Teicher: Proving ground | Jones not worried about lack of production

[Tribal Warfare]

Proving ground | Jones not worried about lack of production
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star

Thomas Jones learned long ago not to fret over lousy personal preseason statistics.

“It’s an opportunity to get better before the first real game,” said Jones, a veteran Chiefs running back. “A lot of people look at (the preseason) and just try to get through it. If you just get through it, you don’t get better regardless of whether you’re a rookie or an 11-year veteran like me. You can always get better every day. That’s what I try to do.

That might be a great attitude for a veteran to have, but it doesn’t change the fact that halfway through their preseason, the Chiefs are running the ball far more effectively with Jamaal Charles as their featured back than with Jones.

Charles is averaging 7 yards per preseason carry, or more than two times Jones’ per-carry average of 3.1 yards.

It’s a small sample size, perhaps too small to be making major judgments. Charles has been handed the ball nine times, Jones 10.

It’s also not an unusual situation for the preseason. For instance, Philadelphia, which plays the Chiefs on Friday night at Arrowhead Stadium, has much the same circumstance. The Eagles’ top featured back, LeSean McCoy, has been outplayed statistically in their two games by someone named Eldra Buckley, who may not even make it to the regular season.

Jones’ average is lower because he’s the featured back when the Chiefs are in short-yardage situations, when plays aren’t necessarily designed to make big yards. He converted a third-and-1 play last week in Tampa Bay with a 1-yard run and was stopped a yard short on third and 3.

That’s why Chiefs coach Todd Haley isn’t worked up about what’s going on with Charles and Jones.

“The situations some of those guys have been in are different situations,” Haley said. “For instance, Thomas was in there on two third-and-short (yardage situations). Those are big, big carries. The third-and-1 was a run he really made on his own. That third-and-(3) was a big-time run.”

Charles has often been spectacular as a runner. He’s also the Chiefs’ leading pass receiver during the preseason.

The situation also doesn’t trouble Jones, who also lost a fumble to end the Chiefs’ first possession against the Buccaneers.

“I’m not looking at it like, ‘I haven’t broken a big run,’ ” he said. “I’m out here just trying to get better every day and help my teammates get better every day. The first couple of games have been great to get out there with my new teammates and the coaching staff. It’s been a good transition for me. I think I’m bonding well with the guys on the team, and I’m understanding the offense and what they want me to do.

“We’re not playing four quarters. We’re going out there and trying to execute the plays that are called and get the timing down on a lot of different plays and build the chemistry. That’s something that’s very important for me to do, being on a new team.

“I don’t get into the little intangible things, what this guy brings or that guy brings. For me, all I can do is focus on being the best player I can be and the best leader I can be.”

But Jones and Charles are different types of players. Jones, at 212 pounds, isn’t big for a running back but is powerfully built and more of a between-the-tackles runner than Charles.

Charles is faster and more of a big-play threat.

“I wouldn’t pigeonhole Thomas Jones necessarily into saying he’s strictly a two-back runner or outside/inside, whatever it is,” Haley said. “I believe this guy has some versatility as far as runs. That’s what I like about what’s going on. What you never want to be is when he’s in there you’re running one way and when Jamaal is in there, you’re running another. There are tendencies that develop that way.

“Both Jamaal and Thomas can run the runs we have in our offense, all of the bread and better runs, so to speak.”

The Chiefs are averaging a healthy 4.5 yards per carry including all of their ball carriers. Much of that work has been done by reserves like Jackie Battle and Javarris Williams, but Haley sees good omens for the Chiefs no matter who has the ball.

“What I’m excited about is I feel we’re going to have the chance to be a pretty good running football team,” Haley said. “That’s the way I believe that you win games.

“It appears we’re winning at the line of scrimmage in these first two games.”

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Originally Posted by MahiMike

The only stat that matters with these 2 is 1st downs. That's why Jones is here - to keep the sticks moving. That's worth 3 extra wins alone.