DMN Blog: Cowboys could make room for Matt Jones

[Kilyin]

mentioning that the inconsistent Jones will replace the reliable Patrick Crayton is just laughable

that's one of the points I'd call laughable, among other things...

 

[Stash]

there you go, no issue w/ that at all, the only issue I have is this crap that Matt Jones is somehow a solution

mentioning that the inconsistent Jones will replace the reliable Patrick Crayton is just laughable

Not guaranteeing it, that'd be foolish. But guaranteeing he couldn't is every bit as foolish. Crayton isn't in Jones' ballpark in some areas, Jones isn't in Crayton's in others. But both have skills that could help this offense in different ways.

Matt Jones had opportunities and made some plays

nothing special about it, so having more TD passes than Reggie Wayne had at this point in time means jack, because hes not Reggie Wayne, or Donald Driver, not even close, and it doesn't look like he's going to reach that level any time soon

Jones was a guy transitioning to receiver - and he still is. Yet he scored more often than highly-regarded guys who had played receiver their entire career. That says something to me.

Of course he's 'not those guys', they've been in the league refining their skills for years.

Jones is 25 years old so he still has time to improve his skills as well.

He's not an elite receiver, but he's far from some 'scrub' who should be discarded at age 25.

Especially by a team with as many question marks as this one has.

 

[Stash]

that's one of the points I'd call laughable, among other things...

About as 'laughable' as throwing out regular season statistics....

I've seen your idea of logic.

Based on that, I couldn't begin to care what you think.

 

[Nors]

Issue with Jones is laid back demeaner - and lack of WR background.

If he is to be available so quick- why?

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Not guaranteeing it, that'd be foolish. But guaranteeing he couldn't is every bit as foolish. Crayton isn't in Jones' ballpark in some areas, Jones isn't in Crayton's in others. But both have skills that could help this offense in different ways.

Crayton isn't in Randall WIlliams' ballpark in some areas either, yet has the qualities that both Randall and Jones lack

consistency and great hands, not to mention he is great at finding soft spots in zones

Jones was a guy transitioning to receiver - and he still is. Yet he scored more often than highly-regarded guys who had played receiver their entire career. That says something to me.

Of course he's 'not those guys', they've been in the league refining their skills for years.

Jones is 25 years old so he still has time to improve his skills as well.

He's not an elite receiver, but he's far from some 'scrub' who should be discarded at age 25.

Especially by a team with as many question marks as this one has.

Matt Jones is just as big as a question mark, that's just one more that will be added to the group

 

[Kilyin]

Based on that, I couldn't begin to care what you think.

If you were anyone significant, that might hurt my feelings.

You're cherry picking one stat based on a selective sample of 3 seasons while ignoring everything else, because it suits your agenda. Your strawman got blown away a long time ago buddy.

13 touchdowns. Almost sounds like 13-3. That's all you've got. Like I said, we get it.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

that's one of the points I'd call laughable, among other things...

I thought I didn't know what I was talking about

 

[Kilyin]

I thought I didn't know what I was talking about

Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in awhile.

 

[playmakers]

My two sense and I dont know if its been mentioned(kinda hard reading 167 posts)but here goes.


Matt Jones would be useful if we dress five recievers every week. Then, I would only use Jones in the goaline package. Owens on one side and Jones on the other, whoever they dont double we throw the fade to. If they double both then we run the ball. We should score 95 percent of the time that way. I think he can be useful in that facet.

Im not saying get him or not but the enticing part of it is hes only 25 years old. In addition, if he came here he wouldnt have to be the man and can develop. In Jax, he was thrown right into the number one reciever role without ever playing reciever. I also like hes 6 6 and runs a 4.3.


The negative/postive is Terry Glenn. If he can make it back then we dont need him until goaline. Plus, I like to see Austin get the nod at the number 2. I am very high on him.

 

[malone1970]

Well if Jacksonville releases this guy, then I don't see a problem if Jerry Jones shows some interest in bringing him to Dallas. I look at it like the more receivers the better.

 

[Disturbed]

I sure wish Jacksonville would hurry up and release him so he can start to find a new home. The sooner the better....so we can stop all the analysis, banter, and guessing games.

 

[aikemirv]

What is laughable is the idea that Matt Jones could not beat out Crayton for the #2 spot. Crayton does some good things on the football field but one thing he does not do is draw any type of coverage other than staright up man to man. Hurd is the same type of WR which will only draw straight up man and puts no fear in the defense.

Now I will agree that Austin can get seperation and could eventually become something more but there is no reason in the world not to bring Matt Jones in for a look-see if he becomes available. Crayton could go in the slot on 3 WR sets (where he reallyt is best at) and Jones could be on the outside.

Matt Jones would do more to open up the field for Witten and TO than any of the other players on our roster could from day 1 with the Cowboys!

 

[Stash]

What is laughable is the idea that Matt Jones could not beat out Crayton for the #2 spot. Crayton does some good things on the football field but one thing he does not do is draw any type of coverage other than staright up man to man. Hurd is the same type of WR which will only draw straight up man and puts no fear in the defense.

Now I will agree that Austin can get seperation and could eventually become something more but there is no reason in the world not to bring Matt Jones in for a look-see if he becomes available. Crayton could go in the slot on 3 WR sets (where he reallyt is best at) and Jones could be on the outside.

Matt Jones would do more to open up the field for Witten and TO than any of the other players on our roster could from day 1 with the Cowboys!

Welcome aboard!

:thankyou:

 

[Mr Cowboy]

What is laughable is the idea that Matt Jones could not beat out Crayton for the #2 spot. Crayton does some good things on the football field but one thing he does not do is draw any type of coverage other than staright up man to man. Hurd is the same type of WR which will only draw straight up man and puts no fear in the defense.

Now I will agree that Austin can get seperation and could eventually become something more but there is no reason in the world not to bring Matt Jones in for a look-see if he becomes available. Crayton could go in the slot on 3 WR sets (where he reallyt is best at) and Jones could be on the outside.

Matt Jones would do more to open up the field for Witten and TO than any of the other players on our roster could from day 1 with the Cowboys!

If he can't do it in Jax, what make you think he can come in here from day one and do it?

I don't understand this logic. Jax has had bad WR, including Jones. And he is at the bottom of the WR roster in Jax, in jeopardy of being cut. Yet he can come in here and be the number 2 reciever immediately? I don't buy that.

I also don't buy the talk that he isn't given a fair chance. In the NFL you have to earn your chance. Nothing is given. Just like I don't buy the Carpenter excuses, I don't for Jones. If he was better than the other recievers, he would be playing ahead of them. He may have gotten away with being the most talented player on the field in college, but this is the NFL, all the players are talented and must work hard to stand out.

I seriously doubt that Del Rio would jeopardize winning games without his top WR, because he refuses to give him his "fair chance."

 

[aikemirv]

If he can't do it in Jax, what make you think he can come in here from day one and do it?

I don't understand this logic. Jax has had bad WR, including Jones. And he is at the bottom of the WR roster in Jax, in jeopardy of being cut. Yet he can come in here and be the number 2 reciever immediately? I don't buy that.

I also don't buy the talk that he isn't given a fair chance. In the NFL you have to earn your chance. Nothing is given. Just like I don't buy the Carpenter excuses, I don't for Jones. If he was better than the other recievers, he would be playing ahead of them. He may have gotten away with being the most talented player on the field in college, but this is the NFL, all the players are talented and must work hard to stand out.

I seriously doubt that Del Rio would jeopardize winning games without his top WR, because he refuses to give him his "fair chance."

Can't do what in Jax - average 40 catches a year - that is what he has done. My biggest point is that Matt Jones , if given man to man coverage would have a lot of big plays just with his speed and size alone. You may not agree with that but that is what I think. Teams can man up Crayton and he will get his share of catches but no defense is going to put more than 1 man on Crayton. Put Jones on the other side at 6'6" and 4.4 speed and I don't believe that too many DC's are going to allow their barely 6' corners to match up on him 1 on 1 very often.

Thus more open space for Witten and TO. I am not saying he is some great WR but he would cause problems for a defense that is trying to stop Witten and TO.

 

[Stash]

If he can't do it in Jax, what make you think he can come in here from day one and do it?

That depends on what you mean by it? Do you mean be some 'superstar', 'Pro Bowler'? No. He can't come here and do that from Day 1.

He can fill a role here initially. A role that the team doesn't have a reliable answer for. An experienced receiver with speed who presents a matchup problem for opponents.

I don't understand this logic. Jax has had bad WR, including Jones. And he is at the bottom of the WR roster in Jax, in jeopardy of being cut. Yet he can come in here and be the number 2 reciever immediately? I don't buy that.

Look at Jacksonville's track record at receiver. Does it look like they know what they're doing? I wouldn't call that a great help to a player making a complete position change, would you?

Jones put up better numbers than Crayton did over the first three years of each player's respective careers. That's the best indicator you can get for comparison. Crayton became #2 in Dallas by default when Glenn was injured. He then went on to have a solid season, drawing lesser coverage playing opposite Owens and Witten.

Why then is it out of bounds to think that a guy who put up better numbers than Crayton did - with less coaching and less supporting talent - could again put up better numbers than Crayton in the same situation?

I also don't buy the talk that he isn't given a fair chance. In the NFL you have to earn your chance. Nothing is given. Just like I don't buy the Carpenter excuses, I don't for Jones. If he was better than the other recievers, he would be playing ahead of them. He may have gotten away with being the most talented player on the field in college, but this is the NFL, all the players are talented and must work hard to stand out.

All the receivers are struggling in Jacksonville. Why wouldn't a player making a complete position switch? And, again, look at the numbers that the 'struggling' Jones put up in Jacksonville. They're good numbers for having 5 career starts. Based on Jacksonville's proven track record at receiver, it's not a stretch to assume that they have at least equal blame.

I seriously doubt that Del Rio would jeopardize winning games without his top WR, because he refuses to give him his "fair chance."

Plenty of players have been benched because of differences with their coach.

Del Rio's track record in Jacksonville shows he's not good at evaluating or developing talent at the receiver position anyway. Their latest moves to bring in two new ones shows that.

Take a look at how Jacksonville has messed around with its' quarterback position lately for another example.

Plenty of coaches have their strengths in some areas and weaknesses in another.

 

[AsthmaField]

My biggest point is that Matt Jones , if given man to man coverage would have a lot of big plays just with his speed and size alone.

As I've said before, I'm pretty much open to whatever the Cowboys want to do with Matt Jones. However, after watching the guy play in the NFL for a while, I can tell you that he doesn't play to his speed. When he's running down the field, he looks like he's lumbering... and he may have straightline speed but he lacks wiggle and NFL defensive backs bump him, lock on and almost never lose him again. He is slow twitch and the DB's covering him are quick twitch athletes and he just can't get away from them.

Rarely do you see him actually get behind anyone, no matter what he ran at the combine.

Now he does have the size to go get jump balls and he might do well in the red zone. However, he doesn't play like a 6-5 guy who runs a 4.3 forty.

 

[Stash]

As I've said before, I'm pretty much open to whatever the Cowboys want to do with Matt Jones. However, after watching the guy play in the NFL for a while, I can tell you that he doesn't play to his speed. When he's running down the field, he looks like he's lumbering... and he may have straightline speed but he lacks wiggle and NFL defensive backs bump him, lock on and almost never lose him again. He is slow twitch and the DB's covering him are quick twitch athletes and he just can't get away from them.

I would agree with that description of his running style. And given his height, I can see why. A guy that tall would tend to be a strider with a long 'gate, rather than a slasher. First of all, receivers are seldom 6'6" tall. I think Jurevicious and Burress are the closest receivers in height and both have the same running style Jones does.

I don't expect that Jones would ever develop into the classic route runner that some receivers are, but I think that guys like Burress and Jurevicious have shown that you can be successful without it. I bring up Alvin Harper in posts because I think there were similarities. Harper was a glider who never ran crisp routes, he wasn't the classic route-running receiver, but he did his job and ran the routes he was good at well.

Rarely do you see him actually get behind anyone, no matter what he ran at the combine.

Now he does have the size to go get jump balls and he might do well in the red zone. However, he doesn't play like a 6-5 guy who runs a 4.3 forty.

To date, he hasn't played as fast as his 40 time. But he has done an above-average job of scoring touchdowns, and that can't be discounted.

Take a look at the coaching that Jones has received thus far at the NFL level and then make up your own mind as to whether that's been sufficient.

Then look at the coaching and surrounding cast he'll have in Dallas.

Then look at his age and his numbers thus far and decide for yourself if he wouldn't be worth a late round draft choice.

I can't change anyone's thinking, I can only point them to the information available and then they can make up their own mind.

 

[slick325]

I wouldn't be against Dallas bringing in Matt Jones for a look if he were to be waived by Jax. However, I am not sold that he could beat out Crayton and even if he were to beat out Crayton, I would view that as a battle between #3 WR's who due to circumstances are thrust into a #2 role.

Matt Jones was the #4 WR in Jax last season. #4!!!!! He was behind guys that the Jags thought were not good enough so they went out and upgraded the position with two other so so players. The Jags look at him as well, pardon the pun, JAG (just a guy).

I may be in the minority here but I don't believe that the Cowboys "problem" at the #2 WR has anything to do with being able to "stretch the field". I have said it before and I'll say it again, what made Terry Glenn so good was not just the fact that he had speed but it was the ability to beat man coverage on a CONSISTENT basis. Dallas, IMHO, needs that more than anything because as long as T.O. and Witten are performing like top 5 players at their positions, they will have coverage rolled to them constantly. Meaning, whoever is playing the #2 WR position has to have the ability to beat man coverage consistently in order to be effective.

In the Giants playoff game and in the second half of the season, Crayton was unable to consistently beat man coverage and the offense would stagnate once this occurred.

In regard to Matt Jones, in Jax all he ever saw was man to man coverage with a mix of zone coverages on obvious passing situations. Why? First, because Jax has been and always will be a run first team and Fred Taylor/MJD will get the priority of the opposing teams DC. Second, as I stated before Matt Jones was the 4th WR in Jax so why would any DC roll coverage his way? They wouldn't, thus he got one on one matchups frequently against the other teams Nate Jones CB. Yet, his numbers are not off the charts for '07 (24 rec 317 yds. 13.2 yd/catch 4TD's).

So I am to believe that he would fair better against Anthony Henry, Pacman Jones, Mike Jenkins type CB's (#2 CB's in Dallas but Pac would be a #1 for many teams) just because he is in a Cowboys uni? I don't buy it. As a #2 WR I don't think he is much of an improvement over what Dallas has already in Crayton. In other words, Jones is at best a #3 WR in this league and so is Crayton.

I would give him a shot but wouldn't expect anything more than what Dallas got last year. If he came in and lived up to his draft status and guys like Stash were proven correct, then I'd be as happy as anyone because it would mean the 'Boys were winning games and the move was a success. I just wouldn't bank on it.

 

[Stash]

As a #2 WR I don't think he is much of an improvement over what Dallas has already in Crayton. In other words, Jones is at best a #3 WR in this league and so is Crayton.

Even if we were to assume this is true (which I personally don't), wouldn't getting a #3 receiver be worth giving up a late round draft pick?

All too often, people want to single out Jones' 2007 season and ignore everything else he's done.

Investigate why his '07 numbers were as low as they were.

When you're in the coach's doghouse and are deactivated for 4 games and played little in others, your numbers are bound to suffer.

Jones surely isn't blameless, but he's not the sole blame either.