Murrell2878
06-28-2006, 10:10 PM
We should do updates on players so everyone has a little info heading into drafts. Here's some on Kevin Jones RB Detroit Lions who could end up having a huge year in Detroit...
As far as the players who make up the offense, Martz is pleased with that as well. He is particularly happy with Lions RB Kevin Jones, who is bettering his game with offseason practice and workouts.
Martz on RB Kevin Jones catching the ball better than he has: “Yeah, he’s done a great job. They put him on the jugs machine I guess for the last few months – Wilbert (Montgomery) has. He’s very comfortable catching the ball right now. He’s really a well-rounded back. In the protections, he does a nice job of breaking down taking guys on; he understands it. There’s a lot for him to learn. When you’re a premier ball carrier, you (typically) kind of have a role with that and (then somebody else does) the other things. We don’t do that with him. He has to do it all and he’s accepted that very well.”
Dedicated to Becoming an All-Around Back
RB Kevin Jones Has Been Working Throughout the Offseason to Improve his Game
By Chrissie Zavicar
Detroitlions.com
May 26, 2006
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Running back Kevin Jones is coming up on his third season with the Detroit Lions. (Photo by Steve Kovich)
ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- As a fan, it is probably easier to believe all of the negativity surrounding professional athletes rather than the positive.
Who and what to take as truth may sometimes be confusing when it seems like a lot of smoke and mirrors are put into covering professional sports.
But, believe it or not, many of the positive things surrounding NFL players and coaches are true.
Take the Detroit Lions as an example: players are pumped up for the 2006 season under Head Coach Rod Marinelli and are in the building working hard to prepare for their upcoming mini-camp, training camp and the regular season.
Players from every position group, regardless of tenure, are showing their dedication and that is showing itself on the practice field during the team’s OTA sessions.
One player who is standing out as much improved is running back Kevin Jones. Coming up on his third season, Jones has been working closely with Running Backs Coach Wilbert Montgomery to become an all-around back.
Montgomery, who was a running back with the Philadelphia Eagles for eight seasons (1977-84), has been helping him with his running game, pass protection and his receiving skills.
“During the offseason I was trying to catch about 100 balls a day; a little over 100,” said Jones, who has shown an ease in catching the football throughout the offseason practice and workout sessions. “Coach Montgomery was shooting them to me, or he was throwing the ball to me and I caught a little bit extra with the quarterbacks.
“I want to be the best back and I have to be able to catch the ball and do all those things. They just come easy to me now because once you start doing something every day it just becomes repetition.”
Jones is a player who has been particularly inspired by the Lions new coaching staff. Since they arrived this offseason, the air in the team’s practice facility has been thick with intensity. They have stressed high-tempo practices and expect nothing but the best out of their players on a daily basis.
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Jones has been impressed with Head Coach Rod Marinelli and the rest of the Lions coaching staff. (Photo by Steve Kovich)
“This coaching staff is the best I’ve been around,” said Jones. “The best I’ve seen. Coach Marinelli is the ring leader for all of us. He’s the ultimate motivator. Marinelli has a way of getting things done and I like that way. I think we’re responding to that.”
It isn’t only Marinelli’s way of doing things that could help get the running game – and the Lions offense as a whole – going next season. The Lions head coach has also chosen players – both free agents and draft prospects – he believes embody the football passion he wants playing for him every down.
“As a team I think that we’re light years ahead from where we were because of the coaching staff and the intensity that they’ve brought in here,” said Jones. “It’s just amazing how different people can make the whole system work a little differently.
“We’re all positive right now, and if we just stick together and learn this offense like we should learn it – because I think the defense is going to be fine – I just think the offense needs to put a little more points on the board than we did last year. I think we have the right tools to do it.”
Jones is perhaps the most bottled-up talent the Lions have on their roster. He has shown his abilities over the past two seasons, but has yet to put together that “breakout year” that he has shown glimpses of.
But the thought is, once he is unleashed, opponents better watch out; and Jones feels this will be his year to get things going individually, though he doesn’t feel he has to prove that to anyone – he is going to let his game do the talking.
“I don’t feel like I have to prove it to the coaches or my teammates because they all know I can run,” he said. “I will prove it. I don’t think I have to prove it, though. It’s just something I do. That’s just a part of me: competing and trying to be the best.”
Throughout his first two seasons, Jones has received the praises of many opposing coaches prior to a match-up. No matter what his stats looked like from the previous game, opposing coaches were always preparing and accounting for him because they knew he was a constant threat.
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Jones feels he has been earning the respect of his teammates through his dedication. (Photo by Steve Kovich)
Now, Jones believes that threat will turn into reality due to the mentality of the team and the offensive system under Offensive Coordinator Mike Martz.
“It’s exciting,” said Jones. “I was talking about that to a couple of my teammates just about how explosive it is and how many big plays we should all make. It’s going to shock a lot of people I think. It’s big. It’s big playing under him.”
Jones and the Lions are obviously looking for the running game to pick up this season and they have acquired even more talent to help that happen. The team is currently carrying five tailbacks: Jones, Shawn Bryson, Artose Pinner, free agent signing Arlen Harris and third-round draft pick Brian Calhoun.
“I think Arlen Harris and Calhoun were great additions to the team,” said Jones. “Calhoun being the youngest, he gets to watch some of the experience being in front of him. I think it’s a good combination with Arlen because he knows the offense, so I’ve learned a lot from him from him being in St. Louis, so I think it’s a good mixture.”
Now in his third year, Jones is starting to move up the ladder in experience and accrued seasons. His work ethic is showing his teammates the kind of dedication he has to turning the Lions into a winner, and the respect level they have for him is growing.
“I always felt like I had a leadership role, but I’m taking on that leadership role a little stronger this year,” said Jones. “Just being able to talk to my teammates and them respecting me; it’s all about respect and earning it.
“I think I’m earning their respect so far through this offseason by being here; trying to be here every day and just trying to set an example.”
As far as the players who make up the offense, Martz is pleased with that as well. He is particularly happy with Lions RB Kevin Jones, who is bettering his game with offseason practice and workouts.
Martz on RB Kevin Jones catching the ball better than he has: “Yeah, he’s done a great job. They put him on the jugs machine I guess for the last few months – Wilbert (Montgomery) has. He’s very comfortable catching the ball right now. He’s really a well-rounded back. In the protections, he does a nice job of breaking down taking guys on; he understands it. There’s a lot for him to learn. When you’re a premier ball carrier, you (typically) kind of have a role with that and (then somebody else does) the other things. We don’t do that with him. He has to do it all and he’s accepted that very well.”
Dedicated to Becoming an All-Around Back
RB Kevin Jones Has Been Working Throughout the Offseason to Improve his Game
By Chrissie Zavicar
Detroitlions.com
May 26, 2006
To view links in this forum your post count must be 10 or greater. Your post count is 0 momentarily.
Running back Kevin Jones is coming up on his third season with the Detroit Lions. (Photo by Steve Kovich)
ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- As a fan, it is probably easier to believe all of the negativity surrounding professional athletes rather than the positive.
Who and what to take as truth may sometimes be confusing when it seems like a lot of smoke and mirrors are put into covering professional sports.
But, believe it or not, many of the positive things surrounding NFL players and coaches are true.
Take the Detroit Lions as an example: players are pumped up for the 2006 season under Head Coach Rod Marinelli and are in the building working hard to prepare for their upcoming mini-camp, training camp and the regular season.
Players from every position group, regardless of tenure, are showing their dedication and that is showing itself on the practice field during the team’s OTA sessions.
One player who is standing out as much improved is running back Kevin Jones. Coming up on his third season, Jones has been working closely with Running Backs Coach Wilbert Montgomery to become an all-around back.
Montgomery, who was a running back with the Philadelphia Eagles for eight seasons (1977-84), has been helping him with his running game, pass protection and his receiving skills.
“During the offseason I was trying to catch about 100 balls a day; a little over 100,” said Jones, who has shown an ease in catching the football throughout the offseason practice and workout sessions. “Coach Montgomery was shooting them to me, or he was throwing the ball to me and I caught a little bit extra with the quarterbacks.
“I want to be the best back and I have to be able to catch the ball and do all those things. They just come easy to me now because once you start doing something every day it just becomes repetition.”
Jones is a player who has been particularly inspired by the Lions new coaching staff. Since they arrived this offseason, the air in the team’s practice facility has been thick with intensity. They have stressed high-tempo practices and expect nothing but the best out of their players on a daily basis.
To view links in this forum your post count must be 10 or greater. Your post count is 0 momentarily.
Jones has been impressed with Head Coach Rod Marinelli and the rest of the Lions coaching staff. (Photo by Steve Kovich)
“This coaching staff is the best I’ve been around,” said Jones. “The best I’ve seen. Coach Marinelli is the ring leader for all of us. He’s the ultimate motivator. Marinelli has a way of getting things done and I like that way. I think we’re responding to that.”
It isn’t only Marinelli’s way of doing things that could help get the running game – and the Lions offense as a whole – going next season. The Lions head coach has also chosen players – both free agents and draft prospects – he believes embody the football passion he wants playing for him every down.
“As a team I think that we’re light years ahead from where we were because of the coaching staff and the intensity that they’ve brought in here,” said Jones. “It’s just amazing how different people can make the whole system work a little differently.
“We’re all positive right now, and if we just stick together and learn this offense like we should learn it – because I think the defense is going to be fine – I just think the offense needs to put a little more points on the board than we did last year. I think we have the right tools to do it.”
Jones is perhaps the most bottled-up talent the Lions have on their roster. He has shown his abilities over the past two seasons, but has yet to put together that “breakout year” that he has shown glimpses of.
But the thought is, once he is unleashed, opponents better watch out; and Jones feels this will be his year to get things going individually, though he doesn’t feel he has to prove that to anyone – he is going to let his game do the talking.
“I don’t feel like I have to prove it to the coaches or my teammates because they all know I can run,” he said. “I will prove it. I don’t think I have to prove it, though. It’s just something I do. That’s just a part of me: competing and trying to be the best.”
Throughout his first two seasons, Jones has received the praises of many opposing coaches prior to a match-up. No matter what his stats looked like from the previous game, opposing coaches were always preparing and accounting for him because they knew he was a constant threat.
To view links in this forum your post count must be 10 or greater. Your post count is 0 momentarily.
Jones feels he has been earning the respect of his teammates through his dedication. (Photo by Steve Kovich)
Now, Jones believes that threat will turn into reality due to the mentality of the team and the offensive system under Offensive Coordinator Mike Martz.
“It’s exciting,” said Jones. “I was talking about that to a couple of my teammates just about how explosive it is and how many big plays we should all make. It’s going to shock a lot of people I think. It’s big. It’s big playing under him.”
Jones and the Lions are obviously looking for the running game to pick up this season and they have acquired even more talent to help that happen. The team is currently carrying five tailbacks: Jones, Shawn Bryson, Artose Pinner, free agent signing Arlen Harris and third-round draft pick Brian Calhoun.
“I think Arlen Harris and Calhoun were great additions to the team,” said Jones. “Calhoun being the youngest, he gets to watch some of the experience being in front of him. I think it’s a good combination with Arlen because he knows the offense, so I’ve learned a lot from him from him being in St. Louis, so I think it’s a good mixture.”
Now in his third year, Jones is starting to move up the ladder in experience and accrued seasons. His work ethic is showing his teammates the kind of dedication he has to turning the Lions into a winner, and the respect level they have for him is growing.
“I always felt like I had a leadership role, but I’m taking on that leadership role a little stronger this year,” said Jones. “Just being able to talk to my teammates and them respecting me; it’s all about respect and earning it.
“I think I’m earning their respect so far through this offseason by being here; trying to be here every day and just trying to set an example.”