Don't kill me...but I don't think Reshad Jones was terrible

[Sirspud]

I was watching Reshad Jones carefully tonight because I think if he maximizes his potential (an if) he can provide an element to this Dolphins defense that they need to go from a mediocre team to a winning team. His first two drives were somewhat rough, like everyone else on defense he wasn't in the position that he should be and he was playing more tentative than he should. Obviously the whole defense sucked those two drives as Brady did not even throw an incomplete pass. But as the game went on, Jones was about the only guy on defense who did anything positive besides Wake and Odrick. Not only did he make that play at the goaline, which kept the game a two score game, but he was about the only sure tackler on the entire defense, including the linebackers. Jones laid the wood on a number of big hits, and when numerous Dolphins were whiffing on the Pats runners, allowing them to turn what should have been losses into chain movers, Jones was the only guy who stopped the running game. He lead the team in tackles with 8.

There were a lot of things I couldn't see to give an entirely accurate assessment of how he did in pass coverage. I'd have to see film I don't have access to tonight. But he was one of the few I saw any positives from, and I think too many people on here will be quick label the secondary's failures on him because he was the one big change from last year's secondary that some hold in high regard. Nobody could cover their man tonight, not even Davis and Smith.

I'd be interested in hearing other opinions from people who might have seen things I couldn't.

 

[JCane]

Not concerned with Reshad Jones at all. Love that kid. Probably plays harder than anyone else on the team.

 

[madmic21]

I thought he was bad. He got sucked in on pa and this resulted in 2 big gains. Also sounds like Clemons made coverage adjustments last year. Those seemed to be lacking too....

 

[danxduhxman]

Jones was out of position on that 99 yards TD. He was suppose to help over the top but instead he decided to play closer to the line and the rest was history..

 

[jvw]

He took a couple of bad angles like the long TD pass but he did make some plays and was around the ball a lot......he's only going to get better, wish he had taken that PD to the house....

 

[kizzaboo]

Jones was out of position on that 99 yards TD. He was suppose to help over the top but instead he decided to play closer to the line and the rest was history..

No he was not "Out of position". He actually read the play the whole way but took a really poor angle at the ball. Couldve been a big play in the other direction

 

[Pachyderm_Wave]

He's probably playing out of position at FS first of all... I've always viewed him as more of a SS, although he played both safety positions for UGA.

His tackling was fine tonight, but he was lousy in coverage. He took a terrible angle on the 99 yarder to Welker... tried to undercut the football and misjudged it.

You can't do that against quarterbacks like Brady... you can't play undisciplined and guess. If you do, you BETTER be right. Jones wasn't.

I'd stick with him though... he's going to pick off passes because of the way he plays. He'll learn to weigh the risk vs. reward better as he gets more experienced, but I still think he needs to be playing to the side of the strength of the offense. Whether it's determined by a TE or multiple receivers, he needs to be playing that side.

 

[RobertHorry]

He's probably playing out of position at FS first of all... I've always viewed him as more of a SS, although he played both safety positions for UGA.

His tackling was fine tonight, but he was lousy in coverage. He took a terrible angle on the 99 yarder to Welker... tried to undercut the football and misjudged it.

You can't do that against quarterbacks like Brady... you can't play undisciplined and guess if you do, you BETTER be right. Jones wasn't.

I'd stick with him though... he's going to pick off passes because of the way he plays. He'll learn to weigh the risk vs. reward better as he gets more experienced, but I still think he needs to be playing to the side of the strength of the offense. Whether it's determined by a TE or multiple receivers, he needs to be playing that side.

No, put him at SS. He's extremely physical and has good burst speed as SS. His out of position at FS was on show tonight. O-Coordinators are going to aim for aim constantly. He bites WAY to hard on play-fakes and doesnt have the speed to get back in position. His aggressiveness is going to kill our team.

 

[Ray_Finkle#5]

Isn't this the story with every impactful position player we have: talented, plays hard just needs to maximize his potential,,, etc etc. it seems every year theres a hole we fill with one of those "hopefully this year will be his year/ alex smith" type guys. how about immedate impact players. thats what the teams that are winning have. Bellicheck pluged in a rookie LT in that threw Cam all over the place. he had two rookie TEs that paid immedate dividends for him last yr. and tonight. where are these players on our team. lets stop masqurading average players around waiting for that breakout game they will hopefully have one day and work on uncovering and developing real talent.

 

[JerryD]

No he was not "Out of position". He actually read the play the whole way but took a really poor angle at the ball. Couldve been a big play in the other direction

LOL ... That IS out of position ... Jones was out of position on the very first TD (bit hard & screwed VD with no middle help) & alot of others. He's doesn't read plays well to be proactive ... he's reactive & chasing plays.

He's young & will get a pass for a couple weeks ... if he plays like that he won't be at Safety long.

Not busting his balls, that's just the facts. Think he's got potential & needs to learn the trickeration.

 

[kizzaboo]

LOL ... That IS out of position ... Jones was out of position on the very first TD (bit hard & screwed VD with no middle help) & alot of others. He's doesn't read plays well to be proactive ... he's reactive & chasing plays.

He's young & will get a pass for a couple weeks ... if he plays like that he won't be at Safety long.

Not busting his balls, that's just the facts. Think he's got potential & needs to learn the trickeration.

LOL.. That is not out of position.

He was not out of position pre-snap or anything like that. He read the play well and timely. He just took a bad angle trying to undercut the ball and give the team another chance in a desperate situation. Give him credit for that and making the right read, critique him for still being a bit raw and taking a poor angle in an aggressive attempt to turn the tables a bit.

And I am not the only one that can clearly see this or at the very least know what they are talking about when they say out of position.

It seems too many people say that whenever a pass is completed on someone. Jones is a very aggressive DB. There is a difference between out of position and taking a bad angle. The latter is often times a result of just being too aggressive and not always having the right feel for the speed and timing to take an appropriate angle. Thankfully that is something a player can grow into and adjust with that kind of play.

 

[hightempo]

No he was not "Out of position". He actually read the play the whole way but took a really poor angle at the ball. Couldve been a big play in the other direction

thats simply not accurate. and no he didnt read the play. he hesitated, and he didnt get over to help. his coverage assignment stayed in to block. he should have read that presnap. brady made the adjustment. he needed to make his. he was late reading the play, and then instead of turning to run he flattened out and took and angle to where the receiver was and not where he was going to be.

he messed up, and couldnt provide help over the top. benny sapp got beat like a drum, but the fact is jones wasnt there to provide support. not the end of the world, and he did have another assignment. but he didnt make the play. and he could have.

 

[finfan54]

He tackled better than others. He needs some work. But great experience for him out of the gate. I think our problem on D was preperation and attitude. Two guys clearly stood out as stinko and I say Sean Smith overrated.

 

[finfan54]

Isn't this the story with every impactful position player we have: talented, plays hard just needs to maximize his potential,,, etc etc. it seems every year theres a hole we fill with one of those "hopefully this year will be his year/ alex smith" type guys. how about immedate impact players. thats what the teams that are winning have. Bellicheck pluged in a rookie LT in that threw Cam all over the place. he had two rookie TEs that paid immedate dividends for him last yr. and tonight. where are these players on our team. lets stop masqurading average players around waiting for that breakout game they will hopefully have one day and work on uncovering and developing real talent.

yeah cus every player in the nfl is just great and needs no progression.

 

[roy_miami]

LOL ... That IS out of position ... Jones was out of position on the very first TD (bit hard & screwed VD with no middle help) & alot of others. He's doesn't read plays well to be proactive ... he's reactive & chasing plays.

He's young & will get a pass for a couple weeks ... if he plays like that he won't be at Safety long.

Not busting his balls, that's just the facts. Think he's got potential & needs to learn the trickeration.

If you can't get aggressive when they are at their own one, you're down by 2 touchdowns and your D has been getting shredded all night when do you get aggressive?