Earlier this offseason, Monty was touting former first-round pick Datone Jones as a potential breakout player in his fourth season. While players usually don’t go from non-factor to factor in season four, there was something intriguing about that theory.
Jones will play his first full season at outside linebacker in 2016. He was thrust into that role — a role he’s never played — during the 2015 season. In very limited action, he actually looked the part. Jones recorded there sacks in 400-plus snaps. Meanwhile, starter Mike Neal had just four sacks in more than 800 snaps.
So the theory goes that, given more playing time, Jones could legitimately make a contribution. That’s something he hasn’t done — at least significantly — in his first three seasons.
Jones has just 51 tackles and eight sacks in his career.
He also has plenty of excuses.
“I felt like my rookie year I got hurt in training camp, my first training game (preseason) — I thought I was ready to go,” Jones said. “But my coaches were like, ‘Datone is not ready to go.’ That’s probably where my playing time (was less)…you know what I mean?
“My second year, season, I was starting when I really did get hurt. It was bad. It was a legit excuse,” Jones said.
“Now I just want to compete. I never complain about playing time, reps. I’m more about, with the time I’m given, with the time I’ve been allotted since I’ve been here, I felt like I’ve shown up and I’ve played pretty well for the snaps I’ve gotten since I’ve been in Green Bay.”
Are there more excuses?
You bet there are!
“A lot of people — especially the media — (say) ‘Datone Jones is only doing this.’ They don’t realize, I’m not playing over 600 snaps. I’m not playing 700 snaps,” Jones said. “I’m doing that with 300, 200 snaps. Which is special. So, I’m like, what can I do with 700, 800 plays?
“If I want that, I’ve got to go out there and compete to get that.
“I had a suspension (for one game) last year, too — I was being punished. Now I’m not, I’m healthy, ready to go. I’m playing for my future and my daughter’s future. I want to be in Wisconsin. This is the team that drafted me; I want to finish here.
“If I want to show (GM) Ted Thompson and all the rest of them guys, I’ve got to prove to them that it’s important to me, and that I’m focused, and that I can be a playmaker.”
You know what we hate?
Excuses.
That’s not to say Jones can’t make an impact with more playing time. He first has to earn that playing time, though. That will be tough in a crowded outside linebacker group.
And when is the last time you saw a guy who is full of excuses do anything to distinguish himself?
Actually Datone, you had 364 snaps in 2015. You had more snaps than Nick Perry and you produced less.
Amen. The person who drafted them is the TT. F**k that overrated GM.
Yep!
The only person I like is MM. In my opinion, he can stay and he is a good coach. HOWEVER, HE IS NOT A GREAT COACH. He kinda reminds me of the Jim Caldwell days in Indy in his first 2 seasons of when he looked good because of Manning. Same with MM. I like MM and I don’t want you to bash me about it because I think he is a great coach. The only time you should blame McCarthy for not reaching the Super Bowl was of course, Seattle in 2014. So in my opinion he is a good coach.
And as for TT, he is overrated as a GM in my opinion. He does the bare minimum to help Rodgers and the Packers make a deep playoff run and get to the Super Bowl. He doesn’t really use free agency. Instead, he would rather give MM and Capers rookies, practice squad or inexperienced players to work with. He done some good things before such as signing Julius Peppers. Peppers played out of his mind and contribute right away. Imagine if TT actually approached free agency like that, how many Super Bowls would GB reach?
Capers in my opinion I don’t like him but I hate TT more than him. Why would you switch from man to zone I don’t understand?
Again MMTTDC, I like MM. That’s it! But TT, f**k that overrated GM. Capers, I don’t really like him. Your thoughts.
I meant to say good, NOT great.
You basically nailed it PF. TT “The Frugal GM” is hung up on finding diamonds in the rough, (which he does occasionally . . . btw the other GM’s do the same, at about the same rate) while nearly abandoning the FA search for the missing pieces every fucking year. How many years have we needed a certain one or two players and TT does not even address these needs? This bozo is super over-rated. Since Schneider has gone to Seattle he has kept that team hot and relevant by doing ALL THINGS NEEDED! TT? no . . . Capers playing aggressive the whole fucking game until the last 4 or 5 minutes in that playoff game, then going zone? when man coverage had been shutting them down? Capers had weeks to figure C. Kapernick out before the playoffs? and then laid an egg? Then admitted that he should have prepared for C. K. WTF? I now realize that Capers has two major problems, one is he gets shit players from that fucktard TT, the other is that he is arrogant enough to think his “old” ideas still work after they have been used for a millennia . . . MM is a great organizational coach, but sucks eggs at game time. His red flag toss that nelson picked up, not getting TT to get more WR’s on the “scout team” last year so that Janis could get more touches from Rodgers. His clock management, use of time outs, playing favorites (that was so fucking obvious last year!) as an aside, TT could be some of the reason for the players who actually play. I mean historically with this regime there have been quite a few players that rode the bench while a lesser, much higher up in the draft player was given the playing time. Simply a wrong move! No excuses. Allowing certain coaches to continue to work when they sucked so bad they should have been rid of them years before. I could go on. Part of the problem is that our “Packer Media” is soooo biased (Vic Ketchman is the worst) and for the most part are hounded and dismissed by the Packers and especially the “Homer” fans whenever they raise any cogent questions regarding the play, drafting, playing time or play calling of any of the Packers players and especially the coaching staff. I believe that we left out one main culprit, and that is that useless Mark Murphy, he seems to be OK with all things TT DC and MM, at least publicly. I am beginning to wonder if he had too many concussions during his playing days. He appears to be an absolute figure head and nothing more. He needs to push these three arrogant fucks in the right direction. A. Rodgers window(s) of opportunity are starting to become less and less. This team should have been to the big dance at least 2 to 3 more times than they have been. Certainly we can blame some bad luck, injuries, a hotter team. But this organization was handed a pot of gold and has shit the bed with it more often than not . . .
MMTTDC, do you talk to Pete Dougherty? When was the first time you commented on Totalpackers? Have you commented on youtube, twitter, etc.?
About TT, he allowed the following to happen and I can copy from what some guy known as Shaochia Vang had to say on a YouTube comment I saw and hopefully that answers your question about how many times we needed a player and TT failed to address it:
“If TT is so great, then why DID he allow Hawk, Brad Jones, MD Jennings, McMillian, Whoever their RBs was from 2009 – 2012, no o line since rodgers started, No safeties from 2011 – 2014, No D Line from 2011 – 2015, except daniels. Explain that to me….explain to me why TED THOMPSON has allowed the middle line backer, te, o line, rb,s, D Line to be crap siince 2011.”
The only person I hate from all 3 is TT. Thats pretty much about it. MM is sometimes arrogant but not all the time. Do you agree with this one MMTTDC?
I should play on twitter PF! I have been commenting on Total Packers for quite a few years now. Pete D. sometimes has a few great things to say. I get the reason that Ketchman and Spofford (sp?) speak as they do, because the Packers butter their bread. I just do not appreciate the divisiveness in some of Ketchmans pieces. Talk about leading people on. I contribute (if you can call it that!) to a few blogs. But the overwhelming response regarding my posits are usually very negative and so I do not dance with the narrow minded as much. This site, although still fraught with Packer “Homers” (Fat Jesus comes to mind immediately) at least has some open minded dialogue. Plus, for the most part, you can feel free to have fun with invectives and take a more entertaining approach to venting for this great Packer football experience. I have had numerous items deleted on threads (usually by Shawn N.) but that is ok. As he is for the most part a homer as well. He is part of the hierarchy so you just deal with it, plus he has some great insights with his videos, so all is not lost with him. As long as you can live with that bit of unfairness . . . this is a great, informative and fun site to engage bloggers on. My work schedule is insane, so I am compelled to just have a few places to “waste” time on. This is my favorite one for that.
What do you think about that comment I mentioned about TT?
Yes PF. I do agree with most of that video assessment. TT is a putz. The Packers media has sold the “Homers” the farm and have inculcated them into believing they (The Packers) are greater than they actually are. It will continue as long as Rodgers is a viable and elite weapon. When that changes, all hell will break loose, and the “rats” will abandon ship to save their jobs and start reporting truth rather than fiction . . . BTW, I wish that I could feel the way you do about Buffoon, I just cannot . . .
I like MM. Why do you say Buffoon a lot?
Why do you say McGlurpy? You say McGlurpy as well.
Lol! McGlurpy is just in fun . . . He could stand to lose some of that adipose tissue. Hence McGlurpy. It is usually when I am frustrated with some of the unwarranted adoration he gets that I use it. Buffoon? Sometimes when I see some of his live game day faces, actions and play calling, I tend to agree with Monty’s name choice for MM. Believe me when I say that MM is a good coach. He is just not a good game time coach IMHO. During the week I believe that he is a great facilitator, organizer and possibly motivator. I just believe he becomes overwhelmed at times during the game. There is sometimes very little to no adjustments after half time from MM or DC! The guy probably is a real stand up person. I just want the team to win when it really counts! We have a great in season record with this regime. However our post season record speaks volumes against great coaching and management from the same regime when any weaknesses will be exposed . . . and those weaknesses are exposed annually in post season.
Amen! When you mentioned his playcalling, gameday faces, and actions, is that why you said in a comment “Buffoon is on a island” or “it is way past time to give Buffoon his walking papers”?
Excuses or reasons? Fine line there.
Injuries are reasons. Foucs and preparation are excuses.
Datone Jones is average. He hasn’t really done much and he is more of a bust in my opinion. Jones was supposed to prove that he fits in Capers defense but he sucks. Who is the idiot that drafted him? That’s right the overrated piece of crap of a GM known as Ted Thompson.