Matt Jone's stock rising...Awesome...

[uscballer101]

I like Matt Jones and hope he goes real high...http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylc=X3oDMTBpcTFhbmEwBF9TAzk1ODYxMDU5BHNlYwN0 bQ--?slug=cr-jones041505&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

[WayzUp]

I still think there is too much more than just combine performances to make a solid NFL player at any position to risk a first-day pick on a QB-turned-WR. We all saw how well Newton did in the Garnet & Black game...dropped a sure TD on the first throw of the game though he did pretty well after that.

I don't mean to compare Newton to Jones in terms of athletic ability but if I were an NFL GM, I'd absolutely take into account that a position switch from QB to WHATEVER has never been done with any amount of success on the NFL level. I truly hope Matt Jones fulfills all the promise that scouts & media have heaped upon him but I wouldn't be risking a first-day pick on so much of an unknown.

Whoever picks Matt Jones will either be a genius with tremendous foresight or the next GM placed on the proverbial hot seat for wasting a low-1st or high-2nd round pick on him. We'll just have to see....

[gopig]

I still think there is too much more than just combine performances to make a solid NFL player at any position to risk a first-day pick on a QB-turned-WR. We all saw how well Newton did in the Garnet & Black game...dropped a sure TD on the first throw of the game though he did pretty well after that.

I don't mean to compare Newton to Jones in terms of athletic ability but if I were an NFL GM, I'd absolutely take into account that a position switch from QB to WHATEVER has never been done with any amount of success on the NFL level. I truly hope Matt Jones fulfills all the promise that scouts & media have heaped upon him but I wouldn't be risking a first-day pick on so much of an unknown.

Whoever picks Matt Jones will either be a genius with tremendous foresight or the next GM placed on the proverbial hot seat for wasting a low-1st or high-2nd round pick on him. We'll just have to see....
I agree you wouldn't want to draft that high on combine alone, but I think Jones does have some other things going for him. He played WR in high school some, and he practiced it at Ark -- we just needed him too much at QB to ever use him as a WR in games... so he does have a little experience.

He also played basketball, which is probably reassuring to GM's that he has good hands.

Also, he did run and catch passes at the senior bowl and the combine, so it's not purely 40 times or vertical leap. They've at least seen him do some route running.

I also agree that whoever picks Matt Jones will either be a genius with tremendous foresight or the next GM placed on the proverbial hot seat for wasting a low-1st or high-2nd round pick on him.

[supergenius]

I look for Jones to be a late 1st rounder. The Patriots seemed very interested.

[Jay_Lupo]

That was a good article, thanks for the post :).

Jones is a lock for the first day and I'd be shocked if he didn't go in round one. I promise that he's not as much of a risk as people are making him out to be. For one thing, he's one of the most accomplished players--regardless of position--in the history of the SEC. He was a WR for 3 of his 4 high school years and spent two springs playing the position. Considering he had only one year of experience at QB before Arkansas, I think he did pretty good at that position :). Matt was a McDonald's All-American basketball player and a starter for the Arkansas team he played for. He was a great all around b-ball player contributing in scoring, rebounding, steals, assists, etc.... Not to mention he could throw it down with the best of them. How many snaps--not at tight end--but how many snaps did Antonio Gates play in NCAA Football? The answer: NONE. I think he turned out pretty good. Jones won countless games for Arkansas in clutch situations when we had to have it. His father has been a football coach for Matt's entire life. He's been raised around the game and knows it well. He will have to adjust to running crisp routes and getting off the line of scrimmage, but something tells me he's not going to have a lot of problems shaking a 6'0, or 5'11 180-200 pound Dback off when he stands 6'1/2 inches taller and anywhere from 40-60 pounds heavier. He didn't have a lot of problems shaking off the lb's and dl's of the SEC who were coming for him. I think Jones will have to make a transition, and it's going to be work for him, but in the end he's going to make whatever GM takes the chance on him look like a genius.

[cocky4ever]

That was a good article, thanks for the post :).

Jones is a lock for the first day and I'd be shocked if he didn't go in round one. I promise that he's not as much of a risk as people are making him out to be. For one thing, he's one of the most accomplished players--regardless of position--in the history of the SEC. He was a WR for 3 of his 4 high school years and spent two springs playing the position. Considering he had only one year of experience at QB before Arkansas, I think he did pretty good at that position :). Matt was a McDonald's All-American basketball player and a starter for the Arkansas team he played for. He was a great all around b-ball player contributing in scoring, rebounding, steals, assists, etc.... Not to mention he could throw it down with the best of them. How many snaps--not at tight end--but how many snaps did Antonio Gates play in NCAA Football? The answer: NONE. I think he turned out pretty good. Jones won countless games for Arkansas in clutch situations when we had to have it. His father has been a football coach for Matt's entire life. He's been raised around the game and knows it well. He will have to adjust to running crisp routes and getting off the line of scrimmage, but something tells me he's not going to have a lot of problems shaking a 6'0, or 5'11 180-200 pound Dback off when he stands 6'1/2 inches taller and anywhere from 40-60 pounds heavier. He didn't have a lot of problems shaking off the lb's and dl's of the SEC who were coming for him. I think Jones will have to make a transition, and it's going to be work for him, but in the end he's going to make whatever GM takes the chance on him look like a genius.
Good post. I think that playing qb in college will actually help him play as a wr in the pro's. He's been on the other side of the ball so he knows what the qb is expecting and qb's have to have a complete understanding of the game. That will certainly help him no matter what position he plays. His speed, hands, size, and understanding of the game are all great. That usually results in a productive player in the NFL. He could be a bust but I think for a pro team to gamble on him would be a pretty safe bet. I know I wouldnt mind him being drafted by the Panthers.

[jbuzbee]

I still think there is too much more than just combine performances to make a solid NFL player at any position to risk a first-day pick on a QB-turned-WR. We all saw how well Newton did in the Garnet & Black game...dropped a sure TD on the first throw of the game though he did pretty well after that.

I don't mean to compare Newton to Jones in terms of athletic ability but if I were an NFL GM, I'd absolutely take into account that a position switch from QB to WHATEVER has never been done with any amount of success on the NFL level. I truly hope Matt Jones fulfills all the promise that scouts & media have heaped upon him but I wouldn't be risking a first-day pick on so much of an unknown.

Whoever picks Matt Jones will either be a genius with tremendous foresight or the next GM placed on the proverbial hot seat for wasting a low-1st or high-2nd round pick on him. We'll just have to see....

Jones and Newton should never even be mentioned in the same breath. Jones is a far superior athlete who played wide receiver for three years of high school before transfering from the school that his dad coaches at so that he could play QB. His dad wouldn't let him play QB!!! I think your assessment of Jones as someone who just excels at combine performance is way off. You are obviously aware of his records playing QB at Arkansas and his basketball skills.....according to Nick Saban "Jones won more games single-handedly for Arkansas than any other SEC quarterback while he was there". Jones is a winner and always has been. For example: Only two college quarterbacks EVER have completed there first pass for a touchdown (Jones and Leinart). The first time Jones got into a basketball game.....first points = fast break slam dunk. At the Senior Bowl, Jones willingly made the switch to WR without playing the position in college and caught a TD in the game...not to mention that all the coaches including Gruden specifically singled Jones out for making several tremendous catches in practice including one over Corey Webster in the endzone with one hand.

"A position switch from QB to WHATEVER has never been done with any amount of success"......you're kidding right? What about Hines Ward (QB at UGA)? Antwaan Randle El (QB at Ind.)? Drew Bennett (QB at UCLA)? Kordell Stewart played WR for Pittsburgh for a little while.

The combine numbers demonstrate Jones' substantial athletic ability.....so the speed, strength, and hands are there. All thats left is the mental capacity to play the position....since Jones played QB in college I believe that he easily will be able to grasp the position. Playing QB will be a benefit to him in the NFL......once he's drafted in the first round.

Prediction: Eagles, Steelers, or Titans

[uscballer101]

I like jones and hope he goes high...The reason he wasnt a high pick to begin with is for some reason no one pays attention to QBs in the SEC...Its only RBs and Defensive guys that people look at...Its crap, SEC has excellent athletes on all teams at all positions...

[Jay_Lupo]

I kind of agree with ya man. I like Aaron Rogers and I think he'll be a damn good pro in the future, but I think Jason Campbell will too. His stock has been rising, almost as fast as Jones, so maybe somebody will throw a wrench into the draft and Take JC pretty early. I'd like to see him go early and I think he'll be a solid NFL QB.

[WooHawg]

Here are some more links:

http://www.sportspgh.com/4-16mag.html

http://www.nypost.com/sports/jets/42967.htm

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/2005draft/2005-04-18-draft-stocks_x.htm

http://tennessean.com/sports/titans/archives/05/03/67796257.shtml?Element_ID=67796257