Home Player Spotlight Breakout Season or Not; Jarvis Jones is a Valuable Piece of Steelers’ Future

Breakout Season or Not; Jarvis Jones is a Valuable Piece of Steelers’ Future

by Steelbydesign

One of the early storylines out of OTA’s is about Jarvis Jones and how he’ll respond on the field to the team not picking up his 5th year option.

Plenty of fans have already firmly affixed the bust label to Jarvis Jones, which is fine, if that’s your opinion.

Personally, I think the Steelers were 100% right not to keep Jarvis under contract in his 5th season given what that would have cost, but I also don’t think he’s a bust.

Has he lived up to expectations? No, not in Pittsburgh, where outside linebackers are expected to get to the Quarterback. His 5 sacks in 3 seasons just isn’t what we’d consider good production from a 1st round pick at his position.

If I had to guess, I would bet Jarvis probably doesn’t suddenly become a monster pass rusher this season, but I think that’s ok. I can’t say that I hope he doesn’t, because if he has double digit sacks this team might be in the Superbowl, but if he doesn’t and it keeps his price tag down that wouldn’t be the worse thing in the world either.

The Jarvis Jones situation reminds me a little bit of Ziggy Hood. Hood was a solid piece of the puzzle but he didn’t live up to his first round pedigree. I didn’t think that should really be a factor in giving him a new contract; just sign him for what he’s worth. Ziggy left, and the Steelers are still looking for a 3rd DE to take some pressure off of Cam Heyward and Stephon Tuitt.

I feel the same way about Jarvis Jones, but I actually still think that Jarvis’ ceiling is higher than Ziggy’s was, and I say that because of the team’s philosophy changes on defense.

 

There could be a huge article on this alone, so I won’t get too in depth but all the signs are there that the team is moving towards focusing more on a 4-3 alignment.

Bud Dupree is the last piece on the team that could be seen as a future edge rusher in a traditional Steelers defense, but at 270 pounds he could easily be a hand-in-the-dirt edge guy. The team didn’t pick up Jarvis’ option and James Harrison is going to be gone in 2017 and the team didn’t draft a 3-4 OLB. Doesn’t that tell you they don’t think they need them going forward?

They grabbed Hargrave who they’ve discussed as a nose tackle but his skillset fits the 3-technique to a tee. They drafted Travis Feeney who looks like a 4-3 OLB to me, because he’s way too small to be considered and edge rusher.

 

So wait, I want them to re-sign Jarvis Jones, a 3-4 OLB, when they’re transitioning to a 4-3?

 

Yes! I think that Jarvis Jones has some great qualities for an NFL linebacker, I just don’t think he’s a very talented pass rusher.

Which is why I see Jarvis Jones as a great fit at linebacker in the team’s future scheme with his strengths in playing against the run and in coverage, which the Steelers had him doing a lot of in 2015.

I think that he’s a better fit on the strong side, but probably has the versatility to play on both sides. If Feeney works out I think that I like his speed and closing ability on the weakside, and put Jarvis on the other, with Shazier manning the middle.

Obviously, there’s a lot of football to play before Jarvis hits free agency and lots of things can change between now and then, but I think that the Steelers are going to have a lot of money to give to guys like Heyward, Tuitt, and Shazier. You need reliable role players in spots, and I believe Jarvis could be one of those guys.

 

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19 comments

bob graff May 27, 2016 - 6:34 pm

The best way to describe this article is a line from Animal House. ” bullshit, bullshit, bullshit”. Here’s the truth , the Steelers are going to cut off there noses to spite there face in order to prove this wasn’t a total bust. I could go on and on but do i really have to, this horse is already dead.

bob graff May 27, 2016 - 6:36 pm

Or was that Forgetting Sara Marshall????

Vittorio May 27, 2016 - 7:01 pm

I have to agree with Bob which that alone is shocking cause he 1 of the few people on this site I don’t agree with. Chris I must say you saying there transitioning to a 4-3 is “flat out crazy’ Now they may use that formation on some occasions but to go all the way is dumb cause it nullifies the Dupree pick. If your going to move a 4-3 than you draft a 4-3 LB and not someone who is supposed to rush the QB. Yeah Dupree can put his hand on the ground but I don’t like the idea of that happening. I want the Steelers to accentuate there Strengths not hinder it.

Ben Anderson May 27, 2016 - 8:30 pm

I was hoping Chris would get some feedback like this.
Bob and Vic, step back and look at all of the guys drafted for defense the last two years. None of them are classic 3-4 defenders, not even 270 pound and yet still shredded, Bud Dupree. Before coming to Pittsburgh, he was seen as a strong edge setter, not a pass rusher. (7.5 sacks his last year at Kentucky). Because Vic is sure to respond that no one wrote that: NFL.com on Dupree before the draft: “Outstanding power with ability to rag-doll tight ends at will. Should be an above average edge-setter.” “Still raw rushing the passer. Doesn’t possess a go-to pass-rush move. Appears to lack urgency in-game.”
I’ll write something up and post it and you two can argue it there. I don’t necessarily agree that a transition to a 4-3 is in the offing. But the D is in transition and if people don’t see that, they haven’t been paying attention to personnel acquisition.
I’ll give you one more peek at my thoughts before I post the article: Javon Hargrave does not fit anywhere in a traditional 3-4.
Incidentally, the Steelers run a 4 man front most of the time now. Don’t get caught up in “hand in the dirt” definitions. What they run now is a 4-2-5 with the OLBs effectively lined up as ends.

Vittorio May 27, 2016 - 11:05 pm

I already knew about his raw pass rushing ability but I dismissed it because I just wanted him to after the QB which he did. Now 4 sacks is not great but there were times where he was able to get pressure and while he didn’t always get the sack he showed that he can be a effective pass rusher. If the Steelers show a 4-2-5 look teams will check off to short underneath throws vs the 2 LB’s that remain and be very effective and unless that 4 man front pressures the QB consistently the D will be in trouble. I would not mind the Steelers running a 3-3-5 cause at least you get a extra LB to rush up field with. Why try to rush the QB with DL if you can still do it with the OLB’s. no disrespect to Heyward and Tuitt but if you keep relying on the DL to get you sacks and force fumbles then why bother having Dupree or for that matter any pass rushing OLB’s at all. Sure those 2 guys can get some sacks but more often than not I want those 2 plus whoever is the NT to create easy lanes so that the OLB’s have easier access to the QB’s The whole lack urgency in the game is fixable cause you have Joey Porter as a coach to create urgency in his game so that Dupree becomes not only a better Football player but a improved Pass Rusher.

Ben Anderson May 31, 2016 - 10:45 pm

“If the Steelers show a 4-2-5 look teams will check off to short underneath throws vs the 2 LB’s that remain and be very effective…”
Really? Because over 70% of the time, that’s exactly what they run NOW and check downs to short targets is not what has plagued them. It’s outside vertical and post patterns because their DBs stink and the pass rush is not good enough yet.

JB Steel May 28, 2016 - 4:56 pm

The talk of are the Steelers a 3-4 or 4-3 has no meaning under Butler’s defensive play calling. Butler mixed up the coverage more last season than it’s it been mixed up in the last 10 years. He goes from from 4-3 to cover package to 3-4 all in one set of downs. He’s also into exotic blitz packages and likes to show cover and then go after the QB. What the Steelers are looking at now are a lot situational substitutions. The personnel they are assembling bears this out. The thing with Jones is he brings nothing special to any those schemes. If any of the young guys step up I expect Jones to be gone around final cuts. The Steelers may then try to sign a veteran edge-rush specialist as a transitional move.

Ben Anderson May 31, 2016 - 10:31 pm

He hardly mixed coverages at all until December. And then, yes, he began mixing them with frequency.
That said. With an aggregate of 155 career starts combined for the projected “starting” 5 D Backfield (Gay, Mitchell, Golden, Golson, Cockrell), 92 of which are Gays, and 55 of which are Mitchell’s, I don’t see much mixed coverage being used for the first 8 weeks or so of the season.
Also, your projection of Jones being cut, no matter who steps up, has a less than 1% chance of coming to fruition. His 2016 salary is fully guaranteed.

Ben Anderson May 27, 2016 - 8:36 pm

One other point on the subject of Jarvis. I think it would be best for both parties if Jones was to leave at the end of this season. He could use a fresh start someplace else and the Steelers could use his roster spot on someone who more closely matches a classical Steelers defensive persona.
I have always thought that half his problems revolved around the fact that he’s a nice guy and his level of intensity seems average on good days.

SCB Steelers Quick Hitters for 5/27/16 May 27, 2016 - 9:10 pm

[…] Chris posted his latest this morning on Jarvis Jones. Check it out right here. […]

bob graff May 27, 2016 - 10:13 pm

Here is the question that answers the question. If Jarvis Jones were drafted in the 5th round would he even be on this roster?? I actually respect everyone’s opinion on this site that’s why i have been on here for so long. I enjoy everyone unique perspective of the team we all cheer for. BTW GO PENS!!!

Ben Anderson May 27, 2016 - 11:12 pm

I think Jarvis would be around if he were a 5th rounder, yes. In fact, we would probably be less inclined to disparage his performance if we had 5th round expectations.
Does the name Chris Carter ring a bell?

JB Steel May 28, 2016 - 4:40 pm

The answer is no. The only reason Jones is still on the roster is Tomlin and Colbert have been desperately hoping somehow he would become miraculously faster, stronger and have killer pass rush moves to justify their reaching for him and letting Harrison walk. Well, it’s not going to happen. The Steelers may be able to get a 6th or 7th rounder for him off the Steeler LB mystique. I’m guessing they get rid of him around final cuts if Chickillo or Feeney show anything in pre-season.

Ben Anderson May 31, 2016 - 10:39 pm

If Jarvis shows up in shape, he makes the team. The Rooneys are not in the habit of paying people to take the year off.

JB Steel May 28, 2016 - 4:34 pm

The only value Jarvis Jones has is to remind the Steelers NOT to get rid of a high performing player just because they have their new ‘shiny object’ Draft prospect. He is a mega-bust and an embarrassment. I was totally against what they did to James Harrison and find it hilarious that Tomlin and Colbert were forced to bring him back. I would hope they’ve learned not to do anything that stupid again.

Ben Anderson May 31, 2016 - 10:35 pm

I think that “embarrassment” went both ways. James was offered $3.6M to play for the Steelers in 2013, with incentives to pick up what he was going to lose. Instead, he listened to his pride and left, likely after talking with his agent who believed he could get more on the open market. He ended up playing out of position as a strong side 4-3 OLB for a year for a total of $1.4M; barely more than he would have gotten had he signed a vet minimum contract with a $65k signing bonus.
That was a lose-lose situation where both parties erred.

bob graff May 29, 2016 - 1:21 am

Ok one more last time. Drafting Jones was a mistake he is too slow, hasn’t improved since day one, not aggressive enough, I hate to say it but if we only played with ten there really wouldn’t be that much difference. I mean if you were to convert Vince Williams to and OLB we would be better off for it. And Btw the Chris Carter could at least play special teams and with no sacks in his NFL career i didn’t get it in the first place.Let’s face it Jones was brought in to be our Suggs, you can B.S. it anyway you like but he is what he is a below average NFL player.

bob graff May 29, 2016 - 1:33 am

You know i’m going to let it out i hate him wearing 95. Gregg Lyold was such an emotional and fiery leader and for the team to allow this BUM to wear his jersey is an insult. The Steelers have always been known for absolutely superior LB play and for anyone to pretend that this guy is even worthy. Well i’m going to stop right there because i still consider myself a fan but i don’t understand this.

Ben Anderson May 31, 2016 - 10:40 pm

I think you pretty much made every other comment a moot point with that comment. It trumps all others

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