Jeff Howe on Chandler Jones' 2013 start

[Ian]

Good stuff from Howe:

Chandler Jones has 6.5 of the Patriots' 18 sacks this season. Counting the half sacks, he's been in on eight of the 18 quarterback takedowns.
The second-year defensive end is starting to really put it together, and he's on pace for 15 sacks, which would be the most of any Patriot under Bill Belichick (Mike Vrabel had 12.5 in 2007). The drive for double digits is a rare one, too, as only four Patriots since 2000 have reached the 10-sack plateau.

Chandler Jones on pace for huge season | Boston Herald

Tough not to be a little excited to see how he continues to grow if he stays healthy for the rest of the season.

 

[CelticPatriot]

How many did JJ "Best player in the history of ever" Watt have last year?

 

[Ian]

How many did JJ "Best player in the history of ever" Watt have last year?

Watt finished with 20.5 in 2012.

 

[CelticPatriot]

Think Jones could get close to that, wonder if he'll get as much hype.

 

[Marinlik]

Think Jones could get close to that, wonder if he'll get as much hype.

Chandler is having a really good season. But Watt's season last year was just freakishly good.

 

[Christian]

Chandler Jones is what we've been longing for as fans for quite some time. A top end DE who can rush the passer, play all 3 downs, support the run, etc. He is a guy that's going to be here for a long, long time. Just hope he stays healthy. Imagine pairing him with another top end DE on the other side? Or even a stud DT in the middle (along with Wilfork)?

This defense may have taken it's blows this year, but the future is very bright.

Wilfork coming back, Chandler Jones, Mayo, resign Talib, McCourty, Ninkovich. That's an excellent group to begin with. Then you have emerging CB Dennard, Logan Ryan who looks very solid as a rookie, Hightower. Only a couple of pieces left before this defense is elite.

Need another safety, another LB once Spikes leaves, and some more help at DL.

 

[ausbacker]

I have been pleased as punch with Jones' development. It is my hope that the Patriots add impact players to the defensive line allowing Jones to be moved all over the formation to frustrate the opponent's offensive linemen with favorable matchs ups.

Jones is one of those players that a D can be built around.

 

[Ozymandias]

This shouldn't be surprising to anyone.

Jones is the most talented pass rusher the Patriots have had in a long, long time. He's the future of the defense. The kid's only scratching the surface of what his potential is.

 

[celticboy04]

Greetings,
I have to admit I was not high at all on Chandler Jones when he came out of college, but he has been more than impressive this season. I wanted Mercilus or Upshaw, but Chandler is outplaying them both this season. The defense, as a whole, needs to generate a more consistent pass rush throughout the game, but Chandler has more than done his part. Excited to see him for the next few years.

Celticboy04

 

[slash83]

I know it's a long shot but imagine Michael Johnson from cin lining up at the opposite end of jones next year.

 

[ausbacker]

I know it's a long shot but imagine Michael Johnson from cin lining up at the opposite end of jones next year.

Would the Patriots have enough cap space to make an addition as such? He is a mouth watering prospect.

 

[Harrisoned!]

How many did JJ "Best player in the history of ever" Watt have last year?

Not sure why you're being snarky on this - Watt had legitimately one of the best seasons ever as a defensive end. The play he made in the Pats game to force the fumble was one of the most athletic moves I've seen by a guy his size.

That aside, Jones is having a great pass rushing year. I think he's taken a minor step back on run defense (he was quietly very good in this respect last year) but overall has looked like a Pro Bowler. Big sacks and also in big moments. He really beat up Ferguson at times on Sunday, no small feat.

I think more than anything, getting healthy and a bit stronger has helped him. If he can stay off the injury report he's a lock for 12-15 sacks.

 

[Harrisoned!]

Would the Patriots have enough cap space to make an addition as such? He is a mouth watering prospect.

Would be tough with the Hernandez dead money, most likely. But I think they may be able to roll some of their space this year into 2014.

 

[Ian]

Think Jones could get close to that, wonder if he'll get as much hype.

Watt also got a lot of that hype primarily because of the passes he knocked down, I forget and I'm not on my pc right now but I think he was among the leaders there too at one point. That was the crazy part.

 

[Brady'sArmy]

the jones family gene pool is something to marvel at, three brothers, three professional athletes.

 

[celticboy04]

Watt also got a lot of that hype primarily because of the passes he knocked down, I forget and I'm not on my pc right now but I think he was among the leaders there too at one point. That was the crazy part.

Greetings,
And was a 3-4 DE, a position where getting double digit sacks is a rarity. And JJ Watt had 20.5 sacks, almost a record, from that position.

Celticboy04

 

[Ian]

Greetings,
And was a 3-4 DE, a position where getting double digit sacks is a rarity. And JJ Watt had 20.5 sacks, almost a record, from that position.

Celticboy04

Definitely, didn't mean to down play that. But he did that plus he was batting down passes at an insane rate and he was up among defensive backs in passes defended at one point. That was pretty crazy

 

[ahmed]

Said earlier this year that if he continues his performance curve at this rate, he will be a top 3 DE by end of next year and I believe that. He's also a very complete DE as he's just as good against the run.

Watt last year was best defensive performance I have ever seen... Granted, only been following NFL for a decade or so.

 

[Rob0729]

Greetings,
And was a 3-4 DE, a position where getting double digit sacks is a rarity. And JJ Watt had 20.5 sacks, almost a record, from that position.

Celticboy04

Not to diminish Watt's achievements, but he plays in an one gap 3-4 defense. His job is to rush the passer and not gap control like the DE in the 3-4 defense the Pats run. Wade Phillips' defenses have produced 3-4 DEs who have gotten double digit sacks like Marcellus Wiley and Patrick Kerney.

I agree it is still a rarity, but not as much as you would think.

Watt is still elite though.

 

[celticboy04]

Not to diminish Watt's achievements, but he plays in an one gap 3-4 defense. His job is to rush the passer and not gap control like the DE in the 3-4 defense the Pats run. Wade Phillips' defenses have produced 3-4 DEs who have gotten double digit sacks like Marcellus Wiley and Patrick Kerney.

I agree it is still a rarity, but not as much as you would think.

Watt is still elite though.

Greetings,
I know, I think it is the same one-gap 3-4 his father ran as well, a lot of people do not know there are different forms of the 3-4, so I was just assuming most people in the media didn't know so they were assuming he had the same responsibilities of a Seymour or Warren.
Celticboy04