Josh Jones, S: A First Round Prospect In The Second For The Redskins

Josh Jones, S
School: NC State | Conference: ACC
College Experience: RS Junior | Age: 22?
Height / Weight: 6-1 / 220 lbs
Projected Draft Status: Late 1st or 2nd Round
NFL Comparison: Tony Jefferson

College Statistics

Player Overview

Josh Jones has experience playing both safety spots. He played strong safety his first two years before making the switch to free safety this past season where he has a career year. Jones has prototypical size for the position and outstanding athleticism. He is solid in coverage, particularly in zone, and has the range and speed to stick with athletic tight ends and wideouts alike. Jones is also a physical player that isn't shy about putting a lick on an opponent. He really upped his sense of urgency and improved his tackling technique this year and has the numbers to prove it. The coaches at NC State must have viewed him as a versatile player because he also got some work at corner and linebacker. Jones has largely remained under the radar due to the top end talent at the safety position this year but turned heads with an impressive combine performance.

Strengths

• Can play both safety positions and is built for it. He excelled this past year playing FS but can also be used as a dime linebacker or nickel back if coaches desire.
• Excellent athlete. Has the speed and quickness to stick with most competition. Drop back into coverage is fluid.
• Physical player that will come up ti the LOS and play the run. Will pursue and chase down the ball carrier as well.
• Great in zone coverage displaying good vision, technique, and timing. Disciplined and trusts what he sees most of the time. Understands space and angles in coverage and gets himself into position to make a play on the ball or a tackle.

Weaknesses

• Tends to give too much cushion to receivers on short and intermediate throws.
• Discipline and vision could use work against the run. Occasionally with over pursue and take too hard an angle and miss his target.
• Needs to learn how to fight blockers and disengage more consistently. Sometimes is caught as a spectator instead of remaining active.

Let’s see his work:

How He Would Fit On The Redskins

If the Redskins pass on the top talent at the safety position in the first round Josh Jones would be a good consolation prize in the second. The Redskins seem to be focusing on versatile players and Jones is just that at the safety position. With coaching and creativity, he can possibly line up at a few others as well. Jones physicality and aggression would be a welcome addition in the backfield for the Redskins. Although it looks like D.J. Swearinger was brought in to start at FS there is still plenty of room and opportunity for a player like Jones to get on the field particularly in sub packages with robber coverage as the Redskins are moving toward more of a hybrid defense. Jones will need to clean up his fundamentals and needs to be reigned in at times with his reckless abandon style of play. If he can do that he is going to be a solid player in the league for a long time.