NFL? Yikes Antawn Randle-El, Ronald Curry :-) Edited March 30, 2005 by Palehosefan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AddisonStSox Posted March 30, 2005 Share Posted March 30, 2005 QUOTE(Palehosefan @ Mar 30, 2005 -> 05:53 PM) Antawn Randle-El, Ronald Curry :-) Randle-El wasn't the only QB gone receiver in the 02' draft. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spiff Posted March 31, 2005 Share Posted March 31, 2005 I saw Jones play a few times in college, he's one of the most amazing athletes I've ever seen. As the article said, he runs a 4.40, he's 6'6", has a 40" vertical. There's no reason to make him a TE or a RB. He played basketball at Arkansas too, the man has hands. "We charted every pass thrown to him during the Senior Bowl week, and [he] caught all but one," one personnel director said. He's gonna be good. Just read more of that article and see what other people said about him; Nick Saban, Lou Holtz, Sylvester Croom, and Ron Zook included. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fotop Posted March 31, 2005 Author Share Posted March 31, 2005 Spiff, the coach comments are what impressed me the most. I don't watch a lot of SEC football, but it sounds like he was a terror for these coaches. Plus, the basketball factor is huge...look at Antonio Gates or Tony Gonzalez for that matter. I think with more and more teams in the NFL preaching speed over size at corner (due to the enforcement of contact rules, etc.), this guy could be a damn tough matchup. In a perfect world I'd love to see the Bears pick up a 3rd rounder and have Jones still be there, but it seems like he'll go in the 2nd round from the sound of it. Sticking on the "Fotop's favorites" concept...I also like Adrian McPherson a lot. Sure he has a checkered past, but it's not like he's getting indicted for drug conspiracy (coughjamallewiscough) and I think he'd add some damn good depth to our QBs. Maybe 4th round? I don't really know where his stock lies, but it'll be interesting to see where he goes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rex Hudler Posted March 31, 2005 Share Posted March 31, 2005 Living in the heart of SEC country, I saw Matt Jones play many times over the last three years. The guy is big and looks gangly. He looks like he is running in slow motion........... Yet, he is running by everyone as he does so. As a quarterback he wasn't immensely talented as a thrower, but was solid when able to use his running skills to complement. Kind of like a guy who only throws 89, but it seems like 93 because of his other pitches? Jones passing was good because he was a double threat, but he is not a pure passer. The one thing Matt has, besides a serious mane on top of his head, is heart and a competitive nature. The way he performed in the 6 or 7 overtime game against Ole Miss a few years ago was classic. There were times it seemed as he would just will his teams to win, leading them to great comebacks or near misses. I am not sure where he projects in the NFL, but he certainly was fun to watch in college. The game was never boring when the ball was in his hands, I assure you that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rex Hudler Posted March 31, 2005 Share Posted March 31, 2005 I just went back and read the article and it was really good. It brought back some memories when watching him play and the compliments of him were dead on. They guy was really exciting to watch. If only he had big time talent around him. I know there were games they lost that he single-handedly kept close. The story Nutt told about the last minute drive against LSU is classic. I remember seeing that drive and just shaking my head, which I did so many times. I'll be honest, I never thought much of him in an NFL sense for two reasons. One, I don't follow the NFL nearly as closely as most of you guys do. I follow it more casually. And two, he was not a classic throwing quarterback. He was a get it done kind of guy, but not someone I envisioned lining up behind center and being a pocker passer. I'll look forward to seeing where he ends up and how good he does become. Like Mortensen intimated, don't be surprised if this guy ends up being able to do huge things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rex Hudler Posted March 31, 2005 Share Posted March 31, 2005 QUOTE(AddisonStSox @ Mar 30, 2005 -> 10:44 PM) He is one of the best pure athletes in the draft. Jason Campbell is another one of these ubber-athletes. That said, a second round selection of Jones is a reach. A first round selection is downright goofy. If a team falls in love with him (the way Fotop has ) you may see him go in the second round, but I think he is a third-fourth round fit. Some scouts question his hands; others question the impact he can have on an offense. I think he'll be a nice TE/WR hybrid that may or may not be a crucial piece of an offense. Can someone tell me the last ubber-athlete QB gone WR in the NFL? Yikes. In addition to those already mentioned, Heinz Ward would be another. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Palehosefan Posted March 31, 2005 Share Posted March 31, 2005 In addition to those already mentioned, Heinz Ward would be another. Its going to become more and more the norm for a QB in college to switch to WR in the NFL in my opinion. QB's are getting more and more athletic at the QB position, but can't make all the throws needed for the NFL position, guys like DJ Shockley, and Vince Young will likely end up as WR's in the NFL in my opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AddisonStSox Posted March 31, 2005 Share Posted March 31, 2005 QUOTE(Palehosefan @ Mar 30, 2005 -> 09:37 PM) Its going to become more and more the norm for a QB in college to switch to WR in the NFL in my opinion. QB's are getting more and more athletic at the QB position, but can't make all the throws needed for the NFL position, guys like DJ Shockley, and Vince Young will likely end up as WR's in the NFL in my opinion. Woa. I dunno about that one. Young is already being talked about as one of the better QB prospects of the future. However, I could easily see Shockley making the move. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Palehosefan Posted March 31, 2005 Share Posted March 31, 2005 Young definitely can't make all the throws right now. He's really going to have to improve in that area if he wants to stick at QB. Vince currently has 18 TD's and 18 INT's in his career, while averaging only 7.7 yards per completion. He still has alot of work to do, but he can do it. He's mostly a RB playing QB right now, maybe it will change. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spiff Posted March 31, 2005 Share Posted March 31, 2005 Shockley can't even play QB in college, so he'll definitely have to switch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rex Hudler Posted March 31, 2005 Share Posted March 31, 2005 QUOTE(Spiff @ Mar 31, 2005 -> 01:56 PM) Shockley can't even play QB in college, so he'll definitely have to switch. We'll see if that is true this year. I don't think the fact that he sat behind David Greene, the winningest QB in college football history says he can't play QB. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T R U Posted March 31, 2005 Share Posted March 31, 2005 QUOTE(AddisonStSox @ Mar 30, 2005 -> 04:44 PM) He is one of the best pure athletes in the draft. Jason Campbell is another one of these ubber-athletes. That said, a second round selection of Jones is a reach. A first round selection is downright goofy. If a team falls in love with him (the way Fotop has ) you may see him go in the second round, but I think he is a third-fourth round fit. Some scouts question his hands; others question the impact he can have on an offense. I think he'll be a nice TE/WR hybrid that may or may not be a crucial piece of an offense. Can someone tell me the last ubber-athlete QB gone WR in the NFL? Yikes. where have you seen his hands are questionable? Everything I have heard was he had some of the best hands at the combine.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T R U Posted March 31, 2005 Share Posted March 31, 2005 QUOTE(AddisonStSox @ Mar 30, 2005 -> 09:49 PM) Woa. I dunno about that one. Young is already being talked about as one of the better QB prospects of the future. However, I could easily see Shockley making the move. Have you ever seen Young throw.. its not that pretty.. The man is unstopable when he runs, but he will have to improve on his throwing if he is gonna make it as a franchise QB in the NFL... otherwise he is just gonna be another Michael Bishop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AddisonStSox Posted March 31, 2005 Share Posted March 31, 2005 QUOTE(T R U @ Mar 31, 2005 -> 10:04 AM) where have you seen his hands are questionable? Everything I have heard was he had some of the best hands at the combine.. Let me try and dig it out. I found it rather early in the combine, maybe after a couple more workouts the scouts did a 180. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T R U Posted March 31, 2005 Share Posted March 31, 2005 QUOTE(AddisonStSox @ Mar 31, 2005 -> 10:07 AM) Let me try and dig it out. I found it rather early in the combine, maybe after a couple more workouts the scouts did a 180. Thats weird, ive heard he has real good hands.. Did you see that one handed catch he made in the endzone at the combine.. that was awesome.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AddisonStSox Posted March 31, 2005 Share Posted March 31, 2005 QUOTE(T R U @ Mar 31, 2005 -> 10:12 AM) Thats weird, ive heard he has real good hands.. Did you see that one handed catch he made in the endzone at the combine.. that was awesome.. Let's make it clear: I never said he had poor hands. That is simply something I read. I haven't seen enough of him to make a fair judgement, but I'll take the word of these coaches, especially since it's recent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T R U Posted March 31, 2005 Share Posted March 31, 2005 QUOTE(AddisonStSox @ Mar 31, 2005 -> 10:16 AM) Let's make it clear: I never said he had poor hands. That is simply something I read. I haven't seen enough of him to make a fair judgement, but I'll take the word of these coaches, especially since it's recent. Yeah im not saying you dont think he does.. im just saying what I have heard is that he had some of the best hands at the combine.. Reports may have changed though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spiff Posted March 31, 2005 Share Posted March 31, 2005 QUOTE(Rex Hudler @ Mar 31, 2005 -> 11:04 AM) We'll see if that is true this year. I don't think the fact that he sat behind David Greene, the winningest QB in college football history says he can't play QB. But Richt has put him in on every third series or so for the last two or three years and he's always made the offense stall. He's not very good at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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