HUGE DRAFT MISTAKES: Moss and now JONES!

[CrazyCowboy]

Camp tour: Former QB Jones draws comparisons to Moss -- really
http://images.sportsline.com/images/author/3708.jpgAug. 1, 2006
By Pete Prisco (http://www.sportsline.com/columns/writers/prisco)
CBS SportsLine.com Senior Writer
[/URL]
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- When he was 10 years old, [URL="http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/players/playerpage/414108"]Matt Jones (http://www.sportsline.com/columns/writers/prisco) was a receiver on his pee-wee football team. There was one problem. He was also the best passer on his team.

Bye-bye, receiver. Hello, quarterback. Aside from a year playing the position as a 10th grader in high school, he has been under center the rest of his football life ... until last year.

"I often wonder what would have happened if I stayed at receiver," Jones said.

http://images.sportsline.com/u/photos/football/nfl/img9581176.jpg
Matt Jones has the speed and hands
to haul in the long ball.

That would be scary. Jones, the second-year receiver from the Jacksonville Jaguars (http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/teams/page/JAC), has the ability to be an NFL star. Some scouts and teammates are predicting it will happen this season.

Jones is tall at 6-6, has outstanding speed and good hands. Some have compared him to Randy Moss, which is flattery at its highest.

Not bad for a player who came to the Jaguars last year having spent his college days playing quarterback for the University of Arkansas, an option threat who also happened to have a decent arm.

Quarterback is now a thing of the past for Jones, aside from a taste or two in special packages. He now makes his living catching passes, but moving to a new position can sometimes be tough, particularly when it's moving from the marquee position on the field. Players have balked at that move in the past. Jones embraced it.

"I haven't even thought about it (quarterback) in a while," Jones said during a break from training camp practices. "It's behind me now."
What's in front of him is establishing himself as the Jaguars' go-to receiver. When Jimmy Smith abruptly retired this spring, Jones and a group of younger receivers were suddenly cast deep into the spotlight of scrutiny. All the preseason publications and prognosticators mention the Jaguars' receiver spot as a major trouble spot for the team.

Smith was a great player, a borderline Hall of Fame player at that. But Jones has the ability to fill that role.

Coming out of Arkansas, some scouts thought he could be the next Moss. In 2005, some wondered how that could possibly be.

Jacksonville Jaguars (http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/teams/page/JAC) Out of Nowhere Man LB Brian Iwuh

Brian Iwuh signed with the team as a rookie free agent after not being drafted. He played at Colorado as a 224-pound linebacker. While he might not be able to play on a regular basis for the Jaguars at any point in his career, he has the look of a special-teams star. He's already impressed special-teams coach Pete Rodriguez and has made some big plays on defense so far. (http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/9580993)

Jones flashed at times, but he didn’t exactly make anybody think of Moss. He caught 36 passes for 432 yards five touchdowns. He did have five catches of 20-plus yards, an indication of his big-play speed. But there wasn't enough for that superstardom talk.

The reality is Jones never got to show his explosive speed. Rookie receivers always seem to struggle with the details of the position. There's coverage to read on the run, there's the physical play of the NFL corners and there's plenty of speed in that defensive backfield to counter yours. A move from college quarterback to NFL receiver compounds the problems.

"It's tough for a first-year player, especially since I was doing some of the things that I really hadn't done," Jones said. "Part of being a good receiver is not thinking. When you have a core route, you just go. When you are reacting instead of thinking, it's so much easier to get open. I didn't break out in the open one time at full speed all year."

Some thought that actually happened during the team's playoff loss to the Patriots, when he got free for a 41-yard catch and run. But Jones said he wasn't even full speed on that play.

"I was cramping up in my calves," Jones said.

Watching him at practice this year, he now plays at full speed. Gone is trepidation of thinking on the run. He's able to show his big-play ability without wondering if he's going to the right spot, earning the confidence of his quarterback.

"It's like night and day," Jaguars quarterback Byron Leftwich said. "Last year at this time, he was still a quarterback. Now he understands the wide receiver position. He knows how to get open, the little things he needs to do. Last year at this time, he was just starting to learn how to run routes. For him to be where he is now is amazing."

Where he is now is in Smith's old position, the X position in the Jaguars' offense. Jones was mostly used in the slot last season, but now he will be split wider, giving him a better chance to use his speed. What sort of year will Matt Jones have?

"I don’t feel as trapped in," Jones said. "I have more field to work with."

To prepare for the move, he has studied a bunch of tapes of some of the NFL's star receivers. New assistant head coach Mike Tice, who coached the Vikings the past few years, gave him a tape of some of Moss's routes with the team. Steve Walters, the receivers coach, had him watch tape of Bengals receiver Chad Johnson.

"I watched the Moss tape two or three times and Walters had me watch Johnson since he's another tall receiver who runs really, really good routes," Jones said.

Jones also trimmed his body fat, and now has a sleeker look, more receiver-like. He also said he is stronger, which is something that will help him keep defensive backs off his body as he runs his routes.

At the Jaguars' Monday morning practice, Jones looked like a new man. He was confident and he looked like a receiver, rather than a quarterback trying to play the position. He had suddenness in his routes.

"When I ran a 12-yard-and-in route last year, I wasn't 4.3 because I was still learning how to run the route," Jones said. "I think this year I'm a little quicker because I'm not thinking."

He did tweak his ankle in the Monday evening practice, but it's not expected to be much of a problem.

For the Jags to have a big year, they have to get a 70-catch, 10-touchdown season from Jones. To help that along, Jones spent a lot of time with Leftwich in the offseason, building a strong bond that comes through on the field --- and off it.

"It's about quarterback-receiver relationships," Leftwich said. "It's the understanding of each other, the non-verbal communication that me and him have."
Jones still gets under center in the Jaguars' "Matt-Gun" package. It's a change-of-pace look that allows them to use Jones in a variety of ways. They can run the option with him or hand it to him on a reverse or let him throw a pass. He ran 12 times last season for 51 yards and completed two of his three passes for 12 yards.

When Leftwich went down against Arizona David Garrard stepped in at quarterback. Had Garrard been hurt, there was a chance that Jones would have played quarterback that day, using the Matt-Gun package.

"They told me to be ready," Jones said. "But that's about it as far as quarterback. I love the package. I like getting back there and doing stuff I like. I don't know how much we'll do it this year. It's not like we put up big numbers with it. It's up to them. I do like it."

It gives him that little taste of quarterback. But make no mistake about it: Matt Jones is now a legitimate receiver, a player ready for his breakout season.

[JackMagist]

Matt Jones was an experiment at WR and a huge gamble in the first round. We had many more pressing needs than a WR last year. How is it a HUGE MISTAKE to pass on him? Other than looking through those 20/20 hindsight goggles no one could blame the Cowboys for passing on that pick.

[Dayton Cowboy]

When Matt Jones came out there were no guarantees that he could really make the transition from qb to wr. Though at the time I did like his willingness to embrace learning the WR position starting at the college all-star games. But without knowing how he'd really pan out, I don't know that its fair for anyone to say we made a huge mistake with Jones. Hindsight after all is always 20-20. Now Moss, thats more debateable and has been debated at length before.

[CantonBound08]

Huge mistake? Nah, I'll stick with Demarcus Ware. Thanks, no thanks.

[Avery]

Huge mistake and it's only been a year? He didn't exactly have Moss-like rookie numbers.

I'll take Demarcus, thanks for playing.

[CrazyCowboy]

Huge mistake and it's only been a year? He didn't exactly have Moss-like rookie numbers.

I'll take Demarcus, thanks for playing.

DeMarcus Ware? Hello....I am talking Spears! The man on the stationary bike for two years running......no way Ware.

Hindsight? Come on Zoners.......at the Combine Jones posted a 4.3 forty and catching everything.....coaches and scouts alike was raving about him!

Come on Zoners.......I know at least ONE of you can step forward and admit you liked JONES at the 20th pick for us vs Spears! Hell, we needed WR bad at that time......:cool:

[dbair1967]

DeMarcus Ware? Hello....I am talking Spears! The man on the stationary bike for two years running......no way Ware.

Hindsight? Come on Zoners.......at the Combine Jones posted a 4.3 forty and catching everything.....coaches and scouts alike was raving about him!

Come on Zoners.......I know at least ONE of you can step forward and admit you liked JONES at the 20th pick for us vs Spears! Hell, we needed WR bad at that time......:cool:

Jones hasnt really done anything yet, and he didnt have anywhere near the impact as a rookie as Randy Moss did in 1998...Spears really came on as the year wore on last yr and will be a good pick for us and an impact player on the defense...Jones still has a LONG ways to go

David

[jman]

Once again...there will be some people that won't be satisified unless we have all the players that we don't have.

It's never "Look at who we have", it's always, "Look at who we shoulda or coulda had!!!"

[JackMagist]

DeMarcus Ware? Hello....I am talking Spears! The man on the stationary bike for two years running......no way Ware.

Hindsight? Come on Zoners.......at the Combine Jones posted a 4.3 forty and catching everything.....coaches and scouts alike was raving about him!

Come on Zoners.......I know at least ONE of you can step forward and admit you liked JONES at the 20th pick for us vs Spears! Hell, we needed WR bad at that time......:cool:I don't remember anyone thinking Spears was a bad pick when we did it and only with 20/20 hindsight seeing the unexpected injuries could anyone say it now. And I still would not agree that it was a mistake he has played through a lot of stuff and I'm sure he will continue to hang tough.

As for the 4.3 Forty and catching the ball...ok...but that didn't prove that he could run routes and get open. He was a gamble and it is still not certain that he is going to be as great as you say.

As for needing a WR "bad" at the time; we had Keyshawn and T. Glenn with a couple of promising young guys behind them. I admit I wanted us to get a WR that year but it was not such a need that I would have traded wither of our first rounders for an experiment like Jones.

[jman]

DeMarcus Ware? Hello....I am talking Spears! The man on the stationary bike for two years running......no way Ware.

Hindsight? Come on Zoners.......at the Combine Jones posted a 4.3 forty and catching everything.....coaches and scouts alike was raving about him!

Come on Zoners.......I know at least ONE of you can step forward and admit you liked JONES at the 20th pick for us vs Spears! Hell, we needed WR bad at that time......:cool:

I liked Jones during the draft...but not at the cost of Spears, even if he's out for a couple or three weeks again.

We didn't have a huge need at receiver and more over we still don't today.

I just wish the constant complaining about every player that we passed on would just stop. We don't have him, not worried about him or his carreer, I'm concerned about who we have. Not who we don't have.

[dbair1967]

Once again...there will be some people that won't be satisified unless we have all the players that we don't have.

It's never "Look at who we have", it's always, "Look at who we shoulda or coulda had!!!"

yep...hit the nail on the head with that one

David

[joseephuss]

I guess no one on Jones' peewee football team could throw at all because Matt did not have much of an arm at Arkansas.

[burmafrd]

More BS and whinning about who we did not pick. Jones HAS DONE NOTHING TO WARRANT A FIRST RD PICK. NOTHING.

[heir]

If we drafted Jones instead of Spears, would Jones have played DE in the switch to a 3-4? I'd take Spears anyday. Even with the injuries.

[THUMPER]

I for one was absolutely thrilled when Spears was still available for us. I would STILL make that pick today. Jones hasn't done anything yet to warrant regret for not taking him.

As for Moss, I wouldn't trade Ellis for him today. WRs are the most overrated position in football IMO.

[PJCOWBOYS]

Wow, Jones is Moss!

Rookie Stats:

Moss: 69-1313 (19.0 avg), 17 tds.
Jones: 36-432 (12.0 avg), 5 tds.

[RealCowboyfan]

I have to say in my eyes it was a gamble, but I feel that it was a gamble that Cowboys should have taken, and I believe Matt Jones showed enough for the Cowboys to pick him.

- 6-6 < Vary rare size for a wide receiver.
- 4.38 in the 40 yard dash, rare speed for a guy at his size
- 41 inch verticle, he have amazing leaping ability

Matt Jones basically showed he could run routes in little personal workouts. He played two positions Quarterback and Wide Receiver, so he is versatile.
I believed he got tired of playing Quarterback with all that ability. He's actually faster than Michael Vick, but again he don't have moves like Michael Vick either and mainly he's not smaller than Michael Vick.

I like Matt Jones, but I don't think the Cowboys went wrong with Marcus Spears, even though the more you think about it, it's like Greg Ellis over Randy Moss again, but I feel that if you could get a quality player at your pick to play defense, that's a real good thing, but if you could get someone who put points on the board, and you have to take him, not take the one who put tackles on his statistics, I want someone who put touchdowns up on their statistics.

I believe the Cowboys should've trade up in the second round, to get either Jimmy Williams, Chad Jackson, LenDale White, or Winston Justice.

Jimmy Williams would've helped in a way that the Dallas Cowboys have a conerback/and a safety in this player, and Cowboys probably could've have gave Anthony Henry a breath on some plays.

Chad Jackson could have bolstered this receiving core we have now, it could have gave the Dallas Cowboys more versatility, he would've been a threat in it, and he could actually been right behind Terry Glenn or Terrell Owens.

LenDale White, I believe that the Cowboys mentioning a quality powerback. It's something about Jerry Jones and second round gambles, I believe that the second round in the past have been half/half for Jerry, Remember Shaun Rogers. LenDale White would've been Cowboys short yardage back, never know he probably would've been a premire back with the Cowboys. He's the best powerback I've seen in years. I think the Titans had the best draft in the AFC with Vince Young and LenDale White, in the NFC I have to say San Fransisco, They drafted Vernon Davis and Manny Lawson.

Winston Justice was suppose to come to Dallas to help the situation at Right Tackle and maybe put him in competition for the Right Tackle position, Justice would've have served the Cowboys as that option that Jerry and Bill mention.

:starspin

[AbeBeta]

maybe we might wait for Jones to actually do something rather than just "flash" potential?

[Cochese]

Who cares about Matt Jones? Cry me a river. Go be a fan of the Jaguars.

[1fisher]

DeMarcus Ware? Hello....I am talking Spears! The man on the stationary bike for two years running......no way Ware.

Hindsight? Come on Zoners.......at the Combine Jones posted a 4.3 forty and catching everything.....coaches and scouts alike was raving about him!

Come on Zoners.......I know at least ONE of you can step forward and admit you liked JONES at the 20th pick for us vs Spears! Hell, we needed WR bad at that time......:cool:


crazyC... you need to stick to you one liners like "good post" , "good report", "thanks for the info"...... cause your gonna get killed with this one!

and for the record I'm glad we took Spears. Jones is switching position and that takes time!

[Reality]

He was not a proven receiver and we had immediate defensive needs. We didn't "miss out" on him like Moss. Moss was an established college receiver with all the credentials but his off-the-field issues were a concern for a team drenched in off-the-field problems with previous players and desperately searching for a cleaner (and more marketable) group of players.

Moss wasn't passed on by a lot of teams, he was avoided. Jones was simply a shot in the dark.

-Reality

[DLCassidy]

I'll admit I did like Matt Jones last year. I liked him better than Mike Williams. But was thrilled with the Spears pick and I still think it was the right move. The draft is a crapshoot. Should we be gnashing teeth about passing on Tom Brady for 6 rounds while we're at it? Let it go CC.

As for Jones, he can go off all season if he wants, beginning week 2 of course, and I won't care. You can't spend your life doing woulda coulda shoulda.

[aikemirv]

DeMarcus Ware? Hello....I am talking Spears! The man on the stationary bike for two years running......no way Ware.

Hindsight? Come on Zoners.......at the Combine Jones posted a 4.3 forty and catching everything.....coaches and scouts alike was raving about him!

Come on Zoners.......I know at least ONE of you can step forward and admit you liked JONES at the 20th pick for us vs Spears! Hell, we needed WR bad at that time......:cool:

If you knew ahead of time you were going to get Canty in the 4th round and you knew ahead of time that Ratliff was going to turn out OK and the fact that Canty was going to come back then I would have considered taking a WR, but it would not have been Matt Jones, it would have been Mark Clayton.

Matt Jones was a risk and we can't afford risk with our drafting.

[Vintage]

crazyC... you need to stick to you one liners like "good post" , "good report", "thanks for the info"...... cause your gonna get killed with this one!

and for the record I'm glad we took Spears. Jones is switching position and that takes time!

What do you mean?

I thought it was almost apocolyptic.

[CrazyCowboy]

Who cares about Matt Jones? Cry me a river. Go be a fan of the Jaguars.

Never will happen!

Cowboy fan forever....

[RealCowboyfan]

DeMarcus Ware? Hello....I am talking Spears! The man on the stationary bike for two years running......no way Ware.

Hindsight? Come on Zoners.......at the Combine Jones posted a 4.3 forty and catching everything.....coaches and scouts alike was raving about him!

Come on Zoners.......I know at least ONE of you can step forward and admit you liked JONES at the 20th pick for us vs Spears! Hell, we needed WR bad at that time......:cool:


Yeah, you do have a point.

Quote To This Matter::

"You can't move foward if you keep bringing up the past." - Terrell Owens / aka "Get Ya Popcorn Ready Cause It's Gonna Be A Show" - T.O.

[FolsomCowboy]

crazyC... you need to stick to you one liners like "good post" , "good report", "thanks for the info"...... cause your gonna get killed with this one!



That actually made me chuckle

[Chocolate Lab]

Jones was a little bit of a risk, but that was based on his attitude. There isn't any doubt that he does have (although the term is so overused now) freaky athletic skills for how big he is. He's almost unguardable as a WR and I fully expect our corners to give up a few passes to him on opening day.

I like Spears a lot, I really do. And we needed 34 ends badly in order to make the switch. But yeah, I was all for us taking Jones. You don't have mulitple SEC coaches calling you the best athlete in the conference without there being a ton of ability there.

[ABQCOWBOY]

I don't remember anyone thinking Spears was a bad pick when we did it and only with 20/20 hindsight seeing the unexpected injuries could anyone say it now. And I still would not agree that it was a mistake he has played through a lot of stuff and I'm sure he will continue to hang tough.

As for the 4.3 Forty and catching the ball...ok...but that didn't prove that he could run routes and get open. He was a gamble and it is still not certain that he is going to be as great as you say.

As for needing a WR "bad" at the time; we had Keyshawn and T. Glenn with a couple of promising young guys behind them. I admit I wanted us to get a WR that year but it was not such a need that I would have traded wither of our first rounders for an experiment like Jones.


For the record, I liked Jones. I liked him better then Spears. Got fried for that but it is what it is. Water under the bridge. Lets play football.

[jterrell]

I was going to make the same comments 30 other guys did I would simply add be sure Jerry Jones would not have passed on Matt Jones were he available at a selection of some value.

We drafted mid to high first and Ware was the right call if you factor in Merriman's agents.

Jones was probably a 2nd round value, a great gamble in round 3 and as a 1st was a bit of a reach.

Had we signed him he would have been our 4th Wr early then our 3rd when Crayton went down. We'd likely have the same Wr corps as last season instead of TO.

[CrazyCowboy]

crazyC... you need to stick to you one liners like "good post" , "good report", "thanks for the info"...... cause your gonna get killed with this one!

and for the record I'm glad we took Spears. Jones is switching position and that takes time!

That is funny......I like that! :laugh2:

Zoners, I do not dis-like Spears but Jones was an excellent opportunity and I happen to like him before the draft. When we took Ware, I really wanted Jones at #20.

Guess alot of you are correct.....I need to get over it....but, sometimes it is hard! And each time I see Matt Jones blow past someone for a score with that 6'6'' frame and 4.3 speed.....you guys may hear me cry a little again!

[burmafrd]

Fall in love with numbers and you will get burned. Jones has not proven himself as a #1 or even a #2 WR yet. I need to see a lot more before I would give him that. And it still does not justify drafting him in the first rd. that was a HUGE gamble that could just as easily blown up.

[1fisher]

That is funny......I like that! :laugh2:

Zoners, I do not dis-like Spears but Jones was an excellent opportunity and I happen to like him before the draft. When we took Ware, I really wanted Jones at #20.

Guess alot of you are correct.....I need to get over it....but, sometimes it is hard! And each time I see Matt Jones blow past someone for a score with that 6'6'' frame and 4.3 speed.....you guys may hear me cry a little again!

I hear what you're saying CC..... I watched Jones in ALOT during his tenure with the Razorbacks and I kept saying that this guy would go a long way with his speed..... however, I'm glad we took spears! He will help make our defense solid for a long time (hopefully)!

[AtlCB]

That is funny......I like that! :laugh2:

Zoners, I do not dis-like Spears but Jones was an excellent opportunity and I happen to like him before the draft. When we took Ware, I really wanted Jones at #20.

Guess alot of you are correct.....I need to get over it....but, sometimes it is hard! And each time I see Matt Jones blow past someone for a score with that 6'6'' frame and 4.3 speed.....you guys may hear me cry a little again!If you want a WR with freakish measurables, maybe we should bring Randall Williams back.

[QT]

I also prefer Jones over Spears. I'm not on the Spears bandwagon. He really hasn't impressed me.

If this, if that. If buffalo had continued to have an awful season the year before, we could have had Ware and Merriman. How you like them apples?

[Vintage]

That is funny......I like that! :laugh2:

Zoners, I do not dis-like Spears but Jones was an excellent opportunity and I happen to like him before the draft. When we took Ware, I really wanted Jones at #20.

Guess alot of you are correct.....I need to get over it....but, sometimes it is hard! And each time I see Matt Jones blow past someone for a score with that 6'6'' frame and 4.3 speed.....you guys may hear me cry a little again!

For what its worth, I like it when you post stuff beyond the one liners....even if I disagree with it and even if its wrong.

[ABQCOWBOY]

Had we signed him he would have been our 4th Wr early then our 3rd when Crayton went down. We'd likely have the same Wr corps as last season instead of TO.

I'm struggling to see the down side here.

:laugh2:

[joseephuss]

I don't truly understand why people don't like Spears. I guess there could be other prospects that Dallas could have drafted at #20. I just don't see Matt Jones as one of those guys.

I truly don't see what is so special about Jones. Not as a 1st rounder at least. Perhaps in the 3rd. He averaged 12 yards a reception last year. That is very low for a guy that is supposed to be a burner, deep threat. Michael Irvin averaged 20.4 yards per reception his rookie year and was not considered a speed guy. Antonio Bryant averaged 16.7 yards per reception his rookie year and also was not known as a burner.

[illone]

Don't jump the gun on Jones. You can't call him a draft mistake until he actually produces in the NFL consistently. For crying out loud the Skins passed on Santana Moss to draft Rod Gardner, LOL!

Funny how things turn out. I'd say the bigger mistake on the Cowboys part was drafting Quincy Carter. Just think, Steve Smith was available.

[ravidubey]

Matt Jones was an experiment at WR and a huge gamble in the first round. We had many more pressing needs than a WR last year.

I don't know how you can say this. I think if the Boys knew they were going to land Canty in the 4th they might have taken Jones in the 1st instead of Spears. Dallas had a need to build a 3-4 defense but they added the most difficult piece of that puzzle by drafting Ware.

They also had unproven Crayton and two 30+ and injury-prone WR's in Keyshawn and Glenn on the field. Neither had played a full season without some kind of major injury. It could be argued that Jones was an ideal pick and not a gamble at all.

As it has turned out in hindsight, we are into TO (another injury prone 30+ guy) for 25 million and Spears has had his 2nd knee injury in as many TC's. We also have a ton of youth and high picks sitting on our defense and tons of age at WR, OL, and QB on our offense.

[Cochese]

I don't know how you can say this. I think if the Boys knew they were going to land Canty in the 4th they might have taken Jones in the 1st instead of Spears. Dallas had a need to build a 3-4 defense but they added the most difficult piece of that puzzle by drafting Ware.

They also had unproven Crayton and two 30+ and injury-prone WR's in Keyshawn and Glenn on the field. Neither had played a full season without some kind of major injury. It could be argued that Jones was an ideal pick and not a gamble at all.

As it has turned out in hindsight, we are into TO (another injury prone 30+ guy) for 25 million and Spears has had his 2nd knee injury in as many TC's. We also have a ton of youth and high picks sitting on our defense and tons of age at WR, OL, and QB on our offense.

Keyshawn is so injury prone he has only played 16 games in 7 of his 10 years in the league. Facts dont matter much, do they?

[burmafrd]

I have yet to hear anyone say that the Boys had any interest in Jones at all.
He has proven NOTHING so far. despite the bleatings of some.

[Bob Sacamano]

CC, the player Dallas wanted most in that draft was Spears, not Ware, he was the player they had to draft, don't care what we wanted, there was no way in hell Dallas would have taken an expirament at WR, over a 3-4 Dlineman, when we're trying to find the pieces for the 3-4

[ravidubey]

Don't jump the gun on Jones. You can't call him a draft mistake until he actually produces in the NFL consistently. For crying out loud the Skins passed on Santana Moss to draft Rod Gardner, LOL!

Funny how things turn out. I'd say the bigger mistake on the Cowboys part was drafting Quincy Carter. Just think, Steve Smith was available.

To tell the truth, I don't blame them for Carter so much. If the scouts thought he was a special player (they were wrong, of course, but that happens) then they drafted him at best a round early.

What I blame them for is drafting Tony Dixon immediately afterwards instead of Shaun Rogers when we had a critical need on the DL. Dixon was climbing some boards, but he was at best a 4th rounder. Jones and company hadn't a clue as to the true value of 2nd-4th round picks. He'd trade them away like they were spoiled food.

[Tass]

DeMarcus Ware? Hello....I am talking Spears! The man on the stationary bike for two years running......no way Ware.

Hindsight? Come on Zoners.......at the Combine Jones posted a 4.3 forty and catching everything.....coaches and scouts alike was raving about him!

Come on Zoners.......I know at least ONE of you can step forward and admit you liked JONES at the 20th pick for us vs Spears! Hell, we needed WR bad at that time......:cool:

Yes, I was hoping we'd take Jones with our 'Spears' pick and even posted my hope that we'd draft Jones here at the Zone last year. Spears hasn't impressed and Canty has. We would have gotten a good WR in Jones and a good end in Canty. I won't say Spears was a wasted pick, but I'd rather have Jones and Canty than Spears and Canty.

[ravidubey]

Keyshawn is so injury prone he has only played 16 games in 7 of his 10 years in the league. Facts dont matter much, do they?

But he gets hurt alot. He still makes it on the field and plays hurt, which is great, but his injuries do affect his performance. Regardless, they couldn't have been looking at Crayton, Glenn, and Keyshawn as their future.

[Cochese]

But he gets hurt alot. He still makes it on the field and plays hurt, which is great, but his injuries do affect his performance. Regardless, they couldn't have been looking at Crayton, Glenn, and Keyshawn as their future.


But you had claimed that neither had played a full season without a 'major' injury when that is clearly not the case. The fewest amount of games Key played in was 10, and has also had years of 14 and 15 games. Where were the major injuries? Glenn is a slighty different story, but again has completed 6 out of 10 seasons without any sort of major injury.

[Tristan]

Hind sight is really the key here, (if) we could have known that we would get a Chris Canty later, and a guy with the talent of Hatcher as well not to mention Jay Ratliff looking so good,then it would be easy to say Matt Jones would have been the better pick.

As of now Spears is still being counted on to be an integral part of a deep and dominating front seven, but if he keeps ending up on the stationary bike then yes I would say the pick was a mistake, he needs to produce this year, or we might as well have drafted another position we could use now like Matt jones.

If we had it to do again I would prefer having taken Matt Jones, but that is only because we have Canty and Hatcher not to mention Ratliff.

If you really want to cry over spilt milk, then the guy we should have made a top priority to get would be JAMMAL BROWN! not over Ware, but we should have traded up a few spots with our second pick to get him! Based on his stellar rookie play at right tackle he looks like a future All Pro, and God knows we could use that on the o-line more than Spears IMO.

[booker]

Prisco Jocks anything Jacksonville thats where hes from.The other day he was on a local radio show (The sports junkies)its in the DC area he actually said Fred Taylor could lead the league in rushing.I take what he says about Jones with a grain of salt.He is a Jacksoville homer much like the typical Redskin fan is to the Redskins.Yes,that bad.

[CrazyCowboy]

If you want a WR with freakish measurables, maybe we should bring Randall Williams back.

That is a little too freakish, however, he does a great job on kick off returns....as you most likely know, he owns the record for fastest TD score in a NFL game.

Zoners--glad to some of you are not completly against the idea that Matt Jones could have been a very good pick for us......

I also like the Spears pick, but I just would have perferred Jones!

That is not meant to say I do not like Spears....he will be a very good player....Jones IMO will be much better in his career....book mark it! :banghead:

[Bob Sacamano]

As it has turned out in hindsight, we are into TO (another injury prone 30+ guy) for 25 million and Spears has had his 2nd knee injury in as many TC's. We also have a ton of youth and high picks sitting on our defense and tons of age at WR, OL, and QB on our offense.

and here's another hindsight, the '07 class for WRs is going to be as strong as it's been in years at the top of the order, the time for building the D has passed, now it's time to move on to the O side of the ball, which has been BP's plan all along, I can't fault BP for passing on Matt Jones in order to secure a needed player for the 3-4, who's upside as a DE is as high as Jone's is for a WR, don't forget guys, Spears is a converted TE, so you know he has the athleticsm, and scouts were drooling all over this guy after his performance in the national title game when he was a Junior

BP said it himself, it's easier to find the pieces you need to field a great D, and that you can get by with older veterans at the skill position because it takes awhile for youngsters to grow into the position, I doubt we would have seen Jones start over Key and Glenn last year, while Spears is almost already a fixture on the Dline provided he stays healthy

[big dog cowboy]

HUGE DRAFT MISTAKE??? No way. Spears > Jones.

[Kittymama]

I don't think either pick is necessarily a bad one. However, for both, don't you think we should wait a few more years to see how they turn out?

And, to be fair, in hindsight we could go back & nitpick over every draft about players we couldawoulda taken had we only known.

(Besides, don't most folks agree passing on Moss really wasn't a bad decision? I have yet to see him get along with a coach. TO may sandbag his QBs, but he's got too much ego to lay down on plays. Moss himself has admitted that he quits in the middle of games, & he's sold every COACH he's played for down the river. There's no way he would have lasted at Dallas--can you imagine the coaches having to come up with "Randy ratios" to satisfy him? Geez, even TO didn't demand "TO ratios.")

[MC KAos]

either way i think its still a bit too early to tell if it would have been better to pick jones. I dont believe that it will ever be a "mistake" to have passed up on jones because it was a huge gamble to take him so high!. I also believe that jacksonville took him WAY too high and that he would have fallen to late in the second at LEAST if he had not been picked then

[Kittymama]

Interestingly, Peter King's most current column up on SI.com discusses the Jags & has this bit (& note the part where JONES is also suffering an injury):


No more Jimmy Smith, so which receiver steps up? Evidence points to Matt Jones. Leftwich loves him. He told me today that Jones was in over his head last season. "He spent the whole year learning the position,'' Leftwich said, "and you can't let your skills show if you're always out there thinking.''

If Jones stays upright (he's missing time right now with a slight ankle sprain), he will be Leftwich's deep-ball option, I'm guessing to the tune of about 65 catches for 1,200 yards. But that's a big if. Watch the Jags' camp reports to see if Jones is healthy by the time of your draft.


I think it's a bit early to annoint this kid as some sort of superstar WR any more than Spears should be written off. We've also got some young WRs who may turn out to be just as solid as Jones.

[Kittymama]

I think it's a bit early to annoint this kid as some sort of superstar WR any more than Spears should be written off. We've also got some young WRs who may turn out to be just as solid as Jones.
I mean Ware.

[peplaw06]

That draft it wasn't even a question for BP. They didn't even contemplate taking Jones when Spears was available. They were debating taking Spears at 11 instead of Ware, but they believed that Spears would be more likely to fall to 20... when he was there, they didn't think twice.

Jones, as has been stated, was considered a huge reach when the Jags took him. This was a non-issue when we were drafting. Moss was at least an issue when we decided to take Ellis.

[MC KAos]

moss was a HUGE issue, i was SO PIS#(R(@#$*@#(*$#@(*$@#(*$@#(*$#@(*$@#(*$@#(*$(@ when we didnt take him!!! and then thanksgiving.....oi, still hurts thinking about him burning us like that

[silver]

i'm against taking big receivers in this day and age. look at the other tall receiver the jags took 2 years ago. and then you look at the lions and have to scratch your head. it goes in cycles and it appears is the smurfs time once again.

[Big D]

We'll find out for sure week 1.

:starspin

[Rockytop6]

Once again...there will be some people that won't be satisified unless we have all the players that we don't have.

It's never "Look at who we have", it's always, "Look at who we shoulda or coulda had!!!"

I say amen to that. I really like our draft last year. There is always a player a team passes on thinking they will be available later or there is somebody they like better, etc. and time proves they didn't make the best choice with every pick. You can always second guess the people in the war room. I would not have picked any of the players we did in the 6th and 7th rounds the last two years and yet the Cowboys came up big.

I'll stick with Jones/Parcells/Ireland. They have made a believer out of me.

[MC KAos]

i'm against taking big receivers in this day and age. look at the other tall receiver the jags took 2 years ago. and then you look at the lions and have to scratch your head. it goes in cycles and it appears is the smurfs time once again.

well, they DID draft roy williams, who is an AMAZING wide receiver

[big dog cowboy]

moss was a HUGE issue, i was SO PIS#(R(@#$*@#(*$#@(*$@#(*$@#(*$#@(*$@#(*$@#(*$(@ when we didnt take him!!! and then thanksgiving.....oi, still hurts thinking about him burning us like that
That was more of a front office blunder than a drafting issue. Going into the draft and being forced to draft a DE in the first round was very idiotic thinking. Needing a DE starter (we only had one starter at the time) also prevented us from trading down like we should have to take Ellis a few spots later because we couldn't risk missing on him.

[J-DOG]

I can see it now...Leftwich goes back to pass, he looks for the fade to Jones in the corner of the end-zone and...Watkins knocks it away!!!!! Cowboys win!
I have a feeling that Watkins may see some playing time in that first game.
Check out the height of the Jaguars wr's and you will agree.

[dargonking999]

I dont see them making it down anywhere near the endzone for watkins to knock it away, :D

[cowboy4eva]

No Spears= No 3-4.

Give me Spears.

[Bob Sacamano]

That draft it wasn't even a question for BP. They didn't even contemplate taking Jones when Spears was available. They were debating taking Spears at 11 instead of Ware, but they believed that Spears would be more likely to fall to 20... when he was there, they didn't think twice.

Jones, as has been stated, was considered a huge reach when the Jags took him. This was a non-issue when we were drafting. Moss was at least an issue when we decided to take Ellis.

:hammer:

[CrazyCowboy]

the guy who is supposed to replace him as the big-play threat in the passing game (Matt Jones) has his foot strapped into a walking boot because of an ankle injury

Zoners: felt I needed to step to the plate and say I jumped the gun......and maybe I am wrong about this guy!

Sorry folks!

[Verdict]

Jones may, at some point, make us regret passing on him, but his numbers from last year do not make that case. He may have a lot of potential, and he may ultimately become great, but so far his actual performance numbers are not very impressive. Keep in mind that I was a Jones fan and am still of the belief he may ultimately turn out to have been a better pick than Spears, but to say it is a fact that we should have selected Jones over Spears is a leap of faith at this point in time.

Looking at the "what ifs" from another vantage point.... If a worm had a machine gun, the birds wouldn't try to eat him.

I think we all agree that it may have been a mistake to pass on Randy Moss. However the point is moot since we didn't draft Randy Moss.

[big dog cowboy]

Zoners: felt I needed to step to the plate and say I jumped the gun......and maybe I am wrong about this guy!

Sorry folks!
No problemo. I knew you would come around. :cool: