Levi Jones Is Confident, Complimentary Of Stephon Heyer
Your new starting left tackle, as of this week's latest offensive line reshuffle, is Levi Jones. Jones talked to reporters yesterday and said all the things you'd expect:
The "I'm Up To Speed" Thing:
"I mean, any time you get into any situation, and you get more repetitions at it, you get more of a look at it, and get more practice at it you're going to feel more confident, know what I'm sayin'? It wasn't necessarily an issue of me having confidence with myself. It was a new scheme – all the plays were different, and in this case the techniques were different. I feel like I've got a good grasp on all of that, so I'm going in fairly confident."
The "My Health Problems Are Behind Me" Thing:
"I haven't felt this good in a long time. I'm definitely anxious to get out there and play. Right now I'm feeling like I'm where I left off before I got injured. We've got a great medical staff here that's done a wonderful job of pre-hab versus rehab, and just making sure that all of the guys are taken care of before they get out there and get injured. Most of the injuries in the league come from something being out of whack – a hip or pelvis or something like that – and they go out there and play on it and injure themselves because they weren't in good shape to begin with before they get injured, or they've got some small nagging injury that's hampering something else and hurting something else."
The "This Week's Opponent Is AWESOME" Thing:
"[Broncos DE Elvis Dumervil is] definitely difficult for a lot of tackles that can't get down there and play with him, can't bend their knees. The people you see that struggle with him the most are the taller people that he can run underneath, because the guy is 5'11", and he's good and he's strong – he's light but he's still strong like any other defensive end. He's a challenge for a lot of people."
But he also added one thing that was a little unexpected.
It was something that he didn't have to say, and something that really stood out to me: Jones went out of his way to defend Stephon Heyer, a guy who's been on the receiving end of a ton of criticism for his performance at left tackle.
"Well, if you look at what went on with the left side," Jones said, when asked about the game against the Falcons, "with the left tackle, I was helping all I could and telling him everything I knew about it because I've faced [John] Abraham a lot, and Stephon [Heyer] went in there and did a good job – he blocked Abraham. He did something last week that I haven't seen one tackle in the league do this year, and that was block Abraham and get him frustrated, and Stephon did that. They were talking a lot about stuff that had happened in the past, and now that the guy did something did something good, nobody wants to focus on it, nobody wants to talk about it. He went in there and locked up Abraham."
In a week where there have been lots of questions about if the locker room is fracturing, it's nice to see a new guy -- a league vet, a former first-round pick -- be sure to give credit to an unheralded, heavily-criticized youngster, especially as he takes the younger guy's job.
This is not enough to make me feel, you know, confident about this week's O-line. Not yet, anyhow. But it's a decent start, and made me view Jones just a little bit differently than did the endless stories about a casino fight with Joey Porter.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-12-2009 @ 12:54PM
cruisinrog said...
Time will tell. He is a true left tackle so that should help. I just hope he's not another bust like most other veterans we pick up.
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11-12-2009 @ 12:52PM
rufwork said...
Adding Jones as a "solid" contributor feels a little too much like when adding Chris Zorich was supposed to firm up the d-line years ago. It feels good to read about the addition, but that feeling is just masking the team's desperation.
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11-12-2009 @ 1:54PM
n_isikoff said...
Now that Heyer is back to his spot this should be interesting.
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11-12-2009 @ 4:19PM
I_am_Jacks_computer said...
"I just hope he's not another bust like most other veterans we pick up."
"Most" is kind of an exaggeration, don't you think? Yeah, we've gone through more Brandon Lloyds, Adam Archuletas, TJ Ducketts, and Dana Stubblefields than I'd like. But we've also signed and traded for a lot of guys who have met or exceeded expectations, including but not limited to:
Santana Moss
Clinton Portis
Randy Thomas
Casey Rabach
Cornelius Griffin
Shawn Springs
London Fletcher
Marcus Washington
Andre Carter
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11-12-2009 @ 5:56PM
Jim Burneti said...
Santana Moss - Still can play, too bad the O-line doesnt give Jason enough time to throw to him
Clinton Portis - Good in his prime, too many miles, and not worth Bailey and a pick
Randy Thomas - Finished, missed 2 out of 3 seasons
Casey Rabach - Poor guy, reduced to holding because of the guys alongside of him. Long in the tooth for a football player
Cornelius Griffin - Good in his prime. Don't know how he does it with the injury, but at the end of the road.
Shawn Springs - Gone
London Fletcher
Marcus Washington - A rock - should go to another team that wins so he can make that Pro Bowl - how about New Orleans. Continuing the theme, old in football years
Andre Carter - One dimensional.
The general theme here is old. Can't we build some from within???
11-12-2009 @ 11:02PM
keithamcgregor said...
But we've also signed and traded for a lot of guys who have met or exceeded expectations, including but not limited to:
Santana Moss
Clinton Portis
Randy Thomas
Casey Rabach
Cornelius Griffin
Shawn Springs
London Fletcher
Marcus Washington
Andre Carter
How does one playoff win in Tampa since 2000, add up to met or exceeded expectations? I know Synder sells you a superbowl every offseason, but the offseason doesn't count. Some of you fans need to take off the maroon colored glasses.
11-12-2009 @ 11:04PM
I_am_Jacks_computer said...
Jim,
None of those descriptions are relevant when talking about whether or not a player was a free agency/trade "bust". All of those guys do or did perform within reasonable expectations.
But, yes, it would be nice if we had a GM and scouting department with the skills and resources necessary to better build this team through the draft. If nothing else, drafting well provides the depth that's needed over the course of the brutal NFL season.
11-12-2009 @ 11:08PM
I_am_Jacks_computer said...
keith,
I was talking about the production of the individual players. Team success has been much lower than I have liked (although, not much lower than I've really expected...with the way this front office has neglected key areas of the team [like the o-line] and our inability to find a true franchise QB, it's hard to realistically expect this team to be a championship or even playoff contender every year).
11-12-2009 @ 9:07PM
skeetmccool8841 said...
To go off what you all are saying about Rabach there is one thing I like about him - he's SMART. A lot of coaches in the league take note too. I want to get a young, athletic center on the roster that will sit and learn from Rabach for a year or two and then come in for the starting job.
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11-13-2009 @ 9:04AM
ksshipe said...
I hope we finally got a break with Jones. God knows we need it. ESPN was talking about why P Manning is so hard to sack. Did not mention the OL but rather talked about all the things he does. Do you know he does everything opposite of jason Campbell. Get's rid of the ball with a quick release. reads and understands def. feels the pressure and moves around well in the pocket ect.... I wish we had a qb that did that. End the Jason Campbell experiment! This team will start winning a few games. If nothing else atleast we will know our Quincy Carter days are done.
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11-13-2009 @ 11:32AM
keithamcgregor said...
If nothing else at least we will know our Quincy Carter days are done.
What exactly ties Jason Campbell to Quincy Carter? The way they played the game is completely different. I know that you may not like Campbell as the starting QB of the Skins. But, Jason Campbell competes hard every week, plays hurt and is a model citizen. That said, he probably won't be here next year. You on the other hand are to stupid to realize that their are very few QBS in the league that are as good as Payton Manning. Big Ben takes more sacks than anyone. BUT Ben is surrounded by one of the best rosters in football and his defense scores every week. A luxury that Jason Campbell does'nt have. The Skins roster is average at best and somewhere near the bottom at worst. And the Skins have mismanaged Campbell, just like they have mismanaged everything else from the top down. I'm sure you were one of those idiots calling for MR. Five Picks Cutler to come in here. I'm not sure if your a racist or a bigot, but your comparison of JC and Quincy Carter tells me you might be. Otherwise your to stupid to read your own post and understand what it might imply.
11-16-2009 @ 1:50PM
chobbs21 said...
"WOW Keith". That was strong. I like it.
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11-13-2009 @ 9:58PM
debbie shipp said...
we'll see!! but WHY OH WHY is JC starting (injuries-ribs,ankles, etc.) PLEASE let's try something different with a new(?) O-LINE playing like maybe letting COLLINS START!! WHY NOT TRY IT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS!! CAN'T BE ANY WORSE THAN JC!! (at least he doesn't look scared)
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