Chad is just scared to tackle cause he doesn't want to hurt that throwing arm! I think he will be a big part of that bullpen this spring
Whoa, whoa, whoa. You're mixing up 2008 with 2007. Chad Jones was lost on that field all year long last season and we blamed it on the two headed DC monster. Now comes Chavis and Jones looked as lost if not more. In fact, this was the worst game I have seen out of Jones to date. In 2007, Chad Jones was called on to do VERY specific things, like clobber the QB. And he was successful. Ever since 2008 he has been asked to scope out the field, make reads, and be where he is needed and make bone jarring hits, he doesn't seem to be able to do that.
Totally agree with this statement. The premise of my thread is that I fear Chad Jones won't improve which will in turn kill this defense time after time and if that is indeed the case, Craig Loston needs to get up to speed quickly. By week 5 at the latest.
Told 'ya there were better football minds on the board than mine. Islstl, you are right, of course. I had sorta let the last two seasons get mixed up in my mind - or maybe I was just trying to forget last season. If I understand you, you're saying that Chad did fine as an "assassin" where he had just one particular target, but he doesnt' do well when he has to choose one of many possible targets. That makes sense, but I hope he can learn - very quickly - how to manage that. He's just not as confident as he was.
We gave up some big plays, but we did not give up jailbreak TD's like last year. Jones had 4 tackles from the free saftey spot. He did get out of position a few times, but remember it was against a team we had zero film on. They did a very good job of play calling, and Locker is a very big threat. With that in mind, I think he played very conservative (granted, not real well) against a team that had a QB that had to be respected for the pass and run, so he was on his heels a little more than he will be in the future. With Vandy this week we have a known team, with some film to study. I think it is only fair to hold off judgedment for at least another game. I remember our ENTIRE defense sucking against ASU a few years ago, and that was a damn strong defense with Landry at safety. I could be wrong and he may be in over his head, but others may be wrong as well for bashing him for this first game.
I think it's a stretch to talk about Loston with this kind of hype. Right now the kid's a freshman. If he's ready, the coaches will recognize it, and he'll see the field. Otherwise, he'll sit til he's ready. But let's not assume that the kid is the next big thing just because he was a highly touted recruit, and instead believe it when we see it in his play. Don't forget that LaRon was a truly special for us, a talent that we might not see again for many years. His play on the field earned him the 6th overall pick in the 2007 NFL draft... not too shabby.
I am not throwing anyone under the bus and i understand Loston didn't get alot of work pre season because of the clearing house thing. That being said, he can start like every other safety i can remember besides Laron. If he is that kind of player, then we need to work him in somehow. Chad Jones missed some tackles but he has been solid, he was solid last year. He had 50 tackles and 2 forced fumbles a season ago. I believe he was 5th on the team last year in tackles.
I agree with this...and when I watched the replay the other day, I couldn't help but notice that Chad always seemed to be around the ball. He got four tackles to his credit, but it could have been eight or nine if he hadn't missed so many. I think baseball practice made him soft...:hihi:
Exactly the premise of the thread. Hopefully he'll be around the ball just as much this week...and then hit like a freight train like we know he can.
