Good read on Donald Jones and his chances with Pats

[BTTA]

Donald Jones, New England Patriots and the Importance of Finding Your Fit | Pre Snap Reads

 

[NEPettyOfficer72]

I like this guy, I really do. I think he has underachieved playing with Buffalo, a bad offense and one that's revolved around Johnson and CJ Spiller. The guy is smart, versatile, and has good run after the catch skills. He can also stretch the field, get deep and do everything else. Intermediate routes, short routes and etc. When is the last time we've had somebody who could do that. He could shine in this system and catching passes from Tom. Especially with great help around him and good teachers to learn from, I'm rooting for him to make the team.

 

[jmt57]

Donald Jones, New England Patriots and the Importance of Finding Your Fit | Pre Snap Reads

Good stuff. Fahey does a nice job using the photos in breaking down the drops. Also some good analysis of Jones' situation in Buffalo prior to that as well.

Therefore, because of Jones’ previous fit with the Bills and how that negated his skill-set, his spot with the New England Patriots makes him a very intriguing prospect this off-season.

Jones isn’t walking into the New England locker-room to become a starter. He will have to work for his playing time as he competes with veteran Michael Jenkins and rookies Josh Boyce and Aaron Dobson. Jones was let go by the Bills after his three-year rookie deal expired. He was let go because of a regime change, but it may be a blessing in disguise. At 25 years of age, Jones is entering his prime, whereas Jenkins is going to be 31 this season and the two rookies are three years behind Jones in their development.

That advantage is definitely working in Jones’ favour, but he is also the perfect fit for the prospective role with the Patriots.

In Buffalo, he was a jigsaw piece that was being forced into a crossword. In New England, he will not only fit perfectly with the other pieces of the offensive puzzle, but also should be the final piece in the offense that Brandon Lloyd hoped to be last season. The Patriots have revamped their receiving corps this year, but retained the primary principles that have been evident since 2007. Danny Amendola has replaced Wes Welker as the possession receiver, while Michael Jenkins and the rookies are the field-stretchers following in the footsteps of Randy Moss.

Jones isn’t exactly Moss, neither is anyone else on the roster, but he is the perfect fit for a Donte Stallworth or Deion Branch role within the offense. Yes, he can stretch the field and hit home runs every so often, but he can also work intermediate and shorter routes because of his time in Gailey’s system. With Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez, Danny Amendola and a dangerous running-threat, Jones will be in space from snap-to-snap. He will never be the focus of the defense’s gameplan no matter how many plays he makes.​

 

[jah]

I'll be rooting for him to make the team over Jenkins and Hawkins (I believe only one out of the three will make it) just because he's the youngest and has, in my opinion, the most upside of the three.

Jenkins: Known quantity. Steadily gets ~40 recs every year. Tall, but slow and old. Pure possession WR.

Hawkins: Pretty much no production outside of 2011 when he didn't really show much more than the other two WRs he's competing with, but the only one out of the three to get any guaranteed money.

Jones: Numbers have only improved each year since he entered the league.

Although I'm rooting for Jones, I currently project Jenkins to make the team because he's proven to be a consistent #2 or 3 WR over the years and another developmental player is redundant with two rookies. Jones will make the team if he proves that he can produce at a level close to Jenkins (or even Hawkins, if the team is that high on him). He's not making the team based on his age or upward trend on the stat sheets over his career.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Send a bouquet of flowers to Gisele with a polite introductory note and birthday gifts to the kids. He'd be a training camp lock,( unless he has hands like mine).

 

[mgteich]

I suggest that the team would like Jones to win the battle and have a future. After all, he's signed for 3 years. Jenkins and Edelman are rent-a-players.

However, unless Dobson looks really good, I would expect us to keep Jenkins as a red-zone threat. After all, red-zone production was a major issue for the patriots in 2012.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I suggest that the team would like Jones to win the battle and have a future. After all, he's signed for 3 years. Jenkins and Edelman are rent-a-players.

OTOH, that was a three year deal with ZERO guaranteed money.

 

[mgteich]

I understand. The idea is that if Jones is the winner of the competition, we have his services for three seasons. If Jenkins or Edelman win the competition, we have the services for one year.

As you say, the team paid nothing for this option of the services of Jones.

OTOH, that was a three year deal with ZERO guaranteed money.

 

[Deus Irae]

Is the author of that article a relative of Mr. Jones?

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Is the author of that article a relative of Mr. Jones?

Well, we used to have Mrs Bruschi post here, so...

Me, I love these homeristic pre season doldrum themes. Always adopt a couple binkies who sadly get cut.

 

[mgteich]

Choose your WR binkies! Yes, some will be cut.
===========

PICK 2 (or perhaps 3)
Jones, Jenkins, Hawkins, Edelman, free agent TBD (I expect another WR competitor after the 2 a day's)
======================

Obviously, we will have Amendola, Dobson and Boyce on the 53 (unless one ends up on the PUP or IR).

Well, we used to have Mrs Bruschi post here, so...

Me, I love these homeristic pre season doldrum themes. Always adopt a couple binkies who sadly get cut.

 

[DocHoliday]

In a 6 receiver roster, the bolded are locks:

WR Amendola, Danny
WR Dobson, Aaron
WR Boyce, Josh
ST Slater, Matthew

So 2 of the following:

WR Jenkins, Michael
WR Thompkins, Kenbrell
WR Hawkins, Lavelle
WR Harrison, Mark
WR Jones, Donald
WR Aiken, Kamar
PR Edelman, Julian

If you assume Edelman is healthy (doubtful they're competing for the same spot anyway), you have one of the following:

WR Jenkins, Michael
WR Thompkins, Kenbrell
WR Hawkins, Lavelle
WR Harrison, Mark
WR Jones, Donald
WR Aiken, Kamar

I'd say Jones has a poor chance of making this team - he has to beat Aiken and Jenkins if current reports that they're currently the two first team outside receivers are true. Aiken knows the system better than everyone on that list, but Jenkins has that red zone height.

Jones has to prove some red zone ability and get acquainted with the playbook quick if he wants to have a chance. It might be easier for him if Mark Harrison converts to TE.

 

[NEPettyOfficer72]

Anyone who doesn't think Julian Edelman won't make the 53 man roster is not bright. When he is healthy, not only is he one of the most dynamic punt and kickoff return men in the NFL, but he is also one of the best with the ball in his hands no matter where he is at on the field. As shown last season, before his injury he was on the rise and on a hot streak on offense. He even caught a 50 yarder beating Antonio Cromartie deep vs the Jets. He is explosive, super elusive, quick and can be a very good slot receiver. Bill knows he is one of the most versatile and valuable players we have so the talk of if he makes the team should cease to exist.

 

[Deus Irae]

Anyone who doesn't think Julian Edelman won't make the 53 man roster is not bright. When he is healthy, not only is he one of the most dynamic punt and kickoff return men in the NFL, but he is also one of the best with the ball in his hands no matter where he is at on the field. As shown last season, before his injury he was on the rise and on a hot streak on offense. He even caught a 50 yarder beating Antonio Cromartie deep vs the Jets. He is explosive, super elusive, quick and can be a very good slot receiver. Bill knows he is one of the most versatile and valuable players we have so the talk of if he makes the team should cease to exist.

Source: Edelman's contract tweaked - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

If Edelman were an absolute lock to make the team, this tweak would not have been necessary.

 

[fnordcircle]

Will he be Donald Hayes or will he be David Patten?

 

[DocHoliday]

Source: Edelman's contract tweaked - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

If Edelman were an absolute lock to make the team, this tweak would not have been necessary.

The tweak was a gift to Edelman to make sure he has a chance to make his bonuses. As it was, he would have missed them out.

If anything, it's an encouraging sign that the team is being generous with him.

 

[Deus Irae]

The tweak was a gift to Edelman to make sure he has a chance to make his bonuses. As it was, he would have missed them out.

If anything, it's an encouraging sign that the team is being generous with him.

If he was a lock, it could have just been converted to a regular bonus. It wasn't.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Source: Edelman's contract tweaked - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

If Edelman were an absolute lock to make the team, this tweak would not have been necessary.

Don't see it that way. The way I read it is that because of the latest foot problems Edes had zero chance of earning his workout bonus so in a move beneficial to the player, Pats moved the offseason workout $50K to $50K for making the 53. Had they done nothing, Edes could never have made the $50K.

 

[Deus Irae]

Don't see it that way. The way I read it is that because of the latest foot problems Edes had zero chance of earning his workout bonus so in a move beneficial to the player, Pats moved the offseason workout $50K to $50K for making the 53. Had they done nothing, Edes could never have made the $50K.

I don't disagree with your take on it giving him a chance. I simply note that, if he were a lock, they could just have made it a straight bonus. $50k isn't something hard to swallow on a salary cap issue.

I expect him to make the team. I just don't look at his deal and think he's a lock. They've clearly reached a stage with him where they are hedging their bets.

 

[DocHoliday]

I don't disagree with your take on it giving him a chance. I simply note that, if he were a lock, they could just have made it a straight bonus. $50k isn't something hard to swallow on a salary cap issue.

I expect him to make the team. I just don't look at his deal and think he's a lock. They've clearly reached a stage with him where they are hedging their bets.

He's not a lock, but if his health is good he's the closest thing to it.

I don't think anyone except the fellow you responded to first thinks he's a lock, but long story short its his job to lose.

He has to either regress or get injured again to be cut. The former is unlikely and the latter isn't worth speculating about.