After being selected 21st overall in 2005, Matt Jones has not exactly had the type of success that Jacksonville expected.
Jones, a quarterback at Arkansas, came out of college a 6'6 athletic reciever that runs a 4.3 40, and can verticle out of his shoes, quite a feat for a 238 pound man. Simply put, Matt Jones is undeniably an amazing athlete.
I, along with many others, believed he would be an amazing reciever in the league with those attributes.
But after 3 years he has not had a season to brag about yet.
Yes he has been plauged with injuries.
Yes his career is still young.
And yes he hasnt played reciever since his high-school days.
But with the stats he has put up in Jacksonville, relative to his expectations and paycheck, he needs to get the boot. He is just dead weight in a offense that should score in the bunches with all the talent they have.
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But talent is no good when it is not used right or the player is too damn lazy to catch a pass.
I have seen many balls thrown his way in single coverage, many times bad single coverage, and it hit him in the worst place possible...his hands. Jones is a pass dropping specialist.
Though Jones may not be right for the Jags, he may have a place somewhere else.
The Rams recieving group is aging and could use a young touchup, and with Bulger throwing the ball, Jones should learn quickly the way a good quarterback throws.
The 49ers are a possiblity with only one decent reciever and up and coming quarterback Alex Smith. Theoretically, Smith and Jones would seem to make a pretty good duo on the West Coast.
It wouldnt surprise me if the Pats made a go at him to put another reciever in their already deadly group of recievers, even as a sort of ongoing project. With Tom Brady throwing the ball to Jones, I'm sure that Matt will find a way to catch the easy balls he has so haphazardly dropped in the past.
The Lions are a possibility too. They have a history of forgetting they need a quaterback and getting as many recievers as possible.
The Jags need to drop to dead weightand get rid of Matt Jones. Send him to another team where he may accomplish somthing and make a name for himself. I was a big fan of his while he played ball at Arkansas and I want to see him succeed.
But with two years left on his contract and no sign of what Coach Del Rio is going to do with him, it might be time for Jones to relocate.
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10 months ago
Couldn't agree more. I haven't given up on Matt Jones yet, he makes some incredible plays from time to time that very few other players could make. But there's just something off with him in Jacksonville, and I think they're ready to go their separate ways. Nice article.
from 10 months ago
thank you
9 months ago
Mike,
I actually have a Matt Jones jersey, but you're right. The thing that makes Matt look bad is how little he got on the field this season. Jacksonville had two speed burner rookies get hurt (Broussard & Walker,) and they still didn't make Matt the starter. Matt has become irrelevant on the Jax roster. That being said, there is a bright side. Jacksonville has 30 mil in cap space, so they can absorb Jones' contract this year, allowing him to develop into a competitor for a roster spot in mini-camp. He's got to work, though, because the three WRs ahead of him don't look to be falling off and the new guys are hungry. Matt might end up being a practice squad player, and he's too expensive for that. He also doesn't play special teams, and his value as a 3d string QB is fleeting. I would love for the Jags to shop him, but I don't think there's a team willing to give us the world for our incredible 6'6" shrinking violet. Great article
from 9 months ago
thanx
8 months ago
The kid was incredible at Arkansas... even was a decent basketball player. I think a trade should come soon - with the Jags loading up on wide receivers, I don't see why they wouldn't listen to trade offers... The Titans, despite the fact they are conference rivals, would definitely give up a pick and a solid defensive player (vincent fuller or reynaldo hill) - I think they would listen - The Titans need a BIG guy, and Matt would definitely provide that. Plus, I think a fresh start would be great for him.
8 months ago
i agree a fresh start would help matt
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