Steelers looking at Lions DE Jason Jones

[SteelerInLebanon]

http://espn.go.com/blog/pittsburgh-...ss-rush-help-considering-lions-de-jason-jones
Steelers exploring pass-rush help, considering Lions DE Jason Jones
10:14 PM ET
Jeremy Fowler
ESPN Staff Writer
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The Steelers have expressed interest in Lions defensive end Jason Jones, according to sources. Jones started 15 games for Detroit last season, recording 4.5 sacks.

Jones is a natural edge rusher out of a 4-3 defense, which is intriguing for the Steelers, who on paper run a 3-4 but actually employ more 4-3 looks than you'd think.

Coordinator Keith Butler likes to mix and match, and from what I've gathered, the team is intrigued by the 6-foot-5, 275-pound Jones as a hybrid, able to rush from the outside or slide inside some, if necessary. The only defensive tackles on the roster are Dan McCullers and Caushaud Lyons. They could use some help inside.

The Steelers typically don't spend big on the open market, and they already dropped a $4.75 million signing bonus on tight end Ladarius Green, so stay tuned on this one. Maybe they are intrigued enough to become players here.

 

[Fiji Mariner]

Lyons is a DE to my understanding, they do have I think only Philon and Hooks behind McCullers in the middle. If they grab Jones as a DE/OLB hybrid pass rusher for depth we still have that hole in the middle. With a draft deep at interior linemen I would expect they def take one in the first 3 rounds depending how quickly they are coming off the board.

Right now it looks like S or OT in the first to me unless a BPA pass rusher or NT is staring us in the face.

 

[stuntmanmike]

They want Shaq Lawson in the draft but with jones they have a hedge bet. I think they don't think lawson will be there. We play all of this two down line men with standing rush ends... That said the rush ends HAVE to rush the qb.... With Jarvis jones that's a problem.... He was part of the plan with the previous dc but now we have a new dc and things looks way more 4-3 ish.

 

[bermudasteel]

He's better than Cam Thomas. That's a plus...

 

[Superman]

He's better than Cam Thomas. That's a plus...

Ark is 50, barely 5'9", can't run to the mailbox without getting winded and considers it a workout when he has to twist a beer cap off - and he's better than Cam Thomas.

 

[DBS1970]

Ark is 50, barely 5'9", can't run to the mailbox without getting winded and considers it a workout when he has to twist a beer cap off - and he's better than Cam Thomas.

This is comical to me.

 

[Litos]

nice depth for the DE/OLB spot but we need a DT with more urgency

 

[Steelerfan81]

I'd rather have JJ Watt

 

[stillwright]

nice depth for the DE/OLB spot but we need a DT with more urgency

I think they will go into the season with McCullers taking 18 or 20 snaps a game we use a DT. I'm thinking they will draft a DT mid to late in the draft for depth. I just don't understand why everyone want a DT early in the draft when they get just a handful of snaps per game with us.

 

[Litos]

I think they will go into the season with McCullers taking 18 or 20 snaps a game we use a DT. I'm thinking they will draft a DT mid to late in the draft for depth. I just don't understand why everyone want a DT early in the draft when they get just a handful of snaps per game with us.

a DT/DE like Butler would be ideal cause he can play all the snaps (of course he would be spelling Heyward and Tuitt, not starting ahead of them)

 

[Superman]

I'd rather have JJ Watt

well, yeah, but ... that's as likely to happen as Spike sharing his slave girls for a discounted price.

 

[Coach]

There is something about the name Jones that just doesn't seem to work for the Steelers. Aaron, Jarvis, and Landry

Now if we are talking about the name Green with various way to spell it, you seem to have a winner!

 

[Steel G]

There is something about the name Jones that just doesn't seem to work for the Steelers. Aaron, Jarvis, and
Landry

Now if we are talking about the name Green with various way to spell it, you seem to have a winner!

Don't forget Jacoby!

 

[Fiji Mariner]

I think they will go into the season with McCullers taking 18 or 20 snaps a game we use a DT. I'm thinking they will draft a DT mid to late in the draft for depth. I just don't understand why everyone want a DT early in the draft when they get just a handful of snaps per game with us.

Maybe the handful of snaps is what the skill set at DT we had commanded. A solid DT hybrid that could push the pocket in 3 man sets, help our run D, free up the backers and slide out to DE in the 2 DL sets to add depth would command more snaps. McLendon was just not that guy.

 

[stillwright]

Maybe the handful of snaps is what the skill set at DT we had commanded. A solid DT hybrid that could push the pocket in 3 man sets, help our run D, free up the backers and slide out to DE in the 2 DL sets to add depth would command more snaps. McLendon was just not that guy.

McClendon was switched to NT......wouldn't you think his skill set would of included more than the base set? Maybe they will have a rookie come in and do more than a vet like McClendon has done over the last handful of seasons.....but do you really see that as the case? I would of loved to have seen McClendon play more on passing downs and just rush the QB the last few seasons. In his early years before he claimed the NT job he seemed to get a lot of pressure on the QB when he had a chance to.

 

[Omar10213245]

I'd rather have JJ Watt

*rubs chin and carefully considers it*....

ya know what? Me too. Let's bring in J.J. Watt for a visit

 

[Fiji Mariner]

McLendon put on weight and it sealed the deal of him being a 1-2 down lineman lowering his snaps due to all the sub packages/nickel we played.

 

[stillwright]

McLendon put on weight and it sealed the deal of him being a 1-2 down lineman lowering his snaps due to all the sub packages/nickel we played.

So what is the weight of these rookies you think we will be able to draft and play in multiple packages as our NT and DT in the sub packages?