I mean, that's honestly for me some of the most frustrating stuff interacting with people who still are buying into him because they are more stat nerds than anything else.Bears Whiskey Nut wrote: ↑Mon Oct 14, 2024 11:25 amJones has been really frustrating to watch. The book is and has been out on Braxton for awhile. Don't mess around, go right through him because he can't handle the bull rush. You see it game after game of him getting pushed straight backwards.Teddy KGB wrote: ↑Mon Oct 14, 2024 11:10 am
Let me help both of you.
PFF is ASS when it comes to grading Offensive Linemen. Seriously, they are shit and way overgenerous.
Instead of stat-watching, watch ACTUAL TAPE of Braxton, and then for comparison, watch tape of his predecessor, Peters, who was called out of retirement to play a year with the Bears.
If you pay real attention, you will see the difference between Jones, and a competent LT.
Jones is continually getting Bull rushed into Caleb's pocket. Same thing as when Justin was here. Jones has a shit anchor and has had more than enough time to correct it. He also lets defenders slip by and go directly to the QB.
Peters, and other competent LTs, at best get pushed back a step or two and reroute pass rushers WIDE to force them to need an extra 1-2 steps to get to the quarterback, which is how it's SUPPOSED to be done. That buys your QB more time AND allows your QB to buy even MORE time by allowing him to step up in the pocket.
That help illuminate why people are down on Jones?
You just have to focus in on Braxton for a game and pick any game, and you will see him routinely get pushed straight back into the pocket.
As best I can figure out, PFF wrongly credits that as a block so long as the defender doesn't get by the offensive lineman. But they don't account for an offensive line then getting pushed straight back into their quarterback. That is a lineman with a really weak anchor.
You can excuse that to a degree in someone's rookie season. And so long as it improves, you can excuse it somewhat during the second season. But by season 3, with two full off-season workout training and bulking programs coordinated by professional NFL trainers, if you're anchor is still crap at that point that's as best as you're going to get it.
On a team with playoff aspirations, Braxton Jones is a good backup.
He's not who you want starting at left tackle or anywhere on the line.