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Thomas
Jones
was the
7th pick
in the
draft by
the
Arizona
Cardinals
back in
2000.
After
three
disappointing
seasons
in
Arizona
he was
traded
to the
Tampa
Bay
Buccaneers
in 2003
where he
backed
up Tampa
Bay
running
back
Michael
Pittman.
Jones
played
mostly
as a
change
of pace
back
until he
became
the
starter
for the
final
three
games of
the
season.
Following
the
season
Jones
was an
unrestricted
free
agent so
he
tested
the
market.
The
Chicago
Bears'
new
coach
Lovie
Smith
and
general
manager
Jerry
Angelo
had the
most
interest
in
Jones,
and they
signed
him to a
four-year
$10
million
contract
with a
$3.5
million
signing
bonus.
Angelo
has not
been a
fan of
current
starter
Anthony
Thomas
and he
believes
that
Thomas
Jones is
a better
fit for
the new
offense
being
installed
by Terry
Shea who
was the
Kansas
City
Chief’s
quarterback
coach
last
season.
Now that
Thomas
Jones is
in
Chicago
where
should
he go in
your
fantasy
draft?
You
obviously
have to
monitor
the
off-season
and
preseason
to see
what
happens
with
Anthony
Thomas
but
right
now I
believe
that
Jones
will be
a solid
slot
back for
your
fantasy
team and
here are
my
reasons.
•
John
Tait and
Reuben
Brown
- The
Chicago
Bears
have
made two
significant
moves
this
off-season.
They
signed
former
Chiefs
right
tackle
John
Tait to
a
six-year
$33
million
dollar
contract
that
included
14
million
dollars
in
bonuses.
Tait is
a beast
of a man
at 6-6,
323
pounds
and he
has
started
every
game the
last
three
seasons
for the
Kansas
City
Chiefs
who have
had the
best
offensive
line in
football
over
that
time.
The
Bears
also
signed
former
Buffalo
Bill
guard
and
eight-time
Pro
Bowler
Reuben
Brown to
play
alongside
Tait.
The
Bears
also
have a
couple
of young
linemen
who
started
last
season
but will
be
relegated
to
backup
duty
which
will
give
them
depth at
the
offensive
line
position.
The
Bears
want to
run the
ball and
they are
providing
Thomas
Jones
with a
solid
offensive
line to
do so.
•
Offensive
Philosophy
- The
Chicago
Bears
want an
attack-style
offense
and it’s
essential
that the
running
backs
are able
to catch
the
football
out of
the
backfield.
Terry
Shea is
a Dick
Vermeil
disciple
so if
you are
looking
for a
comparison
think
about
how many
passes
Priest
Holmes
has
caught
over the
last
couple
of
years.
For
another
example,
Lovie
Smith is
from St.
Louis so
think
about
how the
Rams
have
used
Marshall
Faulk in
their
offense.
Thomas
Jones is
not the
caliber
of
player
that
Priest
Holmes
and
Marshall
Faulk
are but
he will
be
playing
that
role in
this
offense.
In the
fantasy
world
you want
a
running
back
that
doesn’t
have to
leave
the
field on
third
down and
Jones
with his
pass
catching
ability
will be
a dual
threat
in both
the
running
and the
passing
game.
•
Last
Year’s
Improvement
- I told
you
earlier
that
Jones
won the
starting
job at
the end
of last
season
but he
also
improved
his
career
yards
per
carry
average
from 3.4
yards to
4.6 in
2003.
It’s not
unusual
for
mediocre
players
to leave
Arizona
and
flourish
with
another
team.
(Think
Garrison
Hearst.)
•
NFC
North
- When
you
think
about
the
defenses
in the
NFC
North
you
can’t be
scared
to run
the
football
against
the
likes of
Green
Bay
(10th
against
the
rush),
Minnesota
(17th
against
the
rush),
and
Detroit
(15th
against
the
rush).
Do you
want
another
reason
to draft
Jones?
Green
Bay,
Minnesota,
and
Detroit
were
ranked
17,
23rd,
and 24th
in
overall
defense
last
year.
This
could be
the year
that
Jones
lives up
to the
hype
that he
came
into the
league
with as
a
rookie.
Jones
isn’t
too high
on most
draft
boards
so you
should
be able
to get
him as
your
number
three
running
back in
your
draft
and you
will be
happy
that you
did if
he’s
named
the
starter.
Jones
has
sleeper
written
all over
him.
If you
have any
comments
on this
article
feel
free to
contact
me.
Stingray |
