Jones maintains poise ahead of uncertain year
When it comes to chasing quarterbacks and trying to pry the football away from them, it’s Chandler Jones’ job to break as many social-distancing rules as possible on the football field. In normal times, the Cardinals’ outside linebacker prefers to sack first and ask questions later.
But these aren’t normal times and Jones, the NFL’s sack master who has dropped more quarterbacks than anyone in the league since joining the Cardinals five years ago, wonders just like the rest of us how and when it will be
safe to play football games again.
Until the COVID-19 pandemic comes to a permanent end, what can the NFL do to ensure the safety of its players and team personnel? If it’s still lingering when training camps and the regular season begins, what happens in the meantime if a teammate he’s practiced against or an opponent he’s just wrestled to the ground tests positive for the coronavirus?
Jones is a fearless All-Pro pass rusher, but with so many unknowns, isn’t he just a little scared?
“I won’t use the word ‘scared,’ ” Jones said Tuesday during a video conference call with reporters. “I’m pretty sure there’s going to be some guidelines. I know for me, personally, I’ve been washing my hands a lot more. But I don’t know. We’ll see how it unfolds, honestly.
“That’s a great question. I know as much as you when it comes to that. But hopefully it’s soon, because I’m itchin’ to play.”
The NFL is expected to notify players and teams later this week of a new set of guidelines as to how the league plans to re-open for business. It likely will include details concerning the eventual phasing-in of the start of on-field training and practices.
But it could be a while before that happens. During a recent interview with NBC Sports, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institutes of Health, said there’s no way the NFL can resume on-field activities in mid-May.
“There’s too much infection out there,” Fauci said. “It doesn’t matter what you do. But I would that by the time you get to September it’s not going to be the way it is right now.”
The Cardinals hope to get some live practice reps in before the start of training camp, which typically begins in late July. The team is scheduled to open the regular season on the road Sept.13 against the defending NFC champion 49ers. Ultimately, though, “the virus will make the decision for us,” Fauci says.
In the meantime, Jones is trying to temper his emotions. As badly as he wants to pick up where he left off last season, when he earned his third Pro Bowl selection, second All-Pro nod and finished runner-up in voting for Defensive Player of the Year honors, he also knows it’s not worth rushing back into things until it’s safe for everyone.
So for now, he’s taking an optimistic approach.
“Throughout this whole process, throughout this whole pandemic, I’ve been trying to approach it with the whole glass half full as opposed to half empty,” he said. “So, opposed to looking at the negative things it may cause, I try to highlight always, even to my family and friends, I always try to highlight the positive. Or what we could do to be better or try to motivate them, encourage them to be stay busy, stay connected, do stuff, work out.
“Times are tough right now. But at the same time, I feel like we have to approach it with a positive mindset.”
One area that’s helped Jones stay upbeat has been watching how General Manager Steve Keim has helped improve the Cardinals’ roster this offseason.
It started with the blockbuster trade to acquire star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, continued through free agency with three key signings to the defense in defensive tackle Jordan Phillips and linebackers Devon Kennard and De’Vondre Campbell, and concluded with the draft, which saw Arizona add four more pieces to the defense, including the selection of former Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons with the No. 8 overall pick.
The hope is that with Phillips penetrating from the inside and Kennard rushing quarterbacks as the other starting outside linebacker, it will reduce the number of double-team and chip blocks aimed at Jones.
“For years I’ve been seeing double teams and chips,” he said. “When I’m seeing that attention, hopefully, it frees other guys up. I don’t think the double teams and chips are going to stop anytime soon, but in the same sense, if we can get some interior push with Jordan Phillips and Devon on the other side, I feel like we’re going to be fine.”
As for Simmons, coach Kliff Kingsbury said Monday the rookie will hone in on one position, inside linebacker, and not move around and play five different spots like he did in college. Jones said he’s watched Simmons’ highlights and was so impressed, he thinks Simmons could play anywhere.
“If he has the ability to play more positions, why not do it?” Jones said.
Jones is just glad he’s staying at outside linebacker in coordinator Vance Joseph’s 3-4 base defense. Four ultra-productive seasons with the Cardinals, after all, helped him be named the NFL’s All-Decade team for the 2010s last month.
“The All-Decade, that was major,” he said. “Just to be recognized with some of those names was the biggest thing. Me being up there with J.J. Watt, Julius Peppers, Khalil Mack, Von Miller. Those names are names that early in my career I would look at those guys, I would look at the individual accolades, see those guys’ names. Those are the top guys. So, for me to be mentioned with those guys, it’s definitely an honor for sure.”
So was playing with veteran Terrell Suggs last year, Jones said, even though the tandem ended early when Suggs was released and finished the season with the Super Bowl-winning Chiefs. Before he left Arizona, Suggs gave Jones a valuable piece of advice he will carry with him into next season and beyond.
As if he wasn’t already dangerous enough, it was about Jones learning how to take more risks as a pass rusher. Instead of being hesitant for fear of missing a containment assignment, drawing a flag or getting to the quarterback too late, he vows to keep his foot on the gas and get after it.
“It’s not being less careless,” Jones said. “But (Suggs) would tell me, ‘Hey, take it. The biggest thing that could happen is you make a big play. The worst thing that could happen was, ‘All right, they gained a couple yards.’ So he triggered something in my brain to take more risks on the field and also, it credited to a lot of my stats. And honestly, my stats, they lead to team success.”
Note
The Cardinals announced they have re-signed cornerback Kevin Peterson to a one-year contract and released cornerback Andre Chachere. Peterson played in 14 games for the team last season after being claimed off waivers from the Rams on Sept.1. He’ll provide primary backup depth along with Chris Jones behind starters Patrick Peterson and Robert Alford.