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After playing as a 4-3 defensive end in four seasons at LSU, Sai'Vion Jones was picked by the Denver Broncos in the third round of the NFL draft last week.
Denver runs a base 3-4 defense, and it's not uncommon for a 4-3 defensive end to transition to an outside linebacker role in a 3-4 lineup. Jones, though, is probably a little too big (6-5, 280 pounds) to line up on the edge, so the Broncos are expected to have him play as a 3-4 DE, taking on a similar role to Zach Allen and John Franklin-Myers.
He was thrilled to hear from general manager George Paton on Day 2 of the NFL draft.
“Getting the call from the Broncos, it just felt like every kid’s dream that they’ve had since they were [young], just realizing that that one phone call right there just made my dream come true," Jones said. "It’s just a blessing to be in the position that I am right now. I’m just ready to get to work.”
It remains to be seen how Denver will utilize Jones this fall. There's still a chance he could end up as an OLB. If not, DE would presumably be his position -- and snaps at nose tackle could be in play, too.
"I feel like I have that ability to be able to play all over the place," Jones said. "I felt like that was one of the main things that the Broncos see in me. When you pick me, you’re drafting a couple of players. I’m not just an edge player. I can play a 4-line, a 3-line… I can play across the line. I felt like that’s the reason why they felt like I was a person they should draft.”
Jones will join a stacked defensive line rotation that already includes Allen, JFM, D.J. Jones and Malcolm Roach. He'll have to compete for a role while learning what he can from the veterans above him on the depth chart.
“I feel like it’s just going to be like a repeat of college," Jones said. "When I got into college here, they had a lot of vets ahead of me. I really spent my first year learning and soaking up from the veterans that were ahead of me. So I just have to do the same thing when I get down there, keep my head down, learn as much as I can from the vets and just work my way up.”
The Broncos' impressive defensive line rotation helped the team lead the NFL with 63 sacks last fall, setting a new franchise record.
“It’s amazing because not only am I going to get some of the best coaching, I’m also going to get some of the best experience from the d-line group," the rookie said. "Like you said, they had the most sacks in the country, and it doesn’t get better than that when it comes to d-line and how things work.”
Jones knows he won't be handed a starting job, and he doesn't want to be. He plans to work for it and earn it, and he wants to quickly make a good impression.
“The main impression I want to leave is just that I’m a guy that came here to work," Jones said. "There’s nothing more, nothing less. I’m going there to make a name for myself. I want to be able to be a respectable player amongst everybody and I just want to be able to earn that starting role.”
Related: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.
This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: NFL: Sai'Vion Jones brings versatility, hard-working mentality
Continue reading...
Denver runs a base 3-4 defense, and it's not uncommon for a 4-3 defensive end to transition to an outside linebacker role in a 3-4 lineup. Jones, though, is probably a little too big (6-5, 280 pounds) to line up on the edge, so the Broncos are expected to have him play as a 3-4 DE, taking on a similar role to Zach Allen and John Franklin-Myers.
He was thrilled to hear from general manager George Paton on Day 2 of the NFL draft.
“Getting the call from the Broncos, it just felt like every kid’s dream that they’ve had since they were [young], just realizing that that one phone call right there just made my dream come true," Jones said. "It’s just a blessing to be in the position that I am right now. I’m just ready to get to work.”
It remains to be seen how Denver will utilize Jones this fall. There's still a chance he could end up as an OLB. If not, DE would presumably be his position -- and snaps at nose tackle could be in play, too.
"I feel like I have that ability to be able to play all over the place," Jones said. "I felt like that was one of the main things that the Broncos see in me. When you pick me, you’re drafting a couple of players. I’m not just an edge player. I can play a 4-line, a 3-line… I can play across the line. I felt like that’s the reason why they felt like I was a person they should draft.”
Jones will join a stacked defensive line rotation that already includes Allen, JFM, D.J. Jones and Malcolm Roach. He'll have to compete for a role while learning what he can from the veterans above him on the depth chart.
“I feel like it’s just going to be like a repeat of college," Jones said. "When I got into college here, they had a lot of vets ahead of me. I really spent my first year learning and soaking up from the veterans that were ahead of me. So I just have to do the same thing when I get down there, keep my head down, learn as much as I can from the vets and just work my way up.”
The Broncos' impressive defensive line rotation helped the team lead the NFL with 63 sacks last fall, setting a new franchise record.
“It’s amazing because not only am I going to get some of the best coaching, I’m also going to get some of the best experience from the d-line group," the rookie said. "Like you said, they had the most sacks in the country, and it doesn’t get better than that when it comes to d-line and how things work.”
Jones knows he won't be handed a starting job, and he doesn't want to be. He plans to work for it and earn it, and he wants to quickly make a good impression.
“The main impression I want to leave is just that I’m a guy that came here to work," Jones said. "There’s nothing more, nothing less. I’m going there to make a name for myself. I want to be able to be a respectable player amongst everybody and I just want to be able to earn that starting role.”
Related: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.
This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: NFL: Sai'Vion Jones brings versatility, hard-working mentality
Continue reading...
