Titans’ Jones big influence on Andrews
FOXBORO — Tennessee center Ben Jones helped create a problem for the Titans defensive line well ahead of preparations for Saturday night’s playoff encounter with the Patriots.
Jones was an established starter in the middle of the University of Georgia offensive line when he began mentoring Patriots center David Andrews. Jones encouraged Andrews to attend Georgia and groomed him for a year to take his place on the Bulldogs front.
“I met Ben when I was in high school and I hadn’t gotten an offer to Georgia yet,” Andrews said. “I just kind of got his number there and I kept in touch, and when I got my offer to Georgia I committed. Any time I was in Athens (the Georgia campus), I would see Ben. I got to loop over with him for one year and tried to learn a lot from him. The summer (before) when I was there, (I was) doing extra work with him and putting in extra time and him teaching me things and little techniques here and there.”
Andrews had a great role model. Jones was a two-time All-SEC selection, a Bulldogs captain and was named to Georgia’s Team of the Decade.
“I just really tried to soak up things from him and learn from his leadership and toughness and things like that,” Andrews said. “He taught me a lot and I definitely learned a lot just watching him and it definitely helped me. I just admired how he seemed to be a step ahead of people and trying to figure out what the defense was going to do. I really admired that and it kind of fueled my passion for that.”
Andrews felt an obligation to carry on Jones’ legacy and was voted team MVP his senior year. He went undrafted, then joined the Patriots as a rookie free agent.
“It also blossomed into a true friendship and we are still friends today,” Andrews said. “I know it was something he took pride in being at Georgia and being a center, and it was something I took pride in and in our lineage. Now our teams are going against each other and that’s fun.”
While Jones has to deal with Pats defensive tackles Malcom Brown and Deatrich Wise, Andrews will snap the ball across from behemoth nose tackle Sylvester Williams, the centerpiece on Titans defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau’s 3-4 zone blitzing group.
“We played against Sylvester when he was at Denver last year but obviously he is in a different scheme and all of those things,” Andrews said. “But he is an exceptionally good player. He is sturdy and strong and definitely good in the run game as they all are.”