Jarvis Jones

[Shawn]

Jones is going to be a star at OLB

I agree. I believe he has what it takes to be great in this league. He needs an offseason weight training program and a bit more experience. JJ will be just fine.

[bostonsteeler]

Its a sad world when being 245 lbs is considered undersized.. My SO would fit twice in that weight..

[papillon]

If you go around the league and look at the rookie class, did any one that was drafted this year step in and provide that "wow" factor? I'm sure there were some that had really solid years, but there wasn't one rookie on the starting Pro Bowl team and, in fact, the majority seemed to be around the 3rd, 4th or 5th year in the league with some veterans like Polamalu. It's not that easy folks, thinking that Jarvis Jones has somehow peaked as a player is crazy. If he stays healthy, I believe that next year we can expect close to double digit sacks and 5-7 turnovers created, and some passes defensed. NFL scouts do get players wrong in the first round, but not nearly as often as you think. This guy was rated extremely high last year by nearly every team, give him a chance.

Pappy

[ikestops85]

If you go around the league and look at the rookie class, did any one that was drafted this year step in and provide that "wow" factor? I'm sure there were some that had really solid years, but there wasn't one rookie on the starting Pro Bowl team and, in fact, the majority seemed to be around the 3rd, 4th or 5th year in the league with some veterans like Polamalu. It's not that easy folks, thinking that Jarvis Jones has somehow peaked as a player is crazy. If he stays healthy, I believe that next year we can expect close to double digit sacks and 5-7 turnovers created, and some passes defensed. NFL scouts do get players wrong in the first round, but not nearly as often as you think. This guy was rated extremely high last year by nearly every team, give him a chance.

Pappy

I agree Pappy. Fans are too quick to write off players if they don't produce immediately. JJ will be a baller for us for years to come. He will learn how to make those "splash" plays without being out of position. I think his improvement will be dramatic next year.

[papillon]

I agree Pappy. Fans are too quick to write off players if they don't produce immediately. JJ will be a baller for us for years to come. He will learn how to make those "splash" plays without being out of position. I think his improvement will be dramatic next year.

"Out of position" seemed to be his biggest problem and early on it seemed he would aid the opponent's offense by taking himself out of position, but as the year went along he seemed to not be out of position as much and was handling his responsibilities quite nicely, all that was lacking were splash plays, which come with off season work and training camp. I think we'll see a completely different player in September of 2014 than we saw in December of 2013, contrary to popular belief the coaches aren't dolts or idiots.

Pappy

[phillyesq]

If you go around the league and look at the rookie class, did any one that was drafted this year step in and provide that "wow" factor? I'm sure there were some that had really solid years, but there wasn't one rookie on the starting Pro Bowl team and, in fact, the majority seemed to be around the 3rd, 4th or 5th year in the league with some veterans like Polamalu. It's not that easy folks, thinking that Jarvis Jones has somehow peaked as a player is crazy. If he stays healthy, I believe that next year we can expect close to double digit sacks and 5-7 turnovers created, and some passes defensed. NFL scouts do get players wrong in the first round, but not nearly as often as you think. This guy was rated extremely high last year by nearly every team, give him a chance.

Pappy

Great post, Pappy.

For all the posting we see here about how the "complicated" defense holds back young players, there is absolutely no evidence suggesting that rookies are entering the league in other systems and tearing things up, with only a few exceptions. And those exceptions (I'm thinking Alden Smith last year) are typically very high picks.

[sick beats]

Great post, Pappy.

For all the posting we see here about how the "complicated" defense holds back young players, there is absolutely no evidence suggesting that rookies are entering the league in other systems and tearing things up, with only a few exceptions. And those exceptions (I'm thinking Alden Smith last year) are typically very high picks.

Yea, but other teams don't have players from other teams saying things like "We are told we have zero chance of seeing the field no matter what we do, as rookies" either. I find LeBoo's hatred of rookies to be extreme and off target in the modern era of the NFL.

[papillon]

Yea, but other teams don't have players from other teams saying things like "We are told we have zero chance of seeing the field no matter what we do, as rookies" either. I find LeBoo's hatred of rookies to be extreme and off target in the modern era of the NFL.

He doesn't hate rookies and I'd be willing to bet to a man that the defensive players have a greater respect for Dick Lebeau as a coordinator and teacher of the game than we will ever know. What Dick Lebeau does do and it seems to have worked for him for quite some time is insist on players knowing their assignments before they will get significant playing time. Which means that rookies by and large are going to sit and learn the assignments (much to the chagrin of some). Even Ike as recently as 3 or 4 years ago was benched because he was playing poorly and not handling his assignments in the defense. It has absolutely nothing to do with age, that's a perception promoted by those that don't care for Lebeau's style of defense and would like to see him retire.

Lebeau's record speaks for itself over the years. A couple of down years doesn't mean that Lebeau has forgotten how to coach football or that football has passed him by, there are other factors in play that seem to be conveniently overlooked.

Pappy

[BURGH86STEEL]

He doesn't hate rookies and I'd be willing to bet to a man that the defensive players have a greater respect for Dick Lebeau as a coordinator and teacher of the game than we will ever know. What Dick Lebeau does do and it seems to have worked for him for quite some time is insist on players knowing their assignments before they will get significant playing time. Which means that rookies by and large are going to sit and learn the assignments (much to the chagrin of some). Even Ike as recently as 3 or 4 years ago was benched because he was playing poorly and not handling his assignments in the defense. It has absolutely nothing to do with age, that's a perception promoted by those that don't care for Lebeau's style of defense and would like to see him retire.

Lebeau's record speaks for itself over the years. A couple of down years doesn't mean that Lebeau has forgotten how to coach football or that football has passed him by, there are other factors in play that seem to be conveniently overlooked.

Pappy

Spot on.
Harrison shed tears for Lebeau and stated, "I miss him" is all anyone needs to know about the respect that players have for Lebeau as a coach and a person.

[feltdizz]

He doesn't hate rookies and I'd be willing to bet to a man that the defensive players have a greater respect for Dick Lebeau as a coordinator and teacher of the game than we will ever know. What Dick Lebeau does do and it seems to have worked for him for quite some time is insist on players knowing their assignments before they will get significant playing time. Which means that rookies by and large are going to sit and learn the assignments (much to the chagrin of some). Even Ike as recently as 3 or 4 years ago was benched because he was playing poorly and not handling his assignments in the defense. It has absolutely nothing to do with age, that's a perception promoted by those that don't care for Lebeau's style of defense and would like to see him retire.

Lebeau's record speaks for itself over the years. A couple of down years doesn't mean that Lebeau has forgotten how to coach football or that football has passed him by, there are other factors in play that seem to be conveniently overlooked.

Pappy

Are you referring to the time Cowher benched Ike? If so, even other players on the team thought it was an unfair and felt like Ike was made the scapegoat.

I view Lebeau like Larry Brown in the NBA. Brown refused to play rookies and benched contributors based on nothing more than a gut feeling. Lebeau doesn't hate rookies... but he hates to play them early and if given the option he will probably put experience before talent regardless of the gap.

This worked for years... but it hasn't worked lately and it won't work moving forward. We have seen records fall left and right with this D. We missed on a few in 2008 or 09 but regardless, we weren't ready for the transition because we put faith in old vets.

I love Lebeau but I think his time is up. We don't have the luxury of waiting for years and hoping a few guys pan out in year 3 or 4.... and is it really that unrealistic to want to see a rookie make splash plays his rookie year? I talked to a friend the other day and we had the same question. Why the hell can other teams field a rookie who makes an impact while ours takes a year or 2 to bulk up, speed up, catch up. People say rookies don't make impacts their first year but that is OUR history... not the history of rookies around the league. No reason why we have to go back to Kendrell freaking Bell to point out a rookie defender who made a name for himself.