I've never heard the Packers staff bitch about not having prototypical players for the defense they run...

Originally Posted by: go.pack.go. 

The dude is 283 and I suspect he can easily bulk up if required. He is a good fit for the 3-4 we run and a wise choice with the amount of mobile QBs we have to face!

Originally Posted by: DarkaneRules 

No, I'm saying the Packers staff bitches that they don't have prototypical players for the defense they run. Yet they continue drafting players that do not fit their scheme.

Originally Posted by: nerdmann 

If there's one player in this year's Draft that has a similar style as Watt and may play a similar role as Watt in the NFL, it's UCLA's Datone Jones. Mind you, I'm not saying Jones is the next J.J. Watt (really, I'm not), only that he might be used in a similar manner by a team looking for a "hybrid" type of DT/DE.

I'm not about to claim SBNation as the go-to for scouting info, but here's a nice article breaking down 3-4 DT/DE hybrids. It's less than two-days old.

SBNation -- NFL Draft 2013: Scouting the DE/DT hybrids 

Datone Jones is the *first* player the writer lists. I like the sound of this:



The best point made in this analysis is that the old days of the either 3-or-5 technique fit are gone. Look at the the .gifs of 49ers DE/DT Justin Smith. He'll line up at 5-technique end, then shift to a 2-technique right before the snap. He'll line up wide at a 9-technique; he'll take on the LT one on one. He'll play 3-technique in the sub packages. That is to say, that mofo is versatile. Read line one on Datone Jones: that mofo is versatile.

Add to that 1) athleticism 2) high-motor 3) good football I.Q. 4) a frame that can add weight 5) Big hands 6) good speed -- do I need to keep going?

I'm not saying he's J.J. Watt. That's ridiculous. But he has a similarly disruptive style and ability to play all along the line.

Is he a 300 lb., purely 5-technique block soaking run-stuffer? No. But we don't play a lot of that defense any way.

Originally Posted by: nichdane 

I agree with everything you say.

Now go back and watch the 49ers games from last year, and see how they ran right over us. Adrian Peterson too, although he generally didn't take it straight up the gut.

Originally Posted by: nerdmann 

We're through 1 pick so far. Datone wasn't brought in because he's a beast against the run. And better run defense isn't the only thing we need to get better at. I'm sure you'd agree.

Outside of Matthews we don't have a sure-fire rusher. Jones brings disruptiveness and energy, and will likely see a lot of playing time in the sub-packages -- where we play most of the time. He's a "hybrid," and when I hypothetically go back and watch someone like Kaepernick run down our throats, I can't help but think we'd be better served with a talent like Jones on the field.

Originally Posted by: nichdane 

Q: Do you want to lose or add weight?

Jones: It depends on where a team needs me to be. I can’t really judge it. My starting point is 284.

Q: What is Johnathan Franklin like?

Jones: Johnathan Franklin is a great guy. Great guy to be around. He’s a high-character guy, and he’s a hard worker. Johnathan Franklin is another guy who wants to be the best. His energy, a lot of times you’ll see him getting tackled in the backfield; all of a sudden he has a first down 5 yards later. It’s crazy, man. His work ethic is something that a lot of guys should follow. He’s real humble. Hard worker. Just an unbelievable athlete.