Ronald Jones II has been a star since he set on foot on the field at USC. As a freshman, he put up 987 yards and eight touchdowns. As a sophomore Jones ran for 1,082 and 11 touchdowns and 1,550 yards and 14 touchdowns as a junior. Jones is a big play producer and averaged over 6.1 yards per carry in his career. Can that continue into the NFL?
Measurables
Age: 20
School: USC Trojans
Strengths
Jones makes this big gashes in the defense with vision, burst, elusiveness and power built from speed. Put together it is a package that can move onto the NFL.
Vision
Jones uses his vision into the second level to suck the linebackers in. He gets the linebacker close enough to the line of scrimmage by stepping up to the middle before exploding past him as 77, the left guard gets to the second level and forces him to flail at Jones as he runs by.
Jones sees and uses the entire field. His ability to set up runs in the second level and explode into the open field is impressive.
Burst
That speed while cutting back, or exploding into the hole comes from precise footwork and an ability to plant and burst into the open field. Jones has that, and has the ability to wiggle while maintaining or changing speeds to hit holes. In the play below it is a three step jog before a hard step and explosion into the hole and into the open field.
Elusive
That hard plant and footwork allows him to be a dangerous runner laterally while maintaining speed into the second level. Jukes, spin moves, cut backs, everything is in play with Jones and it is followed by a plant and a burst into space.
Power
With as much speed and elusiveness as Jones has, the question has to be how he can last in the NFL between the tackles. and on the goal line. Jones has actually been in a lot of short yardage and goal line situations, and for the most part, has been excellent. There are times where he is not strong enough to break tackles.
However, when he can get a step or two to build up momentum, there is no slowing him down.
-
Ep 114: Aaron Rodgers, OBJ, and The New York Jets
by Full Press Coverage on March 25, 2023 at 12:09 am
He is spun around, but his momentum is still moving forward. He is just too fast for that disruption in his path to affect him.
Defenders can fall off of Jones in the open field when he is going at full momentum. His vision gets him through the whole clean. His burst explodes him into the second level, and his power and speed make him hard to bring down from there.
Weakness
When Jones is not able to get that burst behind the line of scrimmage, his power is marginal. It makes zone blocking and outside running the best option for him, even with short yardage situations. He is also adequate and functional in the passing game, but is nowhere near refined. That is both as a blocker and a pass catcher. His hands are not completely trustworthy, and his route tree is unrefined and limited. He has shown effort and has improved as a pass blocker, but that is still an area where he can get better in.
Pro Comparison: Dalvin Cook, Minnesota Vikings
It is a very awkward comparison to put Ronald Jones II name next to a player who just declared for the NFL draft last season as a comparison. However, you are taken back to one year ago watching Dalvin Cook when seeing Jones burst into the open field.
They both have the sudden burst that comes from a lower leg burst. That is where they can both shed tackles in the open field and excel with foot quickness. Both have great vision to set themselves up with clear running lanes, and while neither is a refined pass catcher, both can do damage with the ball in their hands on some pass attempts.
Cook fell into the second round due to some off of the field question marks. Jones does not quite have those issues, and may see himself being a first round pick due to the burst onto the scene that Cook originally had last season.
A Fit for Pittsburgh Steelers?
So now the question is would the Pittsburgh Steelers invest a first round pick in a running back, and would it be Ronald Jones II. The answer is that if there were a back take at their first round position, it is Jones and Derrius Guice. The team will have the opportunity to negotiate a longterm contract for a few months by the time of the draft. If either of those two are on the board, the team could revoke their franchise tag and move on with five years of team control on a younger running back with a large sum of talent.
Jones vision and ability to set up blocks would make him a great addition. The burst into the hole may be a step quicker than Bell, and with this offensive line, may end up in a season with more long runs. It would be a great fit, and is an interesting decision that team may end up facing.
-
Ep 149: Remembering Bud Grant With Former Vikings RB Chuck Foremanby Full Press Coverage on March 23, 2023 at 10:41 pm
Former Vikings running back Chuck Foreman joins Clark and Ira to discuss […]
-
Ep 148: Hall of Fame Voter John McClain Joins The Showby Full Press Coverage on March 15, 2023 at 10:15 pm
Hall of Fame voter John McClain of Gallery Sports returns to the show to […]
-
Inside Bryce Young's Pro Day & his meetings with the Carolina Panthersby LandryFootball.com on March 24, 2023 at 11:00 pm
Chris takes you inside Bryce Young's Pro Day at Ohio State as well as his […]
-
Inside CJ Stroud's Pro Day & his meeting with the Panthersby LandryFootball.com on March 24, 2023 at 1:05 pm
Chris takes you inside CJ Stroud's Pro Day at Ohio State as well as his […]
-
Ep 278: The Trade Marchby Full Press Coverage on March 23, 2023 at 8:02 pm
-
Ep 277: Free Agency March Madnessby Full Press Coverage on March 17, 2023 at 2:39 am
-
Ep 276: Franchise Tag 2023by Full Press Coverage on March 8, 2023 at 8:28 pm
-
Ep 275: Dynasty Dispersal Draftby Full Press Coverage on March 4, 2023 at 2:06 pm
-
Episode 3.5: "Free Agent Frenzy" w/ Pete Hailey from NBC Sports Washington and "Big Doug" McCrayby Full Press Coverage on March 15, 2023 at 8:40 pm
George Carmi hosts NBC Sports Washington's Pete Hailey and Doug McCray on […]
-
Season 3.4: "Winds of Change" with Rick Snider of 106.7 The Fan and "Big Doug" McCrayby Full Press Coverage on March 2, 2023 at 10:33 pm
George Carmi hosts Rick Snider from 106.7 The Fan to discuss the latest […]
-
Full Press Islanders - Friday, March 24thby Full Press Coverage on March 24, 2023 at 5:05 pm
The Isles got help yesterday in a massive way with the Pens and Panthers […]
-
Full Press Kraken - Friday, March 24thby Full Press Coverage on March 24, 2023 at 3:15 pm
Recap the loss to Nashville and look at the playoff picture. Learn more […]
-
3/24 - Bruins Approaching Record; OBJ To the New York Jets?by Full Press Coverage on March 25, 2023 at 12:07 am
Ian and John discuss the Boston Bruins dominance and discuss whether or […]
-
3/22 - World Baseball Classic Was A Classic; Connor McDavid on Hockey Tournamentby Full Press Coverage on March 23, 2023 at 10:29 pm
Ian and John discuss the success of the World Baseball Classic and debate […]
-
3/21 - Aaron Rodgers Latest, World Baseball Classic Talkby Full Press Coverage on March 21, 2023 at 6:59 pm
Ian and John talk more Aaron Rodgers and the excitement around the World […]
-
3/20 - Aaron Rodgers, Brandin Cooks, Boston Bruinsby Full Press Coverage on March 20, 2023 at 2:25 pm
Ian and John discuss the latest with Aaron Rodgers, the Brandin Cooks […]
-
Ep 2: Top 5 Super Bowls Of All Timeby Full Press Coverage on February 7, 2023 at 3:26 pm
Ian Glendon and John Sapochetti give their Top 5 Super Bowls of all time. […]
-
Ep 1: The Top 10 Quarterbacks Of All Timeby Full Press Coverage on January 12, 2023 at 8:42 pm
On the first episode of 'According To Who?', host Ian Glendon and John […]
-
Ep 114: Aaron Rodgers, OBJ, and The New York Jetsby Full Press Coverage on March 25, 2023 at 12:09 am
-
3/24 - Bruins Approaching Record; OBJ To the New York Jets?by Full Press Coverage on March 25, 2023 at 12:07 am
-
Full Press MMA - Friday, March 24thby Full Press Coverage on March 24, 2023 at 11:00 pm
-
Thunder at Lakersby Broken Controller Media on March 24, 2023 at 10:00 pm
-
Ep. 230 - NBA Playoff Race Could Come Down To Injuriesby Full Press Coverage on March 24, 2023 at 9:42 pm
-
Suns at Kingsby Broken Controller Media on March 24, 2023 at 9:00 pm
-
Bulls at Blazersby Broken Controller Media on March 24, 2023 at 8:15 pm
-
Sixers at Warriorsby Broken Controller Media on March 24, 2023 at 7:30 pm
-
Bucks at Jazzby Broken Controller Media on March 24, 2023 at 6:45 pm
-
Ep. 161: Emporia State University Head Football Coach Garin Higginsby Full Press Coverage on March 24, 2023 at 6:43 pm
-
1/6 - Damar Hamlin Update, Bills/Bengals, AFC Playoffs, Week 18 Picksby Full Press Coverage on January 6, 2023 at 3:11 pm
-
Winter Classic: Bruins Rally To Beat Penguins At Fenwayby Full Press Coverage on January 4, 2023 at 2:09 am
-
1/3 - Bills/Bengals Postponed; Bruins Topple Penguins In Winter Classicby Full Press Coverage on January 4, 2023 at 2:05 am
-
1/2 - Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Week 17, Bills/Bengalsby Full Press Coverage on January 3, 2023 at 3:22 am
-
12/30 - New Year's Eve, Luka Doncic, NBA Talk, Week 17 Preview and Picksby Full Press Coverage on January 1, 2023 at 2:29 am
-
Aaron Rodgers, Packers Win Third Straight; Playoffs In Sightby Full Press Coverage on December 27, 2022 at 7:36 pm
-
Talkamania Episode 230by Talkamania on September 6, 2022 at 11:43 pm
-
Talkamania Episode 229by Talkamania on August 5, 2022 at 3:37 am
-
Boot 2 The Face Revolution Reviewby Boot 2 The Face on March 10, 2023 at 12:42 am
AEW Revolution Review, Power Rankings, B2TF of the Week, and […]
-
Boot 2 The Face Episode 215by Boot 2 The Face on March 2, 2023 at 12:50 am
We are back talking Kenny Omega's importance to AEW. Also, we break down […]