Jarvis Jones plays the glamour position in the Steelers’ 3-4 defense. Before him, there were James Harrison, Joey Porter and Greg Lloyd, three fabled names in franchise history.
Of course, there were also players like Alonzo Jackson, Steven Conley and Carlos Emmons, draft picks the Steelers hoped would make an impact at right outside linebacker. Emmons was average, the other two busts.
Which direction will Jones go?
We’re about to find out.
Year Three will be a big one for Jones, who has failed to make much of an impact. He isn’t 100 percent yet, but he sounded like he’s well on his way when speaking Thursday on Day 3 of the team’s OTAs on the South Side:
Porter, an assistant coach, is there to mentor Jones. If you think Harrison will play the mentor role, you might be mistaken.
He sounds more like competition to me.
Jones believes his wrist will be at 100 percent when the season begins. He broke his wrist last season and acknowledged that overcoming the injury hasn’t been easy.
“It’s a tough injury, to break your wrist,” Jones said. “I sat out eight weeks. I didn’t play much toward the end of the year. It was a serious injury. I’m still rehabbing. I’m healthy now, but I’m still strengthening it, working on its mobility.”
Jones doesn’t look bigger than in recent years. He’s never going to be overpowering like Harrison, who has always possessed the ability to earn leverage on left tackles.
Should Jones thrive, his natural athleticism and quickness will be the primary reasons. He sticks out on the practice field these days, even if it’s football without pads. You can see why the Steelers drafted him in the first round.
But the production needs to come.
Does the pressure that comes with that concern Jones?
“There’s always pressure,” Jones said. “It’s the NFL.”
Fair enough. But Jones is a first-round pick who hasn’t exactly worked out so far.
“I’m working hard,” he said acknowledging that many eyes will be on him this fall.
“I think I’m getting better every day. I think I had a great week here. It’s going well. Everything in the past is already gone. I’m solely focused on this year.”
Harrison might not be real interested in mentoring Jones, but the veteran did make an interesting comment.
“The game changes,” Harrison said. “Players change.”
Will it be Harrison seeing many of the snaps this season?
Or will Jones finally claim the job, once and for all, and become the impact player the Steelers defense craves?
One thing is certain. Jones himself is becoming more of a leader.
“He’s great,” said Bud Dupree, the most recent first-round pick who happens to be an outside linebacker.
There are no insecurity issues.
“Jarvis has helped me a ton,” Dupree said.
Now, it’s time for Jarvis to help Jarvis and become the player that has long been expected.
He’s putting in the work, and was one of the last men off the practice field today.
I wasn't about to ask another question there. Gotta pick your spots. Ha.
steelag70
5-28-2015, 6:44 pm
I am rooting for Jarvis to have a breakout season. I was glad when they drafted him and think he was just starting to get it going last year when he got hurt.
Ouch, no kidding bpn. Non-contact drills don't mean non-injury.
GeorgeR
5-28-2015, 7:17 pm
Looking for Jones too continue progressing. I've never seen him in person but his face looked bigger to me than I had anticipated. Very thought to play defensive front 7 with a broken wrist. Not impossible, but extremely tough.
Wow, can't see what I type.... Obviously meant very tough.
Dubble A
5-28-2015, 7:25 pm
I would like to see JJ become a solid contributor to the defense. I don't think he will ever be a dominant or even an impact player. Just become one of the parts that makes the whole thing work. The Steelers can't afford too many swing and misses in the draft, especially the upper rounds while trying to re-tool the defense. Hopefully we'll see some good players come out of this latest draft.
Agreed. No more scholarship years. Time for guys to play. They make mistakes? Let them learn.
DJ
5-28-2015, 10:17 pm
Ever notice players talk about playing?
And wannabes begin with their injuries.
J.R.
5-29-2015, 6:59 am
And the scholarship years compound the problem. Seems like what happens is that we hold onto the guy based on potential, then maybe they get in for a game or two and show flashes, then we sign them long-term, and when they finally play significant snaps, they stink. Or the opposite, we let them go, and it turns out they're pretty decent. Under the new free agency model, you can't let guys hang around for multiple years without knowing what you have, one way or the other.
Guys, i'm telling you that jarvis jones will have a big breakout year this season. He'll have 10-12 sacks and 3-5 forced fumbles. Farrior, gildon, peezy, deebo, haggans, timmons, llyod, polamalu and others didnt have breakout year until third season. Just wait and watch!
Josh,
Is free agent acquisition, Isaiah Lewis still with the Steelers?. He was an Indianapolis Ben Davis grad/ Michigan State safety who I thought was picked up by the Steelers in the winter off season. I've heard nothing since. Little help?
I love JH as much as the next Steeler fan but if he plays anything more than a bit part in the defense it will be a long season, regardless how the offense performs. Interesting how much of the nation gravitates to his production last year as he is a modern day Ponce de Leon when the facts state it was limited to a couple big games then he was otherwise invisible. Personally I think that he will be in the fight of his career just to make the team this year with all of the young bodies and he knows it.
All I want to know is has Jarvis done the off season workouts he's promised to do for the past two years?
He didn't after Year 1 and it showed. He told DK after the end of last season that he didn't like to lift and workout.
He needs to be diligent in the weight room and on the field and I still have heard anyone gush over his physical appearance. He'll never be fast, but, he could get heavier and stronger.
I am betting he didn't do much in the off season, copping an "injury" excuse.
Hmmm. Here it says "Jones doesn't look any bigger." In Gerry Dulac's Q&A today, he said "I look to see if certain guys got bigger, like Jarvis Jones and Ryan Shazier. And they did."
Ahhh man, I'm really curious whether those guys bulked up! Any idea why you guys are contradicting each other?
How would any rational person answer such a question, Ken?
Ken NC
5-30-2015, 1:41 am
Huh, usually I feel like I follow you, but not this time not quite...
I didn't mean to imply anything, DK -- I am honestly curious about the discrepancy. So far, even though this site is geared more toward commentary than the PG, I can't remember many times you've said X and anyone else has clearly said Not X. (As opposed to, e.g., you say X and someone says "the team seems to be headed to be headed toward Not X, but who really knows, maybe X.)
Maybe I'm missing some history or some widely-held intra-Pittsburgh opinion. I guess if there isn't a non-inflammatory answer, it won't kill me to decide for myself in September when the games start. Man, is this offseason long.
Rocco
5-29-2015, 3:05 pm
Josh, any word on Howard "No one is to blame" Jones?
Hopefully Jarvis really steps it up this year. I think he will definitely contribute a decent amount. Plus I don't think it's a bad thing to mix and match him and Harrison in certain game situations.
Jarvis Jones doesn't look appreciably different physically at OTAs. -- DAVE DiCELLO
May 28, 2015
Coverage: Jarvis under the microscope
by Josh Yohe • Coverage • Steelers
BY JOSH YOHE
Jarvis Jones plays the glamour position in the Steelers’ 3-4 defense. Before him, there were James Harrison, Joey Porter and Greg Lloyd, three fabled names in franchise history.
Of course, there were also players like Alonzo Jackson, Steven Conley and Carlos Emmons, draft picks the Steelers hoped would make an impact at right outside linebacker. Emmons was average, the other two busts.
Which direction will Jones go?
We’re about to find out.
Year Three will be a big one for Jones, who has failed to make much of an impact. He isn’t 100 percent yet, but he sounded like he’s well on his way when speaking Thursday on Day 3 of the team’s OTAs on the South Side:
Porter, an assistant coach, is there to mentor Jones. If you think Harrison will play the mentor role, you might be mistaken.
He sounds more like competition to me.
Jones believes his wrist will be at 100 percent when the season begins. He broke his wrist last season and acknowledged that overcoming the injury hasn’t been easy.
“It’s a tough injury, to break your wrist,” Jones said. “I sat out eight weeks. I didn’t play much toward the end of the year. It was a serious injury. I’m still rehabbing. I’m healthy now, but I’m still strengthening it, working on its mobility.”
Jones doesn’t look bigger than in recent years. He’s never going to be overpowering like Harrison, who has always possessed the ability to earn leverage on left tackles.
Should Jones thrive, his natural athleticism and quickness will be the primary reasons. He sticks out on the practice field these days, even if it’s football without pads. You can see why the Steelers drafted him in the first round.
But the production needs to come.
Does the pressure that comes with that concern Jones?
“There’s always pressure,” Jones said. “It’s the NFL.”
Fair enough. But Jones is a first-round pick who hasn’t exactly worked out so far.
“I’m working hard,” he said acknowledging that many eyes will be on him this fall.
“I think I’m getting better every day. I think I had a great week here. It’s going well. Everything in the past is already gone. I’m solely focused on this year.”
Harrison might not be real interested in mentoring Jones, but the veteran did make an interesting comment.
“The game changes,” Harrison said. “Players change.”
Will it be Harrison seeing many of the snaps this season?
Or will Jones finally claim the job, once and for all, and become the impact player the Steelers defense craves?
One thing is certain. Jones himself is becoming more of a leader.
“He’s great,” said Bud Dupree, the most recent first-round pick who happens to be an outside linebacker.
There are no insecurity issues.
“Jarvis has helped me a ton,” Dupree said.
Now, it’s time for Jarvis to help Jarvis and become the player that has long been expected.
He’s putting in the work, and was one of the last men off the practice field today.
“Just chopping wood day by day,” he said.