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http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/sports/football/nfl/carolina_panthers/11541387.htm
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More blocking suits new tight end fine
Jones known for receiving skills at 2 other NFL stops
[size=-1]PAT YASINSKAS[/size]
[size=-1]Staff Writer[/size]
On one hand, there is Freddie Jones' resume.
It features an impressive history as a pass-catching tight end. In eight NFL seasons (five with San Diego and three with Arizona) he has caught 404 passes for 4,232 yards and 22 touchdowns.
On the other hand, there is the Carolina Panthers' job description for tight ends: Block, block, block and catch an occasional pass.
"It's a perfect fit," Jones said Sunday morning after wrapping up his first minicamp since signing as a free agent with the Panthers a few weeks ago.
To understand Jones' logic of how putting a square peg into a round hole is a perfect fit, you have to go beyond the obvious. In this case, the square peg is ready to be a little more rounded, and the round hole could become a bit more square.
It has been made quite clear to Jones that if he wants to fit in the Carolina offense, he's going to have to block.
"It's not like I've never blocked before," he said. "It's just a matter of learning the techniques. I definitely think there were some bad habits that I picked up over the years that I'll have to break. But it's a learning process. I feel like one of the rookies out here. It's a new system, new techniques and new coaching. It's all new to me. I'm looking at it as such and just coming out and trying to get better each and every play."
At 6-foot-4 and 265 pounds, Jones certainly has the size to be an effective blocker, but it has never been his strong point.
"I don't know how much he's been challenged in his career to block," coach John Fox said. "I think it's something he's accepted. We're not in pads yet. The fundamentals we've worked on in this camp, he'll need to perfect. I'm sure he's willing and able. We'll see that when we get pads on."
Jones said he's more than willing to make more use of his pads than he did before joining the Panthers.
"I know the focus of this team is to have a great running game," he said. "I know that's going to require a lot of work out of me. I knew that when I came here. (Tight ends coach) Dave Magazu is a great coach as far as getting blocking techniques down. ... He said I'm making some strides, but I've still got work to do."
That work will continue through the offseason and training camp, but don't expect Jones to become exclusively a blocker.
"In this offense our tight end is known more to block than he is to catch, and to move and line up in the backfield," quarterback Jake Delhomme. "Freddie is a catcher, but we do things a little different here, as evidenced by Kris Mangum playing every position."
Mangum is Carolina's starting tight end, and sometimes lines up in the backfield. He and backup Mike Seidman were used almost exclusively as blockers last season because of problems on the offensive line. Those problems have been patched, and the Panthers would like their tight ends to get involved more as receivers.
Jones said he's been told the team plans to use him at times a fullback and H-back, and he'll start learning those positions in June workouts.
"That's one of the positives that I was told when I came in -- that I have a lot of versatility and there are a lot of different things I can do in their offense," he said.
He said he's already comfortable in Carolina. A University of North Carolina product, he plans to move his family to Charlotte, and his mother lives in Raleigh.
"When I became a free agent, I was looking for a team that had a winning tradition," Jones said. "I wanted to be on a team that had a quarterback who was a proven leader, and this was a perfect fit. I've been in enough situations where we were struggling to build a team. My years in this league are numbered, and I wanted to be a part of something that's positive and going in the right direction."
---------------
http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/sports/football/nfl/carolina_panthers/11541387.htm
___________________________
More blocking suits new tight end fine
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Jones known for receiving skills at 2 other NFL stops
You must be registered for see images
[size=-1]PAT YASINSKAS[/size]
You must be registered for see images
[size=-1]Staff Writer[/size]
On one hand, there is Freddie Jones' resume.
It features an impressive history as a pass-catching tight end. In eight NFL seasons (five with San Diego and three with Arizona) he has caught 404 passes for 4,232 yards and 22 touchdowns.
On the other hand, there is the Carolina Panthers' job description for tight ends: Block, block, block and catch an occasional pass.
You must be registered for see images
Freddie Jones "It's a perfect fit," Jones said Sunday morning after wrapping up his first minicamp since signing as a free agent with the Panthers a few weeks ago.
To understand Jones' logic of how putting a square peg into a round hole is a perfect fit, you have to go beyond the obvious. In this case, the square peg is ready to be a little more rounded, and the round hole could become a bit more square.
It has been made quite clear to Jones that if he wants to fit in the Carolina offense, he's going to have to block.
"It's not like I've never blocked before," he said. "It's just a matter of learning the techniques. I definitely think there were some bad habits that I picked up over the years that I'll have to break. But it's a learning process. I feel like one of the rookies out here. It's a new system, new techniques and new coaching. It's all new to me. I'm looking at it as such and just coming out and trying to get better each and every play."
At 6-foot-4 and 265 pounds, Jones certainly has the size to be an effective blocker, but it has never been his strong point.
"I don't know how much he's been challenged in his career to block," coach John Fox said. "I think it's something he's accepted. We're not in pads yet. The fundamentals we've worked on in this camp, he'll need to perfect. I'm sure he's willing and able. We'll see that when we get pads on."
Jones said he's more than willing to make more use of his pads than he did before joining the Panthers.
"I know the focus of this team is to have a great running game," he said. "I know that's going to require a lot of work out of me. I knew that when I came here. (Tight ends coach) Dave Magazu is a great coach as far as getting blocking techniques down. ... He said I'm making some strides, but I've still got work to do."
That work will continue through the offseason and training camp, but don't expect Jones to become exclusively a blocker.
"In this offense our tight end is known more to block than he is to catch, and to move and line up in the backfield," quarterback Jake Delhomme. "Freddie is a catcher, but we do things a little different here, as evidenced by Kris Mangum playing every position."
Mangum is Carolina's starting tight end, and sometimes lines up in the backfield. He and backup Mike Seidman were used almost exclusively as blockers last season because of problems on the offensive line. Those problems have been patched, and the Panthers would like their tight ends to get involved more as receivers.
Jones said he's been told the team plans to use him at times a fullback and H-back, and he'll start learning those positions in June workouts.
"That's one of the positives that I was told when I came in -- that I have a lot of versatility and there are a lot of different things I can do in their offense," he said.
He said he's already comfortable in Carolina. A University of North Carolina product, he plans to move his family to Charlotte, and his mother lives in Raleigh.
"When I became a free agent, I was looking for a team that had a winning tradition," Jones said. "I wanted to be on a team that had a quarterback who was a proven leader, and this was a perfect fit. I've been in enough situations where we were struggling to build a team. My years in this league are numbered, and I wanted to be a part of something that's positive and going in the right direction."
