Jarvis Jones is a special talent, but don’t take my word for it. And for heaven’s sake, don’t trust what your eyes tell you.
No, just re-roll the tape from the evening of April 25, 2013, when the Steelers made Jones the 17th overall pick in the NFL draft, and Kevin Colbert and Mike Tomlin spoke jointly at a press conference about how Jones was one of the 6-8 “special players in the draft.” And they were just clearing their throats.
From Colbert …
“He’s a great player.”
“He plays the run, he chases the ball, and most important he gets after the passer.”
“It’s really just a great honor to have this kid joining our team.”
From Tomlin …
“It really was a fun and easy evaluation.”
“He plays the game with a certain disposition, with a certain demeanor we value. If he’s making a tackle or fronting a block, he’s doing it in a manner we appreciate. He’ll fit in with our group.”
“We’re just very thankful and very excited to have Jarvis.”
All that was missing was angels playing harps.
This wasn’t basic draft-day hyperbole, either. I was in there and felt it: These guys were genuinely run-through-the-wall excited. Feel free to watch for yourself, with Tomlin’s laughter at the 2:13 mark to be considered mandatory viewing.
You get the idea. He’s special. Or so we were told.
So where is it?
_________________________
Jones was, indeed, a dynamo at Georgia. But he was an unmitigated dud as a rookie in Pittsburgh: His lone sack came in Week 11 against the Bills’ E.J. Manuel, well after that W was in hand. After two tackles for losses in his Week 1 debut against the Titans, he went 14 games before the next. And that was pretty much it. But for the extraordinary exception, there weren’t any hurries, hits, picks, passes defensed, anything at all one would associate with a player whose pedigree was built on the splash play.
Never mind a “special” such player.
What’s worse, there were times he looked flat-out lost. As linebackers coach Keith Butler flatly assessed back in June, “He pretty much didn’t know where to line up last year. He had trouble with that. He was trying to catch up with what we were trying to do. And if somebody wasn’t there to help him, tell him what he was doing, he was just about a half-second slow.”
Defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau, shortly after arrival in Latrobe, essentially echoed that: “He just didn’t know what to do at times.”
This preseason, in all candor, hasn’t looked much different for Jones heading into Thursday’s finale against the Panthers at Heinz Field.
Sure, there was the sack of Eli Manning in the first game. But that came as the direct result of the Giants’ backup left tackle, Charles Brown, flagrantly going the wrong way and allowing Jones an A-to-B line to his quarterback.
Jones himself explained to me that night in East Rutherford, “I just took what was there.”
Which is fine. That’s no knock. Not everyone makes the tackle for a 9-yard loss.
But special?
Still waiting.
Strides have been made, according to all concerned. That began with Jones fulfilling the coaching staff’s wish to get stronger over the offseason, even if he still hasn’t added bulk to a 6-2, 245-pound frame some see as too slight for outside linebacker. And it’s continued with the very visible — and equally transparent — hiring of Joey Porter to tutor Jones. The two have bonded on and off the field, and Porter has been vocal — even by his standards — in his support of his new pupil.
After one 11-on-11 play at Saint Vincent earlier this month in which Jones did nothing more than track his assigned man in pass coverage toward an incompletion, Porter sprinted toward Jones and ushered him, as a reward, to another group that was doing easier drills.
Porter declines to assess any specific player, deferring to LeBeau and Butler on that count. But he did say he hopes to pass along technique to all of the team’s youngsters at the position: “I’ve played in this system. I know what it means to be a linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers. I’ll help all our guys any way I can.”
Still, with Jones, Porter has done extra. Film of his 98-sack NFL career provided the foundation for Jones’ early offseason studies, with a specialized focus on Porter’s inside moves. Jones repeatedly went to the outside last season and became predictable.
Systematically, too, Porter has done extra teaching: “It’s not an easy defense. I had to learn it once, too. It takes time.”
Jones has been fielding questions about Porter for months now, and that was easy to tell when I raised the topic anew as part of our conversation this week …
It remains to be seen if hiring Porter will pan out. It’s one thing for Porter to show Jones his moves, another to light a daily fire.
To be blunt, I’ve heard stuff that makes me cringe as applied to what’s expected of this relationship.
Anyone remember Butler’s comments about Porter and Jones in June?
“Jarvis is a little bit different than Joey, but not much,” Butler said. “Joey’s always had that kind of ‘barn boss’ attitude when he’s played, and we need some of that. I’ve already told them all the story about him going out to the bus and trying to pull Ray Lewis off the bus. I want somebody like that. I want that type of attitude in that room and he brings it.”
Wow, no. Just no. I’m a big fan of Butler’s bluntness, but this is badly misguided. No one can emulate, much less simulate Porter’s personality. It’s hardcore to the hard core.
In fact, Porter himself contradicted that when asked two weeks ago about instilling spirit in young linebackers: “You either have that type of passion for the game, or you don’t. I can do all the rah-rah stuff I want, but I’m still just a coach on the sideline. I’m not in the fight with you.”
Are the Steelers trying to create something that isn’t there?
I certainly hope not.
Views like this one from Butler, earlier this month at Saint Vincent, sound a whole lot more responsible: “In the second year, everything slows down. And if it slows down mentally, then it’ll be a lot easier for him.”
Tomlin struck a similar tone with this thoughtful answer when I asked him this week to assess Jones’ readiness: “I like the work that he’s done. By no means is he a finished product. Jarvis is a type of young guy that I expect him to continually be on the rise, not only through the remainder of the preseason, but as we get into the season. Sometimes, you think as you push forward toward opening day that you can take the snapshot of the individual and the group and that’s the finished product, and really that’s far from the case.”
He then digressed to include two rookies expected to join Jones as starters: “Young guys like Ryan Shazier and Stephon Tuitt have proven they’re probably capable and are going to be components of what we do defensively. But I’d imagine, if things go according to plan, they’re going to be much better players at the end of the year than they are right now.”
_________________________
They’d better be. In Jones’ case, for sure.
Let’s not sugarcoat this: For all the fuss that still takes place among fans about whether the Steelers chose the right running back between Le’Veon Bell and Eddie Lacy, it’s really based on a false premise. Because it was Jones that was drafted first, then Bell, then Lacy by Green Bay. Lacy — who, by the way, was my published preference to be that day’s top pick — is blossoming into a real stud. And right now, Lacy looks better than both Jones and Bell.
This story can’t turn out this way. At least not with everyone involved keeping their jobs. There have been too many hollow drafts, too many seasons already lost to busts in the first or second rounds. Jones can’t be another. He just can’t.
In fairness, maybe the kid grasps this. Maybe he hears whispers about Huey Richardson., the Steelers’ previous first-round outside linebacker back in 1991, as well as one of their biggest busts. Maybe he still places weight in all that waxing a year ago from Colbert and Tomlin.
Maybe, in turn, that explains why he’s all but burying 2013.
“It’s a new year, man,” Jones replied when I brought that up. “Those were expectations from last year. They’re gone. I’m a totally different person from last year.”
Meaning?
“Well, coming out of college, everybody’s expected to get all that hype. Man, I had my rough rookie year. That ain’t what I’m trying to think about now. I’m trying to focus on the things I can control today.”
Sacking some Carolina QBs, backups or not, would be a start.
August 28, 2014
Column: What’s so ‘special’ about Jarvis Jones?
by Dejan Kovacevic • Columns • Steelers
Jarvis Jones is a special talent, but don’t take my word for it. And for heaven’s sake, don’t trust what your eyes tell you.
No, just re-roll the tape from the evening of April 25, 2013, when the Steelers made Jones the 17th overall pick in the NFL draft, and Kevin Colbert and Mike Tomlin spoke jointly at a press conference about how Jones was one of the 6-8 “special players in the draft.” And they were just clearing their throats.
From Colbert …
“He’s a great player.”
“He plays the run, he chases the ball, and most important he gets after the passer.”
“It’s really just a great honor to have this kid joining our team.”
From Tomlin …
“It really was a fun and easy evaluation.”
“He plays the game with a certain disposition, with a certain demeanor we value. If he’s making a tackle or fronting a block, he’s doing it in a manner we appreciate. He’ll fit in with our group.”
“We’re just very thankful and very excited to have Jarvis.”
All that was missing was angels playing harps.
This wasn’t basic draft-day hyperbole, either. I was in there and felt it: These guys were genuinely run-through-the-wall excited. Feel free to watch for yourself, with Tomlin’s laughter at the 2:13 mark to be considered mandatory viewing.
You get the idea. He’s special. Or so we were told.
So where is it?
_________________________
Jones was, indeed, a dynamo at Georgia. But he was an unmitigated dud as a rookie in Pittsburgh: His lone sack came in Week 11 against the Bills’ E.J. Manuel, well after that W was in hand. After two tackles for losses in his Week 1 debut against the Titans, he went 14 games before the next. And that was pretty much it. But for the extraordinary exception, there weren’t any hurries, hits, picks, passes defensed, anything at all one would associate with a player whose pedigree was built on the splash play.
Never mind a “special” such player.
What’s worse, there were times he looked flat-out lost. As linebackers coach Keith Butler flatly assessed back in June, “He pretty much didn’t know where to line up last year. He had trouble with that. He was trying to catch up with what we were trying to do. And if somebody wasn’t there to help him, tell him what he was doing, he was just about a half-second slow.”
Defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau, shortly after arrival in Latrobe, essentially echoed that: “He just didn’t know what to do at times.”
This preseason, in all candor, hasn’t looked much different for Jones heading into Thursday’s finale against the Panthers at Heinz Field.
Sure, there was the sack of Eli Manning in the first game. But that came as the direct result of the Giants’ backup left tackle, Charles Brown, flagrantly going the wrong way and allowing Jones an A-to-B line to his quarterback.
Jones himself explained to me that night in East Rutherford, “I just took what was there.”
Which is fine. That’s no knock. Not everyone makes the tackle for a 9-yard loss.
But special?
Still waiting.
Strides have been made, according to all concerned. That began with Jones fulfilling the coaching staff’s wish to get stronger over the offseason, even if he still hasn’t added bulk to a 6-2, 245-pound frame some see as too slight for outside linebacker. And it’s continued with the very visible — and equally transparent — hiring of Joey Porter to tutor Jones. The two have bonded on and off the field, and Porter has been vocal — even by his standards — in his support of his new pupil.
After one 11-on-11 play at Saint Vincent earlier this month in which Jones did nothing more than track his assigned man in pass coverage toward an incompletion, Porter sprinted toward Jones and ushered him, as a reward, to another group that was doing easier drills.
“That’s it, Nine-Five!” Porter shouted. “That’s what I’m talkin’ ‘bout, Nine-Five!”
Porter declines to assess any specific player, deferring to LeBeau and Butler on that count. But he did say he hopes to pass along technique to all of the team’s youngsters at the position: “I’ve played in this system. I know what it means to be a linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers. I’ll help all our guys any way I can.”
Still, with Jones, Porter has done extra. Film of his 98-sack NFL career provided the foundation for Jones’ early offseason studies, with a specialized focus on Porter’s inside moves. Jones repeatedly went to the outside last season and became predictable.
Systematically, too, Porter has done extra teaching: “It’s not an easy defense. I had to learn it once, too. It takes time.”
Jones has been fielding questions about Porter for months now, and that was easy to tell when I raised the topic anew as part of our conversation this week …
It remains to be seen if hiring Porter will pan out. It’s one thing for Porter to show Jones his moves, another to light a daily fire.
To be blunt, I’ve heard stuff that makes me cringe as applied to what’s expected of this relationship.
Anyone remember Butler’s comments about Porter and Jones in June?
“Jarvis is a little bit different than Joey, but not much,” Butler said. “Joey’s always had that kind of ‘barn boss’ attitude when he’s played, and we need some of that. I’ve already told them all the story about him going out to the bus and trying to pull Ray Lewis off the bus. I want somebody like that. I want that type of attitude in that room and he brings it.”
Wow, no. Just no. I’m a big fan of Butler’s bluntness, but this is badly misguided. No one can emulate, much less simulate Porter’s personality. It’s hardcore to the hard core.
In fact, Porter himself contradicted that when asked two weeks ago about instilling spirit in young linebackers: “You either have that type of passion for the game, or you don’t. I can do all the rah-rah stuff I want, but I’m still just a coach on the sideline. I’m not in the fight with you.”
Are the Steelers trying to create something that isn’t there?
I certainly hope not.
Views like this one from Butler, earlier this month at Saint Vincent, sound a whole lot more responsible: “In the second year, everything slows down. And if it slows down mentally, then it’ll be a lot easier for him.”
Tomlin struck a similar tone with this thoughtful answer when I asked him this week to assess Jones’ readiness: “I like the work that he’s done. By no means is he a finished product. Jarvis is a type of young guy that I expect him to continually be on the rise, not only through the remainder of the preseason, but as we get into the season. Sometimes, you think as you push forward toward opening day that you can take the snapshot of the individual and the group and that’s the finished product, and really that’s far from the case.”
He then digressed to include two rookies expected to join Jones as starters: “Young guys like Ryan Shazier and Stephon Tuitt have proven they’re probably capable and are going to be components of what we do defensively. But I’d imagine, if things go according to plan, they’re going to be much better players at the end of the year than they are right now.”
_________________________
They’d better be. In Jones’ case, for sure.
Let’s not sugarcoat this: For all the fuss that still takes place among fans about whether the Steelers chose the right running back between Le’Veon Bell and Eddie Lacy, it’s really based on a false premise. Because it was Jones that was drafted first, then Bell, then Lacy by Green Bay. Lacy — who, by the way, was my published preference to be that day’s top pick — is blossoming into a real stud. And right now, Lacy looks better than both Jones and Bell.
This story can’t turn out this way. At least not with everyone involved keeping their jobs. There have been too many hollow drafts, too many seasons already lost to busts in the first or second rounds. Jones can’t be another. He just can’t.
In fairness, maybe the kid grasps this. Maybe he hears whispers about Huey Richardson., the Steelers’ previous first-round outside linebacker back in 1991, as well as one of their biggest busts. Maybe he still places weight in all that waxing a year ago from Colbert and Tomlin.
Maybe, in turn, that explains why he’s all but burying 2013.
“It’s a new year, man,” Jones replied when I brought that up. “Those were expectations from last year. They’re gone. I’m a totally different person from last year.”
Meaning?
“Well, coming out of college, everybody’s expected to get all that hype. Man, I had my rough rookie year. That ain’t what I’m trying to think about now. I’m trying to focus on the things I can control today.”
Sacking some Carolina QBs, backups or not, would be a start.