ESPN Ranks Chandler Jones the 4th best rookie and best defensive rookie of 2012

[Rob0729]

Other than the "He's a Jet; therefore he sucks" thing which is obviously true, Coples did look like a player in the preseason, leading the NFL in preseason sacks, albeit on higher volume than most.

He seemed way better on the inside than out and if he develops into a Trevor Pryce type, I think they have to be pretty thrilled.

Coples looked good during the summer, but he hasn't been as bad as a lot of Pats fans say AND he hasn't been nearly as good as most Jets fans say (beastly is the word I hear most).

Personally, I think he is a sub package specialist right now for a reason. He seems to be far more ready to be a pass rusher than a defender. He is blocked to easily on run downs. I also think he is more of a disrupter on passing downs than a polished pass rusher (which Jones seems to be in a far more limited sample size since he only played with the ones). Coples can burst through the line with the best of them, but he needs to get better awareness of where the QB is and get to him. Even his only sack against the ones, he overshot the QB and got him on his second effort.

 

[Zeus]

Coples looked good during the summer, but he hasn't been as bad as a lot of Pats fans say AND he hasn't been nearly as good as most Jets fans say (beastly is the word I hear most).

Personally, I think he is a sub package specialist right now for a reason. He seems to be far more ready to be a pass rusher than a defender. He is blocked to easily on run downs. I also think he is more of a disrupter on passing downs than a polished pass rusher (which Jones seems to be in a far more limited sample size since he only played with the ones). Coples can burst through the line with the best of them, but he needs to get better awareness of where the QB is and get to him. Even his only sack against the ones, he overshot the QB and got him on his second effort.

He also whined to the coach about having to play into the second half of one of the preseason games, prompting Rex to say that Coples was a bit winded. Coples' response was that he did indeed need to work on conditioning. Too early to tell, but the early returns are not encouraging (for jet fans, that is) in the attitude department.

 

[Rob0729]

He also whined to the coach about having to play into the second half of one of the preseason games, prompting Rex to say that Coples was a bit winded. Coples' response was that he did indeed need to work on conditioning. Too early to tell, but the early returns are not encouraging (for jet fans, that is) in the attitude department.

Coples does appear to have the potential to be a player who flashes in games. He might be a guy who comes on strong early and peters out as the game goes along. Too early to tell though, but the signs are there.

 

[patfanken]

Being a huge Pats fan (since 1975), and a Jet's hater, living in the enemy's territory, I got to see Coples play all 4 exhibition games. I'm sorry to inform all of my fellow Pats fans, Coples is a beast. He is everything we HOPE Jones will be, That being said, Jones looked damned good in the 2 games I saw, and I'm pretty sure that some of the 19 teams who passed over Jones are second guessing their choices. That being said, I'm sad to say, Coples is not going to be Gholston, though I wish he was. He's going to be another great defender like David harris and Revis. Hopefully our guy winds up being better.

I don't think anyone really doubted Coples talent...but his heart.

It has been easy to see the talent Coples has, but there is still a huge question that has to be answered about him, that doesn't need to be answered about Jones. (at least so far)

How is he going to respond as the season goes one and it gets harder and harder to get up on Monday mornings. How is he going to respond when teams get film on him and it get harder and harder to find success. How is he going to respond if the season starts going badly and football isn't fun any longer.

These are the questions that I DON'T have to worry about Chandler Jones. Its one thing to be good. They ALL are good. What separates the great ones is what they do from THIS point on into their careers. Do they continue to strive. Do they continue to compete? Do they have the mental discipline and desire to piush themselves beyond their physical limitations.

Jones gets to see Brady work every day, and has a dozen other examples of what needs to be done to become more than a JAG (not that their anything wrong with that). Coples, whose character is suspect to begin with is bereft of that kind of example with the Jets. Personally I think he is one of those guys who is gong to do very well on his contract year, and then be somewhere between a tease and a disappointment to whomever decides to play him the big bucks.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

At least from the onset...Coples appears to go about his business of trying to play well for the Jets and not jumping up in front of the media bashing or insulting other teams or players ....yet.

 

[JJDChE]

IDK, I thought before the preseason that Hightower had the best shot at DROY, but Jones looks unblockable at times and has displayed a lot of veteran type of moves. I personally didn't think either Jones or Hightower would be the DROY, but I am beginning Jones will have a real shot. The one thing going against him is that DROY is skewed to favor LBs.

I haven't done the research, but my recollection is pretty much that if anyone has 10+ sacks they are the default winner of the DROY. If no one does it the next in line is the LB with the most tackles. CBs have to be REALLY good to be considered. Most rookie CBs aren't REALLY good.

That's how I see the DROY anyway.

 

[Lansdowne]

All that really matters is winning the last game of the season.

Assuming things don't play out the way they did in the 2002 and 2008 seasons, that is.

 

[jason423]

Coples looked good during the summer, but he hasn't been as bad as a lot of Pats fans say AND he hasn't been nearly as good as most Jets fans say (beastly is the word I hear most).

Personally, I think he is a sub package specialist right now for a reason. He seems to be far more ready to be a pass rusher than a defender. He is blocked to easily on run downs. I also think he is more of a disrupter on passing downs than a polished pass rusher (which Jones seems to be in a far more limited sample size since he only played with the ones). Coples can burst through the line with the best of them, but he needs to get better awareness of where the QB is and get to him. Even his only sack against the ones, he overshot the QB and got him on his second effort.

I think thats a fair assessment. He reminds me a bit of John Abraham when he started with the team in 2000. The Jets primarily just used him on 3rd downs where all he had to do was attack. He never really got the run part down, but he was a great rusher when healthy in his Jets career. Coples is raw talent.Hes not JPP raw but there is going to be a learning curve. I dont know if he has the head to get much better but physically he is already there. The one play he made where he made a 1 handed grab on a runner while he was being blocked was spectacular. I wouldnt compare him to Trevor Pryce who someone else mentioned. I think Wilkerson is more in the Pryce mold than Coples. Those guys are more all around players. I dont know if Coples will ever be that type of player.

 

[averywhitehall]

Coples looked good during the summer, but he hasn't been as bad as a lot of Pats fans say AND he hasn't been nearly as good as most Jets fans say (beastly is the word I hear most).

Personally, I think he is a sub package specialist right now for a reason. He seems to be far more ready to be a pass rusher than a defender. He is blocked to easily on run downs. I also think he is more of a disrupter on passing downs than a polished pass rusher (which Jones seems to be in a far more limited sample size since he only played with the ones). Coples can burst through the line with the best of them, but he needs to get better awareness of where the QB is and get to him. Even his only sack against the ones, he overshot the QB and got him on his second effort.

I agree with Jason 423. I think it is a fair assessment. In my response to Coples being more of a disruptor than a pass rusher, I would say that with the Jets defense around him and behind him...Coples doesn't actually need to get to the QB that often. If he breaks thru the line you can bet that someone else on defense will try to take advantage of it. Also, if he keeps getting through the line, he will eventually be double teamed, which would allow linebackers to attack more cleanly.

The other thing I noticed with Coples, which bunuel also said in his post, is that Coples plays much better on the inside than the outside. I think he is used to getting immediate contact from o-linemen at the snap which is a technique used more by guards than tackles. Also, tackles can wash the defender out away from the quarterback. Guards can't do that for the most part because of their inside position on the offensive line, unless the pocket breaks down.

I would have to disagree with you, Rob0729, on three of things.

1. I think Coples will start. He has to. He. Has. To. He's already the best the Jets have at getting thru the line.
2. Even if Coples was pushed backwards on run plays, the Jets defense was particularly stingy against the run this preseason. Coples and the Jets run defense should be fine.
3. That play against Carolina where you say Coples overshot the QB, I view it differently. I saw the guard riding Coples away from Cam, and not Coples over shooting him on his own.

 

[Dodie]

I think he can live up to his billing. I like his preseason performance, all eye will be on our 32nd defense again lol

 

[tuckeverlasting]

I think he can live up to his billing. I like his preseason performance, all eye will be on our 32nd defense again lol

correction..... 31st:rocker:

 

[Dodie]

correction..... 31st:rocker:

funny isn't it? people at Total Access (Faulk) kept referring to our "32nd" defense when Packers was a lot worst lol

 

[Sfpat]

This is the start of Vereen's second season. He is off to a bad start, but let's give him the season before we bury the guy.

That's not SOP on this board. Everyone knows that you can project the success of a Pat's draft pick by the end of the first week of his first training camp. If he hasn't made the pro-bowl by then - he's toast.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

How many sacks for jones guys

 

[Sicilian]

How many sacks for jones guys

Honestly this year, I would be surprised if he had more than 6 or 7. I'm assuming a few things:

1) He's going to start, but won't be playing a Jerod Mayo number of snaps

2) I doubt the Patriots are just going to pin his ears back and have him rush every down. He's going to have run responsibilities or he won't be a starter.

3) I feel like we're going to see a more balanced approach to the pass rush, meaning you're going to see a lot of guys get a reasonable number of sacks, and not many (if any) double digit guys. Jones, Ninko, Wilfork, Love, Cunningham, Hightower, Mayo, Chung, Gregory, Wilson, all I expect to have a couple sacks here and there.

 

[Kontradiction]

Way too early to judge any of this. Our guys haven't even played a single regular season snap, FFS. Talk to me in a few weeks.

 

[Bobs My Uncle]

If Chandler is as good as advertised then the sky should be the limit for him in terms of sacks. Presuming, of course, the Pats offense performs as expected and gets out to some nice leads allowing the Pats defense to get after the QB late in games.

 

[Rob0729]

I think thats a fair assessment. He reminds me a bit of John Abraham when he started with the team in 2000. The Jets primarily just used him on 3rd downs where all he had to do was attack. He never really got the run part down, but he was a great rusher when healthy in his Jets career. Coples is raw talent.Hes not JPP raw but there is going to be a learning curve. I dont know if he has the head to get much better but physically he is already there. The one play he made where he made a 1 handed grab on a runner while he was being blocked was spectacular. I wouldnt compare him to Trevor Pryce who someone else mentioned. I think Wilkerson is more in the Pryce mold than Coples. Those guys are more all around players. I dont know if Coples will ever be that type of player.

I agree. Coples has the skills, but he is raw.

Ironically, the feeling was that Coples was the more polished one and Chandler Jones was the guy who was raw and was going to be the sub-package player. Based on the preseason, it looks like the opposite.

 

[Rob0729]

I agree with Jason 423. I think it is a fair assessment. In my response to Coples being more of a disruptor than a pass rusher, I would say that with the Jets defense around him and behind him...Coples doesn't actually need to get to the QB that often. If he breaks thru the line you can bet that someone else on defense will try to take advantage of it. Also, if he keeps getting through the line, he will eventually be double teamed, which would allow linebackers to attack more cleanly.

The other thing I noticed with Coples, which bunuel also said in his post, is that Coples plays much better on the inside than the outside. I think he is used to getting immediate contact from o-linemen at the snap which is a technique used more by guards than tackles. Also, tackles can wash the defender out away from the quarterback. Guards can't do that for the most part because of their inside position on the offensive line, unless the pocket breaks down.

I would have to disagree with you, Rob0729, on three of things.

1. I think Coples will start. He has to. He. Has. To. He's already the best the Jets have at getting thru the line.
2. Even if Coples was pushed backwards on run plays, the Jets defense was particularly stingy against the run this preseason. Coples and the Jets run defense should be fine.
3. That play against Carolina where you say Coples overshot the QB, I view it differently. I saw the guard riding Coples away from Cam, and not Coples over shooting him on his own.

I do agree that Coples seems stronger inside than outside. It will definitely serve him better to play inside until he gets more polished.

In response to your points:

1.) DeVito is a far better run defender (one of the more underrated ones in the league). I can't see Ryan and Pettine sitting DeVito on first downs (and a lot of second downs) in favor of Coples at this point. The one caveot is that DeVito is currently battling an injury and they may let Coples start until DeVito is 100%.
2.) The Jets' run defense is strong. One player alone can affect that all that much unless they run right at him (like on the play where the Giants ran right at him at the 3rd and 3 play and pushed him back three yards).
3.) I don't remember that play specifically. I could be wrong. But it was a trend this preseason where he would burst through the line and run the wrong direction. It is correctable with some coaching and experience, but he does need more polishing on his pass rush to increase his awareness of the QB.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

going to go with 36 1/2 sacks