1) Introduction: Rookie defensive linemen rarely light up the league during their first season. There was hope that Datone Jones could be an exception to that rule.
2) Profile:
Datone Jones
- Age: 23
- Born: 7/24/1990 in Los Angeles, CA
- Height: 6’4″
- Weight: 283
- College: UCLA
- Rookie Year: 2013
- NFL Experience: 1 year
3) Expectations coming into the season: Give the base defensive line some much-needed pass rush. Jones got after the quarterback here and there, but rarely from base formation and not on a consistent basis.
4) Player’s highlights/low-lights: Jones notched three sacks and registered five tackles over a two-game stretch against the Bears and Eagle. Before that outburst, Jones didn’t have any sacks and only managed one measly tackle. Jones also rarely played late in the season.
5) Player’s contribution to the overall team success: Jones would show flashes of pass-rushing ability here and there. He’s also fast enough to make plays downfield if a runner reaches the open field. Jones needs to spend the offseason studying game film of teammate Mike Daniels to learn how to better use leverage and to always play angry.
6) Player’s contributions in the playoffs: As the season wore on, Jones’ playing time was decreased (never a good sign). Fellow rookie Josh Boyd was actually getting more playing time in the end. Jones managed to flush Collin Kaepernick out of the pocket on one of the 13 snaps Jones played in the playoff loss.
Season Report Card:
(D) Level of expectations met during the season
(D) Contributions to team’s overall success.
(D) Contributions to team during the playoffs
Overall Grade: D
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Adam Czech is a a freelance sports reporter living in the Twin Cities and a proud supporter of American corn farmers. When not working, Adam is usually writing about, thinking about or worrying about the Packers. Follow Adam on Twitter. Twitter .
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What a disappointment.
how so the man rarely played due to dom capers refusing to play rookies -2nd year guys . somewhere in dom’s advancing age he feels a guy should not play til his 3rd year. he was drafted to stop the read option and yet dom played raji over him .
I remember seeing a photo of him in the locker with these ‘huge’ chains draped around him standing there like an old Steve Reeves ‘Hercules’….appears it was more like the what happened to Luca Brassie in the Godfather…swims with ‘fishes’.
Does he pull down the walls of Jehrico or remain fish food….
According to some, d line is one of the more challenging positions to go from college to pro, because the level of competition/technique jumps so dramatically. I think the 2nd year jump that MM always talks about is going to happen with Jones. Granted, I said the same thing last year with regard to Jerrone McMillan and look how that turned out. Still, I think he dramatically improves as he will be a starting lineman from day one. GoPack!
This sounds good… if it was a veteran taking his snaps.
Problem is – it was another rookie… a 5th rounder, at that.
Not.
Good.
Most of the season, it was veterans taking his snaps. Boyd didn’t start playing a lot until Jolly was injured. Boyd is naturally heavier and thus played more. Jones was more present for obvious pass plays I believe. — Last year is in the books. Next year I will be happy to see both in the lineup on a regular basis. GoPack!
I sure hope you’re right about D. Jones stepping up in his sophomore year.
It’s amazing how many players there are that we hope can find the staircase.
Scary might be a better word.
this grade is really unfair due to dom capers rarely playing him. look at what he did with the limited time dom played him 16 tackles 3.5 sacks . dom refuses to play rookies . the only reason he got any playing time was due to injuries. this is why dom capers should be fired. he played raji in this spot more than datone and raji did nothing . look it up if you dont want to believe me. i think for what playing time datone got he should get atleast a b
this grade is really unfair due to dom capers rarely playing him. look at what he did with the limited time dom played him 16 tackles 3.5 sacks . dom refuses to play rookies . the only reason he got any playing time was due to injuries. this is why dom capers should be fired. he played raji in this spot more than datone and raji did nothing . look it up if you dont want to believe me. i think for what playing time datone got he should get atleast a b
Although I wasn’t to impressed with him last season, I’m hoping ( praying) that this guy comes through next year. We need some good news regarding TTs high Draft picks on defense. I’m taking a wait and see approach on Jones and am hoping for the best.
Mike, Capers would have played the guy more if he had showed he deserved it. Jones was a liability in base so they gave him a lot of reps in nickel. By years end they played him less in nickel ( which is a bad sign). Capers had no problem playing another rookie on D line, down the stretch, Boyd
actually capers would have not played him do the research every team capers has been at he plays veterans . tell me again how many sacks raji had playing the same spot and yes raji was playing de this year and tell me how dom plays the best players . let me save you all the trouble datone had 3.5 sacks raji had zero sacks but yet raji played 70% of the time your point is invalid due to stats as far as boyd did you even watch the games boyd came in the last 3 games of the season due to injuries he had zero sacks as well
He is a first round pick and didn’t quite play up to that level but, then again, our D-line didn’t play well as a group. Pretty hard for one guy, a rookie, to shine when the other D-linemen and the linebackers are missing assignments and unable to move laterally. I would have liked to see a ‘B’, he could have earned a ‘C’ but your ‘D’ is fair.
As for Dom Capers not playing rookies, I don’t buy it for a second. This unit needed help throughout the year but few of the linemen stepped up, including Datone Jones who got beaten and missed enough assignments to warrant the playing time. I am hoping for a big step in year two or this will be the 3 straight first round pick that has not lived up to potential.
If Perry stays healthy and both improve from year 1-2, they will be good players. Both have flashed some ability, just need to stay out there, and not in the training room. Imagine, if you will, our previous 4 first round picks actually making it through a full season healthy and contributing (Bulaga/Sherrod/Perry/Jones)…..plus whomever we draft this year. GoPack!
Yeah, the development of the player is hardly visible due to all the lost games. If all 4 of those guys stay and play healthy, this team takes an immediate step forward. Extend this logic back another year with the loss of Raji and all the games that Clay Matthews is missing and you can’t be too happy with the first round return. The second round has yielded more players who actually play at a fairly high level.
Development has taken a beating when half the time they are in the hot tub, not out on the field, not to mention it screws up ST’s when guys that make the team really for that reason, end up off ST’s because they have to start for an injured player. This is especially true of our backup LB’s. GoPack!
3,5 sacks to raji’s zero sacks that is true facts i bet all of you still think dom is the best dc in the nfl too huh lol . im out to many bandwagon fans that have no clue about the team .
Too many dumbass don’t jnow squat about football. Good riddance.
Self reflection is a beautiful thing.
If Datone should be studying anyone this offseason, and he should, it needs to be Justin Smith and JJ Watt. Thats what he was drafted to play like. A 3down 34 DE. No offense to Daniels who’s a very good role player, but a role player nonetheless to this point.
Another defensive draft bust… anyone really all that surprised?
Why do so many people view everything through such “black and white” glasses? Everyone is either an all star or a bust. Coaches either suck or are great. If the team doesn’t win the superbowl its a wasted year. Typically those using that style of judgement are always negative. There is a whole world out there that is very much grey. Not everything is so cut and dried. — mostly I can’t help but feel pitty for those of you who get so bent out of shape and express your “opinion” as if its pure fact and everyone else is so beneath you for not recognizing it. That attitude confuses me.
you mean much like your doing right now??
Actually, you’re free to disagree with me, and I won’t get mad or think less of you for it. There in lies the difference…
Jones, Perry,Worthy,these are the young guns that need to make the next step and provide an impact on the D.If that happens(and it’s a big if at this point)we could see a much improved defense next season. A ball hawking safety,and a tough tackling inside linebacker would complete the picture. A lot to ask, along with a healthier team over all.
Jones, Perry,Worthy,these are the young guns that need to make the next step and provide an impact on the D.If that happens(and it’s a big if at this point)we could see a much improved defense next season. A ball hawking safety,and a tough tackling inside linebacker would complete the picture. A lot to ask, along with a healthier team over all.
there must have been something the coaches saw in Jones to draft him so high. If we didn’t draft him, where would he have gone in the draft, just a few picks down or a few rounds? It would have been interesting to see how other teams in need for that type of player rated him. I’d say he’s sort of like Perry, a could do, or will do player? Give him another chance, we need some action out of our defensive lineman. light a fire under him, teach him to be better.