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Footballguy
Insider: Jones takes advantage of working out with first team
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Sometimes early in training camp, skill position players flash and then just as quickly disappear. It's early, but rookie receiver James Jones doesn't appear to match that description.
After a solid first day of camp, the third-round draft pick from San Jose State jumped out on Sunday, especially during the important full pads practice in the evening.
With No. 1 receiver Donald Driver out due to a shoulder injury, Jones got plenty of opportunities with the No. 1 offense. To say he took advantage would be an understatement. In the night practice alone, Jones caught at least six passes during team (11-on-11) periods while lined up with the starters.
Quarterback Brett Favre seemingly had little or no hesitation about throwing to Jones. Favre connected with him twice on slant patterns, twice on short in-routes in traffic, once on a crossing pattern and once on a deep ball. Perhaps most impressive was the slant Jones caught against starting cornerback Al Harris.
Jones likely would have been picked higher than Round 3 had he run better than a 4.59 40-yard dash, but for a guy who supposedly lacked speed, he had no trouble beating cornerback Antonio Malone deep down the sideline.
Though the 6-foot-1 Jones differs physically from the smaller Greg Jennings (5-11), he's similar in that from the outset Jones has run precise routes and has caught the ball with ease. That was noticeable with Jennings in camp last year, and he parlayed that into a strong rookie season.
Early indications are that Jones could do the same.
Thumbs up
Sometimes early in training camp, skill position players flash and then just as quickly disappear. It's early, but rookie receiver James Jones doesn't appear to match that description.
After a solid first day of camp, the third-round draft pick from San Jose State jumped out on Sunday, especially during the important full pads practice in the evening.
With No. 1 receiver Donald Driver out due to a shoulder injury, Jones got plenty of opportunities with the No. 1 offense. To say he took advantage would be an understatement. In the night practice alone, Jones caught at least six passes during team (11-on-11) periods while lined up with the starters.
Quarterback Brett Favre seemingly had little or no hesitation about throwing to Jones. Favre connected with him twice on slant patterns, twice on short in-routes in traffic, once on a crossing pattern and once on a deep ball. Perhaps most impressive was the slant Jones caught against starting cornerback Al Harris.
Jones likely would have been picked higher than Round 3 had he run better than a 4.59 40-yard dash, but for a guy who supposedly lacked speed, he had no trouble beating cornerback Antonio Malone deep down the sideline.
Though the 6-foot-1 Jones differs physically from the smaller Greg Jennings (5-11), he's similar in that from the outset Jones has run precise routes and has caught the ball with ease. That was noticeable with Jennings in camp last year, and he parlayed that into a strong rookie season.
Early indications are that Jones could do the same.
So far so good! I loved this guy on the HL films. Great at the jump ball and very physical.
