NFL Draft 2011: Taiwan Jones Would Be Perfect Complement to Steven Jackson

Despite Steven Jackson's size and durability, the St. Louis Rams are a bit thin at the RB position. Their quandary has been if they bring in a complementary back who can work a few reps in to give Jackson a breather, or a well-rounded option to fill in should Jackson miss any meaningful time.

Now that they've apparently parted ways with Kenneth Darby, it is time to find a body to work with Jackson.

A new option burst onto the scene today at his personal pro day in Pittsburg, CA. Unable to participate in the combine or his college's pro day due to a broken bone in his foot, Taiwan Jones finally stepped onto the track.   

His representative stated after the performance that Jones is only about 90 percent. If he was being straightforward, and Jones does have a little left in his tank, Chris Johnson has some competition.  

Jones' official time was 4.33 in the 40-yard dash, which would have been the fastest time at this year's combine. He also had an unofficial time (4.28) that would have challenged Johnson's combine mark of 4.24.

The concern with Jones is that he's a bit under-sized, playing at 187 pounds in his junior season for the FCS Champion Eastern Washington University. He has been working on his size and is just shy of 200 pounds.  

The new bulk doesn't seem to be impacting his speed or agility. Jones' first 10 yards of this and his training runs have been in the low 1.4 range, which is just as blazing fast as his final 40-times. He hit 11 feet on his broad jump, which would have led the way for RBs at the combine and just shy of the recent record of 11'2". His vertical leap was a little off the record 41.5" set by Anthony Allen this year; he hit an amazing 39.5". 

Jones was originally projected as a fifth round talent. After today, he could very likely be gone in the third.  

The Rams will likely fill two big needs in the initial two rounds by looking at a pass rusher and a wide receiver. With a mid-round pick in the third, the Rams are in prime position to take him there.