In this loaded corner class, everybody's rankings are different. For me, my current top corners in order are Marshon Lattimore, Sidney Jones, and Gareon Conley. Jones is the more debated of the three. Most doubters debate his size and speed, but Jones has some truly elite traits. Here is my evaluation of the former Washington corner:
Measurables:
Height- 6'
Weight- 186 lbs
Year:
Junior (21)
2016 stat line:
39 tackles (27 solo), 2.5 TFL, 2 INT, 2 FF, 6 PDs
Pros: Sidney Jones is a true lockdown corner. Jones has the height and length to cover any wide receiver in the league no matter their height. He can play man or zone coverage and can keep up with almost any wide receiver (4.47 40 yard dash). Jones best trait is his hips, which are smoother than a baby's cheeks. His change of direction is effortless and he doesn't lose speed at all. Wide receivers really struggle to separate from him. His 8 career picks and 21 career pass deflections do a good job of reflecting Jones' great ball skills. He is an artist at adjusting his body and making contact with the ball or catching it (he has wide receiver hands). In the run game, Jones is actually a good tackler for his weight. He uses good form and has good instincts, so he is far from a liability when facing the run.
Cons: Jones does have a slight frame. The questions about whether or not he can tackle the Latavius Murray's and LeGarrette Blount's are warranted because he isn't exactly imposing. He has to rely on good tackling form instead of his size. That factors into the passing game too, as Jones struggles to hold physical receivers in coverage because they swat away his press coverage. Jones also has a habit of drifting away from wide receivers in zone coverage to bait the quarterback into throwing. While this works sometimes, Jones is too often inches behind and a completion is made. Jones will have to learn the nuances of coverage when he goes to the pros.
Pro Comparison: Kevin Johnson, CB, Houston Texans
He was the 16th overall picks in the 2015 nfl draft, and he has only scratched the surface of his potential. The Texans secondary is Mariana Trench deep and as a result, Jonson has not been able to show off his hips and tackling skills. Jones could get picked even higher and may get a day one starting job.
3 teams that could use him: The Eagles have no number one corners on the roster and spent all of last season watching their old corners get torched. Jones is a guy who can be plugged in and immediately improve the secondary. The Panthers defense has not been the same since Josh Norman left, so nabbing Jones could go a long way in helping the rebuild of the secondary. The Titans need to fix their broken secondary to contend for the AFC south title, and I am comfortable drafting Jones with either first round pick.
Conclusion: Sidney Jones is a pure lockdown corner with underrated tackling skills. Teams will have to overlook his slight frame, but he is worth a top-20 pick come April.
All stats from www.sports-reference.com
No comments:
Post a Comment