If we hadn't signed Jones this past offseason and he was still hungry like he was last year we would've been handcuffed in negotiations to pay him 10-15 mil more per year. Just think how much worse it would've been.
I'm not falling for that. Jones doesn't have enough ability to play himself into a legit contract like that, "hungry" or not. It was logical he'd level off this season, particularly given the higher caliber of quarterbacks we were facing early in the season. Many of us emphasized that theme in the thread when he signed the extension, while others were praising Ireland as if he stole something.
The draft as a whole is the worst move at this stage. It could turn out to be remarkably bad, given the slots we held on draft eve. Gillislee is a run of the mill back. There was a reason he barely played at Florida until his senior year. Ireland doesn't seem to grasp basics like that. Jenkins doesn't look like he'll ever be more than a situational guy, and not necessarily an effective one. I was not impressed with Dallas Thomas in college and he looked even worse in preseason. He seemed more overmatched than simply not ready or playing out of place. Why are we drafting a lineman from a Derrick Dooley offense, when Dooley was pure finesse and seldom ran the ball? And as someone posted in the thread devoted to Thomas, he doesn't exactly interview well or come across as someone to have great confidence in. Ireland specializes in making sure we draft at least 2 or 3 dummies every year.
One of the two defensive backs has to step up and save the draft. Davis scares me as someone who will makes plays but give up more than he makes. I liked Taylor but didn't know anything about his medical issue. At least he's physical and competitive and came from a good program.
Jordan was moved around a little bit against the Chargers. We tried him on the left side early in the game on at least one play. Not at end but as a movement blitzer. The coaches are sampling to see if he can demonstrate any threat of variety. Right now he's slow off the mark and can't do much if his outside loop is nullified. The good news is he gets away with the one dimensional style more than he has a right to, based on sheer ability and length.
Rookies who are picked that high are supposed to demonstrate flashes of athletic arrogance, where it looks like they could pop the football with one hand and hoist the stadium with the other. Jordan hasn't done anything like that. Even his best plays have come from very routine outside rushes. Vernon looks considerably more intense out there.
