Greg Bedard: Chandler Jones ready to be a full time starter

Bedard has definitely jumped on the bandwagon of Chandler Jones has shown enough to be an every down starter. Here is an exerpt from his latest piece:

Entering training camp, the expectations for Jones -- even within the Patriots -- were for him to start as a situational player and possibly evolve from there.

But two things happened: Jones entered camp much stronger than most anticipated, and his pass-rush moves are much more advanced that your typical early-entry, first-round pick.

Put those things together, and you have a player capable of playing every down. I think his ability to hold the point of attack has even surprised the Patriots.

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Time to adjust expectations for Chandler Jones - Extra Points - Boston.com

Hopefully it is a matter of time until Jon "Bones" Jones is known as Chandler Jones' brother.

Chandler Jones and Quinton Coples trending in opposite directions.

Good stuff. Bedard has been consistently high on Jones. I think most people - myself included - weren't expecting more than for him to play a situational pass rushing role for at least the beginning of this year, with anything more being a big bonus. If he is mature enough in his edge setting and enough of a complete DE to step in as the starter right away, it will be terrific. Combine that with the versatility, physicality and instincts that Dont'a Hightower has been showing, and it's just possible - not to jump the gun, but just possible - that BB could have found the defensive equivalent of Gronk and Hernandez. What a coup that would be.

I would have been pleased with 6 sacks, 25+ hurries, 50% of the snaps in the sub-defense and a few highlight-reel plays.

I really do not want my expectations to become those of a 1999 Jevon Kerse but with this report, that is where I am going...

So be it.

Great to hear all of these positive reports. It seems like Jones continues to follow the "Nate Solder of the defense" path: amazing physical specimen who gets labeled "a raw project" who "will have to bulk up" by fans and media...but who then hits the ground running.

patchick said:

Great to hear all of these positive reports. It seems like Jones continues to follow the "Nate Solder of the defense" path: amazing physical specimen who gets labeled "a raw project" who "will have to bulk up" by fans and media...but who then hits the ground running.

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That's an interesting comparison. I still want to see Solder excel in the starting LT position and Jones establish himself as the starting RDE before jumping to far too fast, but if both things happen then either (1) the Pats got lucky twice, or (2) they are very good at picking "raw" physical specimens who can develop quickly. I can't wait to see who they target in 2013.

mayoclinic said:

I can't wait to see who they target in 2013.

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Hopefully it's a DT in the mold of Star Lotulelei. Would be the final piece of the dynasty imo.

This does not surprise me at all.

I'll admit that I know very little about technique, "rawness", and who is NFL-ready from the draft, but how many times have the Patriots passed on a "high-motor" 3-4 outside linebacker who "has the raw skills" to dominate at the pro level? Many times, as everyone at Patriot nation can attest to. They've passed on guys in the first round and second round, and when they traded up to get Chandler Jones at #21 overall, my immediate thought was that this guy is NFL ready, otherwise, why trade up to draft a position you have ignored for so many years?

Since that pick, the media has constantly compared Jones to JPP and other "raw prospects", saying he will need lots of time to develop, but frankly, that sentiment was not really proven or disproven by anything we'd seen. I just don't see Belichick moving up in the draft to work on a 2-3 year developmental project. That's what the third and fourth rounds are for.

If you want to be more pumped about Jones and the defense in general, check out this from Rapoport at NFLN ...

Wondering how far away the Patriots defense really is… - NFL.com

Drafting two highly regarded, NFL-ready players in the first round means to me that Bill Belichick is ready to build. Along with promising defensive coordinator Matt Patricia, it looks like they have a group of players who will make up the core talent for years. I don’t think Patricia and Belichick got enough credit last year for making something out of a group that too often included untalented players slotted in one week, on the street the next week. Stats were bad, the job they did was impressive.

Imagine what they would do surrounded by talent, mixed with some continuity and the enthusiasm of youth… I get the sense things are changing for the Patriots defense. As in, they are in the process of building one. Scary.

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I'm with Mayoclinic on Jones and Hightower being the Gronk/Hernandez of the D. Kudos to Belichick for having the longterm vision to Trade down when he didn't see what he wanted in other years, then go after the guys he sees as fitting his vision.*



*i know they haven't played a game yet. Just sometimes you get a feeling ...

Ice_Ice_Brady said:

This does not surprise me at all.

I'll admit that I know very little about technique, "rawness", and who is NFL-ready from the draft, but how many times have the Patriots passed on a "high-motor" 3-4 outside linebacker who "has the raw skills" to dominate at the pro level? Many times, as everyone at Patriot nation can attest to. They've passed on guys in the first round and second round, and when they traded up to get Chandler Jones at #21 overall, my immediate thought was that this guy is NFL ready, otherwise, why trade up to draft a position you have ignored for so many years?

Since that pick, the media has constantly compared Jones to JPP and other "raw prospects", saying he will need lots of time to develop, but frankly, that sentiment was not really proven or disproven by anything we'd seen. I just don't see Belichick moving up in the draft to work on a 2-3 year developmental project. That's what the third and fourth rounds are for.

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I agree, sometimes he sees guys he knows can be elite players and he jumps at them, hence his success in the first round. After that it becomes more of a crap shoot.

mayoclinic said:

That's an interesting comparison. I still want to see Solder excel in the starting LT position and Jones establish himself as the starting RDE before jumping to far too fast, but if both things happen then either (1) the Pats got lucky twice, or (2) they are very good at picking "raw" physical specimens who can develop quickly. I can't wait to see who they target in 2013.

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In both cases, I'm not really sure where the basis for calling them "physically raw" was in the first place. Some of these analysts act like it would take an act of god to put on 5-10 pounds of muscle, despite the fact that these guys just got drafted and are now under the guidance of the Patriots' trainers.

From the get-go, the reports on Jones have pretty consistently been that he's a hard worker who's very advanced in the nuances of pass rushing and engaging/shedding blockers. Those are the parts of the job that take a long time to get down, so if he's ahead of the game there, then it stands to reason that he's well ahead of the curve. Based on that, I wouldn't be surprised at all to see him in the starting lineup early in the season.

Also, as IBB pointed out, the first round isn't where you pick developmental projects. In the first round, you pick guys who, if nothing else, have the raw skills to contribute in a big way even as rookies. We have 10+ years of track record with Belichick in New England that attests to this.

mayoclinic said:

Good stuff. Bedard has been consistently high on Jones. I think most people - myself included - weren't expecting more than for him to play a situational pass rushing role for at least the beginning of this year, with anything more being a big bonus. If he is mature enough in his edge setting and enough of a complete DE to step in as the starter right away, it will be terrific. Combine that with the versatility, physicality and instincts that Dont'a Hightower has been showing, and it's just possible - not to jump the gun, but just possible - that BB could have found the defensive equivalent of Gronk and Hernandez. What a coup that would be.

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That was my position as well, didn't think he would be doing anything earth shattering his rookie year and he still may not. But these reports are like beethoven to my ears. I would love for him to come in and be a day 1 starter. Getting starter reps in year 1 really accelerates things as far as development and if he does really well that's gives us incredible depth there with Cunningham and possibly Andre Carter rotating. I'm excited man and I really want to see the return of a good D in NE. The defense is what made me fall in love with this team originally.

If this is what happens every time Belichick drafts a project, then he better keep picking projects!

I gotta say I'm tickled pink with this news about Jones' progress. The Pats stars appear to be lining up extraordinarily well it seems.

If Jones does indeed end up starting, and playing considerable reps as such, then you'd have to think that he's gonna be in the thick of things for winning the DROY award. In fact, I would think he'd be the odds on favourite should the Pats offense be as advertised and they get out way in front of teams. This will give Jones oodles of chances to pin his ears back and wreak havoc on opposing QB's as they drop back play after play in an attempt to catch up to the Pats late in games.

And, should Hightower also end up starting and playing well with considerable snap numbers, he too might have a real shot himself.

TyronePoole said:

Chandler Jones and Quinton Coples trending in opposite directions.

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Jets went for broke with a guy that had a serious question mark.

Oh well ...

robertweathers said:

I really do not want my expectations to become those of a 1999 Jevon Kerse but with this report, that is where I am going...So be it.

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Hmmm, let's see, Jones is to Kearse as Hightower is to whom?

Thank you.

BananaRepublican said:

Hmmm, let's see, Jones is to Kearse as Hightower is to whom?

Thank you.

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Roidless Brian Cushing? I'd gladly take 133 tackles, 4 sacks, 10 PD, 4 picks, and 2 FF.

BananaRepublican said:

Hmmm, let's see, Jones is to Kearse as Hightower is to whom?

Thank you.

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Levar Burton?

My physical reaction to the OP:

Bobs My Uncle said:

I gotta say I'm tickled pink with this news about Jones' progress. The Pats stars appear to be lining up extraordinarily well it seems.

If Jones does indeed end up starting, and playing considerable reps as such, then you'd have to think that he's gonna be in the thick of things for winning the DROY award. In fact, I would think he'd be the odds on favourite should the Pats offense be as advertised and they get out way in front of teams. This will give Jones oodles of chances to pin his ears back and wreak havoc on opposing QB's as they drop back play after play in an attempt to catch up to the Pats late in games.

And, should Hightower also end up starting and playing well with considerable snap numbers, he too might have a real shot himself.

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I don't believe this has anything to do with the stars lining up. Bill Belichick is smart. If he doesn't believe in something he won't invest in it. Along with Caserio, they pegged the team needs and went out this offseason and acquired them.

If the Patriots go on to have a successful season with an improved defense, it won't be because of the stars aligning, it would have happened thanks to the Patriot way.