New York Giants Brett Jones signing filled with positives

By Ryan Disdier | Feb 12, 2015

The New York Giants are already trying to bolster the offensive line, and they’re looking outside of the United States to do so. Numerous outlets have reported that the Giants have signed offensive lineman Brett Jones from the CFL.

Jones spent his playing time in the Great White North with the Calgary Stampeders, and he was named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Rookie in 2013, and the CFL’s Most Outstanding Lineman in 2014. Jones also helped the Stampeders win the Grey Cup last November.

Jones’ natural position is center, although he’s slightly undersized for an NFL center. Jones is only 6’2″ and 309 lbs., which isn’t ideal size, but he does have the leverage advantage over most defensive linemen. What Jones lacks in stature he makes up for with smarts. He’s been described by former teammates as being an “offensive coordinator” on the field.

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“He has the mind of an offensive coordinator,” said Billy Peach, per NJ.com. Peach is one of Jones’ former teammates in Calgary. “He knows what’s going on with the quarterbacks, with the receivers, he knows formations, he knows coverages on defense, he’s like the quarterback of the offensive line, and I think that’s what separates him from other players.”

The level of competition in the NFL is obviously superior to that of the CFL, but it’s still impressive that Jones is such a cerebral player.

Another teammate spoke on Jones’ intellectual game and how efficient Jones was with coming to terms with the playbook.

“When [Jones] came in his first year, he picked up the playbook and learned the whole playbook within a week, he’s that type of guy,” said Shane Bergman, an offensive tackle for the Stampeders. “He was making calls that veteran centers in the CFL make three, four years in, he was making his first week in.”

Jones’ ability to adapt will certainly help him in the NFL. With defenses and offenses constantly changing, the center needs to be able to decipher what’s going on, especially with Eli Manning under center. Manning, of course, is known for changing out of plays at the line of scrimmage, and the Giants offense is now more reliant on adjustments by way of hand signals.

Jones has also been called a leader, which is another quality the Giants love to see in their players. Jones’ signing is a move to add depth to the offensive line, but it’s not impossible to see Jones compete for a starting job down the road.

As ESPN pointed out, the Giants’ ideally want to move Weston Richburg back to center and add a guard to replace him, or add a reliable tackle, which would allow former first-round pick Justin Pugh to move back inside. However, the groups’ versatility works in New York’s favor. Richburg spent his entire rookie year at left guard, and Geoff Schwartz – who should be fully recovered from a toe injury – has experience playing tackle and guard.

Jones was a hot commodity coming out of the freezing north, and he reportedly worked out with the Eagles, Steelers, Cardinals and Buccaneers.

Although it remains to be seen whether Jones’ CFL success will translate to the NFL or not, it’s hard to call this a bad signing by the Giants. Instead of spending a pretty penny on an old, perhaps unreliable veteran in free agency, the Giants opted to pick up a vastly intelligent player and add a young player.

Jones is a player that’s not too dissimilar from ex-Giant Shaun O’Hara. Like Jones, O’Hara wasn’t a necessarily big lineman (6’3″, 303 lbs.), but he made up for his lack of brute strength with impeccable technique and even better leadership. I’m sure the Giants will be absolutely thrilled if Jones can have a career like the former three-time Pro Bowler’s.

It’s relieving to see New York make improving the offensive line a priority.

Next: 2015 NFL mock draft: Todd Gurley to the Dallas Cowboys

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