I don't normally read the stuff that comes over my email from the NY Jets Front Office, but this article on Jones is something else: Thomas Jones Hits the Ground Running Published: 07-27-07 By Jeff Weinstein, Reporter Thomas Jones takes a workmanlike approach to the game of football. As Jones puts it, ?Training camp is training camp.? It doesn?t matter who the coach is, or the perception from the outside that one team?s camp is tougher than another. Jones does what he knows best, and that is work hard. It is this approach that has ingratiated him with his new teammates. ?We all know what type of player Thomas Jones has been in this league," QB Chad Pennington said. "I?ve known Thomas since 2000. We trained together for the combine in Florida. He?s a hard worker, number one, and he works extremely hard and is a true professional.? For tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson, a fellow University of Virginia alum, the fact that Jones was a fellow ?Wahoo? was enough proof for him. ?Thomas is a great running back. He's a Virginia guy, so you got to expect great things from him,? Ferguson said. Jones in turn has become very comfortable with his new team just four months into his career as a Jet. ?I?m excited about working with Chad. I?ve known him for a long time and he?s a smart guy. he?s a good leader, so I look forward to working with him this year,? said Jones. ?Just to be out here is exciting for me. There are some great guys out here. They work hard and are really good athletes, really good coaches and I?m just happy to be a part of it.? It didn't take long for him to win over the crowd of about 1,800 fans early in the first practice of training camp. During 11-on-11 drills, Jones showed the combination of quickness and power that made him a 1,210-yard back with the Bears last season, bursting through the line of scrimmage for 15 yards while absorbing hits with his strong frame. While Jones was impressive early on in practice, he put the ball on the ground once during 9-on-7 drills. About 20 yards past the line of scrimmage, DE Shaun Ellis surprised him with some late shoves before stripping the ball away from the back, who presumably thought the play was over. The consequence: a lap around the practice field. ?Coach Mangini runs practices the way they?re supposed to be run," Jones said. "We go through each drill and if you don?t get it right, you do it over.? Yet Mangini admitted after practice that the hitting in that particular drill ?was a little overzealous? for the first day of training camp. A few plays later during the same drill, fellow RB Leon Washington lost his footing and fell hard on his chest, fumbling the handoff in the process. Jones, seeing that Washington was in for the same punishment, ran the lap alongside the second-year player, even waiting for Washington while he lost his breakfast halfway through the lap. It was an example of a veteran being there for a younger player even during an awkward situation. ?Thomas has been a really positive influence and it goes back to what our research showed on him," head coach Eric Mangini said. "Every team that he was at had great things to say about him and that?s been our experience. That?s why we brought him here. Outside of his abilities, there?s great character.? In a short time with a new team, Jones has proven to be the whole package, driven by his passion for football, even during a hot morning practice on the opening of training camp in July. ?It?s work every day," Jones said, "but we?re fortunate enough to be playing a sport we love and coaching a sport we love.?
As much as I hate to say it, TJ makes Martin's departure a lot more bearable. He seems like such a perfect fit, in both talent and attitude. I can't wait to see what he does with what was an abysmal running game last year.
Just wanted to say this now... Today I remebered my stick so I can beat the horse when this thread starts turning into an our O-Line is horrible, so TJones wont be able to run fiasco... I'm ready
You got that right, 1094. Anything's an improvement. But I'm going to say this right here and now and go one gigantic step further ... and put me on record right now for having said it... The addition of Thomas Jones is the single, most important addition to the success of this team in 2007. He's going to make Chad's number better, he's going to make Leon Washington's numbers better, he's going to make Chris Baker's numbers better, he's going to make all our WRs numbers better and he's going to make our entire offense better. Mark my words....
"Jones, seeing that Washington was in for the same punishment, ran the lap alongside the second-year player, even waiting for Washington while he lost his breakfast halfway through the lap." That says it all right there. WIth Martin's departure, Jones can step in as an excellent mentor for Washington. Tell me again what Chicago was smoking when the basically handed him to us?
I don't know what they were smoking, but I can't wait to watch our running game return this season...
I still can't get over what Jones cost us, which is basically a couple of moves down in the same round... virtually nothing!
I believe it! Last year, defenses pretty much only worried about zeroing in on the passing game, since there was no real threat running on the ground. With TJ there keeping them honest, Chad should get a lot better looks and hopefully less blitzing down his throat. Also, can you imagine Pennington's bread and butter, the play-action pass, finally as a threat again? It was pretty much negated last season, when defenses threw caution to the wind. The offense altogether should be a lot more flexible and balanced, giving those mad scientists, Mangini and Schotty, plenty of freedom to whip up whatever plays they can come up with.
Looking back, I am amazed we won 10 games last year with a running game that scared nobody. I agree, TJ is going to make our line better, and every other position on offense for that matter...
To be fair, once Washington became our primary threat out of the backfield, we had enough of a running game to make the playoffs. Adding TJ makes us dangerous. Yes, the OL is a question mark to some extent, but at worst it's middle of the pack compared to the rest of the NFL. We had a top tier OL for years, which few teams can say, and I think we've become a little spoiled.
Yea, I am really excited about the Jones acquisition as it really helps all areas of the offense. I can't wait for the season!
