Not many, if any, people would agree, but rookie first-round pick Datone Jones is calling his first season with the Green Bay Packers a success.
It was a season that saw Jones register just 10 tackles and 3.5 sacks. He was really only used on third down and actually lost playing time to another rookie, Josh Boyd, down the stretch.
None of that matters to Jones, though.
“I thought I did really good,” Jones said. “I was able to really help out a lot on third down. In the pass department, I was second on our defensive line in sacks; and we have a big veteran group. So I thought I played pretty well this year and I got better every week.”
There was a report during the season that Jones wasn’t quite picking things up as quickly as the Packers had hoped. That seems to jive with the reduced number of snaps as the season wore on.
Of course, Jones says he’ll be better next season.
“I’m just saying it right now, next year I’ll be a whole other player,” Jones said. “I won’t look the same, my body won’t look the same, I’ll be bigger, stronger, faster. That mental next step, I’ll have it. I’m excited. I know I’m going to have a good year next year. Nothing’s going to slow me down.”
The Packers will need him to be better. There are a lot of question marks on the defensive line at the moment. The team’s three starters — Johnny Jolly, B.J. Raji and Ryan Pickett — are all unrestricted free agents. C.J. Wilson is a also a free agent.
If none of those guys return, the Packers currently only have Jones, Boyd, Mike Daniels and Jerel Worthy on the roster. Obviously, they’re going to need more than four defensive linemen, but Jones could see his role increase dramatically next season just out of necessity.
He should be a meteorologist…
1st round player that could not start or make an impact Real nice
There is alot of pressure to go along with being a first round pick. You’re expected to go in and start immediately and be an impact player. But remember although he was a first rounder he was picked at the END of the first round meaning he’s bordering on second tier talent level and also defensive lineman do tend to DEVElOP and mature. Calling his first season a success is a bit of an exaggeration but equally so is calling his first season a failure or saying that it was a bad draft pick… Plus for primarily playing 3rd down 3.5 sacks isn’t disgusting or anything at least he made an impact… More than I can say for raji in any aspect of the game
Dudes a R O O K I E. plain and simple. Not everybody can be a clay Mathews type of player right out of the gates. He’ll be much better his veteran year. Go pack go!!!
Ummm…Kevin Greene just quit
http://www.packers.com/news-and-events/article-1/Kevin-Greene-to-step-away-from-coaching/2520a95f-cd9d-435a-9bf0-7024b5cfc88c
Fack.
Real tough talk in the preseason from a guy nicknamed “Bear-Killer”
He was a 2nd-Round talent outta UCLA that had such an awesome combine that guys like TT & Elway were drooling over him.
These days, 1st rounders (with exception to QB) need to make an immediate impact in this league or at least have some sorta contribution.
I’d call it a crappy season. Thanks.
How about his weight? Came into camp at 295 & ended the season at 285. What defensive lineman loses weight? Ten pounds lighter, no wonder he played less in the end. Why did he lose weight? The answer to that could be enlightening.
That’s a good question.
First of all the packers run a 3-4 Defense. it is hard as hell for 3-4 ends to even scratch a QB… now if Jones was playing OLB maybe he would have reached 10 sacks. but he was second in sacks in this yr rookie class. and he was second on the dline in sacks. the crazy part if y’all watched the games this yr. there were many times where he had assisted sacks watch the film
Completely true. He made more of an impact than your watched-the-game-once-while-having-a-beer-and-stuffing-your-face fan would realize. He flashed some real potential at times and showed why he was drafted. He still needs to put on weight though to be more than a pass-rushing end in this league.
I’ll wager a pulled hamstring will slow him down.
Maybe his is losing weight to try & become our next failed attempt at outside LB.
This may be his rookie season, but he did absolutely nothing to distinguish himself. When your playing time decreases because a 6th round pick (from the same draft class) is playing better, it is time to wake up.
Then again with the Ho-Hum approach GB’s coaches have, he really doesnt have good mentors.