LATROBE, Pa. -- I've written about how T.J. Watt can turn into the Steelers' 2019 MVP, Bud Dupree's challenges this season, the reliability of Anthony Chickillo as a backup and why they kept Ola Adeniyi last year, but now it's time to talk about a new face on the roster: JT Jones.
Jones, like Kameron Kelly, played in the AAF and is now in Steelers training camp. A former edge rusher for Miami of Ohio, he went undrafted in 2017, signed with the Falcons, was put on the practice squad that season and cut during camp in 2018.
But why should anyone pay attention to him? Let's compare some of my camp notes with the tape from his college and AAF days:
Jones was a defensive end and primarily a pass rusher in college, wearing No. 91, and was a team captain in his senior year. He totaled 22 sacks over three seasons and would beat players by being quick off the ball and active with his hands to outmaneuver tackles and win the edge.
Watch how easily he works around this tackle from Western Kentucky back in 2016. You can see the subtle shoulder fake, as if he's going to cut inside, followed with a shove to the tackle's arms so he can freely run around the edge and record the sack:
That's Jones' specialty to this day. He got some chances with the first and second teams yesterday in practice — Watt and Chickillo sat out due to injuries — and flashed some potential. He also beat Chukwuma Okorafor in some pass rush drills, earning praise from Mike Tomlin.
I talked to Jones after practice yesterday about his strengths and weaknesses and he explained a bit about what he's working on this camp.
"I would say my speed and my hands are my biggest positives," Jones said. "My weaknesses are definitely coverage and strength. But I work through those things with my finesse, and developing a more physical edge game."
It makes sense for coverage to not be in his skill set considering he's been a defensive end. But that's nothing new for Keith Butler and Tomlin as they've worked with the likes of LaMarr Woodley and Jason Worilds in other years as they converted from defensive ends to 3-4 outside linebackers.
But combining speed with power is an issue that many pass rushers struggle with, just like Dupree. And that's something you certainly see in Jones' tape. When I say combining speed with power, it means a strong explosive first few steps off the ball to beat offensive tackles to their spots, then following that up with the strength at the point of attack to finish a move and work through the blocker's hands.
Watch this rush attempt he had in the AAF against the Birmingham Iron this year. You'll see him on the right edge get off the ball quickly and get deeper than the tackle, even taking the right angle to the quarterback. But his problem comes when his rip move just isn't strong enough to get through the arms of the tackle and he's pushed off his path to the quarterback:
That's what Jones is specifically working on, and he appreciates what the Steelers are doing for him in that regard. He told me about how not just the coaches, but every player in the linebacker group is helping each other improve their weaknesses.
"We have a lot of good guys in our room. We just coach each other well and we learn. Just like now, T.J. [Watt] was telling us about how we need to get in the film room more to minimize our mistakes. Those guys are being leaders. Every question I have, they always have an answer for it. They're coaching me up in the drill and that's helped me translate it from the drill to the field."
He's also received a bit of a morale boost from having so many fellow teammates from the Mid-American Conference on one roster, a rarity in the NFL. There are currently ten players from the MAC on the camp roster: Jones, Diontae Johnson, Sutton Smith, Robert Spillane, Tuzar Skipper, Ulysees Gilbert III, Casey Sayles, Okorafor, Adeniyi and, of course, Ben Roethlisberger.
"It's different, you can't go to many teams like this and run into this many people you played against and know where you come from. It's dope to be able to put on for the MAC and talk our smack against everybody else. It just adds to the fun, and (it's) a blessing."
Keep an eye on Jones' snaps in the preseason to see how much progress he's made toward being that combination of speed and strength the Steelers need on the edge.
MORE CLASSROOM
July 30: Versatile Kelly fits DB mold
July 29: Johnson’s footwork as advertised
July 26: Cam is still the captain
July 25: Pouncey, DeCastro, 1-2 punch
