Jones is the key to Lions' Marshall plan
Friday, August 04, 2006
By Greg Johnson
The Grand Rapids Press
ALLEN PARK -- Kevin Jones, playing the part of Marshall Faulk in the Motown version of "The Greatest Show on Turf," leaped shoulder pad first into a pass rusher and the resulting leg-tangling collision sent both of the players reeling across the practice field grass.
It took Jones a while to get up.
"I just got hit in the thigh," Jones said after Thursday's morning training camp practice. "It wasn't a knee."
Take some air into those lungs, Detroit Lions fans. You, too, Mike Martz.
Yes, Martz is the offensive coordinator for the Lions now, and yes, he was the architect of the "Greatest Show on Turf" offense in St. Louis.
But Martz's high-scoring offense needs an effective runner to work properly. Faulk ran up his Hall of Fame numbers while working with Martz.
"Go back and look at any franchise in football, and see how many guys ever had the impact on one that he had for the Rams," Martz said. "He was the key to everything, because when you had Marshall, the defense always had to account for him first."
Martz now turns to Jones in Detroit. He doesn't seem worried, even with Jones' less-than stellar pass-catching reputation. Martz has been satisfied with the progress Jones is making.
"Kevin Jones really understands what we're trying to accomplish," Martz said. "I think he's just going to have a terrific year. I really do."
Jones likes such talk. He has put in extra work, especially with catching the ball. He liked it when he heard that Martz had been hired as offensive coordinator, and he loved it after his first practice in the offense.
"I knew I would get a chance to showcase my ability, and that we would be a better offense and win more games," Jones said.
He especially likes that all the offensive players are involved.
"It's going to be tough for teams to key on any one player or part of the game," he said. "They use everybody. Anybody can get the ball on a play."
Rod Marinelli, new coach of the Lions and the man who lured Martz to Detroit, has a love jones for the offense. And he loves Jones.
"He has a chance to be something special," he said.
Jones, taken with the 30th pick of the first round in 2004, looked special in the last month of his rookie year, rushing for 628 yards in five games. He led the Lions in rushing for the year with 1,133 yards and was named an alternate to the Pro Bowl.
Last year, in contrast, he had shoulder and elbow problems that caused him to miss three games. He ended up gaining just 564 yards in an offense that was 26th out of 32 in NFL rushing, and 27th in total yards.
"Thinks didn't work out," said Jones, who admitted to frustration with the way he was used in Steve Mariucci's offense.
"Most of the time I thought they could use me better," he said. "I think I'll be used better this year."
It could happen, as long as he keeps getting up from collisions and learns the 45 or so plays that Martz adds almost each day of camp. He is hitting the hole like he did as a rookie. The offensive line is being revamped so there are more holes to hit.
Know this: The pedal-to-the-metal Martz approach, the new motor in Motown, starts with at least the threat of a running game. As Jones goes, so will the Lions.
Send e-mail to the author: gjohnson@grpress.com
I'm advocating for Bryson. He ranks third on the cumulative YPC list of the past two seasons for all RBs with at least 100 carries.
