Matt Jones

[john h]

Being an Arkansas player I get the latest updates on how Matt Jones is doing in camp before Saturdays game. As of yesterday it was written he had not dropped one pass in practice. They have used him as wideout, tight end and believe this or not a long snapper and punter. I have never seen him long snap in my life or punt. I watched an interview with him on TV and he said he was supprised to be asked to long snap but would do what ever they wanted. This is really a class young man. According to the newspaper he has been very impressive and looks to me like he may have added around 10 lbs which would get him to around 240-250 lbs. I am begining to think he may go no later than round 2 and could easily jump into round one with his tremendous speed and size.He may be the fastest big guy I have ever watched and it is just not straight away speed. No doubt he can catch the ball and if he can block he would really be a potentially great tight end. Yes I know I am a HOMER and my opinion is schewed but watch him on Saturday. Lob the ball to him in the end zone and he is like R.C. Owens. No one is going to out jump him at 6'7" and a basketball rebounding forward. Be nice to have a former QB who can throw the ball 60 yds plus on some trick plays. He does not lob the ball either He has a rocket arm. You local guys had Jake as your Homer now it is my turn for a homer. Only problem is we have more than enough receivers but do lack a blocking tight end who can long snap, play wideout, or punt in an emergency. And for you girly guys he is good looking (so i am told).

 

[HookemCards]

Yeah, I'm with you. I hate Arkansas, but love Matt Jones at TE. I doubt he has the quickness to be effective at WR in the NFL, but I really think with some good coaching (Rowen) he could be the next Antonio Gates in a year or two.

 

[Heucrazy]

 

[john h]

Being an Arkansas player I get the latest updates on how Matt Jones is doing in camp before Saturdays game. As of yesterday it was written he had not dropped one pass in practice. They have used him as wideout, tight end and believe this or not a long snapper and punter. I have never seen him long snap in my life or punt. I watched an interview with him on TV and he said he was supprised to be asked to long snap but would do what ever they wanted. This is really a class young man. According to the newspaper he has been very impressive and looks to me like he may have added around 10 lbs which would get him to around 240-250 lbs. I am begining to think he may go no later than round 2 and could easily jump into round one with his tremendous speed and size.He may be the fastest big guy I have ever watched and it is just not straight away speed. No doubt he can catch the ball and if he can block he would really be a potentially great tight end. Yes I know I am a HOMER and my opinion is schewed but watch him on Saturday. Lob the ball to him in the end zone and he is like R.C. Owens. No one is going to out jump him at 6'7" and a basketball rebounding forward. Be nice to have a former QB who can throw the ball 60 yds plus on some trick plays. He does not lob the ball either He has a rocket arm. You local guys had Jake as your Homer now it is my turn for a homer. Only problem is we have more than enough receivers but do lack a blocking tight end who can long snap, play wideout, or punt in an emergency. And for you girly guys he is good looking (so i am told).

Another big article on Matt in the morning paper. He will apparently be used primarly at wide receiver as it is going to be hard to cover him due to size. Some of the NFL coaches have had some interesting comments. One said the first place you try him without question is at QB. All think he can play wideout or TE. Another says he can also be a kickoff returner. Nearly all that were questioned agreed he is going to play in the NFL and soon. Hope they get the ball to him tomorrow where ever he is playing.

 

[GreenCard]

We should draft him.He would be a perfect fit here,Josh is already being taught to throw high and let them jump for the ball.

 

[football karma]

Keep in mind that on Antonio Gates, he was an undrafted free agent -- the risk the Chargers took was minimal

Jones will be asked to make a huge position switch, one that he never played in college --

I think the second round is too high for someone that has to learn and play a new position. Third? sure -- but I think teams look to the first two rounds (particulalry in the area of the second where the Cardinals are drafting) for players that can contribute immediately rather than projects.

 

[john h]

Keep in mind that on Antonio Gates, he was an undrafted free agent -- the risk the Chargers took was minimal

Jones will be asked to make a huge position switch, one that he never played in college --

I think the second round is too high for someone that has to learn and play a new position. Third? sure -- but I think teams look to the first two rounds (particulalry in the area of the second where the Cardinals are drafting) for players that can contribute immediately rather than projects.

Kiper said yesterday he thought Jones would go in round 5. Coach Gruden likes him. If you have a guy who can possible play 3-4 positions and set the SEC record for running by a QB, can throw the ball 60 + yds, is 6'7 1/2" 245 in his shoes, can out run a DB, and was a three year starter at QB in the SEC winning the division one year, has his head on straight, he seems to me he would be worth a 3 or 4 pick with no problem. He cannot be discounted as a QB either as he had very good stats. As a receiver he could be like Randall El the former QB from Indiana now a star receiver for the Steelers. Someone will be all over Matt way before round 5.

 

[football karma]

Kiper said yesterday he thought Jones would go in round 5. Coach Gruden likes him. If you have a guy who can possible play 3-4 positions and set the SEC record for running by a QB, can throw the ball 60 + yds, is 6'7 1/2" 245 in his shoes, can out run a DB, and was a three year starter at QB in the SEC winning the division one year, has his head on straight, he seems to me he would be worth a 3 or 4 pick with no problem. He cannot be discounted as a QB either as he had very good stats. As a receiver he could be like Randall El the former QB from Indiana now a star receiver for the Steelers. Someone will be all over Matt way before round 5.

I agree that round 5 seems too late --

Randel El is a good comparison, he went early in round 2 as I recall. Randel El also played a year in college at wide out, and at a minimum, people figured that he would be a lights out kick returner if he didnt make it as a wr in the pros.

Jones' nfl position is probably TE or as a possesion type wr, two positions that historically have been discounted in the draft. I am going to stick by my third round prediction.

 

[Stout]

Defense in RD one, Lafors in RD two, and Jones in RD three...that's what I'd like to see

 

[POISON]

Being an Arkansas player I get the latest updates on how Matt Jones is doing in camp before Saturdays game. As of yesterday it was written he had not dropped one pass in practice. They have used him as wideout, tight end and believe this or not a long snapper and punter. I have never seen him long snap in my life or punt. I watched an interview with him on TV and he said he was supprised to be asked to long snap but would do what ever they wanted. This is really a class young man. According to the newspaper he has been very impressive and looks to me like he may have added around 10 lbs which would get him to around 240-250 lbs. I am begining to think he may go no later than round 2 and could easily jump into round one with his tremendous speed and size.He may be the fastest big guy I have ever watched and it is just not straight away speed. No doubt he can catch the ball and if he can block he would really be a potentially great tight end. Yes I know I am a HOMER and my opinion is schewed but watch him on Saturday. Lob the ball to him in the end zone and he is like R.C. Owens. No one is going to out jump him at 6'7" and a basketball rebounding forward. Be nice to have a former QB who can throw the ball 60 yds plus on some trick plays. He does not lob the ball either He has a rocket arm. You local guys had Jake as your Homer now it is my turn for a homer. Only problem is we have more than enough receivers but do lack a blocking tight end who can long snap, play wideout, or punt in an emergency. And for you girly guys he is good looking (so i am told).

I will be SHOCKED if he goes before round 3!!!

 

[john h]

I will be SHOCKED if he goes before round 3!!!

I think rd 3 is about right. They have not thrown to him much today for what ever reason but when they did it was a TD. If we could get this guy in round 4 or 5 I think he is a sleeping giant.

 

[Twist18]

A team like the Patriots will take him at the end of Round 2. The rich get richer.

 

[Rocco]

Whoever drafts him is going to have to wait on him to develop at a completely new position. I think he goes second day just for that reason.

Watched him today at the Senior Bowl. Has good talent but is very very raw.
Not sure what kind of a wide receiver he'll be, he's the definition of a long strider. I like him better as a tightend but that's a lot of new material to learn.

He's a football player though.

 

[artp]

I would like to see Jones oin a Cardinal uniform. He is so gifted physically, he may not last until the Cardinals 3rd rd pick. I wouldn't mind seeing Denny move up to the bottom of the second round or the top of the third rd to get Jones. He can make plays and he, at some point, will be a weapon.

 

[JeffGollin]

Kiper said yesterday he thought Jones would go in round 5.
I'll bet he goes much higher than that.

That said - Jones in a Cardinal uniform? He's an intriguing prospect due to his size. And we do need a few other weapons in our receiving arsenal (i.e. really fast guy; someone who can cut on a dime and separate). But what we really don't need more of are tall receivers "who can get position." We've already got 3 of those.

Of course, it's always possible that Dennis could pick him in the 3rd or 4th round if he was ranked that highly over all and happened to fall to us. But that's similar to expecting a needle to leap out of the haystack.

 

[JHall]

A team like the Patriots will take him at the end of Round 2. The rich get richer.

Of course, a team with no weaknesses can afford to burn a pick on a project player.

 

[Twist18]

Of course, a team with no weaknesses can afford to burn a pick on a project player.

Exactly, or even the Eagles.

 

[Russ Smith]

Jones is pretty unique though, he can do a lot of things right away to help a team. he can be a holder on FG's, he can be an emergency QB, he can play some special teams , hell you can line him up and tell him to go block a FG.

In the Senior Bowl workouts they not only had him return some kickoffs, they had him LONG SNAPPING just to see if he could, and apparently he did ok. Of course if he's long snapping he can't hold but the point is even though he won't be ready to step in as a starting TE right away, he'll make an impact on a team.

 

[football karma]

Jones is pretty unique though, he can do a lot of things right away to help a team. he can be a holder on FG's, he can be an emergency QB, he can play some special teams , hell you can line him up and tell him to go block a FG.

In the Senior Bowl workouts they not only had him return some kickoffs, they had him LONG SNAPPING just to see if he could, and apparently he did ok. Of course if he's long snapping he can't hold but the point is even though he won't be ready to step in as a starting TE right away, he'll make an impact on a team.

Now if he could long snap to himself to hold for kicks, that would be interesting.

I agree Russ-- although everything you point out about him in your first paragraph suggests that he is an uber-special teamer and a TE project. I dont know if that kind of player is a day one pick. I know I earlier predicted third round, but I just dont know.

This is basically the Kordell Stewart scenario again. Jones has the benefit of the NFL seeing the Steelers having success with him in that "slash" role. Jones also seems to have let go of starting QB aspirations, something that Stewart never did.

 

[HookemCards]

In the Senior Bowl workouts they not only had him return some kickoffs, they had him LONG SNAPPING just to see if he could, and apparently he did ok. Of course if he's long snapping he can't hold but the point is even though he won't be ready to step in as a starting TE right away, he'll make an impact on a team.

I don't know about that, he's pretty fast!!

 

[john h]

Now if he could long snap to himself to hold for kicks, that would be interesting.

I agree Russ-- although everything you point out about him in your first paragraph suggests that he is an uber-special teamer and a TE project. I dont know if that kind of player is a day one pick. I know I earlier predicted third round, but I just dont know.

This is basically the Kordell Stewart scenario again. Jones has the benefit of the NFL seeing the Steelers having success with him in that "slash" role. Jones also seems to have let go of starting QB aspirations, something that Stewart never did.

I do not think Jones would have any problem bulking up to 250-260 and with his determiniation I bet he would be a real good blocker with some awsome speed. If that guy is there in round 4 I take him no matter what as there is just to many things he can do. We certainly could use a tight end with his speed and size. I know we have a lot of tall receivers but they are wide receivers. I would not take him in round 2 and depending on who is available in round 3 and what we need I would give him a thought as we do need a blocking tight end who can also catch the ball.