go.pack.go.;244175I've never heard the Packers staff bitch about not having prototypical players for the defense they run...

Nor have I. Could we get a few examples? Genuinely interested here.

The dude is 283 and I suspect he can easily bulk up if required. He is a good fit for the 3-4 we run and a wise choice with the amount of mobile QBs we have to face!

**evad04 here -- been away far too long. Have tried to e-mail Kevin/figure out how to log back in, it hasn't worked.
Anyway, I'm back. And damn glad to be**

When I was going through my amateurish draft notes earlier today, the name I kept saying was "Datone Jones" -- as in dat one, I want dat one. So I'm feeling pretty skippy right now. I won't lie -- when Sharrif Floyd was falling down the board my teeth were getting a bit sweaty. When pick 22 came along and he was still on the board I was gettin' the butterflies. But when Minnesota took him and I knew we'd have a shot at our pick of quality ILB, CB, RB, S and most importantly -- D-line -- I felt great about the Datone Jones pick.

Let me lead with the singular reason his selection excites me: Far too much is made of 3-4 fits. Yes, a dominant five-technique 3-4 DE would be great. But scour the available field and you don't find much. Margus Hunt? Jesse Williams? William Gholston? Do you really want to spend a first-round pick on a second-round grade?

I don't.

No, I want Datone Jones. I want a "violent" (as some scouts have referred to) player. A disruptive, athletic, passionate workhorse.

I think entirely too much is being made about scheme fit. What scheme do we run? Last time I checked we're in the sub packages, uh, 65-75% of the time. This guy is a dream in the nickel -- where we're most often looking to disrupt the quarterback, not stop the run. Adding a big bruiser who can soak up blockers? That's kinda outdated thinking, I think. That's the 3-4 defense from the year a-while-ago.

These days we live in the world of attack the quarterback. And when our defense takes the field, much more often than not we have 5 DBs on the field, and we're at least trying to get after the quarterback. Datone Jones fits that. He's not perfect, of course. Gets a little too high, doesn't always play with the right leverage. But he is athletic and strong. He provides inside pressure. He's the guy the pushes the QB back into an edge monster like Matthews.

I am very high on the pick. And I think you should be too.

DarkaneRules;244178The dude is 283 and I suspect he can easily bulk up if required. He is a good fit for the 3-4 we run and a wise choice with the amount of mobile QBs we have to face!

He was quoted as saying he was going to hold off on bulking up or slimming down, until he knew where he was going and how he was going to be used.
He should be able to pack on at least some.

nerdmann;244163No, I'm saying the Packers staff bitches that they don't have prototypical players for the defense they run.
Yet they continue drafting players that do not fit their scheme.

I'm confused by this because Datone Jones is coming from a college team that ran an NFL-type defense...a defense extremely similar to the Packers. Jones is going to be a very versatile player for the Packers. His threatening pass rush will open up a ton of space for Clay Matthews and Nick Perry. He has time to put 10-20 pounds on his frame...easily. 10 pound addition might be just enough with the way he plays at 280 already.

The best thing about him is going to be his speed combined with his power. With the option offenses now, it will be nice to have his speed on the field.

I'm going to trust in this pick. Kid seems to have his head on straight and has the right mindset needed to see success at the next level.

I'm not about to claim SBNation as the go-to for scouting info, but here's a nice article breaking down 3-4 DT/DE hybrids. It's less than two-days old.

SBNation -- NFL Draft 2013: Scouting the DE/DT hybrids

Datone Jones is the *first* player the writer lists. I like the sound of this:

If there's one player in this year's Draft that has a similar style as Watt and may play a similar role as Watt in the NFL, it's UCLA's Datone Jones. Mind you, I'm not saying Jones is the next J.J. Watt (really, I'm not), only that he might be used in a similar manner by a team looking for a "hybrid" type of DT/DE.

The best point made in this analysis is that the old days of the either 3-or-5 technique fit are gone. Look at the the .gifs of 49ers DE/DT Justin Smith. He'll line up at 5-technique end, then shift to a 2-technique right before the snap. He'll line up wide at a 9-technique; he'll take on the LT one on one. He'll play 3-technique in the sub packages. That is to say, that mofo is versatile. Read line one on Datone Jones: that mofo is versatile.

Add to that 1) athleticism 2) high-motor 3) good football I.Q. 4) a frame that can add weight 5) Big hands 6) good speed -- do I need to keep going?

I'm not saying he's J.J. Watt. That's ridiculous. But he has a similarly disruptive style and ability to play all along the line.

Is he a 300 lb., purely 5-technique block soaking run-stuffer? No. But we don't play a lot of that defense any way.

nichdane;244184I'm not about to claim SBNation as the go-to for scouting info, but here's a nice article breaking down 3-4 DT/DE hybrids. It's less than two-days old.

SBNation -- NFL Draft 2013: Scouting the DE/DT hybrids

Datone Jones is the *first* player the writer lists. I like the sound of this:



The best point made in this analysis is that the old days of the either 3-or-5 technique fit are gone. Look at the the .gifs of 49ers DE/DT Justin Smith. He'll line up at 5-technique end, then shift to a 2-technique right before the snap. He'll line up wide at a 9-technique; he'll take on the LT one on one. He'll play 3-technique in the sub packages. That is to say, that mofo is versatile. Read line one on Datone Jones: that mofo is versatile.

Add to that 1) athleticism 2) high-motor 3) good football I.Q. 4) a frame that can add weight 5) Big hands 6) good speed -- do I need to keep going?

I'm not saying he's J.J. Watt. That's ridiculous. But he has a similarly disruptive style and ability to play all along the line.

Is he a 300 lb., purely 5-technique block soaking run-stuffer? No. But we don't play a lot of that defense any way.

I agree with everything you say.


Now go back and watch the 49ers games from last year, and see how they ran right over us.
Adrian Peterson too, although he generally didn't take it straight up the gut.

nerdmann;244186I agree with everything you say.


Now go back and watch the 49ers games from last year, and see how they ran right over us.
Adrian Peterson too, although he generally didn't take it straight up the gut.

We're through 1 pick so far. Datone wasn't brought in because he's a beast against the run. And better run defense isn't the only thing we need to get better at. I'm sure you'd agree.

Outside of Matthews we don't have a sure-fire rusher. Jones brings disruptiveness and energy, and will likely see a lot of playing time in the sub-packages -- where we play most of the time. He's a "hybrid," and when I hypothetically go back and watch someone like Kaepernick run down our throats, I can't help but think we'd be better served with a talent like Jones on the field.

nichdane;244188We're through 1 pick so far. Datone wasn't brought in because he's a beast against the run. And better run defense isn't the only thing we need to get better at. I'm sure you'd agree.

Outside of Matthews we don't have a sure-fire rusher. Jones brings disruptiveness and energy, and will likely see a lot of playing time in the sub-packages -- where we play most of the time. He's a "hybrid," and when I hypothetically go back and watch someone like Kaepernick run down our throats, I can't help but think we'd be better served with a talent like Jones on the field.

He'll be able to catch Kaepernick from behind I guess.
lol
Dude's tall, powerful, all that.
Not as quick in short area as JJ Watt, in the combine drills.
But I think he'll be explosive.


Ctv

Q: Do you want to lose or add weight?

Jones: It depends on where a team needs me to be. I can’t really judge it. My starting point is 284.

Here's another interesting tidbit on Johnathan Franklin, who I'd love Ted to nab too:

Q: What is Johnathan Franklin like?

Jones: Johnathan Franklin is a great guy. Great guy to be around. He’s a high-character guy, and he’s a hard worker. Johnathan Franklin is another guy who wants to be the best. His energy, a lot of times you’ll see him getting tackled in the backfield; all of a sudden he has a first down 5 yards later. It’s crazy, man. His work ethic is something that a lot of guys should follow. He’s real humble. Hard worker. Just an unbelievable athlete.

I'd be all for taking Franklin. I have expressed such on social media, you'll just have to take my word for it. I think he's a perfect fit at RB.