FanPost

Chandler Jones: Snooze on the 'Cuse and You Lose

Chandler Jones vs West Virginia (via MetaDraft)

6-5, 265
In just 7 games with Syracuse this year he had 4.5 sacks, 7.5 TFL, 38 tackles, 2 FF, and 1 INT.

Chandler has great pedigree (brother Arthur is a DT with the Ravens, and other brother Jon is the Light-Heavyweight Champ in the UFC). Dude has sick length and athleticism, and he runs with a high motor. All that length makes him very tough to handle because it gives him a lot of leverage. He's very raw, but he knows how to use his length to his advantage. Once he improves his hand technique he's going to be a beast. He probably isn't quite athletic enough to play OLB in a 34, but he's a tremendous 43 DE prospect. And if we're considering making that formation more of our base defensive set (Karl Dunbar's hiring may just signal such), then he would be a damn fine addition.

What I like about Jones is his length (obviously). It gives him a very simple, very bankable advantage on every single snap. It doesn't take much for him to gain leverage and win a match-up. Not only can he joust OLs away from his frame, but just the slightest mis-step by an offensive lineman gives him the leverage to push his way to the QB. And his height allows him to severely disrupt passing lanes when he can't get a hand on the quarterback.

Jones is definitely not a first round prospect, as he's at least a year away from making any sort of meaningful contribution. Give him a little time and I think he's got the length, athleticism and want-to to become a demon of a DE.

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