Maybe we're talking about a different Jones, it is after all an extremely common name.
Seriously, I'll not argue your perspective, but everything that I've studied about him says he more than capable in the pass game. In fact his noted and supposed "weaknesses" have everything to do with his slight frame (5' 11" 205 pounds) and whether or not he'll be able to hold up for an entire NFL season being the feature back.
They are pretty much all the same but here's his draft profile: (I say watch film on the guy to see the real football player)
Despite not starting a game as a true freshman in 2015, Jones garnered honorable mention All-Pac-12 honors and broke Heisman Trophy winner Charles White's USC freshman record with 987 rushing yards on 153 carries, scoring eight times. He started slowly in 2016 but took off when starter Justin Davis was injured. Jones finished by earning second-team all-conference recognition (six starts in all 13 games) after leading the Trojans with 1,082 yards and 12 touchdowns on 177 totes. Jones was a third-team Associated Press All-American and first-team All-Pac-12 selection in 2017, finishing in the top ten nationally in rushing yards (1,550) and rushing touchdowns (19) on 261 carries. He also caught 14 passes for 187 yards and one touchdown. The McKinney, Texas native covered over 2,000 yards as a high school junior and senior, totaling 67 touchdowns in those seasons. He also was a district champion in the 100 meters and moonlighted with the USC track team in the spring of 2016.
By Lance Zierlein
NFL Analyst
Draft Projection
Round 2
NFL Comparison
Jamaal Charles
Overview
Jones is a classic slasher with the wiggle and explosiveness to elude open-field tacklers and then burst to chunks of yardage. Jones was a much more assertive runner in 2017 and improved upon areas of improvement from the 2016 season. Jones also has the ability to turn into a much more dangerous pass-catcher than we saw at USC. He should test well at the Combine, but there will still be teams concerned with how many carries he can handle and how that affects his draft value. He's a big play talent with a chance to thrive at a high level wherever he lands.
Strengths
Weaknesses
- Runs with desired level of calm in the face of oncoming traffic
- Trusts blocking development and hides cut intentions until the last second
- Plays with light, electric feet that are dynamic in tight quarters
- Elite plant and acceleration
- Loose hips able to make rare cuts as sharp as 90 degrees
- Deadly stop-start to ruin linebackers trying to pace and mirror him
- Can find side door out of traffic and to the outside track
- Maintains top play speed and is able to string together moves on moves on moves
- Has lower body wiggle to dead-leg tackle attempts and slide by defender
- Willful as a runner
- Squares pads at impact for improved contact balance
- Fights for yardage and falls forward
- Had just two fumbles over 591 carries
- Wasn't prolific as pass-catcher but is more than capable
- Willing to stand in and offer some blitz protection
Sources Tell Us
- Relatively lean frame
- Could require limitations with his touch count over the course of a season
- Coming off of a 275-touch 2017 campaign
- Interior vision can be a little inconsistent and will leave meat on the bone
- Lacks a broad base and contact balance could become an issue on next level
- Reactive runner who could still use a more fine-tuned rush plan
- Needs to balance pace with patience
- Can get too far downhill leaving himself limited escape routes
- Has room for improvement with run track in gap scheme
- Can improve tempo and rhythm to set up cutbacks on stretch plays
- Takes too many punishing blows in his quest for additional yardage
"I love his juice. You have to have some of that to become a good back in the pros and he has a lot of it. He may be a little too light to give it to him more than 12-14 times per game though. I worry if he can hold up." - NFC Personnel executive
Now, if you can play Thompson and Jones together, that would be interesting. But has Gruden ever shown that type of creativity?
Bradshaw and Jacobs helped win 2 SB's for the Giants. That was before Bradshaw bulked up - he was a little guy back then. New England's running game was at its best when they had LaGarette Blount offsetting a host of small running backs like Lewis.
I have no idea, and I don't know what that's got to do with the discussion.
