Will Bucs practice squad linebacker Vi Jones get more minutes on defense after the bye week? Teams could certainly use his speed and athleticism in pass coverage. Starting middle linebacker KJ Britt is one of the most underrated linebackers. In League by Pro Football Focus.
Britt, who is in his contract year, has a dismal 44.3 overall PFF grade and a dismal 37.6 coverage grade this season, the worst on Tampa Bay’s defense.
The Bucs’ pass defense has struggled to defend the middle of the field this year since Sarvosia Dennis suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in Week 4 against the Eagles. Dennis lined up with Britt at the third-and-long middle linebacker position. It was an obvious passing situation, and he was on track to eventually replace Britt as the down-in, down-out starter before the injury.
Since Dennis went on injured reserve, Britt has been a victim of coverage by opposing quarterbacks who have always looked up the middle in pass defense. But head coach and defensive play-caller Todd Bowles was slow to respond and did not platoon reserve J.J. Russell with Britt until Tampa Bay’s Week 6 game at New Orleans, where he played nine snaps. Ta.
Falcons WR Darnell Mooney and Bucs CB Tyreke Funderburk and ILB KJ Britt – Photo courtesy of USA Today
After playing just seven snaps in Week 8 against Atlanta, Russell played 30 defensive snaps against Kansas City and averaged 74.2 points overall and 69.2 points in coverage. Russell then played just 12 snaps against the 49ers.
But what about Jones, who was elevated from the practice squad in the past two weeks?
Asked a few weeks ago who could line up with Britt in Dennis’ absence, Bowles said Jones was the only realistic option. Bowles said Russell and rookie Antonio Grier, who was signed from the practice squad, are similar to Britt, and Britt, who has been in Tampa Bay for four years, simply knows the defense better.
Jones played three defensive snaps against Kansas City but did not see any defensive action against San Francisco. Will things change after the bye week?
Vi Jones has the speed and range to help the Bucs in coverage.
The Bucks signed Vi Jones to their practice squad last year after he spent his rookie season on the Seahawks’ practice squad. After an impressive pro day in which Jones ran a 4.53 at 6-foot-3, 225 pounds, Seattle signed Jones as an undrafted free agent out of North Carolina.
Bucks ILB Vi Jones – Photo courtesy of USA Today
Jones’ 4.53 speed makes him the fastest linebacker in Tampa Bay, ahead of Antonio Grier, who ran a 4.57 at Arkansas’ pro day in the spring. Servosia Dennis is from Pittsburgh and ran a 4.64 time, and Lavonte David entered the league in 2012 and ran a 4.65 time in the 40-yard dash. JJ Russell and KJ Britt were significantly slower in the 40s at 4.70 and 4.76 seconds.
Jones’ speed was also displayed on defense and special teams in college. He transferred to North Carolina State in 2020 after recording 28 tackles, three tackles for loss and three pass breakups in two years at USC.
In his first season with the Wolfpack, Jones made four starts between strong-side and weak-side linebackers and appeared in all 12 games, making 35 tackles, three sacks, a forced fumble, and three kicks. He recorded multiple blocks, including a Liberty field goal that could have ended the game. End of the game. Jones had 45 tackles, eight tackles for loss and six sacks as a senior. North Carolina.
Jones comes from a great football pedigree. His father, Robert, was a starting linebacker for the Cowboys in the 1990s and won three Super Bowls. He is the younger brother of Cardinals receiver Zay Jones and the nephew of former NFL quarterback Jeff Blake.
In three preseason games with Tampa Bay, Jones posted a 68.4 overall grade, including a 64.3 coverage grade. He allowed 5-of-7 passes for 33 yards, nine tackles and five quarterback pressures, including a quarterback hit against Jacksonville. He impressed enough in training camp and the preseason to earn a spot on Tampa Bay’s practice squad.
Bucs ILBs Vi Jones, JJ Russell, Lavonte David, KJ Britt – Photo courtesy of USA Today
Jones has been promoted to the gameday roster twice so far, and if Todd Bowles wants to play him, he could be promoted one more time before the team would have to sign Jones to the active roster. can. The Bucks opted to sign Grier after Dennis went on injured reserve, but Bowles has yet to play the rookie on defense.
Jones relished the opportunity to watch his first NFL game on Monday Night Football in Kansas City – even if it was just three snaps on defense.
“It was a lot of fun. There was an excited atmosphere,” Jones said. “We played pretty hard against them. We were very lucky with the opportunities. I’m just working on being consistent.”
Jones appeared in just three coverage plays for Kansas City, allowing one tackle and one catch for four yards. Jones was promoted for the next week’s game against San Francisco, but he didn’t show any sharpness defensively.
Vi Jones prepares to play more snaps on Bucs defense
So why isn’t Vi Jones given more interview opportunities? At 6-foot-3 and 225 pounds, Jones is Tampa Bay’s tallest and biggest linebacker.
Bucs tight end Cade Otton, who Jones often covers in practice as a linebacker on the practice squad, is impressed with him.
Bucks ILB Vi Jones – Photo courtesy of USA Today
“He did a great job,” Otton said. “I think he has a great attitude and brings a lot of passion to the game, but he’s also very athletic. He’s been doing a great job in coverage since training camp and is really a team player. I think it will help.
“He’s tall and long and the way he runs, he gets passed by really easily. I definitely think he can be a great coverage linebacker.”
Bucs assistant defensive coordinator Casey Rodgers was asked a few weeks ago why Jones wasn’t promoted earlier and used more in coverage.
“The thing is, Vi is stepping up. He’s one of our very athletic inside linebackers and we lost ‘Vos’ early on. We’re going to fill that role. We needed to fill in, and he’s been there,” Rodgers said. “I think it was last year that JJ stepped up for us.” [he] He started the Carolina game for us, so he had playing time, and now we’re all on deck. One person doesn’t take 80 snaps. We have a lot of players that need to be in the mix. ”
One reason for Jones’ lack of playing time is that he is still learning the middle linebacker position. Jones played weakside and strongside linebacker at North Carolina State University and is still learning the nuances of playing in the middle at the NFL level. Bowles’ defense demands a lot from the middle linebackers in terms of run fits, coverage drops, and blitzes.
“I just continue to learn the playbook, watch film and utilize it in practice once I get those reps,” Jones said. “I’m spending more time reflecting on my play and studying who my next opponent will be. I’m mentally learning how to play in the box and how to be a backer off the ball. By playing this type of defense, you learn to be responsible for everyone around you.
“I’m just a servant of the team and finding ways to contribute to the team, whether it’s focusing on my responsibilities on the scout team or being asked to do more. I’m here to serve the team.”
Jones feels he has made progress and is ready to contribute more on defense if called upon. Tampa Bay is expected to promote him again from his bye to face the Giants in New York, and there’s no doubt he’ll be able to show more speed and athleticism on the field in the future.
“I got a lot of reps, but it took me a while to learn the whole defense and feel comfortable playing behind the ball,” Jones said. “But I feel like I made plays when I was there and I’m lucky to be here.
“My biggest growth is mentally. I have to be consistent. I want to dominate. I’m a competitive person, so I always want to win.”
