Green Bay Packers film room: Breaking down second-round pick Josh Jones

Trait #1: Football Instincts

The first thing that really jumps out about Jones on tape is his tremendous football instincts. Some people call this mental processing, football IQ, or a player’s ability to read and react to an offense.

Either way, Jones’ ability to quickly diagnose plays and then close in on the ball is something special he brings to the table. It allows him to quickly get in on the action and make stops in the open field.

This first clip is from the East Carolina game this past season. On this play Jones is actually lined up as a boundary corner at the bottom of the screen. He gets a quick read on the play, keeps his eyes on the quarterback, and recognizes the bubble screen.

Once Jones diagnoses the play, he does a nice job using his hands to shed the block and then quickly closes in on the ball carrier to wrap him up for a one yard loss.

For the next clip Jones is lined up in a more traditional safety spot. He’s playing against Notre Dame and he moves up in the box to provide run support once the ball is snapped

This play is a read-pass option, and Jones does a nice job keeping his eyes on the quarterback as he moves up in the box. Once DeShone Kizer gives the ball to the halfback, Jones quickly closes in on the line of scrimmage and plugs the rushing lane to impede the back’s progress.

Jones is a very sound run defender, and this play really highlights how disciplined he is in his gap assignments. This type of play is routine in Jones’ film.

He has a natural feel for anticipating run progressions and flowing to the ball to make stops. It is one of the strengths of his game and something that could really help out the Packers defense if Jones plays in more of a nickel cornerback or linebacker role.

Going back to the East Carolina game, this next play highlights another one of Jones’ strengths as a run defender. He has great pursuit ability and the closing speed to make plays outside of the tackle box.

Watch on this next clip how quickly he diagnoses the run and then makes a break for the ball.

Anticipating the run Jones moves up to the second level of the defense. Once the ball is snapped he reads the tight end’s forward stance and the fullback’s path to the left and correctly identifies the play as on outside run.

Jones then turns on the jets and meets the back five yards behind the line scrimmage. There is little hesitation to Jones’ game. He’s effective crashing downhill and he can be an impact player against the run.

Here’s another great read by Jones in the East Carolina game. This time around instead of attacking the play, he shows good patience to anticipate the run on the quarterback keeper and seals the edge from the ball carrier.

He also does a nice job establishing a square base to take on the ball carrier and stop his progress at the line of scrimmage.

Jones shows a good understanding of when to attack the ball carrier and when to stay home and maintain his gap discipline. He’s a solid in-box safety and even excels as an off-ball linebacker.

Despite his strengths against the run, Jones also shows good awareness in coverage. He’s a sound deep ball defender and shows good reaction ability when making a play on the ball.

In the following clip against Clemson, Jones is at the top of the screen and moves up just behind the linebackers before the snap. Once the play starts and the receivers release off the line Jones backs off and picks up the slot receiver, who is running down the seam.

As the receiver breaks to the sidelines on an out route, Jones reads the play correctly, sticks on the wideout’s hip, and breaks on the ball. He does a nice job getting his arm around the receiver to bat away the ball without grabbing his jersey.

Jones shows good awareness on the football field. He has a knack for tracking the ball and appears to be a step ahead, doing a great job anticipating what the offense is going to do.

This makes Jones an effective player in coverage, especially when defending the deep ball, but it also allows him to be a very active run defender.