Countdown to Kickoff: Profile on Atlanta Falcons No. 45 Deion Jones
The Countdown to Kickoff series continues with a look at talented Atlanta Falcons linebacker Deion Jones, who is a perfect fit for their defensive system.
There are exactly 45 days until the Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers open up the 2016 NFL regular season with a Super Bowl rematch. In the meantime, we at NFL Spin Zone are going to profile a player each day as we countdown the days to kickoff.
The Countdown to Kickoff series began with a look at No. 99 Joey Bosa and has continued on everyday since (check out all of the posts here).
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The pickings at the number 45 were pretty slim. Oakland Raiders fullback Marcel Reece is probably the most established NFL player who wears the number. However, a talented rookie linebacker stood out to me as the most interesting choice.
Let’s take a look at Atlanta Falcons rookie linebacker Deion Jones.
The Falcons landed Jones in the second-round (52nd overall) of the 2016 NFL Draft. Jones enters the NFL after a massive breakout senior season at LSU and shows huge upside at the next level.
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Jones did not make a major impact for LSU until his senior season, when he finally got his opportunity as a full-time starter. He became an immediate impact player for the Tigers, totaling up 100 tackles on the season, along with 13.5 tackles for loss and two sacks. Jones was named LSU’s Defensive MVP for the 2015 season.
Listed at 6’1″ and 222 pounds, Jones is considered to be slight for the linebacker position. That being said, he shows elite-level speed, quickness and athleticism that makes him a potentially valuable weapon, especially in the Falcons’ defensive system.
Head coach Dan Quinn’s defensive scheme is built on having fast and athletic players all over the field and Jones certainly fits the bill. He is an absolutely perfect fit to take over as the weak-side linebacker in Quinn’s defense.
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Jones is an extremely gifted athlete who shows fantastic coverage skills and can roam sideline-to-sideline making plays against the run. Also, he shows the raw ability to create consistent pressure off of the edge when given the opportunity.
LSU head coach Les Miles raved about Jones’ ridiculous athletic ability and how well his skills translate to the NFL at the LSU Pro Day.
“Not a lot of linebackers in history will run like that,” Miles said of Jones, according to Rob Rang of CBS Sports.
“That guy may be the fastest linebacker that I personally have been around that had any size to him at all. He’s absolutely the first. That fits into the NFL game as a guy that can move and make plays and has ball skills. He’s going to fit right into the NFL game.”
Personally, I could not agree more with Miles’ assessment of Jones. His speed and raw play-making ability at the linebacker position is top-notch. He is an absolutely perfect fit for today’s NFL where speed and the passing game are king.
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Jones may not look like your father’s NFL linebacker, but he is an incredibly gifted player who is going to come in and make an immediate impact for the Falcons. Jones could prove to be one of the major steals of the 2016 NFL Draft.