Barrett Jones, where to play him?

[Deep_Freeze]

Originally Posted by Macnalty

I hope he is better but that is a fair statement until he has bulked up and made the ProBowl than Stepnoski would be more appropriate. If we were picking in the top five we would not be discussing Jones as it sits we are at the bottom ten if we keep winning and these are the kind of guys you dissect. Now that I think about it Kyle Kosier(pre foot injuries) on the team this year might of already put us in the playoffs.
Both him and Chase Thomas are my two main guys for the first two rds this year, last year I had Donta Hightower and Fletcher Cox. Things will change you can bet on it. I am glad we got Mo and it turned out better than I thought other than our injury plagued training camp for the rooks.

I know you like Barrett, my biggest problem with him is strength, and I would rather the strongest part of their game be in the run game. If I'm drafting an interior linemen this high, I don't want to have to ask if he is strong enough. There is noway he is ready to dominant at this level at guard, and I don't understand why so many people make a big deal about his versatility at the college level. Its not like he will be able to do that right away in the NFL.

An interior OL drafted this high better be ready to start immediately, and I would feel more comfortable with a guy who is strong enough to play guard while letting Costa and Berny fight it out for center than the other way around.

I will say, my thoughts will change alot from now cause of camps and workouts, but seeing Barrett get overpowered in that A&M game just left a bad taste in my mouth about him.

[Macnalty]

Originally Posted by Deep_Freeze

I know you like Barrett, my biggest problem with him is strength, and I would rather the strongest part of their game be in the run game. If I'm drafting an interior linemen this high, I don't want to have to ask if he is strong enough. There is noway he is ready to dominant at this level at guard, and I don't understand why so many people make a big deal about his versatility at the college level. Its not like he will be able to do that right away in the NFL.

An interior OL drafted this high better be ready to start immediately, and I would feel more comfortable with a guy who is strong enough to play guard while letting Costa and Berny fight it out for center than the other way around.

I will say, my thoughts will change alot from now cause of camps and workouts, but seeing Barrett get overpowered in that A&M game just left a bad taste in my mouth about him.

I agree on that A&M game it was a real surprise they way they smashed them in the nose and they did not respond. I also agree on the strength issue, disagree on his versatility aspect, he is a smart football guy who understand leverage and such which allows him to move across the positions with no determinable loss of integrity on the Oline, we are not going to be in a position to choose between JJ Watts and Tyron Smith reality is Barrett Jones is going to be part of the early rds equations when your record shows you playing a playoff game in week 17. As mentioned earlier his first season will be similar to Kyle Kosier but after than he has a real good chance to be Mark Stepnoski or better which is great for a late round choice with no baggage and RKG.

[MonsterD]

Originally Posted by xwalker

Barrett Jones = Kyle Kosier

You can win with Kyle Kosier type players.

I think people are getting too hyped on him, this is the best comparison I can think of, he will be pretty good at all things and never great at one position.

[Manwiththeplan]

I think his ceiling is much higher than Kyle Kosier. Especially if he plays center and his less than ideal strength is less noticeable

[supercowboy8]

Originally Posted by Manwiththeplan

I think his ceiling is much higher than Kyle Kosier. Especially if he plays center and his less than ideal strength is less noticeable

I dont understand why people think he is weak. Did you see the SEC championship game. He owned big john Jenkins and Geathers. The guy is very smart, read about his grades and dedication. Thus guy played vs the best in the SEC and handled all of them for most the game. Sure he had a few bad plays but who doesn't. This Is the type of guy I would love at center.

[Oh_Canada]

Originally Posted by supercowboy8

I dont understand why people think he is weak. Did you see the SEC championship game. He owned big john Jenkins and Geathers. The guy is very smart, read about his grades and dedication. Thus guy played vs the best in the SEC and handled all of them for most the game. Sure he had a few bad plays but who doesn't. This Is the type of guy I would love at center.

I am not sure why people have mentioned he got handled by Jenkins in the SEC game. The Tide ran all over the Bulldogs that night and a lot of it was behind Jones.

[supercowboy8]

Originally Posted by Oh_Canada

I am not sure why people have mentioned he got handled by Jenkins in the SEC game. The Tide ran all over the Bulldogs that night and a lot of it was behind Jones.

Thats what I'm saying, he is a great center. He has good strength and will just get stronger. Jones is a very smart person and shows that on the filed with his ability to read defenses.

[Doc50]

Agreed, RS. We shouldn't try to revamp the entire OL (again) -- but plugging the right guys into the proper slots can make a huge difference. Costa's not bad, but Jones should really excel.

[DBOY3141]

I'm sure Garrett will have a long chat with Saban about all the OL from Alabama. Jones would be an improvement over what we have.

[BigD5]

I would love for us to draft Barrett jones. We need smart football players like him. Dude is a world class violin player. Been playing since he was 6.

Anyway I don't understand why he isn't thought of in higher regard when it comes to the draft. He's a soon to be 3 time national champion at three different positions. He's won the Outland trophy and the Rimington trophy. He's a 3 time All-American also. Sounds like the kind of guy I want on my team

I'd take any three of the Alabama offensive linemen coming out this year though. Warmack is a beast and DJ Fluker is just a monster that has a nasty streak much like Erik Williams had

[Macnalty]

Originally Posted by BigD5

I would love for us to draft Barrett jones. We need smart football players like him. Dude is a world class violin player. Been playing since he was 6.

Anyway I don't understand why he isn't thought of in higher regard when it comes to the draft. He's a soon to be 3 time national champion at three different positions. He's won the Outland trophy and the Rimington trophy. He's a 3 time All-American also. Sounds like the kind of guy I want on my team

I'd take any three of the Alabama offensive linemen coming out this year though. Warmack is a beast and DJ Fluker is just a monster that has a nasty streak much like Erik Williams had

I am not ready to compare Fluker (8th grade he was 6'3 and weighed 400lbs) with Erik Williams other than that he has a chance to be taken in the third round and is bipedal. I do agree he is a zombie and will maul you if he gets his hands on you, a speed rusher will provide real issues for his abilities, strength wise he is like trying to move a fire hydrant. Chance Warmack is smaller but similar and his refrigerator like body has the same wheels as my Kenmore not much lateral movement only forward and backward with great effort. Barrett Jones is the computer fridge with inflatable wheels, very versatile and sometimes too easy to push. The Cowboys kitchen could use two of the three talent wise which I assume is possible if D J Fluker is available in the 3rd rd. Jones I think is going to move up the more people know about him. I was hoping 2nd rd at one point, but he is in many discussions around the fan forums of other teams. If you liked the Stanford kid at guard last year, David DeCastro this guy is more versatile and has played at a higher level.

[xwalker]

Originally Posted by BigD5

Anyway I don't understand why he isn't thought of in higher regard when it comes to the draft. He's a soon to be 3 time national champion at three different positions. He's won the Outland trophy and the Rimington trophy. He's a 3 time All-American also. Sounds like the kind of guy I want on my team

You can't judge a college player only by awards or college success. You have to look at the player and project him to the NFL.

Tim Tebow was one of the all-time great college players, but the NFL is a different story.

[supercowboy8]

Originally Posted by Doc50

Agreed, RS. We shouldn't try to revamp the entire OL (again) -- but plugging the right guys into the proper slots can make a huge difference. Costa's not bad, but Jones should really excel.

No Costa is bad, did everyone forget last year. Costa played one game vs one of the worse running defenses in the NFL and played just OK.

Last year Costa was ranked as the 28th center in the NFL. Cook is ranked 24th. Not that much difference. Also Costa out all year but one game meaning would he even be healthy next year.

I want a big strong center that has played vs the top college players and knows how to read a defense and is very intelligent. That is Barrett Jones.

[kirkjrk]

Originally Posted by Risen Star

With Jones I think it depends on which team drafts him. He can be a very good C or G. Where do you need him?

I'd rather him play C here. I want to break up the mediocrity. I don't want Livings playing next to Costa playing next to Bernadeau. You play Jones at RG in this scenario and you'd still have Livings and Bernadeau side by side. I want Jones in the middle of that, capable of helping out either.

If we want a Center this year, then it's Jones in 1st or 2nd(if still available) or K. Holmes in the 3rd. Don't see any FAs that will be available that would not be or very little upgrade to Costa. That's hard to imagine.

So in my eyes it's Jones or Holmes or nobody. Things could change before the draft. I do like the idea to trading back to 24th-pick up a 3rd- or back to 30th and pick up a 2nd. If KC would agree we could even trade out of 1st round and get the first pick in the 2nd and first pick in the 3rd. The value of our 1st and their 2nd&3rd would just about equal .