Hey Insaniti,
So I decided to compare Jarvis Jones, a player you think is an average NFL starter to the rest of the Linebackers in the NFL in terms of Sacks, Tackles, and pass defense.
Here's where he rates:
2.0 sacks. 64 linebackers have more! And he's tied with 15 others.
25 tackles. 128 linebackers have more. And he's tied with 8 other players.
Passes defended: Jones has one pass defended ( his interception ). 81 other linebackers have more passes defended and he's tied with 59 other linebackers that have 1.
Conclusion, Jones is below average as a pass rusher, way below average as a tackler, and way below average as a pass defense. Average NFL starter you say? He's rotated out from a 37-year-old player!
If you want to hang your hat that he's good defending the edge ( I think he's easily blocked more often than not watch the games! ) then go ahead and try to quantify the other linebackers are not as good as Jones is in this department.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/stats/by...meframe=ToDate
I'll say it again. A moron using stats to "prove" his argument is still a moron. You know like when someone uses stats to show us that DeAngelo Williams is as good as - if not better than - Bell. When that same moron can't see that Bell's carries came overwhelmingly with Vick / Jones at QB and DWill's came with Ben at QB.
Al,
If you want to take out the Vick games. Willaims is doing pretty well, and he's not even in this thread and we are talking defense! If Heyward was out, then you could try to excuse Jones poor play. Moving back to the point.
I listed three parts of being a linebacker. Pass Rush, Tackling and pass defense. The fact that Jones rates so low just underscored the obvious. He's not even average. He's our slowest LB, worst LB in pass coverage and worst tackling LB. If you want to look at his snap count and do the divisional maths, go for it. You'll see. I say the fact that he's a part-time player tells you the story.
In almost all cases for linebackers, the best ones produce. Jones clearly is not. Primary to a 3-4 defense is the pass rush, here Jones is an epic fail. Secondary and also important is run defense ,tackling and pass coverage. He's pretty bad here too.
If not for Blake, Jones is the whipping boy for sure, but because he's easily blocked and seldom has his name called, fans forget about him when we are winning.
If I have video access and editing ability, I could take out stats and let the video show how he gets it handed to him more often than not.