New York Post
George WillisGEORGE WILLIS
SPORTS
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Jets may have big steal in snubbed LB from Mich. St.
By George Willis
May 9, 2015 | 8:08pm
Taiwan Jones was at his home in New Baltimore, Mich., last weekend surrounded by family and friends expecting to be selected in the fourth or fifth round of the NFL draft.
That’s where the Michigan State linebacker was projected to be taken after playing in every game of his four-year career with the Spartans and having by all accounts a good showing at the East-West Shrine Game. “Card-carrying tough guy with take-on traits,” is how NFL.com described the prospect.
But the fourth round came and went without his name being called, as did the fifth, sixth and seventh rounds.
“It was a devastating experience,” Jones told The Post on Saturday at the Jets practice facility in Florham Park, N.J. “But at the same time, I knew what I had to do. I wasn’t going to get down about it. I just have to go out there and prove myself the same way I would have had to prove myself if I had been drafted in the fourth round.”
Jones signed a free-agent deal with the Jets and is getting his first chance to prove himself during this weekend’s minicamp for drafted rookies, free agents and tryouts. If there’s someone in this bunch of long shots who can make the team, Jones might be it. He already has been singled out by new head coach Todd Bowles, who was among those surprised Jones wasn’t drafted.
“He’s a thumper,” Bowles said. “I was happy to have him when I saw him just because I thought he was getting drafted. No knock against the rest of them, but that’s what I saw. He’s one of the guys I looked at.”
Jones has no idea why he wasn’t drafted. He declined an invite to the Senior Bowl after the 6-foot-3, 252-pound run-stopper gave his all, physically and mentally, during the practices sessions leading up to the East-West game.
“I think I had a pretty good showing,” he said. “I showed some good things and did well on one-on-ones as well. After that long week of padded practices at the East-West Game and going into another game [Senior Bowl] where those guys would be fresh and I’m not, I decided to try to protect my body and protect myself from injury as well.”
There was also a disappointing 4.95 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, which improved to 4.82 during his pro day.
“It’s nerves,” Jones said. “All the scouts are watching you. You’re basically running track, which I don’t do. At the end of the day, it’s all about football. I’m fast at football. That’s why I’m glad I’m here to prove I can play football.”
The chip on his shoulder is massive. Three inside linebackers in the East-West Game were drafted: Ben Heeney from Kansas was taken in the fifth round by the Raiders; Bryce Hager from Baylor was grabbed in the seventh round by the Rams, and Amarlo Herrera from Georgia was selected by the Colts in the sixth round.
“It gives me added motivation,” Jones said. “It makes me walk around with a huge chip on my shoulder knowing that I need to prove myself, knowing I can play at this level and knowing I can play a long time at this level. I have the confidence to compete each day.”
Pre-draft scouting reports suggest Jones might be a liability in pass coverage and could have trouble shedding offensive linemen, though there was no hint of that during Saturday’s practice session. There also is a notation that he lacks instincts. Jones begs to differ.
“I’m a hard hitter, tough, smart and I go out there and lead,” he said. “I have good pursuit to the football and good instincts. I’m a smart football player.”
He also is a winner, having been central to the resurgence of the Michigan State football program.
“I just know I’m ready to prove myself and give my all to this team,” he said.
He already has gotten Bowles’ attention.
George WillisGEORGE WILLIS
SPORTS
FacebookTwitterGoogleWhatsAppEmail
Jets may have big steal in snubbed LB from Mich. St.
By George Willis
May 9, 2015 | 8:08pm
Taiwan Jones was at his home in New Baltimore, Mich., last weekend surrounded by family and friends expecting to be selected in the fourth or fifth round of the NFL draft.
That’s where the Michigan State linebacker was projected to be taken after playing in every game of his four-year career with the Spartans and having by all accounts a good showing at the East-West Shrine Game. “Card-carrying tough guy with take-on traits,” is how NFL.com described the prospect.
But the fourth round came and went without his name being called, as did the fifth, sixth and seventh rounds.
“It was a devastating experience,” Jones told The Post on Saturday at the Jets practice facility in Florham Park, N.J. “But at the same time, I knew what I had to do. I wasn’t going to get down about it. I just have to go out there and prove myself the same way I would have had to prove myself if I had been drafted in the fourth round.”
Jones signed a free-agent deal with the Jets and is getting his first chance to prove himself during this weekend’s minicamp for drafted rookies, free agents and tryouts. If there’s someone in this bunch of long shots who can make the team, Jones might be it. He already has been singled out by new head coach Todd Bowles, who was among those surprised Jones wasn’t drafted.
“He’s a thumper,” Bowles said. “I was happy to have him when I saw him just because I thought he was getting drafted. No knock against the rest of them, but that’s what I saw. He’s one of the guys I looked at.”
Jones has no idea why he wasn’t drafted. He declined an invite to the Senior Bowl after the 6-foot-3, 252-pound run-stopper gave his all, physically and mentally, during the practices sessions leading up to the East-West game.
“I think I had a pretty good showing,” he said. “I showed some good things and did well on one-on-ones as well. After that long week of padded practices at the East-West Game and going into another game [Senior Bowl] where those guys would be fresh and I’m not, I decided to try to protect my body and protect myself from injury as well.”
There was also a disappointing 4.95 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, which improved to 4.82 during his pro day.
“It’s nerves,” Jones said. “All the scouts are watching you. You’re basically running track, which I don’t do. At the end of the day, it’s all about football. I’m fast at football. That’s why I’m glad I’m here to prove I can play football.”
The chip on his shoulder is massive. Three inside linebackers in the East-West Game were drafted: Ben Heeney from Kansas was taken in the fifth round by the Raiders; Bryce Hager from Baylor was grabbed in the seventh round by the Rams, and Amarlo Herrera from Georgia was selected by the Colts in the sixth round.
“It gives me added motivation,” Jones said. “It makes me walk around with a huge chip on my shoulder knowing that I need to prove myself, knowing I can play at this level and knowing I can play a long time at this level. I have the confidence to compete each day.”
Pre-draft scouting reports suggest Jones might be a liability in pass coverage and could have trouble shedding offensive linemen, though there was no hint of that during Saturday’s practice session. There also is a notation that he lacks instincts. Jones begs to differ.
“I’m a hard hitter, tough, smart and I go out there and lead,” he said. “I have good pursuit to the football and good instincts. I’m a smart football player.”
He also is a winner, having been central to the resurgence of the Michigan State football program.
“I just know I’m ready to prove myself and give my all to this team,” he said.
He already has gotten Bowles’ attention.
