FOXBORO — When Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin referred to Jonathan Jones as being a “lockdown” nook just a few weeks again, eyebrows have been raised a bit.
Everyone knew Jones was good, however that good?
Well, because it seems, Tomlin was onto one thing.
Through the primary three video games, Jones has legitimately been that good. He’s performed the a part of a shutdown nook, basically taking up that function following the departures of Stephon Gilmore and J.C. Jackson. He’s supplied the lacking piece within the Patriots secondary.
Pro Football Focus at present has him graded as the highest nook within the league along with his 85.6 general defensive grade and 90.4 protection grade rating first amongst certified cornerbacks.
Jones is rated above such notables as Jalen Ramsey, Jaire Alexander, Marlon Humphrey, Marshon Lattimore and Gilmore.
So the lockdown distinction isn’t far-fetched in any respect. Jones has been terrific whether or not taking part in in man or zone protection this season.
Throughout his profession, Jones has primarily been a slot nook, and an excellent one. During coaching camp, it appeared Bill Belichick moved him out on the boundary extra out of necessity than anything. Jalen Mills, the No. 2 subsequent to Jackson final yr, had one facet locked up, whereas the alternative nook turned out to be a case of musical chairs.
That is, till Jones confirmed up.
The secondary appeared higher and performed higher with Jones manning the skin reverse Mills. He’s been a revelation.
And nobody within the locker room is in the least shocked. Jones had all the time been moved to the boundary each time the Patriots needed to defend Tyreek Hill. He all the time did a superb job each time he drew that task.
The largest purpose he didn’t see extra time on the skin, save for particular matchups was as a result of the Patriots all the time had good duos, be it Gilmore and Malcolm Butler, Gilmore and Jason McCourty, Gilmore and Jackson.
Plus, Jones was fairly good the place he was. Only now, given the need, to not point out the very fact he’s their finest general nook, the boundary is the place for him.
Defensive captain Devin McCourty pointed to Jones’ bodily items which have allowed him to excel irrespective of the place he strains up.
“When you can flip your hips and run, you gotta shot in this league,” stated McCourty. “I would say he’s in the upper echelon of guys that can do that.”
Added receiver Nelson Agholor: “He’s a competitor first and foremost. He’s smart, and is an instinctive player. I think he exemplifies everything a Patriot player is — a guy that works hard and just gets to it. He doesn’t say too much. He just works.”
In Sunday’s loss to Lamar Jackson and the Ravens, Jones was one of many lone vibrant spots within the secondary.
Jones caught an interception, compelled a fumble and had 4 tackles.
Overall, he’s allowed simply six catches on 9 targets for 91 yards with an interception and two compelled fumbles. That places him on the head of the category.
Cornerbacks coach Mike Pellegrino doesn’t care a lot about PFF grades. He simply is aware of what he sees, and what he sees is an effective soccer participant.
“I’m not looking at all the stats and whatnot, but I will say I’m not surprised with his ability to play football,” Pellegrino stated Tuesday throughout a video convention. “The man’s an final competitor. He’s a quiet employee, he goes on the market and will get the job carried out and competes. Every bone in his physique is about competitors on the market on the sphere. There’s nothing he loves greater than going on the market and getting a chance to go in opposition to any individual. I like that about him.
“The guy’s an absolute tough football player,” Pellegrino went on. “He’s smart, tough, dependable. He’s versatile and I appreciate everything he’s doing and has done in the past.”
McCourty believes Jones would have success irrespective of the place you set him within the secondary whether or not taking part in it’s inside or outdoors nook, or any of the security positions. He’s that versatile.
“The biggest thing we noticed his rookie year as an undrafted guy, he’s a really good football player. I think in the future, he could be playing safety,” stated McCourty. “I just think he can play every position in the secondary that I don’t think every corner can do. Where he’ll be playing next year, or the next five years, I don’t know. Because he has the ability to do multiple things. He’s a very smart football player.”
One who little doubt has bailed out Belichick for not ponying up the money to re-sign Jackson, or do the identical to maintain Gilmore within the fold.
For his half, Jones stated it’s a bit of completely different taking part in on the skin, however his targets stay the identical.
“You’re definitely on your own (on the outside). It’s a different perspective from being on the inside,” he stated. “There’s not as many bodies between you and the quarterback. You’re just out there on your own. But it’s the same mentality. You lock in, eyes on your guy whether it’s man, or if it’s zone, you’re a different part of it. But you just get out there and compete.”
For him, it’s competing at a degree that’s put him within the dialog as a bona fide shutdown nook.
Who knew?
Opposing coach Tomlin knew after watching movie within the lead as much as the Patriots sport with the Steelers. That’s who had Jones fully pegged in his new function.
Source: www.bostonherald.com